Wheelspin (Redline #3)

CHAPTER 1 - BREAKFAST PASTRY

brEAKFAST PASTRY

CHAPTER ONe

Normandy had a certain tranquility to it, maybe because of how much war it had seen. As David Jochmann stared out at the sprawling French countryside from a stone terrace, he wondered what this exact spot would have looked like all those years ago. Some places in Bayeux, the closest town, still had bullet holes in the buildings, but the town itself remained largely intact throughout the war. Many of the cafes still hung American flags in the windows, and it was the only place in France where David had ever seen French people openly embrace American tourists.

No one ever commented on David’s German heritage in this place, but he was more than aware of it every time he read plaques about war history. At home, Germans were far more direct. Any mention of the war, and everyone started paying attention, quick to correct even neutral statements about their involvement.

The past had a weird way of clinging to different cultures—the people of Normandy still thanked the Americans as if they showed up on the beach mere months ago, the Germans wore their shame openly, and the Americans didn’t seem to remember the war happened at all. In all of David’s years living in the United States as a driver in the Formula America racing series, he’d only heard the war mentioned when people talked about Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers .

His boyfriend, Noah Caparelli, didn’t even know much about war history. Then again, Americans didn’t have either war on home soil. They showed up and saved the day and those who survived returned home to their families without fearing their whole town had been reduced to rubble.

“Uh-oh. You look nervous, and we haven’t even had breakfast,” Caroline said as she stepped out onto the balcony, carrying a tray of breakfast pastries, a pot of coffee, and a pitcher of orange juice.

She still looked like a model, even with no makeup on and her cheeks puffy from sleep. Her silky, dark hair hung down to her waist, but in the sunlight he noticed a halo of frizz at the top—the only hint that she hadn’t done her hair yet. David used to wish he was straight when he saw her like this. She was absolutely beautiful, smart, and incredibly kind. He knew he didn’t deserve that kindness now, after building a sham relationship with her while secretly pining over Noah the whole time.

David gave her a sheepish smile and stood to grab the tray. “Hey, you should have told me it was ready. You don’t need to be carrying heavy things right now.”

Caroline rolled her eyes, but let him take it from her. “I’m not even showing yet, David. I’m perfectly capable of carrying a breakfast tray.”

“A tray with boiling hot coffee on it that could spill and burn you,” David scolded, gently setting the tray on the table. Birds trilled in the trees that touched the balcony, already eyeing their food.

Getting Caroline pregnant obviously wasn’t the plan for either of them. When she told him, David completely expected her to say she didn’t want to keep the baby. They were both young—David was barely twenty-two and she was only twenty. Caroline refused to even think about an abortion. She said she had plenty of money to handle the hardships other single mothers had to face, and she’d always wanted children. Of course, the plan had been for children to come in a decade or so, but here they were.

A balmy breeze promised a comfortable day ahead as it sifted between them, despite it being winter. Noah was just one country over in Milan, and it comforted David to know he’d be experiencing the same weather.

He smiled to himself as he imagined Noah dressed like an Italian, hurrying through the streets of Milan to make it to whatever fashion thing he had to attend today. David tried to keep up, but he was hopelessly bad at understanding fashion terms. It was pretty hard to focus when Noah smiled so much while he talked about it.

Caroline sat down across from him and looked out at the rolling hills beyond, shrugging her fuzzy robe tighter around her shoulders. “My papa is going to try to get you to go driving with him again today,”she said as she poured herself a glass of orange juice. “Please don’t indulge him. I don’t need him thinking he should take up rallying, too.”

David laughed. “I think he’d be great at rallying.”

Caroline’s father, Gerard Rousseau, had taken second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year—one of the hardest races in motorsport. David had learned a lot from him in the short time they’d spent together, even though endurance racing was very different from Formula America.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that,” Caroline said.

David poured himself some coffee with sugar and grabbed a pastry. Caroline’s mother, Angela, bought fresh pastries every morning, and they were the best pastries David had ever eaten. Each one had the perfect amount of sugar, flaky bread, and light filling. Best of all, European sweets didn’t come with a million calories like their American counterparts.

“So, did you feel sick this morning or anything?” David asked around a sip of coffee that warmed him all the way down to his toes.

Caroline shook her head. “No, nothing today. My maman said if I’m like her, I’ll start getting really sick in a few weeks. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen.”

David frowned. “Me too. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Caroline shook her head again. “Being here helps. My parents ask so many questions; you know this. It helps to haveyou around to answer them.”

“They thought I was going to turn my back on you, didn’t they?”

David didn’t blame them. He knew most men in his position would offer hush money or try to convince her to terminate the pregnancy.

David didn’t understand it. They were both young, yes, but he would never ask Caroline to make a choice with her body or the baby inside her. He also didn’t understand wanting to hide a child. Of course, he had no idea how to be a dad, but he couldn’t imagine pretending that his own flesh and blood didn’t exist.

“They didn’t expect you to want to be so involved, no,” Caroline said softly. “I’m glad you are, though. I was so relieved that you didn’t throw me out when I told you.”

“Caroline. I would never.”

“You’d be surprised how people can change over things like this,” she said. “Especially since you’re with Noah now.”

David’s chest tightened at the mention of his name. “Noah understands the situation. He also knows I’d never abandon you. I wouldn’t tolerate it if he wanted me to do any of those cruel things.”

Caroline cocked a brow at him. “Really? You’d choose me over him?”

David didn’t know where he’d gotten the ability to always say the wrong things, but it seemed to be a talent that rivaled his driving. “I didn’t say it like that. But no, if Noah was the kind of person who wanted me to be cruel to you over our baby, I wouldn’t be with him. Noah isn’t like that at all.”

Caroline sipped on her orange juice. “How is he liking Milan? I expected him to come here with you, actually.”

David smiled. “He loves it. He’s working with a bunch of different fashion people and learning a lot. He’s working the next few days, or else he’d be here.”

Yesterday had been Caroline’s second major appointment, for a scan to check the baby’s spine, nose, and to make sure Caroline was properly adapting to pregnancy. Noah had been present for the first ultrasound a few weeks ago to confirm the pregnancy, so David didn’t feel so bad about him missing yesterday.

Caroline looked down at her stomach. “I’ll need to get new clothes soon. My maman said I’ll get huge overnight. I can definitely feel the baby in here, but it’s not like I expected.”

David cocked his head. “What does it feel like?”

She shrugged. “Weight, I guess. But a strange kind, because it’s only between my hips. I don’t know how to explain it.”

David drank more coffee, watching as she rubbed her belly. It was still hard to imagine his child was growing in there. The doctor said it was the size of a bean.

“We should talk about the season,” he said after a moment of listening to the birds sing.

Caroline met his eyes with an unreadable expression. “Okay. We can talk about it.”

“I want to be involved in everything,” David said. “I know the season will complicate that, but if we can plan ahead, I can still be part of things. And as I said from the beginning, I will miss a race to be at the hospital with you for the birth, if it times out that way.”

Caroline was due at the end of summer break, but David had done enough research to know that due dates were only an estimation. His team, Oxbow Racing, didn’t even know about the pregnancy yet, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t missing the birth of his baby.

“I don’t want to visit American doctors, David,” Caroline said. “I want everything done here in France. I really like my doctor here.”

“Okay, then I’ll come to France,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t mind it. Jet lag is no problem for me if I plan ahead for it.”

Caroline brightened. “I’d really like you to be there for the big visits. I’ll talk to my doctor and schedule them for days between race weeks.”

David fiddled with his mug, staring down at his reflection in the black coffee. “And if I can’t be there, what do you think about Noah being there instead of me?”

Noah wasn’t allowed to drive yet due to a wrist injury from a crash last season. His earliest estimation to get back into the car was summer break, but the doctors kept warning that he needed to be conservative or he risked injuring his wrist a second time.

Caroline’s smile fell, like David knew it would. “Sorry, I don’t feel very comfortable with that. I don’t know Noah that well, and I don’t really want him seeing me in that kind of setting. At first, I thought it would be okay, but I did not like it last time.”

David pursed his lips. “Sorry. I had to ask.”

Noah felt the same way. He barely talked about Caroline’s doctor visits, and the ultrasounds freaked him out. Caroline had allowed him to come to the first one, but once the doctors had her lift her hospital gown to slather her belly in clear jelly, she and Noah both became visibly uncomfortable. Thankfully, hearing the baby’s heartbeat eased the tension quickly, but he’d known that wouldn’t be the last of it.

“I just don’t want to miss anything, and I love Noah, so…” David trailed off, his cheeks going hot. “I mean, Noah and I are going to get married, Caroline.”

Soon. Sometime. Eventually.

Caroline tongued the inside of her cheek. “Well, you’re not married yet. You’re not even engaged. I want memories with my family, which includes you, now. Noah isn’t family yet.”

“He’s my family,” David said. “He’s my only family right now while I’m sorting things out with my dad.”

He still felt the phantom pains of his bruised nose, and sometimes woke up with the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. Klaus, his father, hadn’t been seen in public since David filed a restraining order against him, but he’d tried to visit David’s apartment in LA while he was away. David hated thinking about it.

Caroline reached across the table and rested her hand over his. “Okay. Maybe Noah can come to the doctor’s office with me and wait outside or something like this. And maybe if we get to know each other better, I’ll feel more comfortable.”

David smiled, and some of his fear dissipated. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”

Caroline pulled her hand away andsat up. “I was also thinking of trying out some American traditions—they have parties for the baby before it’s born.”

David grimaced. “Those things are unlucky in Germany. Counting chickens before they hatch is asking for trouble.”

“Same in France,” Caroline said with a nod. “But my American friends keep asking me if I’ll be hosting one. I think it would be a nice way to bring everyone together.”

David didn’t know much about babies yet. He tried to research every day, but it was hard to do so when he had to read so much about the new Formula America regulations and consult with the team from overseas. He did know that pregnancies weren’t a sure thing until a baby was born. The thought of tempting fate with gifts and a party made him feel ill.

“I don’t like it,” he said. “We’re not American.”

“You’re basically American now,” Caroline said. “If you marry Noah, you’ll get a green card, no?”

David shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think about visas when I talk about marrying my boyfriend.”

Noah would know what to say here. He’d put a hand on David’s knee and soothe him while he explained to Caroline that a pre-baby party was a silly idea. He would also know what they were called.

“Most people don’t even know I’m pregnant,” Caroline said gently. “I want to tell people and show them that you and I are together on this. We can host the party in Paris; my aunt runs a very nice venue there.”

“And what if my dad shows up?” David asked. “My restraining order doesn’t extend to Europe.”

“My father is already talking to lawyers. We can easily sort it out for France, and it’ll extend to any EU country.”

David’s legs shook under the table. Klaus wasn’t allowed to text or call him, but David knew he had to be working to find any legal holes to slip through. He knew his father, and Klaus always needed to get the last word.

“I really don’t like it,” David said, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants—a pair of Noah’s he’d stolen from his flat in Milan.

“Okay, what if we simply host a party for us, then? We can show people we’re happy to do this together. Noah can come and meet my family. We’ll hire security to make sure your father doesn’t come inside.”

David took a bite of pastry, giving himself some time to think. Noah loved a party, and he had to meet Caroline’s family eventually.

“That could work,” David said, uncertainty leaking into his voice. “I definitely want Noah there. And security.”

Caroline smiled. “Perfect. I’ll call my aunt, and we can plan it for one of your longer breaks. After Texas, I think. It’ll be so fun, David. A mix of traditions—Noah’s and ours.”

David brightened at that. “Yes, I think he’d really like that.”

******

Noah called during his lunch break, and David caught snippets of Italian in the background while he packed his things to get ready for his flight in the morning.

“Caroline’s appointment went well,” David said. “She’s healthy, and the baby is healthy.”

“Good to hear,” Noah replied. “How about you? Are you healthy?”

David grinned. “I’m healthy, yes. Very excited to see you tomorrow. How is work today?”

It was strange to ask Noah about a job that didn’t involve racing. Noah still had a contract with Cobalt Racing, of course, but with a torn wrist tendon on the mend, he was acting more as a consultant than a driver.

“Really interesting,” Noah said. “This designer is experimenting with alternative fabrics and is totally anti-plastic. So much of the fake leather stuff is just fancy plastic, which I didn’t know until today. Kinda sad, really. Leather is seen as the big bad when all of this plastic stuff is so much worse and only lasts a few months. Leather lasts a lifetime.”

David loved when Noah went off on his fun-fact tangents. The sound of his voice soothed all of his frayed edges every time.

“Are you designing any clothes soon?” David asked.

“Negative,” Noah replied. “I dunno if that’s my calling, now that I see what goes into it. I like sourcing stuff, though. Did you know silk is just moth cocoons? It’s kinda fucked up how it’s harvested, actually.”

“Can’t wait to hear about it,” David said. He wished he could hold Noah in his arms, just to feel the warmth of him. “I really miss you.”

He heard the smile on Noah’s lips as he replied, “Babe, I miss you so, so much. I came home the past two days and started talking before I realized you weren’t there.”

David’s chest pinched with aching fondness. “Let’s go out for pasta tomorrow,” he offered. “That place by the cathedral with the view.”

Noah snorted. “You just want to go to the motorsport memorabilia store around the corner.”

“No, I wanna watch you suck up spaghetti noodles,” David countered.

“Talk dirty to me some more, Jochmann,” Noah teased.

David closed his eyes, allowing himself to imagine Noah sitting in a café, sipping coffee. People were probably gawking at him—they always did. He was so handsome. David still couldn’t believe someone so desired by the masses wanted to be with him, especially after how shitty he’d been for so long.

“Caroline and I talked about the season today,” David said, changing the subject. “I told her how I want to be involved in everything. I brought up you going to appointments I can’t make, and she said she didn’t feel comfortable with that.”

“Ah.” Noah sounded relieved. “Can’t force these things, Jochmann. And I still have obligations at every race, even if I’m not driving, remember?”

David flushed with embarrassment. “Yes. Sorry. I didn’t mean it like I’d take you away from that.”

“I know, babe,” Noah soothed. “Just reminding you.”

God, he still found a way to say the wrong thing, even when he was trying his best to keep Noah involved. David ran a hand through his hair.

“Hey,” Noah said, seeing through the silence even though they were countries apart. “How about I pick you up from Centrale tomorrow? I’ll take the morning off.”

“You don’t have to do that,” David said. “I can get around the city, and I don’t want to take you away from work.”

“Too late; I’m sending a text,” Noah said, sounding further away from his phone. “I’m gonna call it a medical emergency—not that the Italians care. I have like three weeks of vacation for a sixteen-week internship.”

David’s chest warmed the way it always did when Noah made time for him. “Well, that’s very nice of you.”

“Anything for you, love of mine,” Noah hummed. David wished he could kiss him. “I gotta go, though. Meeting some fashion PR person to talk about show prep with Lucy. Should be cool. I’ll call you tonight.”

David closed his suitcase. “Okay, sounds good. I love you, Noah.”

“I love you, too.”

They said their goodbyes, and David tossed his phone on the bed. The silence of Europe was no longer comforting when it meant the absence of Noah’s voice.

He’d fucked up so much. David could still feel the cracks in Noah’s trust whenever they talked about anything serious, and he knew it was all his fault. He could blame it on his father or the pressure of Oxbow, but none of that mattered. He’d broken Noah’s heart and almost killed any chance of getting back together.

Klaus beating David’s face in—twice—hadn’t hurt half as much as seeing the devastation in Noah’s eyes last year in LA when David told him about dating Caroline. He never wanted to cause him that kind of pain again.

He had a lot to make up for.