Page 58 of Retrograde
‘What do you mean a couple of years back?Andtwo days ago? Does Faith know? Does anyone know? Oh my God,andyou almost slept with him in Vegas!’
‘Bea!’ Lucie scolded playfully. She could rely on Bea to make light of situations, and it made everything feel a little less heavy.
‘Sorry, sensitive subject!’
‘But anyway, nobody else knows yet. I’ll be telling Faith when I get to the hotel.’
‘She knows about the hiking trip rendezvous though, right? I mean, she was there.’
‘Apparently we weren’t as subtle as we thought.’ Lucie cringed. The whole paddock probably thought something was going on with them, but then again, they’dalways been touchy-feely. Surely people would know that was just how they were?
Bea snorted, which was very unlike her. ‘You and Brett have never been subtle. When I first joined the IEC, I thought you’d been dating for years. I even had a theory that his and Sienna’s relationship was a publicity stunt for you two to hide behind. Anyway, care to share the details? I bet Faith won’t want them.’
‘What kind of details?’ Lucie blushed. Her sex life so far had been pretty non-existent, and she’d never had anyone asking for information on it.
‘Well, how did it start? We’ll save the Alps scenario for another time but tell me about the other day! Was it romantic? Who initiated it? I want to know everything!’
‘Fine. So, we’d kissed the day before, but we also kissed in Sydney. I kind of thought we were just going to keep doing that, kissing, but then we were hosing down outside and I just, I don’t know… He gave methatlook and I lost it.’
‘Oh, I know the look. I’ve seen him give you that look countless times before.’
‘Exactly. But anyway, I just froze. And I stared at him for maybe not even a millisecond before I closed the gap. Jumped into his arms and everything.’
‘That’s so romantic!’ Bea gushed.
‘What’s not romantic is what happened next. He pinned me up against the garage wall, Bea. Like, literally held me up against it while we went at it.’
‘That isabsolutelyromantic! The fact you were soattracted to one another in that moment that you were willing to risk being caught!’
‘Is it romance or just a lot of sexual tension?’ Lucie wasn’t so sure, she’d always expected romance to be more candles, champagne and chocolates. Not hot and heavy primal sex.
‘I reckon if it wasjustsexual tension, one of your kisses would’ve led to more before now. Especially in Vegas when you were under the influence of alcohol. But also, Luce, youranto him. I have never run into the arms of a man in my entire life. That’s straight out of a film. He literally swept you off your feet.’
‘Hmm.’ Lucie went quiet, pretending she was focusing on driving. ‘So, Ricardo?’
‘We’re changing the subject? Noted,’ Bea laughed. ‘Well, he came to Paris to see me. And he stood on my doorstep, told me he loved me and I gave in. Life’s too short, you know? I love him.’
Bea was a hopeless romantic, and she’d waited years for her fairy tale. But Lucie wasn’t so sure that she should be getting back with De La Rosa, not after he’d broken her heart last summer. Who was to say he wouldn’t decide to walk away from her again? Lucie felt De La Rosa had a lot more making up to do, but the heart wants what it wants and Bea wanted Ricardo.
‘You know, you’ve left me speechless many times, Beatrix Miller, but this takes the cake. I know you love him, but are you ready?’
‘He makes me feel like me again. He keeps me grounded, more in touch with myself. I don’t have toput on an act around him, or pretend to be someone I’m not, which isn’t something I’ve ever had before. We all deserve to be with someone who loves us for us, not the idea of who we should be.’
‘If he freaks out again, can I roast him on social media?’ If she had to witness broken-hearted Bea again it might tip her over the edge.
‘If you and Brett don’t confess your feelings to one another by the end of the season, can I run a story in the press calling you both out for your idiocy?’ Bea challenged.
‘No!’ Lucie wouldn’t put it past her. Faith would get involved too, re-post fan edits on social media. The fans went wild for her friendship with Brett, but she certainly wasn’t going to let her friends feed into it.
‘Don’t tell Faith about Ric yet. I’m going to tell her at Le Mans, I want to give us some time to settle back into it.’
‘I have to keep this to myself for aweek?’
‘You’re making me keep quiet about you sleeping with Brett… again!’
‘For two hours! I’m literally going straight to her hotel room when I get there!’
‘Can I call Brett and get the gossip from his perspective?’
