Chapter 6
six
LONDON, ENGLAND
“Let me get this straight. You’re going to pretend to date Teddy?
The incredibly buff, extremely sexy race car driver your dad pays me to train and assist?
” Stacey’s eyebrows were so high they practically reached her platinum blonde hair, “So that you can use him to raise extra money at the gala and get your mom off your back?”
They had just sat down to high tea, and Avery had told her about her impending fake relationship with Teddy. She could understand why her friend was so surprised. It was pretty out of character.
“I guess so? The opportunity sort of presented itself. I mean, if you think he’s sexy, then you should do it.”
“Not a chance. I already know way too much about him,” Stacey poured hot water into her cup, her neon pink nail polish a stark contrast with the cream-colored porcelain teapot.
“I could tell you his daily schedule down to the minute, every calorie he ingests, and what time he goes to sleep each night. He’s like a science project to me.
I couldn’t possibly pretend to be interested in him like that. ”
“Fair enough,” Avery nodded in agreement. “Plus, he said it would help him out too. What is his deal anyway? What were he and James talking about?”
Avery attempted to seem nonchalant by examining the finger foods on the tiered serving tray sitting between them while eagerly awaiting her friend’s response. She finally selected a bite-sized fig tart and a cucumber sandwich.
Stacey opened her mouth to reply, then shut it.
Avery tapped her foot under the table, desperate for any information she could get about Teddy.
“He takes his job very seriously. He has a lot riding on this season. It’s not only the pressure to perform for the team, he provides financially for his mom and his younger brother too after they sacrificed to support his racing career.”
“I had no idea,” Avery admitted. She took a bite of her tart and chewed slowly as she turned this new piece of information about Teddy over in her head.
Stacey glanced over her shoulder before continuing.
“He didn’t have a happy home life growing up—that’s all I can say.
And recently, a reporter showed up at his mom’s door asking questions.
James got the reporter to back off by promising a better story.
I guess dating you is going to be the better story. ”
The muscles in Avery’s neck and upper back tightened.
“I’m not sure if this fake girlfriend plan is insane or brilliant.
But, whatever you do, don’t actually fall for him,” Stacey lowered her usually peppy voice, “He means it—he is one hundred percent committed to his career and his performance on the track and won’t let anything get in the way of that. ”
Avery took another tart for herself without offering it to Stacey first. She knew Stacey, being a paragon of fitness and nutrition, wouldn’t want it.
“I can handle it. I’ve seen too many girls get their hearts broken by race car drivers to get involved emotionally,” Avery meant every word, and yet her stomach quivered.
“You have a good head on your shoulders, but I also know you pretty well and you turned beet red when I called him sexy. I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Stacey frowned, two little lines appearing between her eyebrows.
“I appreciate that. Really, I do,” Avery put down her food and reached across the floral tablecloth to squeeze Stacey’s hand, “But it’s a win-win. If there's a chance it will bring attention to the gala, I have to try it.”
“I know how much you want to prove your worth. But why are you putting so much pressure on yourself to do it all at once? Why not give yourself a year to learn the ropes?”
Avery scratched her forehead and sighed. Because every year counts for a kid who wants to start karting and doesn’t have the means to fund it.
“Remember that year I spent living in the UK when I was twelve? When I convinced my parents to let me go to boarding school and enter some karting races?”
“Yes, it was like a semester abroad for a twelve-year-old, I was so envious,” Stacey admitted.
“I learned two things that year: one, 12 is too late to get started in motorsport; and two, you have to be rich and male to get noticed. I raced against only a handful of other girls at races the entire year, and everyone else was rich, white, male or all three,” she took a deep breath.
“I have a chance to make this sport more fair. I have big plans to improve access to quality coaching and sponsorship for kids from underprivileged backgrounds, not just in motorsports, but in all sports. I want to do big things.”
“Okay, that’s admirable. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for you to think you can take down the race car patriarchy and prove yourself to your family in one year,” Stacey raised her eyebrows.
“You’re right. It might take two,” Avery laughed. “But I have to start somewhere. And getting that gala as much press as possible is as good a place to start as any.”