Chapter 12
twelve
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS
The yellow flag indicating danger or debris on the track waved high from the official’s booth above the starting line.
Avery’s breath hitched. What had happened?
From her vantage point above pit lane, Avery hadn’t seen an incident at the Dutch Grand Prix’s famous hairpin turn at the end of the starting line straight.
It must have happened elsewhere on the track.
She held her breath and crossed her fingers until the replay was shown on the big screen.
One of the Griffin Point cars had spun out at another corner.
Phew. It wasn’t a Silver. It wasn’t Teddy.
No one was hurt, which was the most important thing, so she didn’t feel any remorse immediately focusing on how it would affect her guys.
The team desperately wanted to end the first half of the season in the top five of ten teams competing for the Constructors’ championship, the season-long battle for the team with the most total points.
Currently, they were neck and neck with Griffin Point, and today’s outcome would determine who was fifth and who was sixth going into the summer break.
Silver was probably too far back from the leading constructor, Archer, to win the championship at the end of the season.
But moving into the top five before the mandated fourteen-day summer shut down would allow everyone from the factory technicians to the drivers to enjoy the time off and re-energize before gearing up for the final ten races.
She watched as the marshals struggled to remove the car from the track, and bit her lip as the safety car was deployed from pit lane.
The drivers would have to slow down significantly and stay behind the safety car, no passing allowed.
It was plain bad luck for Zack, who had managed to take the lead and had built a nice gap between himself and the Archer behind him in second place, who would now get to catch up to Zack as the cars bunched up behind the safety car.
Her dad shook his head in frustration. “There goes that five second lead,” he said, his voice bitter.
“I know. Sucks. But he can still pull it out,” Avery said, trying to sound positive. “At least it’s good for Teddy?”
She knew that securing the win for Zack was the team’s top priority, but Teddy was currently in third, keeping the pressure on the Archer from behind.
When the yellow flag ended and the safety car went back in the pit, the Archer would not only have to try and overtake Zack in front, but would also have to play defense.
Teddy was right behind him aiming for a one-two finish for Silver Racing, or at least both drivers on the podium.
Avery picked at her nail polish, not caring that she was ruining her manicure, while the cars zig-zagged like a long snake behind the safety car, trying to keep their tires warm until the yellow flag turned green.
As soon as the safety car was out of the way, the cars returned to full speed.
Avery heard the sounds of shaky laughter and big exhales all around her as Zack held onto his lead, rebuilding the distance between himself and the Archer.
It was in no small part thanks to Teddy, who was pushing flat out, making the Archer look behind him at every turn to keep Teddy in third.
Avery wasn’t sure that Teddy’s tires would last the way he was driving.
She clenched her fists at the thought that the team might be sacrificing Teddy’s spot on the podium for a Zack win.
Someone with more data and more power than she had gotten to make that call.
And it wasn’t necessarily the wrong one.
They had to execute whatever strategy was likely to get the team the most overall points.
She grimaced as Teddy started to fall back from the Archer by fractions of a second each lap. His tires were cooked. But he’d bought enough time for Zack to regain a safe lead over the Archer.
Her ribs quivered as the fourth place car got closer and closer to Teddy until Teddy was less than one second ahead.
He didn’t even fight for his spot when they got to the hairpin, almost allowing the fourth place car to overtake him, knowing his pace just wasn’t there.
Not worth taking the risk of crashing and ending up with no points.
But Avery’s heart sank, here went Teddy’s chance at his first podium finish.
The car in fifth was way too far behind Teddy to catch him on his spent tires, and the rest of the race was fairly uneventful.
A win for Zack and a fourth place finish for Teddy was a really strong result for the team, clinching that fifth place standing ahead of Griffin Point.
But it still left a sour taste in her mouth on Teddy’s behalf.
Avery went through the motions of celebrating Zack’s win, joining the exuberant team doling out congratulatory hugs and cheering at the podium ceremony.
But her mind was squarely on the guy who had come in fourth, narrowly missing the limelight on the podium.
He had quietly and politely disappeared.
As soon as the champagne had been sprayed, Avery followed, walking up the stairs to the driver’s private rooms.
She knocked on the door, hoping she’d find Teddy there.
“Who is it?” his voice sounded tired, the Scottish brogue more audible than she’d heard before.
“It’s Avery,” she said, softly.
She heard him get up and unlock the door. “Come in.”
“Amazing drive, Teddy. And what you did for the team was invaluable,” Avery said, wanting to make him feel appreciated and special.
“Thanks, still stings though. Following team orders when my first podium was so close I could taste it,” he shook his head.
“I know. I wish I had something profound to say, but it just sucks. And I just wanted to say I’m in your corner. Team Teddy,” she gave him a half smile. It was the most she could muster through the thick fog of disappointment and longing that permeated the room.
He reached out and took one of her curls between his fingers and tugged it straight.
Avery’s breath caught in her throat as he gently let go, allowing it to bounce back into its natural state. The dressing room suddenly felt small, like it couldn’t contain both of them and the heat that was building between them.
“That officially makes two of us on Team Teddy, today anyway,” he paused. “Thank you.”
“What are you doing over the summer break?” she asked. “I suppose the fans are going to expect pictures of us on a yacht off the coast of Ibiza or something.” Avery blushed at Teddy’s bemused smile. “I’m heading back to LA. No shut down for the foundation.”
“Well, the fans are going to be disappointed. No yacht. No photos of a gorgeous girlfriend in a bikini,” he said, a smile finally forming on his lips, his eyes skating up and down her body.
Avery suddenly felt feverish.
“But I am going to spend a few days recharging on the French Riviera with some of the guys, which will be nice.”
“You deserve it,” she managed to whisper.
He nodded as if he were trying to convince himself of the words he was hearing.
“I’ll see you in three weeks in Austin, then,” Avery said. Her heart felt heavy at the thought of going so long without seeing him.
Avery watched as Teddy swallowed. “I suppose so,” he agreed.
Avery had to repress her desire to throw herself into his body and bury her face into his chiseled chest. Instead, she stepped closer to him slowly but confidently, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.
A hug left room for interpretation, a chance to de-escalate into faux-girlfriend/friend territory or to go somewhere else entirely.
He put his arms around her waist in return.
Avery felt the heat dancing back and forth between them where his forearms rested on her hips, as his strong arms encircled her petite frame.
She drank in the feel of his thumbs pressed into the small of her back and tucked her nose into his neck, trying to memorize his scent in anticipation of being apart for several weeks.
In just a few months, he’d become such a consuming part of her life, and the weeks ahead felt bleak without the thrill of their dates to break up her otherwise anxiety-filled days.