Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
TESSA
Gia claps her hands excitedly. “This is huge! The sponsorship isn’t just for Rosa Negra Couture, but also for their partner liquor launch too! They want you to be a part of their European debut.”
Rome isn’t paying attention at all. He’s holding a pen horizontally between his thumb and pointer finger and wiggling it like he’s back in elementary school. Noah is hiding a paper football in the palm of his hand, waiting for Gia to turn her head so he can flick it across the table at Beck.
The drivers are required to sit through this meeting because they’re representing the brand.
Well, we will all be representing the brand in Spain, but they’re arguably the most important.
“First, there will be the red carpet and photos, where you are required to wear a piece of Rosa Negra Couture, then you’ll move onto cocktail hour, where there will only be Rosa Tequila available.”
Beck chants quietly from his seat. “Shots, shots, shots.”
Van shushes him.
“Then the product-unveiling moment, maybe a speech or two from the representatives, and mingling before heading back to the hotel for the rest of the week’s festivities.”
Meaning the track walk, qualifying, and the race.
Sponsorships are important, but the race even more so.
“It’s also required for you to bring a plus-one.”
I sit up a little taller in my seat, and the pen in Rome’s hand stops wiggling.
“Perfect,” Noah chimes. “You two can work on fixing your reputations.”
Gia purses her lips. “It’s only required for the drivers to bring a plus-one, but–”
“I’m bringing one too,” I blurt.
A laugh shoots out of Beck’s mouth. “Like who?”
I turn my nose up at my brother. “None of your business.”
Noah attempts to hide a smile. “Vinny will be there. Maybe you can take him.”
The pen clatters on the table. Rome’s eyebrows draw together. “No.”
Van’s phone goes off, interrupting the tense moment. His eyebrows furrow after looking at the screen. “I have to take this.”
“The meeting is basically done. I’ll send the rest of the details via email,” Gia says.
My brother can't escape fast enough. Beck’s chair is still spinning by the time he darts from the door, leaving me and Rome to walk out together.
It’s not as if we’re not going to the same wing of headquarters, but even after spending so much time with him over the last few days during test set-ups, sim work, and refining lines, being alone with him makes the skin of my chest itch.
I try to slow my steps to lag behind, but he notices and does the same.
Then I try to speed-walk, which only results in him chuckling from beside me.
I glare up at him, and he’s showing off his famous smirk, the one that makes his icy-blue eyes seem a little less intimidating.
“So, who are you taking as your plus-one?” he asks. “You got someone in Spain lined up? Or are you bringing someone?”
I eye him closely. “Why do you care?”
His hands disappear into his pockets after hitting the button for the elevator. “I don’t. Just curious.”
I refuse to ask who he’s bringing, because I’d rather jump from this balcony than have him think I care.
“You’re just going to have to wait and see,” I say, smiling.
He angles his head and squints. “You don’t have a plus-one, do you?”
I laugh and play off my nervousness. “Of course I do. I have a long line of men I can choose from. I’m just trying to remember which one has the biggest dick.”
A tight-lipped smile carves into Rome’s tense jaw, but he recovers quickly when the elevator door opens up. Neither one of us steps forward.
I’m not sure I can stand to be in that tiny space with him again with the remnants of the last time we were in an elevator together in my head.
“Go ahead.” He holds the door. “I think it’s best if I get the next one.”
I’m wary but slide past him into the empty space. I reach forward to hit the button, and he removes his hand. Our eyes meet in the middle, and he grins. “Wouldn’t want to have a repeat now, would we?”
I suck in my cheeks, knowing the pink color is likely giving me away.
He raises a brow.
The door shuts, and I exhale in relief.
How we can go from working tirelessly together, surrounded by the rest of our team, tweaking lines, and analyzing data, and then to this a breath later is beyond me.
I pull out my phone and text Quinn.
Me
I need a date for an event in Spain. ASAP.
Quinn
I’ll be your date.
Me
Find me someone that’ll shut Rome up, and you can come too.
Quinn
Are you going to make me go with Beck?
I don’t answer her, and yet, she agrees.
Quinn
Fine. I’m in. I’ll send you potential dates shortly.
I smile to myself.
Perfect.
“Wow.”
My face flushes. I look down at the red gown, the color of wine, and run my hands over the silk material.
“It’s the only one that fit me.” I shrug shyly.
“And this is the only one that fit me.” Quinn’s red lips flatten.
My date, her cousin, gives her a onceover. “What’s wrong with it? It looks fine.”
“Exactly.” She huffs. “You lose your breath at the sight of Tessa…” She glances at me and winks. “Rightfully so. But then you say I look fine?”
Jasper throws his hands out. “You’re my cousin. What do you want me to say?”
Quinn pushes past him, mumbling under her breath. Jasper and I peer down the hall of the hotel and watch as she raps her knuckles against the door.
“This ought to be good,” he mutters, grinning at me.
I shake my head. “They’re destined to kill each other before the night ends.”
“And you're destined to kill me in that dress, Tess.” He eyes me up and down. “You grew up.”
“You mean, I’m not that same tween girl with braces and wild wavy hair?” I laugh. “Thank God.”
When Quinn found out that her cousin was going to be in Spain at the same time we were, it was a no-brainer for her to ask him to accompany me.
He jumped at the opportunity. Getting to spend the evening with F1 drivers at a fancy venue in the middle of Madrid with endless amounts of top-of-the-line tequila… hell yeah was his response.
But now that he’s staring at me like I’m his next meal, this night might not be as dreadful as I think. It’s just an added bonus that I get to prove to Rome that I’m not dateless like he teased me about all week long.
I haven’t seen him since before we got into Madrid.
Mr. Arrogant was finally able to get his private jet brought down from Canada, so he and whoever he brought as his plus-one flew in a day after us.
Down the hall, Beck opens his door. He steps out halfway and leans against the doorframe with his white dress shirt half-unbuttoned. “Yes?”
Quinn places a hand on her hip, the dark-green satin of her dress moving slightly. “When you see me, what is the first thing that comes to mind?”
My brother eyes her up and down longingly. His mouth curves up on the side, and I’m certain whatever comes out of his mouth is going to piss Quinn off even more than Jasper saying she looks fine.
“The word that comes to mind is...” He leans in closer to her. “Mine.”
Jasper glances at me. “Are they a thing?”
Quinn’s voice rings through. “I am not yours, Beckham! Not even for tonight.”
“You’re my date, so you kind of are.”
“Date, yes. Plaything? Never.” She throws her long, auburn hair over her shoulder and pushes Beck back into his room. “Hurry up and get dressed. I don’t want to be late.”
He follows after her, grinning like a fool, and shuts the door.
“Well, that answers that,” Jasper says.
A laugh falls from my mouth, and Jasper grins at me.
I gaze at his handsome smile and vibrant green eyes, hopeful a spark will appear, but nothing happens until I hear a door open up behind him.
My body buzzes before I even see him.
The air in the hallway shifts, and I can’t flick my attention back to Jasper. I’m glued to Rome, desperate for some type of sign that he’s looking for me too.
Which he shouldn’t be.
Neither one of us should be looking for each other.
Not in a near-empty hallway or a crowded venue space.
The only time either one of us should be searching for the other is on the track.
And yet, somehow, we find each other anyway.