Page 84 of Overtake
“Both.” His expression is unreadable. “Putting aside the fact that ‘just talking’ involved a certain amount of body language you failed to mention last night?—”
Heat crawls up my neck. “Dad?—”
“I’ll back whatever you decide about Nico.” He leans forward, elbows on his knees. “But I need to know you can compartmentalize. Graham’s going to use every bit of this. The press will be watching for any sign you’re distracted. And Nico will be out there driving like his life depends on proving he’s not the reason you lose focus.”
“I won’t lose focus.”
“I know.” His smile is slight. He stands, smooths down my hair like he used to when I was little and about to get into my kart. “Now go do your job. The rest we’ll handle like we always do.”
“As a team?”
“Precisely.” He heads for the door, then pauses. “Though maybe next time kiss him somewhere without photographers, yeah?”
“I thought I was.” I roll my eyes. “Also, technically, he kissed me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Nico stands beside his car,ice vest on, head gently bobbing as reggaeton pulses through his headphones. The familiar ritual grounds him—visualization complete, warm-up done, bladder empty. Nothing left but to stay cool and zen.
It’s October, but summer-like heat bakes the Circuit of the Americas grid. Awnings shade the drivers, cars, and crews. Thirty minutes to lights out, and the pre-race circus swirls around them—mechanics making final adjustments, TV crews jockeying for shots, engineers and strategists running last-minute checks.
Cameras buzz around Nico like excited hornets, swinging their attention between him and Petra. The photo’s done its work. Everyone wants the money shot of F1’s newest drama.
But this isn’t make-believe. It’s life and racing.
The ten-minute signal sounds. Non-essential personnel clear the grid like a receding tide, leaving just the drivers, start crew, and FIA officials. Nico pulls off his headphones and vest. He inserts his earpieces and tugs on his balaclava and helmet. He glances up as movement catches his eye.
Petra stands by her car in pole position, distinctive pink and silver sparkly helmet in hand and catching the sun.She’s watching him, and when their eyes meet, that familiar competitive spark they’ve always shared ignites. Her smirk comes with a bonus—two fingers raised behind her head like rabbit ears.
He laughs. Without thinking, he forms a finger heart, loving how her answering smile lights up the whole damn grid. The screaming from the stands means their little exchange wasn’t lost on the fans.
Nico doesn’t know if this is just for show or if she’s made a decision, and he doesn’t have the mental space to consider it now because it’s time to race.
He climbs into the cockpit. Gloves go on. World is tuned out. It’s just him, the car, and fifty-six crucial laps ahead.
Lights out.
Nico gets a perfect start, but so does Petra. They drag race toward turn 1, neither giving an inch. Nico edges right, testing her defense, but Petra covers perfectly, forcing him to lift a fraction or risk contact.
The field funnels into the turn, cars impossibly close. Petra takes the racing line like she owns it. Nico follows, simultaneously defending from Aigar Vehls while looking for any chance to challenge for the lead.
Through the esses, he’s pressing hard. He needs space from Aigar and Lynch Sutton, needs to focus on Petra without worrying about attacks from behind. He hopes Wyn cuts through the field quickly, then will play the team game today, but he can’t count on either.
“Wyn got a good start,” Roxana updates. “He’s up to twelfth.”
Nico threads the needle, not defending so hard he loses touch with Petra, and not leaving so much space the cars behind him can capitalize. It’s a dance he knows well.
Five laps in, he finally breaks the tow. Aigar, Lynch, and Reece fall into their own battle, and he focuses forward.
“Gap to Hayter one point eight,” Roxana reports. “She’s fighting the car through high-speed corners.”
“Yeah, I see it.” Her car wants to step out in places it shouldn’t. That’s the rear instability Nitro’s team pulled an all-nighter to address.
“You’re fastest through sector 2, Nico. Tire temperatures optimal.”
He is. The gap shrinks with each lap, not because Petra’s slow, but because she’s wrestling a car that doesn’t want to behave.
At lap 15, Roxana asks, “Plan A or B?”
