“I’m just wondering whether or not I should say any more.”
“You don’t have to. But of course, you know that. Let’s just drop it.”
He’s wondering whether or not he can trust me. That’s what he’s really wondering.
He turned back to gazing at the lake. She did the same.
“She’s part of the F1 world,” he said.
“Oh.”
“It’s because of her I got my start racing Formula 1. She made it happen. She’s the reason I jumped from F3 to F1.”
Nico frowned, puzzled. And then she recalled their discussion in Barcelona. When he told her that he didn’t feel as though his promotion to F1 was entirely based on merit. That he had an advantage other drivers didn’t.
“Wait a minute, you aren’t thinking you only got the position racing Formula 1 because you’re good in bed?”
Rocco shrugged with a sly smile. “Well…”
Nico laughed. “Nobody’s that good in bed, including you.”
That smile deepened and his eyes twinkled. “Well…”
Rolling her eyes, Nico groaned. “Are you forgetting that you’d won the F3championship trophy—three years in a row—before you moved up to F1?”
“You know that?”
“Of course I know that. Everyone knows that.”
“Yeah, that’s true. I’m not even sure why I’m telling you this. Especially now, given the way you and I are dressed. The whole thing is absurd. Maybe I told you because looking at you right now is like looking in a mirror.”
She smiled. “So, you feel like you’re talking to yourself.”
They burst out laughing.
Once the laughter subsided and was replaced with silence, Nico thought about what he’d just told her.
It has to be Carolyn Wickham. When Rocco moved up to F1, he drove for Blue Jet Lightning. Carolyn’s married to the owner. That last round ofNever Have I Ever. The dream? Her suddenly showing up, telling him to drink. Because she knew—he had—dreamed—of her.
But Nico understood why he didn’t drink.
No one other than Charles and Templeton would ever know about the dreams she’d had.
She glanced over at him and felt a sudden warmth course through her veins when she saw him staring back at her. His was a strange look. One she couldn’t read. It made her wonder about the way she was looking at him. Recalling what Dario had said, she had the thought that her poker face had failed her and she must be wearing her heart on her sleeve. Why else would Dario be worried? Clearly, Celeste was too.
Only it wasn’t exactly her heart, and it wasn’t exactly her sleeve.
She turned away and looked out at the lake wondering how cold the water was. She was seriously considering jumping overboard.
Stop thinking about that dream. Something obviously shows on your face when you do. That’s why he’s looking at you with that strange expression.
There were things she wanted to ask him. How long had he and Carolyn been together? Did he still have feelings for her? How had it ended? When had it ended? But then he hadn’t even referred to her by name. He hadn’t wanted to share that. None of it was her business.
“And,” she heard him say, “because it’s my favorite movie.”
She turned to him. “What?”
“You asked why Inigo Montoya.”
