I’m going home.
When I’m done singing, but before the music is even over, I head back to the table, forcing a smile and offering a little bow to the team.
They applaud and cheer as I fight the heat in my cheeks.
“Have fun!”I say as I grab my handbag and rush out into the heat of the night.
CHAPTER 14
Matt
Ifucked up.
After our song, as Chloe heads toward our table, I head to the bathroom, slapping myself on each cheek in front of the mirror.“Pull yourself the fuck together, dude,” I bark at my reflection.I look tipsy.I look bleary-eyed.I look ridiculous.
I’m not thinking straight when it comes to Chloe.I was hoping singing our karaoke song would ease the tension, but it was painfully obvious she hated it.And me.I’m not navigating my growing feelings for her very well, and all I know is I fuckingwanther.More than anything I’ve ever wanted.
The banter.The teasing her.The trying to make light of everything.It’s bullshit.I’m just fucking flirting, and it’s clearly making things worse.
“Chloe left.What’s up with her?”Archie asks when I return to the table.“I thought she loved karaoke?”
“Times have changed,” I say, dropping back down onto the seat next to him.“Is she coming back?”
“Dude, she looked upset,” Archie says, leaning into me and dropping his voice as much as is possible in this cacophony.Someone on the mic is belting out quite an impressive cover of “Summer of ’69.”
“Yes, seems so,” I murmur, pushing the hair back from my face.
“Matt,” says Archie.“Wanna talk?”
“Not really.”
“Is she still in love with you or something?”
“What do you meanstill in love with me?”I shoot back.
“Come on, Matty,” Archie says, folding his arms.“You’re no fool, my dude.She has feelings for you.She always did.”
“She didn’t,” I say, as the thought unsettles me.“She didn’t even come to my leaving party.”
“She did,” Archie says.
“She told me she didn’t.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this, but hell, since you both won’t talk about it.”Archie takes a swig of his beer.“She didn’t come into the party that night, but I saw her loitering around outside.She looked really upset.”
I turn my head to stare at Archie.I’m not sure I can absorb what he’s saying.She came to my big send-off party to F1, but she didn’t come in?What happened?
“No way,” I say, picking up a shot glass and then tossing it back down.“Even if what you’re saying is true and Chloe had feelings for me back then, I think it’s definitely the other way around now.”
“Either way, she’s the fucking boss, isn’t she?”Archie says, dropping his voice.
“I know, Archie.”
Damn.This situation sucks.I thought that old song ofours would be fun to sing.I thought that being playful and trying to have a laugh could be a good way to move on from it.Because lord knows I am struggling to move on from it.
“Buongiorno, gentlemen,” a voice says, and I glance up to see Marco, my replacement driver from Rossini, with a few of the crew behind him.They’re drinking champagne.Of course they are, they just got another podium.“We heard you were outcelebrating,” he adds with a wry smile.He’s teasing, but I’m in no mood for it.
“We’re masochists,” I say dryly.
