TWENTY-FOUR
‘MAISIE, WAIT!’
I don’t wait. I grab my backpack, storm out of the room and slam the door shut behind me. Fortunately, the corridor outside is empty, but I can hear Izabel talking to someone round the corner and I don’t want her to see me like this. I feel exposed and vulnerable, and I have to keep moving.
I fly out of the medical centre. I think somebody calls my name, but I don’t stop. Fortunately, Izabel’s already told me the name of the hotel where the team are staying, only a few minutes’ walk away, so I keep my head down and head in that direction. With any luck they’ll have an extra room available because there’s no way in hell that I’m staying with Gio. I can’t believe I just travelled almost seven thousand miles to be insulted, tell him things I’ve never told anyone and then call him an entitled brat. I was so worried about him and now I’m so furious.
By the time I reach the hotel, I’ve replayed our argument in my head a dozen times and I don’t know what to feel. Half of me thinks I kicked Gio when he was down. The other half thinks he kicked me first. I meant what I said too – most of it anyway.
‘Maisie?’
I’m halfway across the lobby when a familiar figure blocks my way.
‘I thought it was you.’ Luc Farron smiles at me. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a Balenciaga T-shirt and his green eyes are friendly. ‘How are …’ He stops mid-sentence and peers closer. ‘Shit. Are you OK?’
‘Not really.’ I try to duck round him, but he steps sideways and puts his hands on my shoulders.
‘Hey, what’s the matter? Is Gio OK?’ He sounds genuinely concerned. ‘I thought it was just a sprained ankle?’
‘It is.’ I grit my teeth. ‘Other than suffering from a case of being a total dick, he’s going to be fine.’
Luc pulls his hands away and stuffs them into his pockets. ‘Don’t tell me – he’s mad about not being allowed to race tomorrow? I wondered how many people it was going to take to restrain him.’
‘Only one. Mark threatened to fire him if he didn’t accept it.’
He gives a low whistle. ‘And you had to listen? No wonder you look like you need a drink. The bar’s this way.’
‘I don’t know.’ I waver. ‘Shouldn’t you be getting an early night before the race?’
‘No need. It’s a late start. Come on, one drink?’ Luc presses me. ‘We can compare stories about just how much of a dick Gio is.’ One side of his mouth quirks upwards. ‘Not to mention one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen.’
I lift my eyebrows.
‘If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.’
I glance hesitantly in the direction of the bar. I could really use a distraction, because I’m never going to be able to sleep with so many emotions bouncing around my head, but it seems disloyal to drink with Gio’s arch nemesis, no matter how nice everybody else says he is. Then again, I’m pretty sure Gio and I are finished. Even though neither of us said the words out loud, we both said some stuff that was pretty terrible, that I can’t see any way back from. So, why not? If I’m going to burn my bridges, I might as well be thorough.
‘ One drink,’ I agree, falling into step beside him, as we head for the bar.
‘Good. In that case, let’s make it a big one.’ He grins at me.
‘Wait, isn’t your wife expecting you?’ I ask, once I’ve ordered a large gin and tonic.
‘Hansi’s not here,’ Luc answers, though he seems preoccupied as he gestures towards the booths. ‘Take a seat. I just need to make a quick call.’
‘OK.’ I head towards a low table in the centre of the room, because the booths look a little too cosy. Now that we’re here, I’m beginning to have second thoughts. It’s much quieter than I expected and I still need to arrange a room for the night. I’d better make this quick.
‘Sorry about that.’ Luc comes to sit on the sofa opposite. ‘Work never stops.’
‘Is that whisky?’ I look at his glass in surprise. ‘I thought drivers didn’t drink before a race?’
‘Usually we don’t, but I hate to let a friend drink alone.’
‘Do I count as a friend?’ I purse my lips. ‘I thought you and Gio were enemies?’
‘So he tells me.’ Luc shrugs. ‘Personally, I don’t even remember what this feud is about. Like I said, Gio’s a talented driver, but his temper gets the better of him.’
‘No kidding.’ I take a large mouthful of gin.
‘Don’t be too hard on him, though. Missing a race, especially at this stage in the calendar, is brutal. I’d be upset too, if I were him.’
‘I know. I get it.’ I frown into my glass. ‘That’s not the only reason I’m angry with him.’
‘Ah.’ Luc leans back in his chair. ‘You know, he’s been a better driver since he met you, calmer and more focused, but this lifestyle can take a big toll on relationships.’
‘ You’ve managed. My friend Ava says you’ve been married almost ten years.’
‘Yes, but we’ve had our problems. The truth is, most racing drivers don’t make very good partners. We have to be selfish. Some call it narcissistic. Hansi liked the glamour and excitement to begin with, but after a while, things changed. She wanted me to put her ahead of my career.’
I tilt my head. ‘Is that why you’re retiring?’
‘Partly, although, just between us, it’s probably too late to save our marriage. The damage is already done.’ He swirls his glass so that the ice tinkles against the sides.
‘Oh. Wow.’ I take another sip of gin to hide my expression. This definitely isn’t a conversation I expected to have tonight – or ever . It’s also a lot more information than I wanted, and it really doesn’t feel right to know about Hansi Farron’s future divorce before she does.
Luc gets up and comes to sit on my side of the table, which also strikes me as a little weird. I can understand him not wanting to broadcast his personal business across the lounge, but he’s sitting a lot too close for comfort and there’s a calculating look in his eye that sets my nerves on edge. If he were anyone else, I’d think he was trying to hit on me, but he’s the good guy of Formula 1. Everyone says so. Everyone . Except Gio. And Lorenzo. And the whole Bauer family. And, now that I think about it, Izabel’s always been oddly tight-lipped about him too.
‘I should get to bed,’ I say, feigning a yawn as I push myself to my feet. ‘It’s been a long day. Thanks for the drink, and good luck in the race tomorrow.’
‘Thanks.’ Luc stands up as well and spreads his arms out. ‘Here, you seem like you need a hug.’
‘What?’ My nerves zing from moderate to high alert. For the second time this evening, alarm bells are blaring in my head. ‘No, I’m fine, honestly.’
‘Then maybe I need one.’ He wraps his arms round me before I can protest.
I jerk and pull away quickly. Luc’s smiling like he thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to touch a person who just explicitly asked you not to. Am I overreacting? I’m honestly too tired to judge right now, even if I do suddenly feel like I want to take a shower.
‘Goodnight, Luc,’ I say firmly.
‘Goodnight, Maisie.’ He’s still smiling as I hurry away.
I head straight to the front desk and ask for a room, but unfortunately the entire hotel is booked up, so I call Izabel and beg for her help. She doesn’t ask questions, just offers me the spare bed in her twin room on condition that I don’t tell Gio, and since I have no intention of telling him anything I agree.
I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. I sleep surprisingly well too, almost eleven full hours before there’s a knock on the door and everything falls apart.