Once I’ve sufficiently embarrassed myself, we resume walking to the Pagari garage so I can interview Jack before qualifying. My F1 content’s performing insanely well. Motorsport fans are following along, commenting about which race I’m going to feature next. They have real power, with my engagement spiking on any post that merely hints about the sport.
Public conversations are shifting too – ‘Jules and Tom’ pairing searches have increased exponentially; F1 fan accounts are posting about sightings of me and my fashion; a couple of Tom’s brands have reached out. This plan may feel like a struggle day-to-day, but it’s working. I’m slowly becoming part of the F1 discourse.
‘Wait, Jules!’ Ash hurriedly gives her coffee to Minnie. ‘Give us your stuff and stride away. Do one of those walking shots in front of the boats. The scenery’s cracking.’
That girl’s wasted in law.
‘I could totally take Nyla’s job,’ she says when she hands my bag back.
‘That’s not very Brown Girl Power of you,’ I note.
‘You’re right. You don’t offer daily roasts like my chambers anyway. I’m out.’
‘You getdailyroasts? Would you even want that?’
‘Who wouldn’t want that? Leg of lamb on a Tuesday lunchtime? Please and thank you.’
That does sound appealing.
‘So this Monaco race weekend vlog you’re making will be your first vlog featuring T—Sundowner. Is that right?’ says Minnie, keen to get back to topic. ‘Is this you announcing him as your boyfriend?’
Ash huffs. ‘People already know she’s with Sundowner, silly. All the gossip creators think they’re just being private, which makes sense because he’s a private dude.’
‘I’m not hard launching him.’ I scrunch my nose up at the thought. At this rate, our relationship would begin in October and end in December. ‘I’m just feeding them little bits to keep fuelling interest.’
Minnie adjusts her hair in the breeze. ‘Will you speed things up after your date?’
‘Maybe I don’t need to,’ I consider. ‘With him being so private, maybe drips and drabs over the next few months are all I need. Maybe it’s even better, with people having to look harder for the story.’
Minnie’s lips curve down, considering.
‘I wonder ifhe’shappy to go seven times.’ Ash raises her eyebrows.
‘I think that’s a 305 phenomenon,’ Minnie says, and I hard agree.
Tom’s a vanilla man if ever I’ve seen one. There’d be no upside down play, that’s for sure.
A flash of orange catches my eye as we head down the pit lane ramp. Tiago’s race suit is peeled to his waist, hair damp, water bottle in hand, with Isa towing behind. My stomachgives an alarming jolt. It’s probably just the somatic memory of last night. Could he possibly look even better now? Seeming fresh and awake despite everything we did. My core aches as it reignites.
He doesn’t spot me until we’re practically eye-to-eye. ‘Hey,’ he says. His smile lights up his entire face and my breath catches.
Chapter 23
TIAGO
Isa rams me into the back of the Maxim Performance motorhome.
‘You slept with Jules Butler?!’she hisses in Spanish.
Shiiiiiit. Shit shit shit.
‘No.’ Calm. Casual. ‘Where’d you get that from?’
She counts off on her fingers. ‘That “hey” was weird, and your smile was weird, and you’ve been super happy all morning. Don’t you dare lie to me, Santiago.’
Small, annoying, omniscient being.
‘So what if I did?’
