“Right, I’m coming in,” I say, deflated.Thirteenth?Damn, that’s the same as Mexico.
Still, the rush of adrenaline is overwhelming, and I can hear the joy from my team in the garage before I cut the engine and they roll me back into place.Thirteenth is still so good for Arden, even if it falls incredibly short for me.
I spot Chloe across the room grinning and holding herself to the back of the garage, allowing the team to celebrate together.I reluctantly high-five Jasper, and then Archie pulls me in hard for a hug.
“Noah?”I ask him, pulling back.
“He got eleventh again,” Archie says with a grin.
I turn around and fist-bump Noah, trying not to let my own feelings of disappointment dampen the enthusiasm of the team.
And then, without thinking, I rush to Chloe and throw my arms around her, dropping my head into the crook of her neck.
“I can do better,” I say.“I saw the Rossini and thought of Stavros, but tomorrow I can fucking get us some points, I know I can.”
“Matt,” she whispers, pushing me gently back.
For a moment, everything stills around us, and I feel a knot in the pit of my stomach.
Chloe is not smiling.
In fact, Chloe looks mortified.
She steps back, thrusts her hand out, trying to turn the hug into something professional, but it’s too late for that.I glance around the garage and hope to god no one is looking.Thankfully, the crew are distracted in their own congratulations.
Chloe’s body slackens, and she breathes out before aiming those big, brown, annoyed eyes at me.
“Don’t do that again,” she mouths.
“I don’t care if anyone knows about us,” I snap, irritated suddenly.Deep down I know she’s right, but the rejection still stings.
“Well, I fucking care, okay?”she snaps back.
There’s something in her eyes, a struggle against an undeniable force.
I lick my lips, which are dry from the sweat and exertion, and shake my head.“I’m going to find you later.”
“You better not,” she growls, eyes darkening on me as shepushes me aside and shoots across the garage to congratulate Noah.
Press have gathered by the chain-link fence on the other side of the pit, and I can hear them calling my name.Fuck it.I’m going to talk.
I head out to the waiting microphones, feeling the sun on the back of my neck, the sweat pouring down my brow.
“Hey there.”
“Matt, Matt!You looked good out there, until you hit the barrier.”
“Car is much improved.Under Chloe Coleman things have really started to build.”
“Is Jasper part of the team now?”
“You’ll need to speak to the gaffer about that.”
“Any regrets about not driving for Rossini today?”
I want to tell the reporter to fuck off, but instead I hold my gaze firm and say, “No regrets.”
“How are you bedding in with Arden’s star team principal, Chloe Coleman?”says a familiar voice.Interesting choice of words, I think, craning my neck to see who it came from.I spot Jack Sheppard then, just to the back of the scrum.Oh, hell no.
