Chapter 15
fifteen
AUSTIN, TX
Avery looked anxiously over her shoulder toward the entrance to the team’s pop-up shop.
She was in an industrial space in downtown Austin, and her parents were expected to arrive any moment now.
Fans were lined up along one wall, waiting for their turn to go up on stage and have Teddy or Zack sign the merch they had purchased from the display at the front.
She walked over to the uniformed security guard manning the front doors.
“Excuse me, do you have an updated ETA for Michael Silver?” she asked.
“Ok, thanks,” she answered.
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything different,” he looked at her sympathetically, sensing her apprehension.
Her dad was scheduled to take part in the fan Q&A that was starting in half an hour, and her mom had traveled with him to Austin for the United States Grand Prix.
Sharon Silver did not attend many races, but given Austin’s relative proximity to LA, Avery’s mom always made the trip down to Texas each year.
Avery felt sick to her stomach at the thought of introducing her mom to Teddy.
Sharon still had no idea they weren’t really a couple, and her overwhelming introductions alone could be enough to scare Teddy out of pursuing anything real.
One time in high school, Sharon invited Avery’s homecoming date on their family vacation when he came to pick her up for the dance.
Avery barely knew the guy—he was the friend of a friend.
The poor kid was so flustered that he could hardly stand to look at Avery the entire night, which had put a real damper on the whole homecoming experience.
Sharon also had a habit of flaunting her wealth and status quite a bit when meeting someone new.
When Avery moved into her college dorm, her mom outfitted the small space with a wall-mounted TV, a pink mini fridge, and two sets of matching linens, all in an effort to impress Avery’s new roommate.
Avery never saw the girl again after freshman year.
Now that she knew about Teddy’s humble beginnings, Avery knew he was unlikely to be impressed by her mom’s signature showiness. Would Teddy confuse her mom’s attitude toward money with Avery and be turned off?
Avery nervously paced around the space, pretending to check out the various displays showcasing the team’s sponsors. Her attention ping-ponged between Teddy signing autographs at the table and the front doors, dreading the inevitable.
The security guard from earlier tapped her on the shoulder and pointed at a black SUV pulling-up outside, before joining other members of the venue’s security team, who were wearing plain black attire and headsets, as they got into position to escort her parents through the crowd to the stage area in the back.
Her dad emerged first, wearing a team branded polo shirt, a cashmere sweater tied over his shoulders, and slacks.
His dark, but thinning, hair was slicked back, and his natural tan and vivacious demeanor made him look younger than his sixty-five years.
Her mom’s petite figure followed him out of the car, overdressed for the occasion in a vintage Chanel jacket paired with tailored trousers, her icy blonde hair in a low chignon that showed off large diamond earrings.
Avery took a deep breath, trying to ease the pit of dread that had formed deep in her belly.
She was able to move through the crowd unnoticed since she was wearing the staff uniform and her curls were tucked into a messy bun that stuck out the bottom of her baseball cap.
She hadn’t washed and styled her hair yet because she was hoping to have time to go to a pilates class at a local studio later.
“Hello, darling,” her mother leaned in to give Avery a hug and a kiss.
“Hi, Mom. Welcome to Austin,” she plastered a fake smile on her face, pretending to be delighted to see her mom too.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” Sharon said, pulling out a compact mirror to make sure her lipstick hadn’t been smudged while giving her daughter a kiss.
“I’m so looking forward to meeting Teddy.
You haven’t brought a date to the gala since you were dating Josh, way back when.
So, I know you two must be getting serious.
” She winked at Avery as if they were girlfriends who shared all their secrets.
At least Avery wouldn’t have to work too hard to convince her mom that she and Teddy were dating for real.
Her brother and brother-in-law, however, would be much harder to convince.
They were due to arrive in a few hours, and she would have to play it just right.
Ben and Adam were definitely more skeptical of anyone who tried to penetrate the family’s inner circle, and normally Avery was grateful that they were always looking out for her best interest. On the flip side, their presence this time was going to make it even more tricky to walk the line with Teddy.
If Avery and Teddy laid it on too thick, they would know something was up.
On the other hand, if she didn’t at least show some PDA, they wouldn’t believe she was actually into him.
“There’s my girl!” her dad nearly shouted as he too gave her a big hug. “Good crowd, right? How have the merch sales been? These pop-ups are huge for us this season, just huge.”
Before she could answer, their conversation was interrupted when a staff member went on stage and announced the end of the drivers’ meet and greet session.
Teddy and Zack approached their family huddle, two of the security guards parting the fans in front of them like the Red Sea. She made eye contact with Teddy and gave him a half smile. She felt butterflies in her stomach. Who knows what he is thinking after our almost-kiss in the sim?
Teddy gave her a chaste peck on the cheek, leaving Avery craving more connection with him.
She longed to be alone with him, to see his eyes crinkle up in that real smile of his, to hear more stories about growing up with his mom and brother.
Her physical reaction to being with him again confirmed what Stacey had figured out weeks ago, she wanted it to be real.
I’m certainly not going to be the one to suggest it first. Putting my feelings out there now could ruin everything we have going for us.
Avery was grateful on multiple levels that Teddy stuck close to her side, waiting for her to set the tone with her parents. They hung back as Zack paid his respects, shaking hands with Michael and making small talk with her mother before he was quickly whisked away to his next obligation.
Well, here goes nothing. She wasn’t sure exactly what label, if any, to give him when introducing Teddy to her mom.
There was no way she could get through saying “This is my boyfriend, Teddy.” Boyfriend wasn’t a word they had used in their pretend romance.
And “This is our new driver, Teddy,” was too obvious and too impersonal.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Teddy. Teddy, this is my mom, Sharon,” Avery said, finally.
Teddy stuck out his hand for a handshake. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Silver. I’m Teddy Ross.”
“Teddy, what a pleasure to finally meet you. And, please, call me Sharon. I mean you’re practically part of the family.”
Avery cringed. Part of the family? A few dates and her mother was calling him part of the family? Peak Sharon.
Teddy froze for a second, his eyes wide, before quickly resuming his rehearsed picture-perfect smile.
Avery was sure that an overbearing would-be mother-in-law was exactly the type of thing Teddy was trying to avoid in a real relationship. Avery clenched her fists by her sides, hoping no one would notice her growing discomfort.
“Well, you have a lovely daughter, and I hope I haven’t been keeping her on the road and away from her family obligations in California too much this season,” Teddy said, easily slipping into his poised public persona.
“Don’t be silly. It’s so important for young couples to be together. I just don’t understand all these long-distance relationships your generation tries to make work. If you love someone, you make sacrifices to support their career.”
Avery could practically feel the steam coming out of her ears in response to her mom’s anti-feminist statement.
Of course, her mom would think that she should spend her time being a cheerleader for Teddy instead of focusing on her own goals.
Giving up her own ambitions to be with Avery’s dad and support his career had worked out quite well for Sharon Silver, with the charmed life she led.
But Avery wanted more out of her life, wanted to make her own mark.
“Well, Mom, Teddy really has to get going. He’s due for his next event,” she said.
Teddy winked at her. There was no next event.
“Yes, Mrs. Silver, I mean Sharon, your husband runs a tight ship and I best be off to work. I do hope we will get to see each other again this week,” he stuck out his hand for a parting handshake, but to Avery’s horror, her mother pulled him in for a hug.
Avery put her manicured hand on Teddy’s arm and started physically moving him away from her mother. “Bye, Mom. Love you.”
She followed Teddy outside as the security team made a path for him to walk through the crowd. That certainly could have gone a lot worse. At least it’s over.
A queue of people had formed outside the doors waiting for their turn to come inside. Among them was a little boy who couldn’t have been more than seven years old who was holding up a sign that read “Future Silver Driver.”
“You’re my favorite driver, ever! I hope you get pole position,” he yelled to Teddy.
Pole position, the first place on the starting grid (the order in which cars line up to start the race), was given to the driver who recorded the fastest lap time in qualifying rounds each week.
Starting in front highly increased their chances of winning.
Teddy stopped in his tracks and knelt down to be eye-level with the boy.
She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but Avery studied the way Teddy focused his complete attention on the boy as he engaged in conversation with the youngster for a full thirty seconds.
The boy’s whole face lit up, clearly delighted in Teddy’s attention.
I know the feeling, kiddo. When Teddy made you the center of his universe, even for a moment, it was as if the rest of the world disappeared.
She felt any remaining wariness about Teddy’s polished facade melt away, now that she knew he had a warm personality and genuine interest in other people underneath the serious exterior.
When they reached Teddy’s car, a bright green Silver R8 on loan from a local dealership, Teddy wrapped his arms around Avery’s hips in full view of the fans waiting to go inside for the Q&A.
Avery gasped in surprise at the unexpected heat of his fingers pressed tightly into her small of her back.
This certainly didn’t feel like a staged photo-op.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you. Is this okay? Too much?” Teddy blinked.
“No—I mean yes, it’s okay. Really.” Avery submitted to the tingling in her hands as she wrapped her hands around his neck, trying to ignore the fans whipping out their phones to take videos of them, wishing she had done her hair.
The phones and the busy city street beyond them faded from her view as she basked in the glow of Teddy’s warm hands and full attention.
“Avery! Teddy! Can I get a selfie?” she heard a voice yell from the crowd.
“Teddy, over here!” another voice chirped.
“Give me one second, mate,” Teddy said to the guy shoving a baseball cap and sharpie in between their faces, bursting their momentary bubble.
He squeezed her tighter for another moment, before untangling himself from her arms, a reluctant look on his face. He held his hand out for the guy who was still standing there with his baseball cap in hand. He accepted the sharpie and signed it, stealing glances at Avery as he did.
Avery marveled at his effortless cool as he handed back the hat, waved and nodded at fans, and walked around to the driver’s side of the sporty street legal Silver.
He got in, the car door slamming shut behind him.
A pair of sunglasses had magically appeared on his face, adding to his movie star good looks.
She shook her head. Where did those come from?
She wished she could hop into the passenger seat next to him and drive off into the proverbial sunset, but duty called and she wistfully walked back into the event space to face her family.