“Barry has decided we need to fly economy to Brazil today.”
I chuckle.“I saw the boarding pass.Thank god we have lounge passes, eh?Imagine having to mingle away out there in the bull pit among the masses.”
“It’s not funny!I’ll go pay for the upgrades myself,” she says, picking up her handbag.
“Ohh...someone’s getting used to the high life,” I say teasingly, plonking down on the sofa as she strides back and forth.“Missing the private jet?”
Chloe tuts.“It’s the principle of it,” she moans.But I can see her starting to fight back a laugh as she clocks my amusement.“He wants to remind us that money is tight, he tells me.He says it’s good to get a cold, hard reminder on that.”
“Well, the press is going to have a field day.Did he think about that?”
“It’s Barry.He runs Arden like he’s running a school soft-ball team,” she shoots back.
“Maybe we need to have an honest conversation about what’s actually happening instead of all this subterfuge,” I say.“Sounds like you should be paid more than you are.”
She sighs.“I was worried money was going to make Barry think twice about hiring me.It’s still the most I’ve ever earned.”She tips her chin toward me defiantly.“And I don’t want to give him a financial reason to drop me.”
“This sucks,” I say.
Chloe stops fussing with her wallet for a moment and stills.“I just got the budget for this year.He doesn’t talk about next year.”She holds a hand up.“What am I going to do, Matt?Quit?”
“Definitely don’t sign anything for next year until you have an agent,” I say, folding my arms.“Just not my old agent.I fired his ass after the Arden surprise.”
At that, she smiles.She’s so flushed and big-eyed every time our eyes meet, and it’s adorable.I close my eyes, trying not to think about making love to her again and again and again.
“I’ve got it under control,” she says firmly.
“Maybe he’s still trying to force us toget onbetter,” I say with a wry smile.“Maybe I should call him and let him know we already didget on.”
Chloe looks away, her cheeks darkening.“Shut up.”
“Come on, Bug.Sit.You’ve been avoiding me since we went racing.”
“I wasn’t...”she says weakly.
She double-takes at my hand patting the sofa.“Sit,” I say again.
She does, making sure there is plenty of distance as sheglances around the first-class lounge to see who might be watching.
“There’s never press in first class,” I say reassuringly, as I reach across the sofa and pull her hand into mine and give it a squeeze.“I hoped we might see each other again while we were in Brackley.”
“I was busy with my family,” she replies.I know her head was spinning after that night, so I let the excuse go and squeeze her hand again to let her knowI get it.But I also want to tell her that it wasn’t a onetime thing for me.That I like her, and I want to talk aboutpossibilities.
“Matt.What the hell did we do?”she says, sliding next to me, her voice soft as a whisper.
“It was inevitable, and it was great.”Her eyes flicker to mine as I say it, and a small smile spreads across her lips.
“It was Pandora’s box,” she says.
“Is that what you’d call it?”I lean in toward her, trying to put a hand between her legs.
“Jesus, Matt.We’re boarding in twenty minutes!”Her cheeks bloom pink.It’s a satisfying sight.
“I’m only sorry it was so dark,” I say, pulling on my branded Big Ronny’s Ring Burner cap and standing.“I would have liked to see your face when you were calling out my name.”
“Stop!” she says, laughing, all flustered now, and she starts walking toward the lounge exit, pulling her own cap low.
We wander through the airport toward our gate.We’re noticed everywhere we go.Some people take photos subtly.Some come right up and ask for a selfie.I’m trying to learn to be gracious in a way I wouldn’t have been in the past.Andgrateful for this crazy job I love and hate and can’t seem to walk away from.Chloe too is noticed, and I watch her, amused, as she awkwardly and apologetically signs a man’s T-shirt.
