Page 57 of Rush
‘You’ll be requesting that the team’s private jet lands in a field on the ranch just to get your new purchases to France,’ Calvin chuckled.
The next race was Le Mans and Marco was determined that he and Savi were going to be matching with boots, hats and jeans. She had pointed out Le Mans was set to be too warm for jeans, and they would spend most of the week in full racing gear due to the amount of work they had to do in the garage and all the practice sessions out on track, but he’d fired back with the excuse of team dinners and their initial arrival in the paddock.
‘Do you need any help with dinner?’ he asked, looking like he was desperate to help in some way. He was sat at the kitchen counter, watching Savi and her ma peel and chop vegetables for the kebabs they were making.
‘Wanna chop the sweet potato up?’ Savi wondered if he knew how. He’d grown up with a chef and still had one to this day, and while she knew he could make chocolate chip pancakes, that didn’t mean he had been taught the basics.
‘I’m on it.’ He took a knife from the drawer Savi pointed to and got to work. ‘So, Wes is pretty great,’ Marco commented quietly. Weston was downstairs on his games console, but sound travelled.
‘I’m glad you guys are getting on. I think he’s really missed having male company other than Dad, and he ignores his friends for the most part. He’s really isolated himself and pushed them all away, so they’ve been sentenced to a friendship based on online gaming.’
‘I just can’t believe he asked if he could come with you today,’ Bonnie said, welling up.
‘Bonnie, don’t cry.’ Marco put the knife down and gave her a quick cuddle. ‘I’ll do my best to bring him out of hibernation for you, and hopefully when I’m gone he’ll stay out.’
‘You’ve been here less than a day and I already want you to stay forever,’ she laughed softly, gratefully squeezing his hand. ‘Savi is very lucky to have you as a teammate. I mean, what kind of man steps up in the way you did?’
Savi knew what her ma was referring to. First it had been the photos, then swooping in to take care of her whenher world was falling apart. And she was right; not many people would do what Marco had done. But their connection went far beyond all that. ‘Ma, Marco said he’ll help me fix up the extra stall in the stables, so you can get another horse for the kids’ riding lessons.’ She spat it out while everyone was feeling vulnerable and emotional, hoping her mum would be more receptive.
‘Oh,’ Bonnie frowned. ‘Savi, we shouldn’t be asking that of him. He’s a guest.’
‘And you’ve got him chopping sweet potatoes,’ Savi shrugged.
‘It would be my pleasure to help, Bonnie. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to go full cowboy, I really meant it.’ Marco presented them with the result of his chopping skills. ‘Plus, you and Calvin have plenty to do around here, so let us take a project off your hands.’
‘I suppose it would get it done a lot faster, and we could finally take some names off the waiting list for lessons. We’ve had some kids on there six months plus.’
‘Thanks, Ma.’ Savi kissed her on the cheek.
‘We won’t spend a fortune or do anything crazy, promise. Just make it liveable.’
‘Who wants to come and watch me barbecue?’ Calvin called through the back door.
‘Is he serious?’ Marco glanced at Savi for confirmation. ‘He wants us to watch?’
‘It’s his thing. He’s very proud of his barbecuing skills, does all sorts of tricks with the utensils and drinks whiskey the entire time. We’re basically watching him get progressively more drunk and risk setting fire to his apron withevery sip, but it’s good fun.’ Savi had fond memories of helping when she was little, but for the most part it was his and Weston’s time to bond while she and Bonnie sat back with their feet up.
‘I’ll just call Wes up.’ Bonnie rolled her eyes good naturedly and headed to the basement.
‘Woah, Cal. You didn’t tell me you had this beast.’ Marco took in the size of the grill.
‘It was a birthday gift from Sav,’ he beamed. ‘She knows me well.’
‘I also get him magnets and bottle openers from as many places as I can. The magnets go on the mini fridge, and he’s got a tin full of the bottle openers. We’ve got a collection of beer mats which is a new thing. God forbid we get a mark on the table.’ Savi showed him some of her favourites. ‘If you ever find something with Monaco on, he’d love you forever.’
‘I can get you a beer mat from my parents’ hotel, but I think that might be the best I can do.’
‘I’ll take it. Appreciate it, bud. So, this hotel of theirs, is it really posh? I guess it probably is, being in Monaco.’
‘Yes, but when there’s racing on and the streets turn into a racetrack, we always provide huge discounts. It means we get fans from all over the world flocking to us, and they get the full Monaco experience without spending an absolute fortune.’
‘I’d love to go to Monaco.’ Calvin looked wistful as he grilled some halloumi.
‘Really, Dad?’ Savi frowned.
‘Yes, but your mother doesn’t want to go and we can’treally leave Wes on his own anyway, even if she did want to.’ He shrugged it off.
‘You’re welcome to stay in our hotel for free, Calvin. Always. Or even in my family’s home, with us. As long as the Monaco Grand Prix isn’t on when Savannah and I are racing elsewhere, I’ll come with you. I’m sure Savannah would, too.’
