She’d joke about it at dinner. “You know, people are going to start thinking I’ve got a second career as your cheerleader.”
“Please,” I’d say, mouth full of noodles. “You’d get paid more than me.”
But then she’d lace her fingers through mine under the table, subtle and careful, and I’d realize she wasn’t wrong to worry. We weren’t ready to be plastered on every tabloid. Not yet.
Still, those private moments kept me sane. I was getting ready for closing a sponsorship deal when she wandered into my room, grabbed the hoodie off the back of a chair, and tugged it over her head like it had been hers all along. My favorite grey one, the one I’d worn after practically every race.
“That’s mine.”
She smirked, drowning in the sleeves. “Correction: itwasyours. It looks better on me.”
“Better? You look like a child who raided the lost and found.”
She tightened the drawstrings until only her nose peeked out. “Adorable child,” she mumbled.
I dragged a hand down my face. “I have a whole kit sponsorship deal, and here you are, stealing my favorite hoodie.”
“Relax,” she said, flopping onto my bed like she owned the place. “You’ve got spares. And anyway…” She sniffed dramatically at the sleeve. “This one smells like you. That’s the point.”
I froze halfway through untying my trainers. I launched myself at her, aiming for the hood, but she shrieked and rolled sideways. The next thing I knew, we were a tangle of limbs and laughter, both of us wrestling for control of the hoodie like idiots. She squealed when I tickled her side, kicking her legs uselessly, and I nearly toppled us both off the bed.
“Say it’s mine!” I demanded, pinning her down with one arm.
“Never!” she gasped, giggling so hard she could barely breathe. “It’s mine now, Alex property is Olivia property!”
Which isexactlywhen Bobby barged in, holding his tablet like a clipboard. “Alex, you’ve got to go. Sponsorship shoot’s waiting downstairs..” He froze, blinking at us sprawled across the bed, me hovering over Liv, both of us breathless. “…Oh. Uh. Am I interrupting?”
“Yes!” I barked, while Olivia dissolved into more laughter.
Bobby rolled his eyes. “Well, interrupting or not, you’re late. They’re already setting up.”
I groaned, letting my forehead drop onto Olivia’s shoulder before peeling myself away. She sat up, cheeks flushed, still wrapped in my hoodie like she’d won some great battle.
“See you later at dinner,” I muttered, grabbing my kit bag and pointing at her. “And don’t think I won’t reclaim that hoodie.”
She smirked, tugging the sleeves over her hands. “We’ll see.”
Bobby finally close his tablet and headed for the door. I followed, but not before leaning in, quick and soft, pressing a kiss to Olivia’s lips. Just a brush, but enough to make her smile against me.
“Save that for when I’m not here,” Bobby groaned as he opened the door, though he didn’t bother to hide his grin.
Olivia’s laugh was quiet, cheeks pink, and I just shrugged, shouldering my bag like I hadn’t just been caught.
And I swear Bobby was smirking too as I shoved past him, which meant I was never living that down.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I muttered as we headed down the hallway.
“I’m not looking at you like anything,” Bobby said, grin widening. “Just saying, I didn’t think you had the guts to do that with me in the room. Respect.”
I rolled my eyes, but my ears were hot.
Dad was waiting by the lounge, phone in hand, and raised a brow the second he saw us. “Why’s she red?”
Bobby didn’t miss a beat. “Apparently Alex forgot I existed for a solid ten seconds with Olivia in the room.”
“Bobby,” I hissed, but Dad was already chuckling as he started to walk towards where the shoot is.
“Well,” he said, voice warm, “I can’t blame you. You could use someone who keeps your ego in check.”
