Page 101 of Overtake
“World rocked? Dreams fulfilled? Championship hopes and other things raised?”
Nico focuses on stretching the other side of his chest instead of responding.
“Though seriously. You look happy. Both of you do. Even with all the complications.”
“Yeah, well.” Nico shifts his body, engaging as many muscles as possible with one stretch. “She’s worth it.”
“Wait, are you getting all romantic about Hayter?”
“You’re fired.” Nico doesn’t even look up.
Esteban just laughs. “Someshit talkis worth it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Dad waitsuntil we’re airborne before speaking. He’s taken me to sit at the back of the jet, away from the rest of the management team. “So.”
“So?” I try for innocent, but we both know better.
“Should I start planning for a wedding?”
“Dad, honestly. We just shagged, and yeah it was spectacular but I think marriage jokes are very premature. I have no idea where this is going.”
His amusement slips and intensity replaces it. “Just handle his heart with kid gloves, Pet. Yeah? He’s been good to you for a long time.”
That sets off alarm bells. If Nico Belmonte pulled strings to help me somehow rather than letting me get my seat on my merits, I’ll fucking kill him. “You mean with my career?”
“No. The only thing Nico’s done with regards to your trajectory is challenged you to be a better driver on the track.”
“Ooo-kay, then what? What aren’t you saying, Dad?”
He looks out the window, jaw working as he thinks. Finally, he meets my gaze. “That period in F4, when you were struggling?” He means when I was anorexic and bulimic. I nod. “Nico saw it before I did. He told Carlos you were throwingout your lunches or throwing them up if you were afraid you wouldn’t make your weight. And that you were exercising too much. Carlos told me.”
My jaw drops. “Oh my God. Nico?” I nod. It makes sense. “I always wondered what made you suddenly see what I was hiding.”
Dad looks profoundly guilty. It’s an expression I haven’t seen since we did family counseling, when I was recovering from that madness. “That boy has always cared for you, Pet.” He leans forward to cover my hand with his and his demeanor shifts again. “You know what’s coming.” He’s not judging, just concerned. I can tell by the tone of his voice. Plus the fact that he gave Nico my room number, so this is partially his fault. “The media, the speculation, the extra pressure. And that’s without considering your mother’s contributions.”
“I can ignore Kelley.”
“I know you can.” He squeezes my hand. “Just don’t lose focus. They’ll be watching even closer now. Looking for any sign that this affectsyouon track.”
Me. Not Nico. Because they’re always looking for the woman to crack. Nothing would delight Graham Pritchard more than to catch me slipping. That would make for spectacular TV.
“It won’t, Dad.”
“I know that too.” His smile is gentle. “But they’ll look anyway and try to create drama where there isn’t any. Every racing incident will be proof your feelings affect your judgment.”
“Yeah, well, they can fuck right off.”
Dad chuckles. “Yes, they can.”
I must doze off shortly after, because the next thing I know we’re landing in Mexico City. My phone buzzes with accumulated messages.
Cin writes:
Since I couldn’t ask at brekkie—DETAILS. NOW. And don’t pretend you’re sleeping because your biometrics say otherwise.
I scroll through the rest of the notifications once we’re off the plane and in an SUV heading for the track. I nearly chuck up in my mouth when I spot Kelley’s social media post.
