Feel free to watch the rest of the race from our garage. Valerie will take care of you.
Matt doesn’t know who Valerie is, but Kaas wants him in their garage—which is more than he can say about Andes.
It’s easy to wander out to the paddock area when everyone else is distracted by the race. A woman in red and black spots Matt, flagging him down and guiding him through the Kaas garage. She parks him in the visitor’s section with a fresh set of headphones and a water bottle.
He’s still wearing his race suit—the white and pink of his Nomex contrasts against all of the black and red—but he stillthinks he’s gotten away with hopping garages until a broadcast camera catches him.
Whatever. What’s Andes gonna do? Fire him?
Several of the Kaas mechanics turn to the visitors’ section, as if to see if he’s actually there. Matt gives a little wave back.
He focuses most of his attention on the communication from his new race engineer, taking mental notes about when and how she delivers information. She speaks clearly, which is always a positive. She also explains why Bandile should box instead of labelling it as ‘team decision’.
It makes Matt that much more excited—that much moreeager—to start. The next time his face pops up on the broadcast, he’s smiling. He winks at the camera and continues watching.
Kaas finishes ninth and tenth. Robert finishes thirteenth.
Matt whoops with the garage and congratulates everyone on their double points finish.
A couple of the guys wander over to introduce themselves, and Matt vomits up compliments. It’s mostly just things he noticed while they worked and questions about why it might be different in his own garage.
“Because Jack didn’t think to do it that way.” One of the mechanics punches another—possibly the Jack in question.
“My way is perfectly fine!”
“Matt!” Joaquín waves him over and Matt excuses himself from the bickering mechanics. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Well, we were planning for next week, but I’m glad you were able to stop by earlier. Actually—” He scans the area before he asks, “Do you have a moment? I have something to talk with you about.”
“Sure…”
Fuck. Matt found out he was released from Andes from abreaking graphic—getting fired before he even starts isn’t a big stretch for him luck-wise.
Curious glances follow them as Matt is led through the garage and into the team principal’s office. When the door closes behind him with finality, Matt’s stomach drops.
“Our team is very excited to have you on board.” There’s a ‘but’ coming. “I hope you were able to gain something from today, even under the circumstances.”
Matt tenses. He’s so convinced there’s a ‘but’ coming that he doesn’t realize he’s expected to reply.
“Yeah!Yes, I—it was very helpful. Met some of the guys and got to see—hear—Aubrey in action. She speaks very well—succinctly, I mean. Not just good English, or something. I know she’s English, I mean. I like her voice—but not in a weird way or something! I can just hear it well over the noise of the garage. She’s good, it’s good. I’m excited to start.”
Joaquín smiles, but it looks sad.
Matt’s about to be fired again, isn’t he?
“They really did a number on you over at Andes, didn’t they?”
“What?” Matt’s pretty sure he didn’t mention Andes in his stupid little monologue. “Um, I am grateful for the four years I had with them, but I am eager to?—”
“I’m sorry, I should have prefaced this with ‘You’re not in trouble’.” Oh. Good. “I know the TP’s office has a certain connotation to it, but I didn’t want anyone to overhear us.”
“Yes, sir.” Still, Matt won’t relax until he understands why they need to talk in secret.
“How do you feel about Robert?”
“What?!”
