Page 137 of Hot Lap
He goes purple in sector 1. Then again in sector 2.
"Purple?" I ask.
"Fastest time." Ona watches the screen. "Purple means he's quicker than anyone else through that section."
By the time he crosses the finish line, he's done it. P1. Blistering, beautiful, flawless. Not one car that follows can top his time, which means Reece will start on pole tomorrow for the final race of the F1 season.
The Nitro lounge erupts.
I exhale like I've been holding my breath for years.
Ona nods beside me, cool and satisfied. "That's how it's done."
Daphne Browning of AetherX smiles and touches my arm. “I think the team needs to add Reece’s wife to their strategy equations.”
I grin. “Whatever works.”
“I’ll ask Coy to put you on the payroll.”
Reece pulls intoparc ferméand climbs from the car. He waves to the crowds, then looks up and sees me watching from the balcony.
I mouth, “You’re welcome.”
I am Mrs. Pritchard, and I came to win.
That night, we have dinner at one of the hotel restaurants with Petra, Coy, Ona, Misho, and Bowie. We’re tucked into a private corner, laughing over salad and pasta. They’re trading war stories from the paddock.
Reece has his arm behind my chair, casual and warm. Coy’s describing a last-minute tweak to Reece’s floor panel, and Misho’s swearing it gained them two-tenths per lap. Jacintha and Ona are arguing about hyperbaric chambers, while Petra rolls her eyes like she’s above all of it, which to be fair, she might be.
“Hell of a day.” Coy grins at Reece and Petra.
Reece shrugs. “Team effort.”
She lifts her water glass. “Here’s to Nitro dominance.”
We all toast, clinking glasses and throwing back sips, just as someone steps into the room.
Nico Belmonte. Blond, blue-eyed, calm as still water and twice as cool. There’s a quiet magnetism to him, like the eye of a storm that doesn’t know how to be anything but still.
He strolls over to our table, hands in his pockets, all easy charm and soft swagger.
“Congratulations,” he says with a smile and a stunning Spanish accent. “The Pritchards are taking the paddock by storm.”
“Appreciate it, Nico.” Reece introduces me. “Have you met Maiken?”
“Welcome to F1.” Nico smiles and returns my handshake. “Though I saw that hot lap footage. I’m pretty sure the racing world isn’t ready for Maiken Lange Pritchard.”
I laugh. “Think I can drive your car? Reece is selfish and refuses to let me behind the wheel of his.”
Nico laughs. “Not a chance. Like I said, I saw that video.” His gaze flicks to Petra even as he says, “You married a barn burner, RP.”
We all laugh, and I’m not gonna fight the man when he’s just stating an obvious truth.
Coy says, “You’re not exactly slumming it in P2 tomorrow, Nico.”
Petra arches a brow. “Better watch your ass in turn 1, bunny boy.”
He smirks. “No, you watch it.”
