Page 25 of Hot Lap
"Good." Coy steeples his fingers. “Nedry called while you were napping."
The Nedry’s own PNW Nitro. For reasons unknown, they’re referred to in the singular though they’re actually a married couple, Zain and Isabella Nedry.
Reece stiffens. "And?"
"The official position is 'hands off.' As long as she understands the protocols and your marriage doesn't become a distraction for you or the team, they consider it your business."
Relief washes through Reece, though he tries not to be obvious about it. "I appreciate that."
"Don't thank me yet. The unofficial position is 'damage control.' They're watching to see if this turns into a PR nightmare or affects your performance."
"It won't." Reece says that with more confidence than he feels.
"See that it doesn't. The sponsors are watching."
Reece exhales. "Lemme guess. AetherX is nervous?"
"Not nervous.Curious.Their CEO wants to know if Maiken’s the real deal. Publicly, they’re all about 'tech without the boys’ club,' but behind closed doors? They’re watching your every move to see if she’s ‘bold modern feminist’ or ‘impulsive wildcard liability’. Their words, not mine."
"Great."
"Vive Lux is split. The fashion team loves her. One of them floated a ‘burlesque-inspired’ capsule line. Their performance division, though? Less thrilled. They built their brand on precision and control. You marrying chaos doesn’t exactly match the core aesthetic."
Reece groans. "She’s not chaos."
"To them, she’s a rhinestone-encrusted live grenade."
"What about Hearthstone?"
Coy’s smile turns dry. "They’re eating it up. Calling your marriage 'an opportunity to celebrate lived experience and authentic narratives.' They said that with a straight face."
Reece pinches the bridge of his nose. "And VelvetChain?"
"Ecstatic. They’re drafting a pitch deck already."
"So my marriage is either a symbol of disruptive intimacy or a PR powder keg."
"Don’t act surprised." Coy's gaze softens. "How is your wife? Really?"
The question catches Reece off guard. It’s not the professional inquiry he expected. "Scared, I think. Angry. Definitely confused." He taps his finger against the armrest. "Graham barging in like that… total disaster. Didn't help the situation at all."
"Your father is particularly gifted at making situations worse." Coy’s dryness adds emphasis to that truth. They share a moment of silent understanding; both have long histories with the elder Pritchard. "You care about her?"
"Yes." Reece surprises himself with his certainty. "Absolutely, yes. Haven't figured out all the details yet, but that part's clear."
Coy nods. "Then give her space to process. Show her who you are through actions, not just promises." He pauses. "You know Nitro takes mental health seriously — yours and hers. If she needs support navigating this world she's suddenly been thrust into, we can arrange that."
This is why Reece respects Coy. While other teams treat drivers like interchangeable assets, Nitro was one of the first to employ sports psychologists and prioritize mental wellness alongside physical performance.
"Thank you." Reece means it. "I think we both might need that support before this is over."
"Marriage isn't a sprint, Reece. It's an endurance race with no checkered flag." Coy offers a small smile. "Take it from someone who knows the crash and burn all too well."
"Any advice?"
Coy’s gaze wanders, then snaps back to him. "Kelley and I had our own Vegas wedding, you know. Met at a sponsor event, married three weeks later. Everyone said I was an idiot for doing it, and they were right."
"But you had Petra."
