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Between the constant pinging of Instagram and text messages from friends congratulating me on the announcement, I saw a text from my team principal, who was insisting I get to the paddock by 8 a.m. It was as if Georgia had gotten the same text because as I walked into the shared living room of the hotel suite, Georgia was already sitting on the couch, reading a book, sipping on a cup of coffee –already ready for the day.I looked down at the coffee table, and there was a second cup of coffee, black with no sugar or cream.
As I reached down to grab the cup of coffee, Georgia slapped my hand away, a cheeky smile on her face.
“Whoa, Rossi, you think one boat ride means you can steal my backup cup of coffee?” I stepped back, chuckling, nodding to her as she laughed in response. “I kid, I kid, it’s for you. Just don’t need you getting all presumptuous over there,” she said with a wink.
“How you tease me,” I quipped, quickly picking up the coffee and taking a sip. I plopped down next to Georgia and looked at her book, eyeing her as she read the pages between her hands. She looked up from her book and quirked an eyebrow, now watching me watch her. We stared at each other for a few more moments, and then she went back to reading.
I kept sipping my coffee, enjoying the silence and just being in her presence. I assumed that she had seen the social media posts but was not interested in talking about them. Part of me wanted to ask her if she loved that photo as much as I did, but the cowardly part of me won out.
After another ten minutes went by, it was 7:30, and we were to be at the paddock by 8 a.m. We made our way to the elevator and down to her car, which was conveniently already waiting for us. Lizzie knew we would be late, so she had called ahead every morning to get our car brought forward so we could leave immediately from the hotel.
As we got into the car and started driving, Georgia finally spoke up. “That was a nice photo you chose.”So she did like it.I tried to hide the huge grin on my face, knowing it would make me look like a lovesick fool, but I couldn’t help it.
“Yours was… very you.” She chuckled at that and gave me a light shove.
We arrived at the paddock shortly before 8 a.m. and walked through the security gates hand in hand, although this time it felt less forced than previously. I dropped her off at her hospitality suite and then continued on to the Hermes garage, which was closer to the front. As I passed Wilmington, my old team, Edward came running out of the doors, clearly trying to wave me down.
“Luca! Luca!” I turned and faced Edward, who was now slightly red in the face as he stood in front of me, panting away.
“I knew you were my biggest fan, but no need to run,” I teased.
Instead of answering, Edward grabbed my arm and began to drag me inside the Wilmington hospitality suite. As we entered, I tried to avoid the weird looks from various Willmington employees, and fortunately no one said anything. Edward and I had been so close for so long that it wasn’t a major surprise that I occasionally dropped by to say hello to my old team and teammate.When we got to the VIP area, Edward pushed us behind a wall, as if he was trying to hide the two of us.
“Edward, I’m going to be late. What is so important?”
“He’s here,” he said in the loudest whisper I had ever heard.
“Who?” Edward just pointed towards a man who was standing at the back of the room, chatting to Arthur, the Wilmington team principal, and a few other VIPs.
“You don’t know who he is?” Edward questioned, still in a hushed voice. We must have looked ridiculous to anyone who passed by at that moment, the two of us huddled in a corner, clearly having a secret conversation.
“No, Edward, I don’t know who the random person talking to Arthur is.” I was starting to get very annoyed with Edward at this moment. I glanced down at my watch, and it was almost 8 a.m. At this point, I wouldn’t have time to get a second cup of coffee before my team meeting. Although, being late to a team meeting with Henri didn’t sound so bad.
“That’s Anthony,” Edward hissed, still pointing towards the driver. “Georgia’s old dick of a fiancé.”
Now, thatcaught my interest, and I looked up again at the man standing at the back of the room. He had slicked-back brown hair and, if I was being honest, a grin much too smug considering he was a guest.
“Why is he here?”
“I’ve been told he’s the new Indy Car driver. They also paid for him to do some Formula 1 testing. Rumor is after Oliver’s contract is up, he might take his seat. They’re putting him in Indy Car to see how he does in America. God, I hope he fails. What a miserable teammate he would be.”
“I didn’t realize you’d met him.”
“Oh yeah, met him a few times. Georgia once brought him over to London when I still lived there. Absolute moron and so rude – incrediblyAmerican.” The way Edward said American had me grinning. One of his favorite places to visit was America, and he absolutely loved the Miami race, spending half the time telling me how he was going to move there. Still, there was no love loss between us European Formula 1 drivers and the American NASCAR drivers, even if so many of us went to drive for NASCAR after we left Formula 1.
“I’ve been trying to ignore him all morning, but I know I won’t be able to forever. Arthur has given him all access to the garage, and he’ll be here all weekend,” Edward groaned, rubbing his eyes in frustration.
“I want to meet him,” I said suddenly. Edward looked a little shocked, wondering why on earth I’d want to meet the asshole who broke Georgia’s heart.
“Gross. Why?”
“Because I want to thank him for being stupid enough to end his relationship with Georgia. I want to thank him for letting me show Georgia what it’s like to be with a boyfriend who values her. I want to rub my relationship in hisstupid fuckingface.” That last part came out in a whisper, but I knew Edward heard it.
“Luca Rossi, such a softy,” Edward teased. “Something tells me he probably won’t care since, I mean, he was the one who cheated on Georgia.”Did everyone know this story except me?
“Oh, he’ll care.”I was sure of it.“Georgia isn’t someone you justget over.” I knew this from first-hand experience, and I had no doubt in my mind that even though Anthony had been the one to cheat, he was missing her all the same. She was beautiful, smart, funny. It would be impossible not tomiss her.
Edward looked incredulously at me but chuckled, glancing back at Anthony.
