Kelsie shrugs. “So, take a little while to figure it out. I’ll tell my parents Amelia moved out. They’ll front the rent.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? They can afford it.”
I grimace, although it’s true. Kelsie’s parents own a chain of walk-in clinics. I’m pretty sure they’re millionaires.
“I have enough money for a few months,” I say.
“Eh, don’t bother. Last week my dad said he hoped I wasn’t dating anyone too ‘ethnic’ here, so let’s just consider it a racism tax.”
I smile thinly. “Still. I’ll find a job soon.”
“A job you love,” she stipulates.
I make a noncommittal sound. I’ve been trying to think of other things I can do with my life. But all I can think about is racing.
“Any word back from other teams?” Kelsie asks, watching me.
I shake my head. I got an e-mail from one F4 team, offering me a seat. I got excited for about two seconds, before I saw their casual note that they were a new team, with limited funds, and I wouldhave to pay the entry and travel fees—which would be about two hundred thousand dollars. I couldn’t afford that, unless I begged my parents for the money, which I won’t.
“Are any of the teams left based out of the UK?”
I open my mouth to say no, then I pause.
There is one UK-based team that I haven’t e-mailed yet.
“What is it?” Kelsie asks.
I push a piece of food aimlessly around my plate. I’d never even considered them, because why would I?
“There is this Formula 1 team,” I say slowly. “Crosswire Racing. I was supposed to have a meeting with them before the crash.”
“That’s amazing!”
“Yeah, not really. They’re the best team in F1. I can’t even get a seat with the worst team in F4.”
“That’s because you don’t have a connection with them. And because it’s, like, five minutes before the season is starting. But if they wanted you beforehand...”
“I don’t know for sure that they did. It was just a meeting.” I hesitate. “Travis thought they were going to ask me to be their reserve driver.”
“Ooh, theydefinitelywere.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know anything about it.”
“I know there’s no harm in trying. Just e-mail them and see if they’ll meet with you. What’s the worst thing that could happen? They say no, it sucks, we move on.”
I hesitate. Despite everything—despite all the rejections—I can feel myself being pulled into the cycle again. Find new team. Get hopes up.
And Kelsie’s right. What’s the harm in trying one last time?
I take another bite of food. Living in London with Kelsie, working for Crosswire... life would be damn near perfect.
“What now?” Kelsie says, as my smile fades again.
“I was just thinking my parents are going to flip when I tell them I’m staying here.”
“Good thing you’re an adult who can make his own decisions.”
