Chapter Thirty-One
Luca
I woke up the next morning to my phone buzzing on the bedside table.
Henri:
A few of us are coming over this morning to surprise Georgia with a
celebratory brunch.
Luca:
Sure that’s a good idea?
Henri:
Are you saying I don’t know my sister?
Definitely was going to ignore that loaded question.
My body felt like it had been hit with a ton of bricks.
After I walked out of Georgia’s room, I hopped straight into the shower and desperately finished myself off.
It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as Georgia’s mouth had been back in Monza, but it was the only thing keeping me from going back into her room and ruining her a second time.
Seeing her like that—open, trusting, wrecked from my touch—would have to be enough. For now.
This game of cat and mouse had been building between us for the last two weeks, and I’d gone into the room expecting to make her see stars all night.
But as I watched her reach out for me, I realized I didn’t want our first time together to be in a drunken haze.
Or just a heat-of-a-moment decision fueled by a desire to one-up each other.
In that moment, I knew I wanted Georgia to choose me. Admit that she wanted this as much as I did, and so I decided to play it cool. Tell her that we were even, even if it was far from the truth. We weren’t even.
Not even close.
This little game of cat and mouse we were playing?
She was winning. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, her scent, her voice, the fire in her eyes when she was annoyed.
Georgia’s imprint was all over my mind, my heart.
I couldn’t stop thinking about her, her touch, her lips.
She was dominating, and in just a short period of time, I had become a pawn in her master plan to overtake my heart.
Another buzz.
Henri:
Be there in 30. I told her to be ready for a coffee date.
Luca:
And instead, you’re going to bring several uninvited people into her
home?
Sometimes it felt like Henri didn’t know his own twin. If my social battery was close to zero, I knew Georgia’s had to be empty. But if there was one thing Henri liked to make clear, it was that he knew his ‘Peaches’ the best, everyone else be damned.
Deep down, if I admitted it to myself, I knew it was partly why I wanted her to like me so much. Like a petty teenage boy, I secretly loved how much Henri despised us dating, even if it was fake.
Just as I dropped my phone on the bed, it rang again, and my father’s name flashed on the screen. “Morning, Luca. Did I wake you?”
Of course, he expected me to still be asleep because of last night’s celebration.
“No, I’ve been awake for a while now, but I have brunch with Georgia soon. Why?”
“Some good news! Matteo landed you a photo shoot with Helios before the Austria Grand Prix. Probably the best sponsorship news we’ve had all season. You’re doing a great job at selling this, son—”
“But?” I cut him off, knowing what was coming next.
The back of my neck prickled. “You and Georgia have had a lot of success these last few weeks, but there’s uncertainty with Hermes and your contract.
It still hasn’t been renewed and we’re about to start summer break.
Anthony’s father has really been pushing Hermes, mentioning bigger sponsorship deals if they put Anthony in your seat… ”
“What? A win in Monza wasn’t good enough for them?”
“Luca, we need more than one win. Hermes need money. Real, hard-earned sponsorship deals that might fall through if they keep you. I need you to pick up the pace on this.” I knew one win wouldn’t be enough to convince Hermes to sign me, but hearing it confirmed out loud made my heart sink.
As I sat on the edge of the bed, dragging my hands down my face, something clicked. A card I hadn’t played yet.
“You know, Dad,” I said nervously, my hand unconsciously rubbing the back of my neck. “I wanted to ask you something. What if Georgia joined us on the yacht during summer break?”
There was a beat of silence before he responded, too eagerly. “Now that is a great idea! Frankly, I told your mother the same thing last week, but she went on and on about not bothering Georgia on her one break this season. Great thinking, son. She’ll fit right in with the family!”
“I’ll ask her.”
Without saying goodbye, my father hung up, but I knew he was pleased, even if we had different reasons for wanting Georgia on that yacht. Part of me felt bad that Georgia would have to spend the summer break with my family, but my selfish side was incredibly excited to have alone time with her.
No racing, no Henri, no expectations.
Venturing out of my room, I noticed Georgia sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee, reading the latest issue of JOULE magazine. No doubt prepping for our upcoming interview and photo shoot that Nora had organized.
Was there ever a moment she went into something unprepared?
Dressed in a dark blue blazer, jeans and a silk shirt, Georgia looked ready to go out.
She had no idea that in just a few minutes, Henri was going to burst through her front door, followed by a parade of several uninvited guests.
I cleared my throat, and she glanced up at me, a small smile forming on her lips.
“Morning,” she said cheerily, taking another sip of her coffee. Her shoulders were stiff, but her face was the epitome of calm and collected, like she was daring herself to act as normal as possible.
So, we were going to ignore last night then. That’s fine. Two could play at that game.
I flopped down onto the opposite couch. “Sleep well?”
Georgia ignored my question as she continued to flip through her magazine, but the creeping blush on her cheeks and dark bags under her eyes told me she had slept about as well as I had.
“So… I know we haven’t really discussed summer break,” I started, and Georgia tilted her head, interest flickering.
“But I figured the media are going to expect us to be seen together. I was thinking, if you don’t have any concrete plans at the start of our break, I always hop onto my family’s yacht to spend time with them before my training camp.
Away from prying eyes and fans. You should come.
We can get a few strategic photos. I’ll do my best to keep my mom from fangirling too much. ”
Her brows lifted. “You want me to join you on your family’s yacht?”
I nodded coolly, not wanting to scare her away with my eagerness. “If I can tear you away from your simulator for a week?” I teased. “We can just relax, spend some time together without any distractions…” My voice faded off as I watched Georgia’s unreadable expression.
She set the magazine aside, her fingers tapping nervously against the rim of her coffee cup. “Are you sure? I mean, don’t you want a break… from us?” The last part came out as a whisper, and I could see her confidence waning.
Reaching out, I grabbed her thigh, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. “What? Never! Plus, it’ll be nice to beat you in a jet ski race. Gotta get my wins in when I can.”
“Alright, I’ll come, but you better bring your A game, Rossi.”
An entire week of just me and Georgia with plenty of time for us to get to know each other. Maybe even have a redo of the date that I’d messed up all those years ago.
As we sat there, discussing our plans for the upcoming summer break, a sudden commotion from outside caught our attention.
And so it begins, I laughed to myself, feeling a tad guilty that I hadn’t let Georgia in on the secret.
A knock at the door rang out, drowning out the soft music from her stereo. Georgia yelled for Henri to come in as she returned once more to her magazine. I kept my eyes trained on her, not wanting to miss her priceless expression when she saw a group of hooligans walk into the apartment.
And she did not disappoint.
Henri threw open the door, and in walked Henri, éliott, Edward and Lily with what looked like twenty balloons and six bags of food from Georgia’s favorite restaurant and bakery.
If looks could kill, hers would have slaughtered the entire paddock.
But just as quickly as she could, her face turned to the biggest, lightest, most cheerful composure I’d ever seen from her.
Guess some of my media training was working. I grinned to myself.
Henri lifted her off the ground, swinging her around the living room like a rag doll. “Surprise!”
“Wow, um, I didn’t expect this,” she stuttered, shifting her eyes to me in an accusing glare.
“What a lovely surprise your brother had,” I said, smiling innocently. “All by himself.”
Henri’s face lit up, and I reached out to give him a congratulatory pat on the back. A sly smile crept across Georgia’s face, her eyes widening with understanding at the subtle implication of my tone.
“Starting to look like a circus in here,” Georgia grumbled under her breath.
Henri called us all over to the table, taking a seat next to Georgia.
Before éliott could sit on the other side of her, I grabbed the chair.
Judging from his side-eye, I could tell he was slightly annoyed.
I put my arm around the back of Georgia’s chair and she shot me a look, but I just smiled as I shoved another croissant into my mouth.
Petty? Maybe. Satisfying? Absolutely.
Brunch blurred by in a haze of croissants and forced small talk, except with Edward, who was showing me the latest pictures of Arthur, Wilmington F1’s new hamster.
Henri tapped me on my shoulder, motioning for me to join him outside.
“You got a minute?” he asked casually, although he looked nervous. Nodding, I stepped away from the table, following him to Georgia’s balcony.
“What’s up?” I asked, leaning on the balcony railing, my eyes drifting off to the view of the water down below.
“So, I—uh—” Henri looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight. “Look I have to ask. What’s going on between you and my sister?”
Fuck. Not really the topic I wanted to discuss with my teammate. His hazel eyes were full of concern. There was no escaping this conversation. Playing dumb was obviously the only tactic here.
“What do you mean?”
He gave me a disapproving look. “Come on, Luca. The kiss yesterday after she won? You dragging Georgia to the dance floor in Monza? This morning you put your arm around her, even though literally no one besides her close friends are here. Plus, I see the way you look at her.” Henri paused, likely rethinking his next words before continuing on.
“The way you and Georgia have been all snuggled up this weekend, it’s making me concerned. ”
“Concerned?”
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair, frustrated that I wasn’t catching on. “Look, Luca, I’ll just spit it out. Me and you, we’ve always been honest with one another, so here’s the truth. I can see my sister starting to fall for you.”
My heart did a traitorous leap, but I forced a scoff.
Stuffing the rush of happiness back down, I worked on keeping my face neutral.
Henri had already proven today he didn’t know his sister as well as he thought, why would this be any different?
There was no way Georgia was falling for me.
Not after I broke her trust all those years ago.
Henri could tell I didn’t believe him. “She falls hard and fast, Luca. After Anthony, I don’t want to see her hurt again. This might be a fake relationship to you, but I’m worried the lines between fake and real will begin to blur for Georgia.”
“And dating me would be so bad?” I hated how pathetic I sounded.
“Luca, come on, mate, you’ve never been a serious dater.
You’ve made it clear you don’t want anything serious for at least another few years.
Georgia isn’t like that. She doesn’t do casual.
She needs someone willing to commit.” I could tell Henri was trying to be nice about it, but the tone of his voice was almost pleading, and it was making my blood boil.
How dare he assume that he knew what was best for both of us?
“Like éliott?” I scoffed.
“I don’t know why you always have it out for éliott.” He crossed his arms, leaning against the balcony wall.
“I don’t have it out for éliott,” I corrected, annoyed.
Even if it was a tad true. “It’s just—” I paused, struggling to find the right words.
Georgia and éliott’s laughter could be heard from the balcony, and I tried to ignore Anthony’s annoying voice in the back of my mind. “He’s clearly into your sister.”
“Considering you two aren’t actually dating, that shouldn’t be a problem.
” Henri looked at me skeptically, his hazel eyes bearing into mine.
“Which leads me to my point. I don’t want you to lead her on.
Georgia wants something real, something long-term.
Plus, my teammate actually dating my sister?
I mean, would you like me if I dated your sister? ”
Truth was, I didn’t like Henri at all right now, and the thought of him dating anyone I knew made me want to punch him.
My fists clenched at my sides and my jaw tightened as Henri’s words stung me like a slap in the face.
Based on his tone, he clearly didn’t know I’d asked Georgia out all those years ago, or this conversation would have been a lot worse.
A small silver lining in this nightmare.
Henri was still looking at me, still clearly wanting an answer to his earlier question. “So, is there something going on between you and Georgia?”
I exhaled slowly, jaw tight. Was there something going on with us?
No. Yes. Sort of? After this week, I knew what I wanted, but it had become very clear that Henri didn’t think I was good enough for his sister.
I stood there, weighing my options. One wrong move, and he’d find a way to blow this whole thing up before it even started. I just needed time—time to show Georgia that this was more than a performance. That she was starting to mean something to me. And summer break would give me that chance.
So instead of giving him the truth, I did what I did best and deflected.
“The only thing going on, Henri, is that I’m playing the role Hermes asked me to.
Now, if you don’t like that, I suggest you take it up with our team principal,” I retorted, with a bit more malice than intended.
My hand landed heavily on Henri’s back as I pulled him close, forcing a smile onto my face.
“But don’t worry, mate. I’ll be sure to keep my irresistible charm and good looks in check during our summer vacation.
I mean, your sister is much too intelligent to fall for a man just because he has a yacht off the coast of Spain, right? ” I grinned.
Without looking back, I marched inside, knowing full well that Henri was now contemplating how he could get himself invited to our mini vacation. The image of Georgia and me intimately hanging out on my personal yacht now etched into his mind.
Good.