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Lucky for us, however, Nova is extremely uncoordinated. Years of bowling have not improved her skill, and I chuckle every single time her bowling ball lands in the gutter. It happens more often than it should, but it doesn’t stop her from having the best time.
We’re head-to-head in our first game. Papa picks up his sparkling-purple bowling ball and squats low with it to analyze which angle is best. Mama and Nova burst into laughter while I grin and look around the bowling alley.
My eyes drift to the entrance just in time to notice Adrian, Gabriel, and Valentina walk in. My heart stutters at the sight of him, not entirely sure if I'm imagining it or if he’s really here. It can’t be that he and I somehow keep meeting unless…
Well, I don’t really believe in fate, so what the hell is it?
The couple is holding hands and smiling at each other as Adrian arranges for shoes and a lane. If he didn’t look so damn attractive in that long black coat and matching beanie, I’d manage to look away before he catches me staring. But he does, so I ogle him until his gaze meets mine, and I awkwardly turn my head as heat rushes into my face.
“Why are you so red?” Nova asks, and I lift my hands to my cheeks. My skin is on fire, which means she’s right. I am red in the face.
“It’s hot in here,” I lie and remove my sweater to sell it.
My sister’s eye twitches as she half closes it, a sign that she doesn’t believe a single word falling from my lips. Her inquiring gaze would usually make me confess, but, conveniently enough, it’s my turn to bowl.
I jump out of my seat and move toward the bowling balls return machine to grab the blue one I’m using.
Knowing Adrian Romana is here, potentially watching my every move, causes my heart rate to pick up speed. He has a strange sort of effect on me. He makes me a different kind of nervous, not the nervous feeling that comes with my anxiety. He makes me nervous in the butterfly sort of way. The one where those little creatures bat their wings rapidly to create a storm inside of my stomach and chest.
I’m about to throw the ball when his smooth voice fills my ears.
“Mr. Fuchs, it’s very nice to see you.” Polite, hot, sweet, and capable of pronouncing my last name properly.
It’s a combination I’ve never encountered in a man before.
I mess up my throw and stop a second before facepalming myself. Not the best impression to make, but I pretend it doesn’t bother me as I take a couple deep breaths to prepare for what’s to come.
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Robert?” my father replies, and I turn around to see them shaking hands.
Valentina does so next and Gabriel follows afterward.
Papa is highly respected in Formula One. He’s seen as one of the best team principals the sport has ever had. He got the team to the top with his planning, commitment, and drive. Almost all the drivers want one of the two seats available because Grenzenlos has one of the best cars and a phenomenal team. Gabriel may have won the championship last season, and Velocità Rossa won the Constructors’ Championship, but Papa has been working non-stop to prevent that from happening again.
“This is my wife, Emma, and my daughters Nova and Nevaeh,” Papa says to the three drivers as I come closer, catching Adrian’s and Valentina’s eyes.
“I have already met your lovely daughter,” Adrian states as he looks at me, causing my body to react in a hundred different ways, all telling me to take a step closer to him. I manage to keep from doing so, but Adrian moves toward me instead. “How are you, Nevaeh?” he asks softly, and I melt from the way he says my name.
“Oh, um, good,” I reply, too perplexed to form a proper sentence. Sensing my confusion, he turns to his sister and waves her over to where we’re standing.
“Nevaeh, this is Valentina. Val, this is Nevaeh. You’re her favorite driver in Formula One,” he says, and I have trouble speaking for another moment.
The first female Formula One driver smiles warmly at me, making my heart drop into my pants.
“Valentina, you’re an inspiration. I can’t believe I’m meeting you,” I admit, my hands starting to sweat. The only time I will get this nervous is in the presence of a powerful, influential woman like Valentina.
Adrian came close, but I got nervous for a different reason with him.
“Thank you, you’re too sweet. Adrian has told me a lot about you,” she says with a smile before he nudges her, and I grin. “I heard you will be traveling withGriffin Sportsto all of the races. Are you excited?” My eyes drift to Adrian, who is rubbing the back of his neck and smiling at the floor.
He told Valentina more than I thought he would.
“Yes, I am, and you must be too. This is your first season in Formula One as a driver! That’s incredible,” I point out, and she gives me an enchanting smile that I can’t help but return. I see Adrian in all of her features, except Valentina’s are softer and Adrian’s are more chiseled.
Both of them are gorgeous though.
“Only took over a decade to fight their misogynistic mindsets to get my seat,” she replies. Adrian looks at his sister with a proud smile, warming my insides.
“No one deserves it more than you,” Adrian adds, and I think I swoon internally, something I have never,everdone before.
