“It’s Vegas,” Lucia said with a shrug. “You both podiumed; we must celebrate! That calls for a fun drink and some dancing.”
Alexander shifted Gianna again. “We were thinking about that rooftop club Kaz Energy booked out. Racers, team crew, sponsors, that kind of scene. Probably half the grid will be there, but there’s a bunch of parties going on so we can scope out whatever works.”
Lucia glanced down at Gianna, her expression soft. “I just need to ask if?—”
“I can take her,” came Anna’s voice from the doorway.
We all turned.
She stood with her arms crossed, but there was something unusually warm in her face—a softness that rarely slipped through the cracks of her always-composed exterior.
“I washopingsomeone would suggest it,” she added, stepping inside. “I’d rather not spend my night in some overcrowded rooftop bar with strobe lights and overpriced tequila. That sounds like an actual punishment.”
Lucia blinked. “Are you sure?”
Anna nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll take her back to the suite, put on a movie, maybe even relax for the first time today. Honestly? Living the dream. But Iwillbe stealing your hotel robe.”
Alexander chuckled as he gently passed over Gianna, still fast asleep, her cheek pressed against his shoulder until Anna took her with practiced ease.
“Thank you,” Lucia said quietly, brushing a tender hand along her daughter’s back. “Seriously.”
Anna just waved it off like it was nothing. “Go enjoy yourselves. You all earned it tonight.”
Lucia turned to me, one brow arched, all wicked grin. “Come on. Don’t overthink it. Put on something slutty and sparkly.”
I laughed—caught off guard by how natural it felt, like the tension in my chest hadn’t just been wound tight ten minutes ago.
Matteo glanced over with an exaggerated look of offense. “What? The paddock princess doesn’t want to go out on the town?”
I hesitated.
Not because I didn’t want to—I did. But part of me was still stuck on the kiss, on the way Matteo had looked at me in the hallway. And another part of me was remembering how thisused to feel—nights out, bright lights, dancing until our feet ached, the chaos of it all. Before everything got complicated.
Alexander tilted his head, studying me. “You good, Moretti? You’ve quite literally never turned down a night out.”
I bit back my smile, letting the edge of it slip through. “Okay, okay. Obviously I want to go out with you idiots.”
“Rude,” Matteo said, fake-scandalized. “I took honors classes, thank you very much.”
Lucia rolled her eyes. “Alright, enough. Boys—go change. Nic, let’s raid your room. I’m stealing a dress. And maybe those gold heels .”
Nowthatwas something I could get on board with.
I grinned. “Only if I get to do your makeup.”
“I wouldn’t dream of going out without the Nicola Moretti touch.”
We slipped out together, already trading outfit ideas and gossip, leaving the boys to their own chaos. The hallway buzzed with energy, and I realized this was easy and fun. I just needed to get out of my head.
“So…” I dragged the word out like a ribbon as I leaned against the dresser, watching Lucia rifle through my shoe lineup. “How’re you and Alexander after making it official?”
Her cheeks went pink immediately, like I’d flipped a switch. She looked up with that soft, melty expression I rarely saw on her—like she’d just remembered a secret kiss in the rain or some equally nauseating moment.
“It’s good, really good,” she said shyly.
I smiled before I could stop myself. “I’m really happy for you, Luce.”
She turned toward me, blinking like she hadn’t expected that. Her eyes went all gushy, like she was two seconds from tackling me in a hug.
