23. TIAGO
TIAGO
Isa rams me into the back of the Maxim Performance motorhome.
‘You slept with Jules Butler?!’ she hisses in Spanish.
Shiiiiiit. Shit shit shit.
‘No.’ Calm. Casual. ‘Where’d you get that from?’
She counts off on her fingers. ‘That “hey” was weird, and your smile was weird, and you’ve been super happy all morning. Don’t you dare lie to me, Santiago.’
Small, annoying, omniscient being.
‘So what if I did?’
Her hands fly over her mouth. ‘OH. MY. GOD.’
Her cheeks flush the colour of sangria as she desperately struggles to bottle all her loud emotions in an area swarming with media.
‘So many things, I don’t know where to start!’ she goes on, flapping her arms like she’s trying to land a plane.
‘She brought out her sex toys. What the fuck was I supposed to do?’
‘You had sex with Jules Butler.’
‘Shh!’ I frantically look around but it seems we’re surrounded by VIPs rushing around for their fast-approaching Pit Lane Walk.
‘Was it…?’ I know she’s dying to know but that Catholic guilt runs deep.
‘It was phenomenal.’
She exaggerates an impressed face. ‘And you slept over?’
‘Yeah. She sleeps like a dead person. She doesn’t move or make a sound. I wasn’t even sure she was breathing at one point. It’s like she’s even controlling in her sleep.’
Isa’s eyes shimmer. ‘Does this mean she’s picked you?’
‘Nah, she’s going on a date with Tom tonight.’
The welfare of her favourite brother’s been trumped by love for her imaginary idol. ‘Is this their first date?’
‘Yeah.’ I didn’t mean it to come out so sulky.
‘Then you fulfilled your side of the contract! I’m going to be honest, I never thought you could do it.’
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence,’ I mumble.
‘So is this the end of cold turkey too? I brought my premium ear plugs just in case.’
‘What? We’re not even in the same suite.’
‘I’m not taking any chances. I need my eight hours.’
I tut. ‘My abstinence is still alive and well. Jules was… different.’
Her phone buzzes for the third time since we’ve been standing here.
I raise an eyebrow. ‘Who’re you texting?’
‘People don’t text anymore, Tiago. Quit being so millennial.’
One name lights up her screen as she draws it from her pocket and positions it away from me. She thinks she’s fast but my reflexes are faster.
‘Nyla, huh?’
‘Nothing!’ Isa squeals, flattening it against her chest.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. ‘I didn’t say anything!’
‘Yes you did, and you can shut the hell up.’
I give up trying to stifle my amusement as I take a drink of water. ‘I can ask Jules for you if you want.’
She spears the air in front of my face so aggressively she almost prods my nose. ‘Don’t you fucking dare.’
I raise my hands in defeat. ‘Alright, alright, I won’t say anything.’
It doesn’t stop me sniggering all the way to my driver room.