“The car has a range of upgrades coming.And we need a new head of aerodynamics, for sure—I have to pressure Barry on that.But there are whispers of promise here.”I watch her move into full leader role, right before my eyes.“We have Austin next, then Mexico.Then Brazil.Then back for Vegas.That’s four races, around two months...”Her voice trails off as she stops pacing.“We can get a lot done.Maybe we can claw to the middle of the field.One top ten would be incredible.We could really get points, Matt.We really could.”
“You make a good case,” I say.
“Arden suffers a lot of problems, but the worst one is the lack of belief.In this fucking game of tiny, incremental improvements, you need a motivated team.Small gains beget small gains.”
I shoot her a wry smile, but her enthusiasm is infectious; her excitement is rubbing off on me.“Do you believe?”
“In the team?Yes.In myself?”She laughs.“I’m working on that.”
“Okay,” I say.
“Okay?”she replies, those eyes big and round.
“You help me, and...”
“And?”Chloe asks, looking impatient.
“I’ll help you with yourimpostor syndrome.”
“Oh, that,” she says, grimacing.
“You know, I’ve worked for two of the best ever team principals—”
“I know your impressive résumé, Matt,” she says with a huff.After a long pause, she throws her hands up.“Fine.What am I doing wrong?”
“You need to stand a little straighter.People can smell fear.In the racing world, you get scared, you die.”
“That bloody strategist,” I say, nodding.
“Be the boss,” he says.“Matteo Borelli will happily overrule a strategist he doesn’t trust.And eventually, everyone will learn how you think, and you won’t need to overrule anyone.You can let go of the micromanaging and be team principal.Talk to the press and schmooze the sponsors.”
“I hate dealing with press.I feel like it’s obvious I’m only here as a PR thing and they’re going to say it to my face.On camera.”
“Fuck it.You just focus on yourself, and your job and the respect will follow.”
Chloe nods, turning back from the window to face me.
“I’d appreciate a person by my side.Someone who has my back.Someone I can talk to if I’m unsure.”
“I can do that.”
She smiles gratefully.“Are we really going to do this?”
“We’re going to try.”
“Shall we shake on it?”
“I think a couple of old friends can do better than that.”
Before I have a chance to think it through, I am across the room, pulling Chloe into my arms.She is stiff at first, like a board, as I wrap my arms around her small frame, but then she sinks a little into me, and I can feel her body flush against mine.Breasts to chest, her head just at my shoulder.It isn’t a hug like we used to.Not a slap-on-the-back kind of hug.This feels more intimate somehow, and at the same time, I’m completely at home.
Chloe sighs into my shoulder, squeezing a little harder as she does.I tighten my grip on the small of her back with both my arms.Did we always fit so perfectly together?She smells like fresh shampoo and sugary doughnuts, and I allow myself to drink that smell in, just for a moment.I stay incredibly still for as long as she needs.AndIneed.
Finally, Chloe’s head moves back, and as she looks up at me, our eyes lock, and for a beat, for a flicker there is something more in her gaze.Something vulnerable.Something sad.Something...like...and before I catch it and myself leaning closer, she stiffens and looks away, springing back from me.
Whoa.What was that?
“Great, that’s great,” I say, quickly and very stupidly, looking at anything and everything but Chloe.“Just two old friends helping each other out.”
