“Hilarious, is it?”I shoot at her.
“You can think about it,” Barry says, raising both hands.“But not too much.We’ve already ordered the changes tothe livery.But the helmet branding is worth more, so try to get on board with it.Fast.”
“I won’t,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Oh, and I have some even better news for you, Matt,” he says, ignoring my irritation.
“I’m all ears,” I reply dryly.“A photo shoot for a hemorrhoid cream, perhaps?”
“Nope,” Barry says, not missing a beat.“We’ve signed the deal with Archie.He’ll be here soon.”
My mouth drops open.Shit, that was fast.I never spoke to him.Never begged him hard enough not to leave Rossini.“Oh, fuck,” I mutter, rubbing my chin.As if I can take the pressure of having anyone else’s career in my fucking hands.
“This is a really good thing, Matt,” says Chloe quickly.“It will be good to have someone you know and trust running your races.Gets me out of your head, in any case.”
If only she knew.
One of Barry’s dogs lets out a whimper by the door.
“Nature calls,” he says.“Have fun, you two.I like this.”He waves a finger between Chloe and me as he backs out.“You fit well together at the top of my team.It pleases me to see you bastards getting on.”
Chloe and I glance at each other, and I feel an inexplicable rush of shyness, and by the looks of her, so does she.Barry studies us both for a moment, his bushy brows coming together in one long, concerned line.
“Just don’t get on too well,” he adds, as the gym doors close behind him and Chloe and I are once again alone.
“I need a shower,” she says, picking up her towel, fumbling her water bottle; it drops to the floor with a thud.Ireach down and pick it up, handing it to her, but she doesn’t meet my eyes.“Can you continue this routine across the week?And let’s speak to the team trainer about your warm-up, okay?I want to see some reaction work.”
“I will follow all orders,” I say, saluting her.
“You did good today,” she says, looking at the door and then back to me.“But it’s time to cool down now.”
Yes, I think as I watch her walk toward the door.I sure as hell need to do that.
CHAPTER 11
Chloe
You’re out of your fucking minds,” Barry says, tearing the end of a burrito as the crew begin to assemble our Austin garage around us.The garages here are roomier than in Singapore, but right now, there’s very little but a bunch of crates stacked in one end, a few of which still include the disassembled parts of our cars, and about six of the pit crew taping out the floor in front of us.We’realso literally on the floor, paperwork everywhere, iPads and computers on laps, coffee in various unfinished states around us.
Weirdly enough, this is what I love.Sitting with my team, deep in the weeds.I don’t want to be the kind of team principal who wines and dines celebrities and prances around on the pit lane taking every interview on offer.
I love the science of racing.
“We just want to improve, Barry,” I press.
“But a head of aerodynamics?I thought that was your job,” he says, flicking his head toward a data analyst.The guy who has the PhD in data science and analytics couldn’t be less in charge of aerodynamics.I spot Matt sauntering in,fresh from another workout, another kind of hideous green drink in his hands.
He’s looking better already.I know it’s only been just over a week since we touched down in Texas, but his face is less red and puffy, his skin clearer.He’s even cut his hair.
Matt grins at me, straw in his mouth, one hand in the pocket of his charcoal shorts.He looks sohandsometoday.And the way he keeps looking at me is really fucking distracting.I have worked hard to keep out of his way, and it has offered some respite in these past days.I just hope I can keep my resolve up.
I turn back to Barry to continue arguing.
“If you want us to climb up a few places, we have to think about what to improve on,” I say firmly.“This is where we should focus.I’m telling you.”
“I’m not a bottomless pit.Even billionaires need to watch their pennies.”
“My heart bleeds for you,” Matt says.
