Jack laughs but obliges, sliding the phone into his back pocket before ordering us each a coffee in perfect Spanish.Irecall his stories of holiday homes near San Sebastián and Michelin-star barbecue in the foothills of the Pyrenees.Of course he knows Spanish.I grin at him.“How many languages can you actually speak, Jack?”
“German, Spanish, and Korean.And a little French,” he says, laughing lightly.“You?”
“Seems I can barely speak English,” I reply, blushing with embarrassment under his wide smile.“At least publicly.”
“You should really get some training,” Jack says.
I sigh.“I know.Keyla said the same.And Matt.”
“Matt?”Jack raises an eyebrow, mockingly.“I thought you guys hated each other.”
You have no idea.I suddenly blush, hard, unable to control it as I get a brief flashback to our time on the beach.Jack must notice something is up, given my beet-red face.It wouldn’t take a genius, let alone a reporter whose job is to dig for the truth.
“Getting on better, then?”he says casually, handing me a coffee and indicating with his head we should walk and talk.
“Not really,” I say quickly, sipping my searingly hot coffee and suddenly regretting the decision to talk.
“Same shit, then?”says Jack, shooting me a look of knowing empathy, like we share a secret.And I don’t like it this time.
“Yeah...I guess,” I say, feeling terrible.Horrible.Disingenuous.But the other option is far worse.What am I going to do?Tell him things are great now?That I’ve been pulling Matt into dark rooms to snog when no one is looking, while he’s made me come harder than I ever have in my life?If I give him a whiff, he’ll guess.
“I’m serious about the media training,” he says now, reaching out to touch my arm.“You know I could help you.”
“Oh, thanks, Jack, but I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“You don’t?You need to rewatch yesterday’s press clips,” he says, nudging me with his elbow, chuckling.I can’t help but laugh along.
“Well, okay, maybe I’ll take you up on it one day.I better go get the team ready,” I say, nodding toward the back entrance to our garage.
“Wait,” he says, reaching back around and pulling his phone out.“Could you give me a couple of lines?Something to make me look good to the senior editor?”
I nod.“A couple of lines?”
“Yeah.Something exclusive?”
I blow out air, racking my brain for something.“We’re right on trajectory.I know exactly where this team is going, and with the new upgrade package we’re aiming for points.”
“Is it true Arden is finished if you don’t get some results soon?”
I stare hard at him, feeling annoyed.Do I comment?Or do I use the chance to reassure my team, and quash the rumors even if they’re true?Jack must see my panic, because he looks thoughtfully at me, and then hits stop on the recording.
“If I were you, I’d brush the rumors aside and reiterate your point about aiming for results.”
“Good thinking,” I say gratefully.
He turns his phone back on record and nods encouragingly.I clear my throat.“You know, I’m not interested in the gossip on the lot.I’m interested in results.And they will speak for themselves after this race.”
I feel a flush of relief wash through me.Jack grins, switchingoff his phone again.“Perfect,” he says.“See?I’m a good teacher.I can totally help you.”He hesitates, dropping his head a little so his hair falls over his eyes.I smile warmly.I really don’t know why Matt doesn’t like this guy.He’s been nothing but kind and generous to me.
“Thanks, Jack,” I say.
“Or I could just take you to dinner,” he blurts out.
I still, my hand clasping my coffee hard enough to crush the paper cup a little.Shit.Shit.Shit.
“Oh, Jack,” I say, cursing myself for stopping to talk to him.“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“An old friend can’t take an old friend for dinner?As friends?”
