“I am,” I say, beaming.
“And what about next year, are you signing with Arden beyond the season?”
“You’ll need to ask Barry Arden.I wouldn’t want to have to let me go, would you?”I say, the press enjoying this.“But seriously.Most teams in F1 run like a business.Results based and ruthless.Arden is like a family.We stick by each other, even if we don’t always get along.
“So yeah.I’m going to stick with the dogs, if they’ll have me.”
Outside in the hallway, I see Barry surrounded by press, his energy big and wild as he crows about the future of the team and how he always knew that Matt Warner could turn things around on the track.Matt and Archie and I head off down the hallway, leaving him to his perch.
But then I hear Barry say something that takes me by surprise.I stop and turn.
“Look, Chloe Coleman was a big risk for Arden,” he says.“But she inspires that team.She trusts her team.She’s a star.And I’m going to tie her up for as long as I can, so I can piss off to the Canary Islands with my two dogs, safe in the knowledge she doesn’t need my fucking input anymore.And probably never did.”
I turn to Matt, and I grin.“I guess I’m staying,” I say.“Thanks for that.”
“It was all you,” he says.
Archie coughs.
“It was everyone,” I say quickly.
We keep walking to the end of the corridor, pushing through into the lot as we make our way back toward the garage.As we approach the entrance, Archie says, “Guys, I gotta split early.I have something I need to do.”
“See you in Qatar!”I say, waving him off.
“He wants todohis girlfriend,” says Matt, grinning.
“Really?”I say, chuckling, as we stay outside the garage in the quiet of the hall.
“I think so,” Matt says, as the door closes behind us and we are completely alone for a moment.“We should probably go back to the hotel,” he adds.“It’s almost one a.m.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
The tension of the past few days finally melts away, and the realization of my achievement sinks in.I watch Matt catch his breath, and then his eyes land on mine, as the silence falls.I look down the hallway, pricking my ears for the sound of any of the strategists or pit crew, but most are long gone.The few who remain are in the garage.There is nothing but the banging of gear and the sound of rolling crates as the garage is stripped.
“Why so serious?”Matt says, searching my eyes.“You did it, Chloe.Enjoy.”
We stand there staring into each other’s eyes for a moment, Matt searching mine intensely, his pupils large, his jaw flexing.The sounds of the garage grow faint as I concentrate on my breathing.
“I’m just thinking about what you said at the presser.About us,” I say, my heart clutching instantly, the wave of sadness crashing in to clear out any jubilation or joy I felt just moments ago.“Thank you.”
“I did what had to be done,” he says, shrugging.
“It breaks my heart a little, though,” I say, clearing my throat.I smile, put my hand on his shoulder, before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
“I’d do it again,” he says, reaching out his hand and putting it on my cheek.I turn my face to kiss his palm.
“That’s so mean,” I say, pretending to frown.
Matt tips his head upward and breathes out.Then he locks eyes with me, his gaze darkening, as he leans in slightly, pushing me back into the hallway wall so I’m pinned.I bite my lip, my knees weakening as I feel the full weight of him against me.
“We should go meet the team at the club,” I say.“They’ll be waiting for us.”
“Yeah.I just need one little thing first,” he says, leaning in closer, his nose touching mine, forehead falling against mine.
“But you said...”I begin playfully, as he kisses my cheek, his breath hot, the smell of sweat and champagne in his hair.I pretend to recoil a little, smiling, my cheeks warm, my heart pounding.But I love that smell.That is the smell of our victory.
“Listen, Bug.I know what I said.”He buries his face in my hair.“I wish it could be any other way.”
