This event was supposed to last until three in the afternoon but it’s nearly five by the time we’re done. Luckily, the autographing only lasted an hour and then we got to take a break before TV interviews. The whole time I was sitting there I kept noticing the new girl. What was her name again? I don’t even remember. She’s young and cute but she’s dressed like a lawyer. I feel like someone should tell her that we are not that formal in Team Loco.
She stands next to Marcus, curiously taking in all of the craziness that is a press day for Team Loco. She looks a little scared, or maybe she’s just intimidated. She seems really young, maybe just out of high school. I wonder why Marcus hired her. She can’t possibly be old enough to have a marketing or PR degree.
I had my worries when I first saw her, wondering if she was some motocross groupie who just wanted the fame of being around us, but she doesn’t seem like that, at least not yet. She seems like she’s trying to do a good job. But I’m not stupid enough to assume that she’s here for the job only. Girls do sneaky stuff to get in close with motocross guys.
After the press day is finally over, Marcus offers to take us out to dinner.
He looks at the girl. “That means you, too, new intern.”
She brightens. “Sounds great.”
Marcus stares at his phone and nods. “Let’s try this Mexican food place. I’ll text you the address, Avery.”
Avery. That’s her name.
Team Loco is sharing a limo tonight, and I’m surprised Marcus doesn’t just let her ride with us. But then I realize she must be a local to Dallas since she came in for an interview. Of course she’d have her own car. That’s the worst part of this whole racing gig. We’re traveling so much that we use airports and taxis. It’s a little claustrophobic knowing you can’t just jump in your car and bail if you don’t want to be somewhere.
The guys are all talking about Avery on the ride to the restaurant. Jett and Keanna really like her, but I think Keanna’s motivations are purely personal. She wants another girl to hang out with when she’s on tour with us. Zach and Aiden’s girlfriends rarely ever travel with us. Marcus goes on about how she seems eager and genuine and he thinks she’ll make a good fit.
I keep silent. I don’t care that there’s another member of this little crew. I don’t care that she’s actually pretty cute, or that she’ll make Marcus’ job easier and that might make him be less of a dick on stressful days. I don’t care about any of it.
And that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
Because if I let myself think about this girl for even a few seconds, I start venturing into thoughts that make me uneasy. Like how she’s really, really cute. I learned my lesson with dating a couple years ago and I vowed I’d be totally done with dating until I get too old or broken up to keep riding professionally. Then maybe I’d settle down. But now? No way.
You can’t trust a girl when you’re famous. I love my teammates but they’re all dumbasses for letting these girls win them over. I don’t care how happy they all seem now – it’ll end. It always does. I know that better than anyone.
Avery is standing inside the restaurant, her cute little lawyer outfit looking totally out of place in this casual environment. She smiles brightly when we walk in, but she’s not hiding much. I can tell she’s nervous as hell, and desperate to please Marcus enough to keep this job. I don’t blame her—it sounds like a pretty sweet gig.
A tiny woman with big curly hair brings us to a table for six, and in the commotion and shuffling to find a place, I realize I’m left to sit next to her. I glance at Zach and Aiden and they’re both eyeing me like they’re pleased. Idiots. If they think making me sit next to the new girl is going to make us hook up in the bathroom or some crap, they are sorely mistaken.
I pull out my chair and sit down, immediately noticing the faint smell of flowers from next to me. It must be her perfume. It’s a soft smell, pleasing and cute all at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever known a girl to smell so good. I clear my throat and look at the menu.
Marcus is sitting directly across from me, and as usual, he leads the conversation by yammering on about all kinds of crap no one cares about. Then, when the food comes, he turns the conversation to Avery.
“Welcome aboard, Avery.”
“Thank you,” she says. She takes a sip of her drink and blanches.
“What’s wrong?” Keanna says.
“This is root beer, and I ordered Coke.”
“You should tell the waiter,” Keanna says.
She shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll drink it.”
I can tell she’s annoyed though, and I can’t say I blame her. Root beer is gross. I flag down the waiter. “Her drink is wrong,” I say. “She needs a Coke not a root beer.”
“Oh!” the waiter says, flashing her a worried look. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. I’ll get you a new drink right away.”
Avery bites her bottom lip and looks over at me. “Thanks,” she says, a little sheepishly.
I turn back to my food. Aiden kicks me under the table. I don’t bother meeting his gaze because I know I’ll see that goofy grin on his face. I just helped her get the right drink—it’s not like I flirted with her.
Marcus smiles at Avery. “So how’d you like your first day?”
“It was crazy but fun,” she answers.
