Chapter 19 Wine, Cheese, and Monza
WINE, CHEESE, AND MONZA
Sloane sat in the small room that had been converted into her office inside the academy’s mobile suite, decompressing from the chaotic weekend where more had happened than she’d ever imagined possible.
She’d arrived in Italy as one version of herself and would be leaving feeling entirely altered by so many unforeseen events.
Monza had a way of accelerating everything: speed on the track, speed in decision-making, speed in life changes, and there was nothing to do but roll with each new development.
She was proud of herself for not reaching for control, but instead bracing herself for whatever came next.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Veronica said, breezing into the room in black yoga pants, designer tennis shoes, and a Formula Next tee.
She handed Sloane a bourbon on the rocks to cap off what had been a whirlwind of a Sunday.
It had somehow morphed into their once-a-week tradition.
From tennis balls to hard liquor in the office. They’d come a long way.
“Well, I only talk in headlines.”
Sloane laughed. “Obviously. You’re Veronica Fucking Vance. I take it we’re talking about Laurens pulling Reese?”
“See? You’re with me. And it’s not just great for Reese’s career and the academy’s legitimacy, but for you.”
“Why? Because now I don’t have to go out of my way to make sure there’s no bias in how I work with the drivers?”
Veronica touched her glass to Sloane’s. “Exactly. You get to have your Reese and eat—”
“I’m going to pause you right there.”
Veronica laughed, carefree and melodious. “Live it up, Sloane. Enjoy every minute of this dalliance. You deserve the fun more than anyone else I know.”
“Fun.” Sloane stared at her glass, examining the word.
Veronica watched her, thoughtful. “Unless it’s more than that. I shouldn’t presume.”
The truth was that Sloane’s feelings for Reese were growing much faster than she was prepared for.
They were scary, jumbled, wonderful, and somehow had a mind of their own.
Sloane felt like she’d boarded the most exhilarating roller coaster and just wished someone would hand her a map of the twists and drops.
Even now, she was checking the clock, wondering when she might hear how Reese’s day had gone with Laurens, her heart squeezing with hope that it had been a good one.
She wasn’t at all used to this feeling of her happiness tethered to another person’s.
She exhaled slowly, prepared to be forthright. “It might be more than that.”
“Yeah,” Veronica said quietly. “I’m picking up on that now.”
Sloane took that first startling sip, and the liquid burned a trail down her throat and made her lips buzz.
But she’d earned it. Their day had been killer, packed with a team principal meeting, a round of press, a quick check-in with each duo of drivers, and, of course, the race and podium celebration, where Delaney Rhodes had risen to the occasion, leading her team to a P1 finish like a damn pro.
Sloane liked seeing the wealth shared and a driver like Delaney finally get her moment to shine. It was good for all of them.
“I missed her today at the academy. I kept expecting her to come around the corner, and then when she didn’t, my chest tugged a little bit, and I wondered if her day was a good one.”
“Oh, I’m enjoying this very much,” Veronica said, tapping her bottom lip with her finger. “You should see the faraway look you just got in your eyes when you talk about her, like the sexiest scene in the movie just came on.”
“Well, that’s because in my brain, it did.”
“And the sex?”
“Veronica. Shockingly good.” She dropped her tone just in case. “I mean, I’ve had good before. James from back in the day was fine, and then Kristin right before the accident was amazing.”
“Oh, I remember Kristin,” Veronica said with an appreciative eyebrow raise. “She loved fruit. Everywhere she went, she looked for a bowl of it.”
“We had a lot of chemistry. I didn’t think sex got better.” She closed her eyes. “It does.”
“Well, now I have goose bumps. And I need the best sex ever.” She looked around the room as if she might find it. “You’re making me intensely jealous.”
“Don’t be yet. You ready for the flip side?”
Veronica made a circular gesture with her glass. “Why rain on this glorious parade?”
“Focus.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Fine.”
Sloane paused for a moment and regrouped. “She’s young. That gives me pause.”
“She’s not that young. Her frontal lobe is fully formed.”
Sloane shot Veronica a look. “Grasping and you know it.”
“I realize she’s a twenty-something, and you find yourself pleasantly nestled in your thirties.”
“Nestled? God. Is it worse than I thought?”
“I don’t think your ages are a deal-breaker. You may have to stay up on all the current lingo, however. It will take effort, Sloane, to be cool.”
“I think you just slapped me across the face.”
“In the name of advice, I did. The good news is that you look amazing. Hotter than I’ve ever seen you if we’re being honest.”
“Now we’re talking.” Sloane smiled around her glass, feeling a tiny bit taller.
Then the cloud settled over the room, threatening to ruin it all.
Didn’t matter. She had to go there. “What if I can’t handle her behind the wheel in F1?
Putting herself in the same danger I know firsthand doesn’t always end well.
” Veronica opened her mouth to speak, but Sloane raised her hand to stop her.
“Because, and just entertain me here, what if her story has an even more final ending than mine did?”
“Final.” Veronica paused. “Okay, I get it. You don’t want to be sitting in the stands, cheering on the woman you love, only to watch a horrific crash that takes her life.”
“It could happen.”
“Of course it could. But it won’t.”
“You don’t know that, and I’m not sure I have it in me to find out.” She closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing the brunt of the concern, working to control her breathing, and then opened her eyes again. “What if I don’t? What then? Maybe I get out now before my heart is fully gone.”
“Is that what you want?” Veronica watched her. “To be free of this?”
“No. But I’m saying the quiet part out loud. To you. Because you’re a safe zone.”
“I think you also have to say it to Reese, who needs to know how you’re feeling.”
Sloane shook her head. “No. Uh-uh. I don’t want to steal this moment from her. Do you remember what it was like when we were called up?”
“Easily the happiest day in my career.”
“See? She deserves that same carefree celebration.”
“Then let her have it. When the glow wears off, have a realistic conversation. The communication alone will make all this easier.”
Sloane tapped the side of her glass with her nail. “Maybe.”
There was a knock at the door. “Hey, in there. It’s me.”
“Reese,” Sloane said quietly.
Veronica stood and opened the door. “Perfect timing,” she said to Reese as she exited the office.
“Are you two drinking?” Reese asked, breaking into a smile. “I feel like I just busted into your secret clubhouse.”
“You did, but you’re allowed,” Veronica said with a pat to her shoulder. “How are the big leagues treating you?”
“Not for the faint of heart,” she said with an exhale. “But I think I’m finding my way.”
“Let me know if you need anything. I know Shanelle Laurens and will pick up the phone and call in a favor if need be.”
“Thanks,” Reese said with a nod. “The academy has been great. I owe you a lot, Veronica.”
“I provided an opportunity. You did the rest,” Veronica said with a lift of her shoulder.
Reese looked in Sloane’s direction. “I might have had a little help by way of ass-kicking, but I’m grateful for your kind assessment.”
Veronica tapped the doorframe on her way out. “Haha. Have fun, you two.”
Reese stepped into the office, and Sloane moved to close the door behind her. “Hi,” she said, placing her back against the door. “How are you? Inquiring minds have been dying to know. And it’s me. I’m the inquiring mind.”
“Well, you. I’m mentally exhausted. Still a little nervous. In absolute heaven.” A smile took over her whole face, and Sloane melted. “And three times happier now that I’m standing here with you.”
“Yeah?” Sloane asked. “You’re really beautiful when you’re happy, Reese.”
“Thank you.” Reese slid a strand of hair behind Sloane’s ear. “Can we get out of here?”
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere you want. I just feel like open air.”
“Then let’s take a walk. It’s our last night in Monza.”
“Yes, please. I love that idea.” Luckily, Sloane had already slipped out of her official academy-branded attire and into her favorite navy athleisure set. She grabbed a baseball cap for good measure and pulled her ponytail through.
Reese went completely still. “I had no idea how much I would love you in a ball cap.”
Sloane touched the bill and laughed. “It’s a limited engagement. Come on.”
They left the paddock behind and slipped into the long, tree-lined paths of the park, where the Autodromo threaded through the green.
The roar of engines had faded to a memory, replaced by cicadas and the soft crunch of gravel underfoot.
Every so often, a stretch of fencing appeared through the trees before the path curved again and swallowed it whole.
“So,” Sloane said, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket. “Day one at Laurens.”
Reese rolled her shoulders, like she was finally setting the weight down.
“It was a ride.” She smiled to herself. “Shanelle runs a tight ship. Clean and efficient, the whole machine. I spent the morning learning about their procedures, data flow, and who talks to whom. I was pretty invisible. But not in a bad way.”
“That matters,” Sloane said.
“It does.” Reese kicked at a pebble. “The engineers were solid. One of them, Damon, walked me through everything like I already belonged there.”
Sloane nodded, waiting.
Reese exhaled. “And then there was Marco Faz. Oh, Marco was interesting.”