Page 2 of Rush
Savi’s signature flowed onto the paper in a smooth, deliberate motion. As she set the pen down, a wave of triumph washed over her.
‘Welcome to Revolution Racing,’ Jasper said, looking equally as proud as Gabriel.
‘Thank you,’ she replied. ‘I won’t let you down.’
The door to the office creaked open, and her family peered in. ‘Smile for the camera!’ her mum said brightly. Savi turned to the lens, holding the signed contract in one hand and letting Gabriel envelop her in a one-armed hug. The camera clicked, capturing a moment that would soon be plastered across the media. A candid shot, captured with love.
As Savi said her goodbyes to her principal and stepped out into the hallway, her mind was already all over the place, envisioning the roar of engines and the thrill of the track. She’d been at IEC races before, provided entertainment for the very same crowds of fans. But she’d never truly been part of it, not like this.
With a fire ignited in her chest, Savi walked down the porch steps and out into the fresh air, inhaling deeply. She was ready to take her place among racing legends, and forever be known as one.
2
Babysitting a heartbroken racing driver, and her new teammate, on the bathroom floor of his team’s motorhome at Spa, had not been on Savi Hart’s bingo card this race season.
They had just spent a weekend at Julien’s, one of the other drivers for her new team, and she had somehow found herself glued to Marco De Luca’s side. She had known him since she was a junior racing driver and he was already making a name for himself in the International Endurance Championship, with their paths crossing numerous times on the weekends she drove in the support races that were meant to provide entertainment to the fans while they waited for the big guns to come out on track.
As a result of their familiarity, she had wound up spending most of the pre-race week shenanigans playing beer pong with him as an out for her anxiety.
It was safe to assume Savi and Marco were bonded for life after this weekend, only she hadn’t intended on being a shoulder to cry onafterthe alcohol had left his system and they were supposed to be back in work mode. He could have timed this better.
‘I miss her so much,’ Marco sighed, getting a mouthful of fluffy towel as a result of being sat right next to the rail. His hazel eyes glistened with tears and while she tried topity him, it was kind of hard given how unlike himself he was behaving. She knew he was a sensitive soul at times, and he was polite and respectful and the kind of guy you would want to take home to your parents, but this was different.
‘Marco, I don’t know who you mean.’
‘Esme!’ he growled, but Savi didn’t take the minor aggression personally.
She wasn’t sure how he could miss his rival’s social media manager when she was here at the track with them. They had seen her mere minutes ago, her bright yellow Converse dazzling them as she ran down the pit lane with her camera in her hand, chasing after one of her drivers. Mind you, it was right then that Marco had bolted in here and yanked Savi by the arm, forcing her to follow him. She should’ve clocked it immediately.
‘Wait, you and…’ she trailed off, confused as hell.
‘Yes, me and dot dot dot.’ He threw his arms up like she was supposed to just know.
She’d had no idea anything had gone on between them. As far as Savi knew, Esme had been on and off, or in her words, in a ‘casual entanglement’ with Thalia for the last few months. Yes, Esme was friends with Marco, but had they crossed a line?
‘Ugh,’ Marco groaned again, this time following it up with a sniffle. He’d got himself worked up enough that his olive complexion had a hint of red to it.
‘Why don’t you come and sit out on the sofas so you can quit eating the towels? It can’t be hygienic.’ She felt bad for laughing at his sad and sorrowful state, but how could she not? He was one of the world’s most famous racingdrivers, usually so laid back and calm in every situation, and here he was, having a heartbreak-induced meltdown whilst stone-cold sober.
‘I’m comfortable down here. It makes me feel grounded.’
‘Oh, honey. A bathroom floor ain’t gonna cut it. You need to be in the mountains. Get some good old country air in you.’
‘I’m no cowboy.’ Marco scowled but slowly clambered to his feet and followed her.
‘No, you’re quite clearly a city boy through and through.’
‘Hey!’ He looked genuinely offended.
‘No need to get all defensive, Mr Monaco,’ she smirked. From the few times she’d hung out with the team, she had already established that his teammates Brett Anderson and Julien Moretz loved getting their hands dirty on their Malmedy farms, whereas Marco would rather sit on the balcony of his Monegasque apartment and watch the world go by with a sparkling water.
‘We can’t all rock cowboy boots.’ He gestured down at Savi’s choice in footwear. Cherry-red cowboy boots with white detailing, her pride and joy. Lucie Carolan had expressed her admiration for them the second she’d laid eyes on them at Julien’s. She’d got them at a vintage store back home when she was seventeen and they were still going strong six years later.
Savi may be about to embark on another tour of Europe and beyond in her new role as a racing driver for one of the most reputable International Endurance Championship teams, but you couldn’t take the Wyoming cowgirl out of her. It was kind of becoming her brand.
Anderson’s thing was being the sober positive mental health rep, Moretz was the family man, she was the USA native being thrown in at the deep end and Marco… well, Marco De Luca was currently the emotional mess of the team.
‘Right, are you done getting all emotional on me? No offence, but I came here to work and bond with the team. Not to babysit your ass.’ Savi took a swig of water.
