Page 68

“If going out with a man who respects me, listens to what I say, makes me laugh, and encourages me is a good idea, then I absolutely think so.” I spread some orange marmalade on my scone and take a bite. I swear, this is so delicious I could cry.

“And you don’t see it being a problem that you are a Collings, your family owns the team, and he’s a driver?” Dad presses, setting his coffee cup back down.

Charles returns again with my latte, and I pause and smile up at him. “Thank you, Charles. And thank you for the lovely scones.”

“You’re welcome,” he says in his French-accented English.

Once he retreats into the house, I look directly into my dad’s eyes, identical to my own. “I know it’s not ideal. But I also know that any media interest in our relationship will dissolve rather quickly once it’s announced. People are fickle. Look what happened with Caleb and Isla,” I remind him.

“That’s different. Isla doesn’t work for us,” Mum protests. “This is just so messy. And I mean messy for Mason. Will people accuse us of keeping him in the seat because he’s our daughter’s boyfriend?”

“Mum, were you awake in the garage this weekend? Mason was on pole. He was P2. Nobody is going to question that!”

“Is it really that messy?” Dad adds, pausing to take a bite of avocado.

“What?” Mum says, eyes wide. “David, are you serious?”

He picks up the white linen napkin from his lap and blots his lips. “I am. Will it gain a lot of attention? Yes. But it will fade with a few social media cycles.”

“I think you’re both forgetting something,” Mum says, pouring more coffee into her cup. “The past will be brought up. And you two seem totally fine with that!”

I freeze. My parents have never spoken of the past in front of me. Ever.

Dad puts his fork down on his plate. “Karina. If anyone is aware of that being dragged up again, and reliving the humiliation of that, along with my own poor decision to leak texts to the press, it’s me.”

For a moment, I see pain flicker across my dad’s handsome face. The pain the affair caused, and his guilt, too, over his leak to the media that created the epic storm that engulfed all of us.

“How can we go through that humiliation again? For a relationship with a driver that most likely will flame out?” Mum cries.

I’m about to jump on that assumption, but Dad speaks up first. “We will bear this humiliation,” he says slowly, “because we love our daughter. We put our children through hell with our own selfish decisions. Both of our decisions,” he emphasises, as if to make sure Mum understands he’s not solely blaming her for what happened.

I’m taken aback by Dad’s words. He’s truly okay with me dating Mason. He doesn’t want to interfere with me exploring whatever this could be between us.

I reach over and put my hand over his, clasping it. “Thank you,” I say, my voice wobbly. “I know this is a lot. I knew it would bring up the past, and I don’t want to hurt you.” I shift to look at Mum. “And I don’t want to hurt you, either.”

“But sweetheart, you’re so young,” she pleads. “You’re smart, you’re gorgeous, and you could date anyone. Why put the whole family through the social media wringer for what probably won’t be a lasting relationship?”

I see the difference between my parents so clearly now, and I know I will never unsee it. They both love me. I know that. But given the same situation—that my dating Mason is going to drag up painful and humiliating things for both of them—Dad wants me to be happy and will support what I want to do.

But Mum has chosen to put herself first. She would rather I not date Mason if her past is going to be brought up again.

It’s a very powerful moment for me, to see my parents so clearly, through adult eyes. And it makes me understand them so much better.

“I don’t want to embarrass you or cause pain for anyone. The last thing I’d want to do is invite media scrutiny into our lives. What happened years ago left scars on all of us. We all still have them. But I wouldn’t even consider this if I didn’t think Mason wasn’t worth that chance. Caleb took that leap for Isla and look at how perfect they are for each other. I think I could find that with Mason. And I would always wonder what could have been if I didn’t try.”

“Then I think you should leap,” Dad says. “All I ask is that if you are serious and decide to go public, let us know in advance so we can coordinate with the public relations and social media teams.”

“Of course,” I say. “We’ve only gone on a few dates. We’re not quite ready to launch anything yet.”

“How does Caleb feel about this?” Dad asks, going back to his breakfast.

“Caleb and Mason will never be best friends. They can’t be. But Caleb knows he’s a good guy, and that’s all he needs to know.”

“Mason wouldn’t be at Collings Motors if he were a problem,” Dad concedes, taking a bite of toast.

“I still think you are making a massive mistake. You were so hurt by the media intrusion before. Why are you inviting it back?” Mum insists.

“Because Mason is worth whatever I’ll deal with,” I say simply.