Page 62 of Retrograde
‘No, I worked until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.’
‘Sunny…’ he tutted. ‘You need to stop working so hard all the time and do something for you. The world can wait sometimes, you know. Look around you.’ He gestured at the landscape. ‘Enjoy this. I know the main reason we’re here isn’t so great, and that’s entirely my fault, but it doesn’t all have to be bad. We’re lucky to be here, of all places. Relax, soak it all in.’
‘I know, but my work barely feels like work. You know I love what I do,’ she insisted.
‘I just don’t want the stress building up too much.’ Brett’s hand found her thigh and she shifted. Not uncomfortably, but cautiously. He always did that. It was a friendly gesture. Except now she wasn’t so sure if there was a new meaning behind it.
Lucie helped herself to food, piling her plate high. She had skipped breakfast this morning, opting for an extra hour of sleep before setting off on her journey back home. She’d barely had time to say goodbye to the team before departing, leaving them to enjoy the city without her until it was time for their flights.
Marco had decided to head to Hawaii with Faith and Julien. If Brett caught wind of that, would it make him feel worse about everything? Maybe if he saw themposting about it, he wouldn’t care. His family was here. Lucie and her parents were here. He seemed comfortable, relaxed and, most importantly, happy.
But Lucie knew it was early days and he had a long road ahead, and the feeling of being isolated was going to reside in the back of his mind until Jasper invited him back to the team. They had a Christmas fundraiser in December which Lucie imagined would be his first trial run, but that was months away. He had plenty of time to go downhill again first.
‘Does anyone want more orange juice?’ Lucie held up the empty pitcher.
‘Yes, please!’ Cleo yelled above the noise.
They were so loud and animated; it was like being at a trackside autograph session all the time. Having been raised in a big, boisterous family herself, Lucie didn’t know the meaning of peace and quiet. Shelikedthe noise. She especially liked that every time Brett’s eyes raked over her, or his hand went back to her thigh, or his arm rested across the back of her chair, she didn’t have time to let her mind wander to the consequences because next thing she knew, someone was breaking the tension with a wild story.
But still, it was getting harder not to respond and she didn’t want to make it obvious to their families that something was different, so she used the juice as an escape route and hurried into the kitchen in search of the oranges.
‘Lucie?’ She turned to see Piper in the entryway. It was easy to forget that she and Brett were twins because theywere so different; opposite in everything except their looks. None of the Anderson siblings had inherited Maggie’s blonde locks, they were all dark haired and the spitting image of their dad, but Piper and Brett had olive complexions, sharper jawlines and fuller lips.
‘Hey, Pipes.’ Lucie worked on slicing the oranges in half. She often found herself getting shy around her in recent years, and she knew it was only because she wanted the validation of Brett’s twin that she was a good friend to him. If she ever put a foot wrong and hurt him, it wouldn’t be Brett’s mum who came after her, it would be Piper.
‘He seems happy here.’
‘I think he is.’
Piper took a second knife out of the drawer and helped her, grabbing a second pitcher while she was at it. They had already been through an entire jug, and it was hot out today. ‘He’s happy withyou.’
‘What can I say? I’m a delight to hang out with.’
Piper smirked and took the hint. Lucie didn’t want to discuss their relationship right now. It was bad enough telling her friends, but they at least shut up when asked. If Brett’s family knew what was going on, they would never hear the end of it. They knew Lucie had brewing feelings, but that was all. The levels of excitement and the badgering would be unbearable if they knew the rest. Of course, they wanted Brett to be happy and they wanted the same for Lucie, but they would fail to see the negatives. All the reasons it may not work long term.
‘Lucie, seriously, I haven’t seen him this relaxed inyears. He hasn’t mentioned missing work once. When I asked him about it, he just shrugged and said he’d get back to it eventually.’ Piper put the knife down. ‘I’m worried that racing isn’t right for him any more.’
‘Not to overstep–’ Lucie started.
‘No, please. Overstep all you like, if anyone’s entitled to disagree, it’s you.’
‘Okay, well, I think you’re wrong. You know your brother as well as I do, so you know that racing is what fuels him. He’s content now, but it won’t last beyond the summer, he’ll be itching to get back to the team and behind the wheel. Right now, he just doesn’t want everyone to worry about him any more. He feels guilty, and he’s scared to tell your sister what’s been happening, but he knows she’s not stupid. Cleo is fifteen, she sees and hears things.’
‘You have no idea. She’s been coming out with all sorts of wild theories. My personal favourite was that you’re pregnant, it’s Brett’s baby, and he’s on paternity leave.’ Piper grinned mischievously when Lucie coughed to cover up her embarrassment.
‘Anyway,’ Lucie emphasised, ‘I know Brett is starting to realise there’s more to life, and he’s loving his time here, but he can’t be forced out of his career, and Revolution aren’t doing that. If he ever chooses a different path, that needs to be a decision he’s made himself.’
‘You’re right,’ Piper nodded. ‘Changing the topic drastically… I can’t ever imagine my brother settling down with anyone except you, Luce. You justwork.’
Lucie cut her off by jokingly waving the knife in hergeneral direction. ‘Nope! We are not having this conversation, Pipes. This is about Brett. Notmeand Brett.’
‘You’re basically the same person at this point.’ Piper’s eyes widened in mock horror when Lucie waved the knife again. ‘Okay, fine. No more playing Cupid.’
It was at that moment that a water balloon came hurtling past the kitchen window, saving Lucie from Piper. Abandoning their juicing task, they cautiously headed back outside where they were immediately pelted and drenched in cold water. ‘Brett Anderson, you little–’
Lucie was left stranded by Piper, who had run to join Cleo and serve as her protector, and now she was stuck with nowhere to go. Even Maggie and Rosa were joining in, handing out more balloons at the refilling station. How long had the girls been in the kitchen? Things had escalated fast. She remembered childhood summers when her dad had gone crazy, taking no prisoners and insisting on being a one-man team versus his kids. A water balloon fight was a staple activity for them, and her dad considered himself an expert.
Brett came towards her empty-handed and picked her up, spinning her round and using her as a human shield against Mateo, who had found his own bucket and filled it. ‘Put me down, he’s brutal!’ Lucie screamed as another balloon came flying at her, hitting her right in the chest.
