Chapter 26 Nicola #2
His eyes softened. They were his own words he had told me after the breakup when he caught me crying in the living room watching a movie in the middle of the night, which was rare.
I didn’t cry, let alone in front of anyone. The last time my father had seen my tears, I had been a child crying over a broken toy, so I’m sure it was jarring to say the least.
“I know I pushed you hard when you came back. I wanted you to succeed, to find your place here.You’ve always loved the sport so much.
” He paused and looked a bit sad. “I’m sorry for not seeing that sooner.
Your brother never held the same fire you have for racing.
I wanted him to want it so much, I think I overlooked you. ”
“Oh Papà, you haven’t, I just needed to find my voice first.”
“Tesoro, you have always had a loud voice.” He smiled, really smiled, reaching up crinkling around his eyes.
“I get that from you.” I smiled.
“I’m happy as long as you are happy, Nicola. Doing the Moretti name proud.”
“But I’m not just here because of the name. I’m good at this, Papà. And I want to be here. Not for the legacy. For me.”
He reached across the table and took my hand. “I know. And I’m proud of you. Not just because you’re succeeding—but because you stayed when it got hard.”
I blinked away the sudden sting in my eyes and nodded.
“Matteo’s lucky,” he added. “Even if he doesn’t always realize it.”
“Oh, he realizes it,” I said with a smirk.
“Are you still feeling confident about announcing at the gala?” he asked, not letting me avoid that particular topic anymore.
I let out a sigh I felt I was holding, then smiled. “We face things head on.”
My father chuckled and stood, checking his watch. “I have to go charm investors. But I’ll see you at the circuit?”
“I’ll be there—with Monty.” I scratched behind the dog’s ears. “He’s got a media interview at noon, apparently.”
“Tell him not to say anything controversial this time,” he called over his shoulder as he left.
I laughed softly, watching him go.
As I rounded the corner into the paddock hospitality lounge, I spotted two very familiar faces: Lucia—glasses perched on her nose, iPad in one hand, coffee in the other—and Anna—twirling a baby pink pen like she was plotting world domination.
“There she is!” Anna grinned like she knew something I didn’t. Honestly? She probably did.
Lucia looked up from her screen and gave me the once-over. “Oh, we’re wearing the trousers today,” she said, all-knowing and smug.
I flicked my hair off my shoulder with dramatic flair. “You mean my trousers. They were a gift.”
“They were a hand-me-down,” she countered. “There’s a difference.”
“You said Alexander liked spoiling you and that I should stop arguing,” I smirked, sliding into the seat beside her. “Also, thank you. I look hot.”
“You do,” Anna confirmed, sipping her sparkling water with a wink. “And judging by the unhinged messages Matteo was sending Lucia last night about missing you, I give it about thirty minutes before he starts prowling this place like a lost puppy.”
Lucia snorted into her coffee. “He already sent me a picture of Nicola’s perfume bottle like it was some kind of sacred relic.”
“That’s his Roman Empire,” Anna said solemnly. “Nicola’s scent.”
I cackled. “Please. Don’t give him ideas. The last thing that man needs is more material for his dramatics.”
Lucia’s expression softened as she nudged me lightly. “So…how are you really? The last few races have been a blur.”
“I’m good.” The words came out without hesitation—and for once, they weren’t a lie. “Like, scary good. Which is wild because I never thought I’d be this girl. You know, the one who smiles at her phone like a complete idiot at midnight.”
“You’ve got the sparkle,” Anna said, narrowing her eyes in a very serious, very best-friend-doctoral sort of way. “Only happens when it’s the real deal.”
I rolled my eyes, but my heart flipped traitorously in my chest. “Okay, maybe he does give me heartburn and butterflies at the same time.”
Lucia leaned in, chin on her hand. “He’s good for you.”
I nodded, a little softer now. “He really is. And I want to be good for him too.”
There was a pause—one of those quiet, golden ones only friends could create—before Anna let out a dreamy sigh. “Ugh, love. It’s so annoying.”
“Disgusting,” Lucia agreed, smiling into her latte.
“Oh hey, I heard some whispers about the Foundation chair stepping down?” Anna asked.
“Oh yeah…” I scratched my temple. “So I kinda forgot to mention…I got a little promotion.”
“Oooh how exciting! What’s your promotion?” Lucia beamed at me as Anna waited expectantly.
“I was nominated as the new chairwoman of the Moretti Foundation.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Lucia screamed.
“Holy shit!” Anna cheered.
“When did this happen? And why didn’t we know?
And oh my God, have you told Matteo? Because he’s gonna lose it!
We should throw a party, Anna, start sending invites out!
Our girl is a chairwoman!” Lucia was bouncing up and down, out of breath as she rambled out her excitement.
“I’m going to hug you now!” she declared and crushed me in a hug before she even finished speaking.
“You sneaky bitch!” Anna shook her head. “When did this happen?”
“Uh, two weeks ago…”
“Nicola Angelica Moretti,” Lucia scolded in full mom voice.
“That’s not my middle name,” I laughed.
“Not the point.” Lucia glared, then immediately softened. “I’m so damn proud of you.”
“Now you really are a boss ass bitch,” Anna added.
We all cracked up at the same time, and for a moment, it didn’t matter that we were in the middle of a high-stakes racing weekend, or that we were juggling PR events and sponsorship meetings and a thousand different time zones.
At that moment? We were just three women, sitting in the middle of the chaos, holding each other up.
And damn, it felt good to be known like this.