Page 145 of Overtake
“¡Caramba,Petra!” Nico grabs the door handle as I drift through the first corner, the rear end sliding out in a controlled arc. “Are you trying to kill us for content?”
“Just warming up the tires.” I continue through 2, 3, and 4, then straighten the car out and floor it down the first straight. “Right then, first question from my cards. What’s a childhood habit I had that wasn’t racing related and why did I do it?”
I brake hard into the next corner, later than I would in a race, just to mess with him. Nico tenses beside me.
“Ay, you brake late.” He’s gripping his harness now, but there’s admiration in his voice. “Um... you collected rocks because you thought they were pretty?”
“Half right.” I drift us through a chicane, tires smoking. “I did collect stones, but not because they were pretty. I needed something to keep my fingers busy when I felt anxious. Wrong answer on the why, so I keep driving.”
“Madre, Petra,” he mutters as I hug the next corner. “Should’ve known it was deeper than just liking shiny things. You never do anything simple.”
“Simple is for losers.” I clip the apex dangerously close to the barriers. “Next question. What’s the one thing I’m most afraid of off the track?”
“Easy. You’re terrified of being mediocre.” He braces as we rocket through sector 2, the speedometer climbing rapidly. “Which is why I’m currently terrified you’re going to put us through a wall. Now tell me I’m right so I can drive before you get us killed for the cameras.”
“Correct!” I immediately hit the brakes, the car sliding to a controlled stop. “Your turn, champ. Try to keep up.”
We swap seats quickly, and Nico settles behind the wheel with a grin that should probably worry me.
“Finally.” He launches us forward with even more aggression than I showed. “Payback time,corazón.”
The acceleration pins me to my seat as he launches the car, the Strip blurring before he takes the racing line, then gets the rear end loose through sector 3’s left-right-left sequence, doubtless just to show off.
“Bloody hell, Nico!” I grasp the door handle. “We’re not supposed to actually hit anything!”
“Says the woman who just used the barriers as braking markers.” He takes us uncomfortably close to the outside wall. “My first question. What hobby do I have that will surprise people?”
“Jesus, how close to that wall do you plan to get?” The barrier flashes past my window. “Um... you collect vintage racing magazines?”
“No.” He laughs and drifts us through 17, tires screaming. “Try again while I demonstrate what ‘controlled oversteer’ actually looks like.”
“Bollocks. Okay, you... knit?”
“¡Por díos!”He throws me a look and nearly misses the next apex. “I keep driving.”
“Fine, fine. What’s your secret hobby then?”
“Surfing.”
“Oh, bloody hell, Iknewthat!”
Nico laughs. “Next question.” He drifts through the same hairpin I did. “What do I watch to relax that would shock the paddock?”
“Wait, what?” I’m distracted by his proximity to various solid objects. “You already answered that one, you cheater!”
“Different question. Pay attention while I show you how to properly exit a corner.”
“I know how to exit a bloody corner!” But I’m thinking while he demonstrates his point with unnecessary drama. “And I know this answer. Bollywood films.RRRis your favorite because Nicolina corrupted you.”
“Exacto.” He brakes hard, putting the car exactly parallel to a camera crew. “My sister has excellent taste. Your turn to drive.”
We swap again, and I’m back behind the wheel and halfway through sector 1. Time to remind this champion why I’m called Tenacious P.
“Let’s see what this car can really do,” I mutter, immediately sending us into the first corner sideways, using every millimeter of available track.
“¡Madre mía!” Nico’s voice actually squeaks. “The producers said exciting, not suicidal!”
“Don’t be such a baby. This would’ve made Ken Block proud.” I thread us between barriers with centimeters to spare.
