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She doesn’t say anything for far too long, and my head swirls with the events from the race. I was doing well, damn well. I was on my way to winning this thing. And then that unskilled rookie hit my damn car, thinking he could pass me. And he ruined it for six of us who went into the damn wall.
I hate losing.
I steel myself as I wait for what Jenny is going to say to me. “Just say it,” I snap when I can’t take it any longer.
“What about this do you not understand, Royal? Seriously. Do we need to get you checked out?” I let that roll off my shoulders, but she’s not done yet. “What, did your mom drop you on your damn head when you were a baby? Is that it?”
That cold runs through my body, and before I can stop it, the words fall out of my mouth. “Nope, not even my mother wanted to deal with me. Left my ass behind before I could form a sentence. Better give up now.”
I expect a cold retort, something snarky. But it’s so much worse than that because I see genuine pity in her eyes. “Royal—”
“Don’t,” I say quickly, wanting to get away. The race is over for me. My car is fucked, and I can’t stand the way she’s looking at me. I want her to insult me. I want her to berate me. Scold me. Anything but have that goddamn look of pity on her face.
She sighs deeply, and I know she wants to say more, but it’s not a lecture that’s haunting her mind. She wants to ask me if I’m okay. She wants to tell me it’s my mom’s loss and bullshit I’ve heard before.
But I can’t stand it. I push it as far away as I can. “I’m leaving.”
“You’re going to be fined for that fistfight.”
“Won’t be the first time,” I say coldly, my body and my mind going numb. I need to get the hell out of here.
I see the media with their pit passes, trying to make their way toward the wreckage. In that small crowd is Soren and Leslie. I see the confusion on Soren’s face, and I feel like my firesuit is starting to suffocate me.
I need to get away.
And that’s exactly what I do.
I run.
I’ll worry about the fines later. I can’t right now.
I don’t even remember driving to my house or changing after my shower, but I’m sitting in my living room with a drink in my hand when I hear the doorbell ring.
Well, that can’t be good.
Only a handful of people have my address.
I put the glass down on the coffee table and make my way to the front door. Through a window in the door, I instantly see who’s standing there.
I open the door angrily. “Jenny is fucking fired.”
Soren just pushes past me and walks into my home without blinking. “No. She’s not. You need her too badly.”
I close the door behind me and turn to face the intruder. “She gave you my gate code.”
It’s not really a question because I know she must have. “Yes.”
“Why are you here?” I ask next because there’s no point in discussing Jenny’s lack of boundaries.
His eyes scan my face, and I swear he almost reaches out his hand but stops himself. “Where’s your kitchen?”
That’s an odd question and not at all what I thought he was going to say, so I’m caught off guard and point. He nods and makes his way to the kitchen.
If he’s impressed by the fancy house I call a home when I’m not traveling, he doesn’t show it at all. Just goes to the freezer, pulling the door open and searching. “Seriously?”
He looks at me, the freezer door still open as he lifts his brow. “What?”
“No frozen veggies at all?”
