The little kids were laughing at something else she’d said and I wished I’d caught it instead of listening to these two nitwits.
“And has she not stopped you multiple times while you were in yours?”
He stopped, face serious, then a grin took over the whole of his stupid face at the innuendo.Lucahad a very dirty mind. I didn’t even know how that was sexual, but Ever lightly slapped his arm.
“Not funny,” I muttered just as the girls all applauded and Livid did an awful, clumsy bow. The parents around the sides of the room collected their children asLiviecame over to us.
She said hi toLucaand Ever and then stood, shoes touching mine with a huge, secretive smile before closing her eyes asshe tilted her chin upwards. A silent instruction to kiss her on the forehead. I did one better, taking her mouth with mine.
It wasn’t like this would be the last time I’d follow the team. Though I’d be followingPrixtonmore thanCiclati, which meant Frank, but…
She’d just have to try and keep me away. I had nine races — the first starting in two months — and they mostly aligned with her schedule.
Either way, I was only needed to race on Saturdays and Sundays. The rest of the time, I’d follow her around the world, like she had done for me the last year.
In our hotel room, we changed into our formal attire. As Livid put on her makeup, I pottered around, reading through my speech again and again.
I had already won Sportsman of the Year, and writing the speech had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Especially keeping it a secret fromLivie.
“What’s wrong?” she said, voice tight as she applied her lipstick at the same time.
I straightened my tie and leaned over her, gesturing for her to smell me again. I was sweating.
“You smell fine,” she laughed and glanced at me through the mirror. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Armas,” she warned and pressed her lips together, separating them with a pop. “You’re going to be fine. Better than fine. You’ll be amazing.”
“Yeah,” I said, but it was so flat it held no conviction. She would see right through me anyway.
She turned on the stool. “Nix,” she said and gestured for me to come back to her. I did dutifully, looking at her.
And all worry, nerves, and concern was gone.
I was hard as shit.
“God, you are beautiful.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “It’s just a speech. A little speech. Thirty seconds is all you need to be up there for. And what you’ve allowed me to see of your speech is great. Though, as your ex-publicist, I must stress I definitely should be able to read it all.”
“I hadNazminlook it over,” I hedged.
“You’re not telling Frank to fuck off in it, are you?” she teased with a raised brow.
I mean, that wasn’t a bad idea.
I bent to do up her shoes and when I looked up, tears were pricking her eyes. She blinked them away, not wanting them to ruin her makeup.
“Livie—”
“Nope, not that,” she said, blinking more. “I’m just proud of you, is all.”
I helped her up and we got into the car with ourCiclatifriends, Georges joining us withLiha.
Crislooked over when I ran my hand up the split in her dress, up and down her thigh and rolled his eyes.
“I don’t think you can sit at our table tonight,Livia,” he said. “I don’t care who your boyfriend is.”
