Robert laughs, patting Matt’s thigh and gripping it before throwing back his fifth shot. If there was any question before, the man is definitely drunk.
In all the years he’s known him, Matt has never seen Robert drink. Sure, there have been champagne sprays and drinks at the odd sponsor events, but never enough to let his guard down. They were still teenagers when he left, after all.
It’s special, almost, to see this other side of him.
“Excuse me,” a girl’s voice cuts through their clatter.
The two more-popular drivers swivel around to look at the fan. Laurent and Matt, on the other hand, lean just a little further away and duck their faces.
“Um, Javier? Robert? I’m a big fan of, um, both of you.”She’s shaking as she holds her phone up. “Can I have a picture? With you?”
Javier sounds pitying when he says, “We’re actually just?—”
“Absolutely you can,” Laurent steamrolls him, popping his head back up. “Here, let me take it for you.”
“Oh!” The girl’s eyes widen with confusion as she looks between him and the popular drivers. “You’re Laurent Gastaud. I didn’t know you all were friends?”
“We’re not,” Laurent replies. “Scooch in and smile—get real close. Look at these famous Formation One drivers!”
Everybody in the darkened bar stares at their group and it’s just ridiculous enough to make Matt chuckle.
“C’mon, Giggles,” Robert says. He knocks off Matt’s hat and glasses before hauling him upright. “You’re going to be in this too.”
“She doesn’t want me in the picture.” Matt tries to grab his hat again, but Robert’s reach is longer and he flicks the cap further down the bar.
“Then she can crop you out later. For now, you’re going to be a part of this embarrassment.”
Laurent is absolutely delighted by the new addition. “Yes, of course, let’s make room for Matt Hernandez, another popular Formation One driver!”
Matt stands a reasonable distance away, slowly inching further as Laurent distracts everyone, but Robert is now five shots deep in tequila. He hooks a—rather heavy and muscular—arm around Matt, pulling him closer, and leans into him, away from the fan.
Well, if there was ever a chance she’d be able to crop Matt out, that’s now gone.
When Laurent finishes the countdown, he blinds them with a flash brighter than the sun. The bar is so dark that everyone in it is flash-banged at once.
“Thank youso much, Laurent Gastaud, Formation One driver.You asshole.” Matt accidentally steps into Robert, smacking him when he reaches up to rub the spots out of his eyes.
The next morning, Matt awakes to a throbbing headache. He rolls over to check the time, surprised to see texts from Laurent.
Hey buddy!
Just wanted to warn you—don’t look up your name today
Sounds about right
Am I a terrible driver who doesn’t deserve his seat?
Strangely enough, no.
Not today, at least
Well that’s good
Totally unrelated…
Have you been gay this whole time and not told me?
What???
