Page 47 of Naked

Maybe he was right.

Isabel Yates appeared at the back of the garage with a camera, clearly recording our conversation. She was Vector Racing’s marketing manager and King’s girlfriend. She waved at us to keep talking.

“Even with two World Series we don’t have this kind of attention and budget. Hell, most people consider ‘America’s Sport’ too boring to watch these days.”

“It is slow,” King teased. “All the posturing. We’re opposites. My job is to go as fast as I can, but if nothing is happening, if the same cars win every race and no variables come into play to influence the outcome of the race, it’s just twenty-two cars driving on a road together, but quickly. It gets boring too.”

Which, Tilley explained to me, was the entire point of Vector Racing. To change things up and bring racing back to racing. Maybe baseball needed a shakeup too. “We might have to steal Tilley back from you if baseball is doomed.”

“Naw,” King waved me off, standing up, “it’s not doomed. It’s just time for something new. Maybe that’s Tilley. Maybe that’syou.”

I shook his hand. “Damn. Dropping the truth bombs today. I see how it is.”

Isa laughed, finally tucking the camera away. “King does that. He’s all quiet and stoic and thenboomhe drops some knowledge on you. Great conversation, guys. That will make great video.”

“Do I get to be in the next docu-series?” Isa’s series for Vector was huge on streaming television. Everyone I knew watched the race between King and Adam, plus the follow up series on the formation of Vector Racing. Even friends who didn’t care about racing at all watched it.

“Uh. Yes. That conversation was gold. If you’re not careful you’re going to get your own series.”

“Promise?”

She laughed again, tucking her hand into King’s. “Adam and Tilley have been locked into a conversation for almost thirty minutes. All I know is there are a lot of numbers being used and half the crew has walked near them and then run in the opposite direction.”

My eyes were still on their entwined hands. “I can take a hint. You two want to make out. I get it.”

King glared at me.

“No, I really think the universe needs rescuing from their combined brain power. Thank goodness Theo isn’t here,” she muttered.

“I’ll go rescue the universe.”

Sure enough I found Tilley and Adam in the next garage standing inches apart, heads down in deep conversation. I made a ton of noise as I approached, but neither of them noticed me until I placed my hand on Tilley’s arm and she jumped with a yelp.

“Oh god, Hunter! You scared me!”

“You two are freaking everyone out with this intense conversation so I was sent in to break it up.”

Adam scoffed, then looked at his watch. “Damn. I thought it had only been a couple of minutes. I’m late for the press conference.” He turned and ran out the back door.

Tilley frowned as I kissed her. “We really freaked people out?”

I shrugged and kissed her some more. “More likeconcerned. When you two start talking numbers everyone gets nervous.”

“Huh.” She was adorable when she was confused. “Isa got you all your badges and credentials for the weekend?”

I held up the little Vector Racing bag I’d been carrying around for the last two hours. “All set. Do you need me to do anything?” I always asked, she always declined. Not that I expected to be helpful. I was not employed by Vector Racing and I had no useful skills to offer...other than as supportive boyfriend extraordinaire.

I wasverygood at that. Very good indeed.

We walked hand in hand to the offices. “There will be lots of celebrities here. Both days. You should enjoy yourself and make connections.”

“Make connections?”

“Well I’m certainly not good at it, but you’re adorable and charismatic.”

“And why am I making connections?”

She shrugged. “It’s always good to have connections. The more connections, the more possibilities. The more possibilities the more opportunities. It’s just math.”

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