“You are?”he says, sighing heavily with relief.
“Chloe made me.I’m only doing ten minutes, but I’ll be there.”
“Oh, thanks, Matt.”
“If we do good today, you have to make me a promise you’ll keep her on.And if the numbers work, I’ll sign too, for next year.But, Barry.That will be it for me.You’ve got a great young driver in Noah, and we’ll have all next year to attract another big name.But I think I only have a year left in me.”
“You’re going to retire, then?”
“I think so,” I say.
“Youaregetting old,” he mutters.“What idiot buys an expensive old hen who doesn’t lay eggs?”
“Fuck off,” I say, laughing as I hang up.
The Las Vegas night is alive with energy as I line up on the grid, the city’s neon lights reflecting off the asphalt.I take a moment to absorb it all, thinking only of Chloe as we head out for our warm-up lap.
“Matt Warner, back out for Arden in what has been a roller coaster of a first few races with his new team,” I say, imagining the commentary in my head.“Surely, though, they’ve got to produce some real results with the upgrades and turn all that enthusiasm for Chloe Coleman and Matt Warner into actual results.”
Just a few months ago, I was recovering from that crash, filled with fear and uncertainty, deep in therapy, ready to retire out of grief.
Now I’m standing on the brink of something, with this amazing team by my side and Chloe at the helm.
“You’ve got this, Matt.Stay focused.”Archie’s voice is in my ear, grounding me and focusing me ahead.I picture Chloe in her little Arden team polo, headphones on, chewing gum, hovering behind.
It must be easier driving.
The crowd roars.My heart thumps.
The lights go out, and like waking lions, the cars roar to life, accelerating into the first corner.I get a solid start, holding my position in eighth as we speed through into the nextstraight.It’s a solid first five laps, in fact, as I hold on to my place, trying to keep the gap between me and the Williams under one second.
Soon, the race settles in for its fifty laps, and the tension eases.
“McLarens have pitted,” Archie says.
“Next lap?”I ask.
“Yes, we’re sticking with plan A.”Two tire changes.Mediums, then softs for speed at the end.
“Okay,” I reply.
“Just breathe, Matt.You’re doing great,” Archie’s steady voice reassures me.
At the halfway point, I’m running in fourth, battling fiercely with one of the Red Bulls.The Rossinis are ahead, their pace relentless.As I approach the section near the Bellagio, that touch of understeer takes me off track, and my heart stops.
“Shake it off, Matt.You’re stronger than this,” I tell myself, gripping the wheel hard and forcing myself to refocus.
“Box this lap, Matt.We need a perfect stop.”I pull into the pit lane, and the Arden Racing crew springs into action.I turn my head to see Chloe standing at the pit wall, just across the way, looking back at me.She’s glowing.Pink cheeks.Nervous excitement.She waves and then pumps her fist in encouragement.“Go, Matt,” she mouths.
The car is up, tires off, new ones on.It feels like a heartbeat, and the car is ready to go.“Two point nine seconds!Incredible stop, guys!”Archie shouts.
I glance into my rearview to see Noah following into the pit, just behind me.
“Tell Noah he’s doing great,” I say, before pulling out ofthe pit lane and rejoining the race just ahead of the Williams, in seventh.I’ve lost a few places, but I can do this.Softtires.Great track conditions.I have this.
I think of Chloe, and the way she looks at me, her warmth, her sharp mind,her belief in me.I want to deserve it all.
Ahead, I spot the second Williams, and when his car spins and veers briefly out-of-bounds, I am able to fly past.Sixth place.
