Alexander
Yeah. Principal already wants to meet
Matteo
I’m sure it’s nothing, just start of season shit.
Alexander
I hope so. Wish I was there.
Matteo
So does G!
Another photo came through. G was wearing a Moretti Racing shirt, looking like she was about to cry.
Alexander
Stop torturing her. I’ll fly back right now.
Matteo
You wish
Matteo’s face filled my phone screen, a big grin and an equally grinning Gia, who was now holding a large piece of bread. I rolled my eyes at it but the smile stayed. I missed them already.When did I get so soft?
* * *
The photo shoot was a blur. I liked fashion and working with designers. Breaking the mold of wearing Belen Racing branded items that my teammate, James, wore into race days, I preferred to wear something interesting. One of the designers showed up on set and I was greeted with smiles and excitement. Their designs were fresh; I dug the blue velvety chunky sweater so much I asked if I could buy it. The designer sent me on my way with it at the end, refusing to accept any money for it. I messaged my stylist to place an order for some other items as I left the shoot, planning on wearing them for walk-ups.
Anna shot me off some emails, having me read over a few items and sign releases. I was eventually shuffled into the town car again and driven to the hotel I’d be staying at this weekend. It was posh, and vintage elegance dripped from every corner. I smirked at the old-fashioned details, odes to the original architecture here, and Lucia invaded my thoughts. There were golden framed paintings that I knew she loved. There was one weekend last summer when Matteo dragged us to Florence, determined to cheer up Lucia after a particularly hard week. It was the first time she had left Gia overnight. I had caught her with tears in her eyes on the train as she read a book in the window seat. When we wandered into a museum, there was a room with impressionist paintings in large golden frames, and it was the first time she had really smiled in months. That memory had burned into my head somehow.
“Okay, here are your hotel suite keys.” I jumped at Anna’s voice. She had a bad habit of suddenly appearing, I swear the woman moved silently.
“Fuck, you scared me,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing a hand over my face.
“Get yourself a nap. You need to be fresh for the meeting tonight.”
“Do you know what it’s about?”
“No. But there’s some weird energy going on throughout the team. So head down and focus.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” I was met with a roll of the eyes as she trailed over to a bellboy carrying her luggage.
“Anna,” I asked, “you got Matteo and Luce suites, right?”
“Yeah, across from you. We basically have the whole hall.”
I nodded and sent her a wave, trudging myself and my luggage to the elevator. Anna had fussed over me bringing my own things, but I desperately needed to take a nap, and being woken up by a bellman bringing it up just sounded awful. Plus, I liked things in my control. After fucking up my own pre-race flight routine, I just needed to do this myself.
* * *
The sun was glowing over the paddock, casting a warm glow across the sea of team trailers and racing equipment. My meeting with the Belen Racing team principal a few days ago had gone as I expected, no new contract yet. This year was the last one on my current contract, meaning I was about to be a free agent. While other teams had shown interest, I didn’t care. I wanted to stay at Belen Racing.
I was still lost in my thoughts zipping up my race suit for the day when I heard it—an unmistakable, joyful shriek that sliced through the usual din of engines and chatter. My head snapped up, searching for the source.
And there she was—Gia, a bundle of energy and joy, barreling toward me. Her tiny legs carried her faster than I would have thought possible, her blonde ringlets bouncing with every step. Her laughter rang out like a bell, everything else faded into the background. She spotted me and her face lit up with pure, unfiltered happiness.
