“Absolutely.”
I rolled my eyes, taking another sip of wine.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. Just sat there, drinking wine, existing in the same space without immediate conflict.
I cleared my throat, grasping for something to break the moment. “Is this some sort of post-race ritual?”
His brow arched. “What, sitting in silence with wine?”
“No. Being decent.”
“Ouch.” He pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I’m always decent.”
“Debatable.”
His smirk softened as his gaze roamed over me. “I do have a bit of a pre-race routine, though.”
I frowned, curiosity piqued despite myself. “Oh?”
“Before every race, I sit in the car, close my eyes, and run the whole circuit in my head. Every turn, every braking zone, every place I can push harder. I visualize the entire thing, start to finish.”
“You do that every time?”
“Every time.” He shuffled lower on the sofa, stretching out even more. “It started when I was a kid. My dad told me if I wanted to be fast, I needed to see it first. So I’d lie in bed at night picturing the track, memorizing every detail.”
“Sounds intense.”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “Everything about racing is intense.”
I rolled my wine glass between my fingers. “What happens if you can’t see it?”
“Then I’m not ready.”
I hadn’t pegged him for the superstitious type. He always acted so invincible. Men like that didn’t need rituals.
“What’s your post-race ritual?”
Griffin smirked. “Depends on how the race goes. If I win, it usually involves champagne and regrettable decisions.”
“And if you don’t win?”
He hesitated, his grip tightening just slightly on his glass. “Then it’s a long shower and getting my ass chewed out by my father.”
Julian did the same thing. He had a knack for framing criticism as helpful analysis. Every conversation came with a reminder that I wasn’t enough.
“What’s that about?” He circled his finger, pointing at my face.
“Nothing.”
“You made a face.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did. Like you wanted to say something.”
I shrugged. “Just thinking your dad sounds exhausting.”
He laughed. “That’s one word for it. Be glad your situation’s different. Julian actually supports you.”
