Page 22 of Away We Go

“Nicky.” Maximilian “Max” Duvall, former F1 driver and one-time World Champion, calls me over to where he’s waiting with a microphone. Now comes the part I hate the most: the post-race interview.

“That was quite the victory,” he points out the obvious and I stifle a sigh. Max is a friend of mine; we raced each other for many years. I cut him some slack.

“You could say that.”

“The race had a bit of everything. Rain, sun, crashes, red flags. You had to stay focussed for a long time, and it felt Nathan wasgoing to get ahead of you. Did you feel you were in control of the race?”

“I did,” I lie. There were times I thought the race was lost. “It wasn’t easy, but I knew with the car setup we had today, I was going to win.”

“You seem different this year,” Max says. “A bit more relaxed. What’s changed?”

I pause and take a long drink from my water bottle.Have I been demonstrably different this year?

“Over the break, I spent a bit of time back at home.” The words spill out of me before I can think better of them. But they feel right. “That always grounds me. And I guess…” I search the crowd again, desperate for just a flash of her blue eyes. “I think I’ve taken some of that peace along with me.”

Peace?

Or perhaps, a piece of home with me. Having Cherry out on the circuit with me has already affected me in ways having Matt with me never did. I can’t pinpoint exactly what’s going on inside when she’s around, but I’m feeling things for the first time in a long time.

Things that I usually only feel when I’m behind the wheel of a race car. The adrenaline and the calm. That’s what it’s like being with Cherry.

“That’s great.” The interview wraps up. “I hope you get to hang onto this peace for the rest of the year.”

My eyes finally catch hold of hers and my heart triple-times in my chest. I may be in control when I’m in a race car; but with what’s happening off the track with Cherry, I’m not sure I’m ready for that ride.

• • • • •

Nicky

Have you saved my number in your phone yet?

Cherry

Who is this?

Nicky

Cherry??

Cherry

J.K. Yes, I’ve saved your number. I’m thinking of saving it under WSSS.

Nicky

???

Cherry

I’ll leave you to figure it out.

Nicky

Seriously?

Cherry

You’ll get it…eventually >

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