Page 34 of Formula Dreams
Then Nash breaks in loudly from the end of the line.“Are you two flirting?Because I’m feeling very left out over here.”
I laugh, grateful for the release.Even Ronan’s mouth twitches, though he covers it quickly with a tight swipe of his hand.
Lex smirks.“You wish.”
“God, I really don’t.”
The photographer snaps a few more shots, calling out encouragement, but my focus lingers on the quiet space between Ronan and Lex—no apology, no grand resolution.Just the smallest shift.A thread of familiarity tugged back into place.
It’s not much, but I can work with it.
After the shoot wraps, Nash peels away with his phone to his ear and I seize the moment by grabbing both Lex and Ronan by the sleeves.
“Okay,” I say, my head swiveling between the two of them.“Now that you’ve managed to stand next to each other without combusting, maybe we try an actual conversation.”
“What the fuck, Accardi?”Ronan snarls, jerking his arm free.
Lex sighs but doesn’t pull away.Ronan looks like he’s going to bolt but he holds his ground, eyeing both of us warily.
“I’m not trying to play therapist,” I continue.“But I’m not going to watch two grown men implode because neither knows how to talk.So… talk.”
Ronan glares at me.“This isn’t your business.”
“I’m making it my business,” I retort.“You can’t keep lugging this bitterness into every shared room.”
Lex folds his arms.“She’s not wrong.”
Ronan turns to Lex.“I know I fucked up, okay?I know, but you don’t have to keep looking at me like I killed your dog.”
Lex blinks in surprise.“That wasn’t my intention, but I’m curious exactly what you want from me?”
Ronan exhales, voice rough.“Nothing.I don’t expect anything.Not from you or Posey.”
“That’s helpful,” Lex mutters and attempts to break my grip on his sleeve, but I hold tight.
I throw my head toward Ronan.“Shocker, I know, but he doesn’t do apologies.”I turn my and fully lock eyes with the recalcitrant Brit.“But I did learn last night that he’s at least forthright.He should probably tell you at least how he feels about what he did to you.”
Ronan looks like a deer in the headlights.Lex looks to his former friend.“And how is that exactly?”
Scrubbing a hand through his wind-mussed hair, Ronan glares at me and then sighs in capitulation.“Like shit for what I did and if I could take it back, I would.”
Silence.
Then Lex says, quietly, “That’s the most real thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
Ronan stares for a long beat and then nods.“Well… I meant it.”
“I appreciate it,” Lex replies.
Ronan’s eyes cut my way, and he’s pissed I forced this, but he can’t deny… the results are good.He spins and moves through the paddock, disappearing out of sight.
Lex lingers beside me.“That went well.”
“Sorry if I was being pushy,” I murmur.
“You have a good heart, Accardi.I get it.But not sure he’s going to forgive you for that interference.”
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