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Goddamn, this man is good at reading people. Was he always this way?
“No…” I trailoff, and Axel tips his head like he knows I’m full of shit. “Okay, fine, but just once.”
Axel throws his head back and laughs his ass off. “You know I’m not that dumb. A woman like that? You went back for seconds.”
“Don’t talk about her that way.”
“Oh shit, you have feelings, man.”
“No,I don’t.”
“You wouldn’t care how I talked about her if you didn’t have feelings. It’s all good. It happens. You meet that one who just wraps herself around your heart and squeezes so tight, she doesn’t let go.”
“Whoa, who said anything about hearts and not letting go?”
“Oh,just admit it,man. You got it bad for one smokin’ hot Neveah Walker.”
I toss my empty beer can at him. “I plead the fifth.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure you do.”
* * *
“You’ve hada great season so far. Anyone you want to thank for that?” The interviewer points the microphone back my way and waits for an answer.
Neveah is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t push myself to say it. “My sponsorship with Walker Tires. It helped push me in the right direction, and I’m beyond grateful for it.”
“That’s great. Neveah Walker is in charge of theirsponsorships, right? She’sa great woman and great at her job.”
I nod a bit more enthusiastically than I want to, a stupidshit-eatinggrin spreading across my face. And not the cocky kind. “She is amazing.” I stop myself before I say more.
We finish up the interview and move on to pictures with the team and our cars. Along with other pre-raceobligationswe take part in.
After the official picturesare finished, we hang around and shoot the shit for a while before gearing up for the race.
“Luca, how are ya?” Colton claps me on the back, and we shake hands. “Hell of a season you’re having, congrats.”
“Thanks, Colton. That means a lot coming for you.”
He laughs. “I’m just like the rest of you. Racing to win. But I’m happy to see you're doing well. This career isn’t always easy, especially when you're constantly in the public eye. But listen,Ryleeiswaiting, and if I don’t see her before the race, I’ll be in big trouble,” he jokes, his eyes full of happiness. “Take care, man.”
I tip my head toward him. “Later.” Not feeling like talking more, I escape down to the pits, wanting a few minutes to myself.
I’m almost there when a familiar laugh makes me stop dead in my tracks. My stomach twists, and my heart picks up speed. My eyes find her several feet away, laughing and talking with another woman who looks vaguely familiar.
My chest constricts.She’s so damn beautiful.
She looks happy, and it makes me both sad and content at the same time. I want herhappy becauseshe deserves nothing less.
I take the long way around to avoid walking past her, and eventually make it down to the pits, where my car waits for me. My mind is heavy, the ache of missing her hitting me hard after seeing her in person.
I try to shake it off as I gear up and get ready for the race, butit'shard.You were the one who broke it off, ended whatever the hell it was. Maybe try talking to her?
My head battles itself and doesn’t shut up, even when I put my helmetonand slide behind the wheel.
The race begins, the cars lining up as engines roar, and Jim chirps directions and calls in my ear. “Here we go.”
I breathe and try to focus.
