In the bathroom, I fire back a text agreeing to meet him in the hotel restaurant, before hopping in the shower to deal with my next Kian problem.
It’s not even a satisfying release when, with only a couple of tugs and a vision of Kian gripping that bar in the lift, I cover the tiles and shower floor with cum. Hey, a guy can dream.
My agent rings as I’m stepping out of the shower and I fill the rest of the afternoon looking through the brand portfolios who are interested in working with me, the pile so much bigger after seeing my performance during pre-season. There’s so many I’m almost late for dinner with Johannes.
* * *
‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ I say as I finally arrive at the table where Johannes has been waiting. ‘It’s been an unexpectedly busy day. But I’m here now; you have my full attention.’
Except he doesn’t, because my phone starts to ring. I don’t even need to look at the screen to know it’s Kian calling me because I haven’t shown up for our media training. Surely, if he knows me as well as he says he does, he can’t actually have expected me to show up.
‘You sure you don’t need to get that?’ Johannes asks, but I just shake my head. ‘Nils had dinner here last night and apparently the steak and blue-cheese salad is really good.’
‘Well, if your new bestie thinks it’s good I suppose I’ll give it a try,’ I tease, though I am envious that Johannes has been lucky enough to get a great teammate, someone who actually seems pleased to spend time with him.
‘He’s nice. Leave him alone. Just because your idol doesn’t like you, no need to be bitter.’
We both order the recommended salad and slump into the booths with glasses of iced lemon water. ‘I can’t believe we’re being sensible,’ I groan.
‘I’m doing a shoot tomorrow where I need to be behind the wheel of a car, can’t be hungover, man. Plus, aren’t you on the Sky Sports breakfast thing tomorrow? You realise they’ll want you in the green room first thing right?’
I do. Thankfully, my agents got me an assistant who keeps my diary nice and tidy and easy for me to decipher where I need to be and when. I could still do with a drink or two after this morning.
The ringing in my pocket begins again and I flash Johannes the screen. ‘My handler. Apparently, he can’t get enough of me.’ Johannes just chuckles and I reject the call again, only for it to start going off straight away.
Jesus, Kian. Get the message.
My phone bleeps for the fourth time and Kian’s name fills my screen yet again.
‘Blimey, he’s obsessed with you,’ Johannes says.
‘Tell me about it. All because I didn’t meet him for that media training.’ I lock my phone and place it face down on the table. He’s not about to ruin my evening with his sour mood.
‘Wait, are you supposed to be there right now?’
I nod.
‘Jesus, Harper. I know dinner with me is the most important thing in your life, babe, but you’re in the big league now. You need to make more effort for the team, especially if this was training ordered by your principal. You’re gonna be in so much trouble tomorrow.’
He’s probably right, but I’m not ready to deal with the fallout just yet. That’s tomorrow’s problem.
Rolling my eyes, I shake off his comments. ‘Christ, when did you get so sensible?’
‘When I realised I’m replaceable. There are so many junior drivers coming up the ranks with insane skills and if I step out of line they won’t hesitate to cut me. It’s all money for them, Harps. If we aren’t making it, or we’re losing them sponsors and bringing them bad press, it’s over.’
His words hit me like the iced water I’ve been drinking so far this evening, cold and choking. Johannes used to be the life of the party; he used to be me. Just a year older than me, he was in his rookie Championship season this time last year. He’s learnt all the lessons and I should probably be listening to him. Yet I miss the guy who was nothing but fun when we were in lower categories, who’d sneak out when we were just eighteen or nineteen to a bar in every city to get trollied and pick up hot guys.
‘I get what you’re saying, but I don’t need media training,’ I protest. ‘It was Kian who sat there basically saying I don’t compare to his friend, like boo-fucking-hoo. Cry me a river. And then he got all huffy because the interviewer mentioned that I beat his dad’s record and comparedmytalent to Tyler Heath’s instead of Kian’s.’
‘I saw the clip. It went pretty viral, Harps. I’m just saying, you need to play the game a bit. Once I did, I feel like they backed off. I win points and they don’t say shit when I go out too much as long as I don’t get papped doing something stupid. Nobody cares what you do in your spare time when you’re in the lower categories. It’s different now.’
Deep down, I know he’s right, but it’s too late regardless. I’ve missed the session and I’m sure Kian’s already blabbed to management that I didn’t show. He probably sat there like a good little boy and took his punishment.
‘I’ll reschedule. Don’t stress about it. Kian would still be annoyed at me even if I’d have shown up.’ There’d been little puffs of smoke leaving his ears as we sat in Anders’s makeshift office like naughty schoolboys. I know he blames me and resents me for putting him there, even if it was actually his fault.
‘Are you even trying with him?’
‘He’s not trying with me.’
