Pete glares at him but acquiesces. “Let’s talk future. When one of the current drivers leaves, Julien should be the first in consideration to replace him.”
Julien quickly says, “That’s not necessary.”
“It’s not?” Yeah, Pete definitely isn’t happy with him.
“No, um, I’m actually much more interested in learning about strategy.” Even if winning every race would be boring, Julien will never grow tired of watching Rafael cross that finish line first.
Lorenzo raises an eyebrow. “You’d be the highest paid intern in Ferraro history.”
“I’ll add it to my reserve duties.” Somehow. “I don’t do anything else at the pit wall. Please—I’d like to learn and help as much as I can.”
After a pause, Lorenzo shrugs. “How can I say no to that?”
The news officially breaks on media day of the Mexican GP.
Unofficially, Julien isn’t used to knowing information worthy of a breaking graphic. He told his stream in Austin as soon as the contract was signed, and the guys bullied him about it for hours.
Well, they don’t have forty-seven million euros.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment for your fans,” a reporter says, stopping Julien just outside of Ferraro hospitality.
He probably doesn’t have to talk to the press anymore, but he smiles and says, “I’m okay with being a little disappointing.”
“Can we expect to see you race again in the future?”
Considering that the only way it’ll happen is if either his brother or his boyfriend gets injured, Julien would rather avoid it altogether.
“Maybe in another three years.”
Landing in São Paulo doesn’t feel real until Julien spots the signs in Portuguese. Then it feels a lot like nausea.
Rafael assured him over and over again that it’ll be fine—that his family will love Julien—but the Frenchman isn’t so sure.
He’ll be the first man Rafael ever brought home. Hopefully the last. That kind of pressure?—
Maybe Julien can catch a different plane while he’s still in the terminal.
As the team files through customs, Julien clutches his passport and tries to remember everything he knows about Rafael’s life in Brazil.
He has a house of some sort—something big enough for his entire family to live in. A compound, maybe?
Julien can’t imagine willingly living with Thomas again.
Rafael has three younger sisters. One of them is married, but they… also live there? Also his grandparents. And his uncle. And his Formation 1 champion father.
That’s a lot of family to meet.
Wait, does the house belong to Julien’s Rafael or Rafael Senior? Whose house are they going to?!
Now Julien doesn’t know anything about Rafael’s life in Brazil. There better not be a quiz.
Instead of boarding the team bus heading to the hotel, Julien steps off to the side at the arrivals dock and texts Rafael. It takes a couple of tries, but eventually he sends it and exhales.
If they’re going to be together—reallybe together—then he has to meet Rafael’s family. Rafael met his family, and that?—
That was a miserable night.
A clap on the back sends Julien tumbling forward.
