Page 63 of The Player Penalty
“This track always brings out the sponsors.” Julian nods towards the other attendees with his chin. “You’ll be able to leave soon.”
Everyone else is an older man eager for his garage tour and pit road access or anRMSemployee. Boone Rivers and Dad talk to an older woman who occasionally glances our way.
“Who is that? She keeps staring at you,” I say.
Julian doesn’t look over before answering my question. “That is Harriett Blackwood. Maddie worked for her once. She’s a big sponsor who brings in other sponsors. With the third carlaunched this season, Boone is making a big play for other female-focused sponsors. She can do that for us.”
I mostly know the third driver as the girl who drives the pink car. It’s the prettiest one on the track, although being the only woman in a male-dominated sport like the Cup Series may not make her feel so appreciative.
As if mentioning her name, the older woman ends their conversation and trains her eyes on the two of us.
“Julian, she’s coming over here.” I didn’t know she existed two minutes ago, and now I’m nervous.
He stands, shoving the white plastic chair away, and moves so my view is blocked. “Good to see you again, Harriett.”
I follow Julian, not liking the idea of looking up at both of them.
“It’s always good to see me again, Julian. How are you?” She taps his cheek before pretending to notice me. “Well, who is this?”
The person Julian invited so he wouldn’t be alone with the mysterious Harriett Blackwood. “Lily.” There’s no point in giving her more information.
She’s attractive, with some frost in her blond hair. She wears a Land’s End blouse and crisp blue jeans, but the outfit feels contrived, especially with the three-inch heels.
Instinct, and maybe a little jealousy, causes me to hook my arm through Julian’s and hope my dad doesn’t notice. He’s already sniffing around the two of us.
“Ah, Lily. What a lovely name.” She puts her attention back on Julian. “How old are you, dear?”
I fan the spark of anger flickering in my belly, hoping to turn it up to a full-on flame. “None of your business.”
She ignores me and speaks to Julian instead. “I guess you and I have that in common. Of course, who am I to judge?”
“Judging is your favorite pastime,” he says. “Our respective ages are also none of your business. Is that all?”
It’s his turn to be ignored. “Be careful with him, darling. He’s a slippery one, although I see you’ve got him chained up well enough,” she says, referring to our interlinked arms. “If you catch him, I suppose it could be worse. Good luck, Julian. You’re finally growing up, aren’t you? I wondered if that would ever happen.”
She leaves us with no goodbye.
Earlier, I wanted to leave the suffocating tent, and now I fall into a chair because my legs don’t work. “You slept with her.”
“Once, a couple of years ago. She’s enjoyed teasing me over it ever since. Harriet is like that with everyone. She pokes to see if you’ll fight back. It’s a hobby of hers.”
“She needs another hobby.” One of the things I love most about Julian is that he never pokes or teases. He’s direct and always patient, especially with me. Younger me used to take even a harmless joke from friends in the worst possible way. My dad tried to explain that jokes between friends can sometimes be a way to show affection. It was hard to tell the difference between that and the schoolyard harassment I was subjected to.
“Do you want some food? Lily, you’re a little pale.”
The food is rich for the middle of the day, with heavy meats and some cream sauces. My stomach isn’t in the mood. “I have homework to do.”
Julian sits across from me. “I can’t leave.”
Of course, he can’t. It’s the day before a race, so he’ll be busy the entire afternoon and night. “That’s fine.”
“Are you angry?”
“At you? No.” It’s not possible to be angry with Julian. If there’s any anger, it’s directed towards myself.
“Are we still on for tonight?”
“When my homework is done.”
