Page 95 of Racing Hearts
I’d stuck to my plan. Given her space. Given us space. No texts. No calls. Just long, sleepless nights and a phone screen I couldn’t stop checking. I’d picked it up a dozen times to tell her about the Rennen contract, but every message I typed felt wrong. Empty. Worse than silence.
But now, with the deal signed and announced, all I felt was the echo of her absence. A hollow pit where her voice used to live. The space I’d given her had become a wall. And I was the one who had built it.
God, I missed her. Not the headlines. Not the hand-holding for the cameras.Her.
Now it felt too late to say what I should have said back in Mallorca. That I was falling for her.
With theDaily Reporterarticle, we couldn’t end the PR relationship just yet, but I knew this announcement was essentially the start of the end. Valkyrie was on the cusp of signing a large deal with Maison de Klotho, and now I had my new contract. With the cheating rumors, Matteo and Nora were already discussing ways to make our relationship feel more casual and less public. We might have to say we were dating, but it wouldn’t feel the same, and by the end of the year, rumors of our breakup would undoubtedly be circling the paddock.
“Delivery!” I looked up as Matteo dropped a box just inside my room. “Francesco said someone dropped this off. Tried to ask who from, but he just waved me off in a huff. He’s not exactly thrilled with me right now.” My manager shrugged.
An understatement. Francesco was relatively pissed that I’d signed a new contract without negotiating with Hermes.
“Thanks, Matteo. See you for the final briefing?” He nodded, closing the door behind him.
“Ooh, who’s it from?” Edward snatched at the box, but I pushed him back, opening the present. A sharp breath caught in my throat, and my vision blurred as I reached in and pulled out a painting.
“Is that…” Edward’s mouth gaped open.
I felt a tear prick the corner of my eye. “The picture of me and my dad at my first karting win.”
A folded note slipped out and landed on the floor.
Dear Luca,
Wishing you all the best in your new journey with Rennen. I couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve accomplished this season.
Your Georgia
Tears stung my eyes, and I tried to blink them back, but it was no use. “I fucked up, Edward.” I said suddenly, voice cracking. “I slept with Georgia in Mallorca, and it was incredible. It felt like we’d finally made a connection. But that morning I overheard her telling Lily that we were nothing more than friends, that it wasmeaningless.” The words tumbled out of my mouth.
“Is this why you’ve been icing her out?” Of course, he’d noticed.
“Instead of talking to her like an adult about it, I opted for the easy way out. To ignore the comment and my hurt feelings, because I felt embarrassed. And stupid.” My throat burned. “Éliott told me that he knew about Georgia and I’s missed date. No doubt he’s been reminding her of that. Couple that with Henri telling me back in Monaco to keep things professional, I’m sure they both warned her to stay away from me, that I was only after her for sex or a quick fling, because that’s the reputation I have. The reputation Ideserve.”
Edward shook his head slowly. “Luca, that’s not true…”
“You know I asked her out years ago? And I didn’t show. I was pissed that my dad offered to be her coach. I let that resentment eat at me for years.” My voice dropped. “I proved to her back then that I couldn’t be trusted. That I wasn’t good enough for her.”
“Oh, Luca, is that what you think?” He leaned forward, giving me a brotherly hug. “Youareworthy of love. If Georgia can’t see that because of your past actions, then it’s your job to show her with your current ones.” He paused, then added more gently, “Tell me this, Luca. Why did you tell Georgia that the bracelet was a promotional gift? I know you made it yourself. I saw it on your phone.”
I twisted my hands, rubbing the sweat onto my pants. “I know I should have told her. I just… I want her to wear it because she thinks it’s beautiful. Because shewantsto wear it. She deserves to have something special, something that reminds her that she’s a champion. That when it comes to proving her worth to the sponsors or the fans, she’s more than enough. Because Georgia Dubois is worthy of so much greatness.”
Edward nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Then, Luca, that’s what you need to tell her. On the yacht, Georgia might have said that to Lily, but that’s because she thought she was sleeping with noncommittal, scared-of-a-relationship Luca Rossi. Show Georgia that she’s wrong. Show her that you can be the Luca that she knows you are. The one you’ve been over the last few months.”
I huffed out a shaky laugh. “You’re a good friend, you know that?”
Edward grinned. “The best. Now come on, let’s get ready for the race.”
He was right, as usual. If I wanted Georgia to see me differently, I had tobedifferent. I had to show her with my actions, not just my words, that I cared for her. That I respected her. That maybe, just maybe, I could be worthy of her heart.
After this race I would stop hiding from my feelings, and once we were standing on the podium together, I’d tell her how I felt.
Chapter Forty-Four
Georgia
After dinner on Thursday, I’d maybe seen Luca two or three times. He’d spent practically every waking moment at the Hermes garage or with Rennen for photos. Based on the unwrinkled bedspread, he hadn’t even slept in our hotel suite last night. After my chat with Isabelle this morning, I’d picked up my phone over a hundred times, each time typing out a text only to delete it.
