A look passes between them, and Jacs’s shoulders sag.
“Sasha, not all drivers are arseholes,” Senna explains, “but sometimes they can be cocky and in their heads, hence why my brother isn’t joining us tonight.”
“Is he okay?” I ask, and everyone stares at my imploring gaze.
“Yeah. He’s working through his strategy. He gets like this when he’s racing. It becomes his focus. Everything else slips away.” I nibble the pad of my thumb, and she adds, “It’s probably because it’s his first race back. Nothing to worry about.”
I fake a smile as the group chat about their favourite races and fight over who’s the best.
CHAPTER 67
Niki
Icheck my phone. It’s eleven p.m. I was supposed to meet Rosie and the other drivers two hours ago!
I send Rosie a text. She, Sasha, and Rosie’s family are in their own suite. She might be in bed. She deserves a good sleep.
Niki: Are you still up?
Her reply is instant. She probably waited to hear from me. Shit.
Rosie: Yeah. Are you okay? Senna said you were thinking a lot about the race.
Niki: I’m anxious but excited. Do you want to get a drink? I could come to the bar.
Rosie: Let’s meet in your room. I’m heading up now. I left Sasha chatting up an engineer.
A laugh slipsfree.
Niki: Sasha came for a driver and stayed for an engineer. She’s very wise. We’re a nightmare. Good idea about my room.
I barely have enough time to check myself in the mirror before she knocks on my door. I fiddle with my grey joggers so they rest on my hips. I love it when she gives fuck-me eyes.
Her face is flushed, and I drag her into my room.
“Did you run?” I ask as I twirl tendrils of her hair around my finger. I adore her hair and her body but also the way she blushes and ducks her head.
I tuck my finger underneath her chin and lift her head. Her eyes meet mine.
“Maybe.” My chuckle has her blushing more. “I was worried about you.”
“I’m sorry for not meeting you downstairs. I was hyperfocused,” I explain. We sit next to each other on the leather sofa in my room.
She kneels on it and stares at me. It’s like she’s burrowing into my brain. All she’ll find there are the wordsProperty of Rosie.
“But you’re okay. Your anxiety isn’t too bad?”
I pull her onto my lap. My kiss is as soft as a whisper.
“It’s manageable. I’ve needed a couple of moments to myself, and when someone sneezed, I told them to leave the garage until they were certain it was allergies. I’m not the old Niki, but there are glimmers of him. I loved driving in qualifying today.”
Her smile falters briefly. “I’m happy for you. It was a rush.”
“What kind of rush?”
She turns away, but I pull her back, holding her face. “I love seeing you like this. You make my life run smoothly and fix everything around me so I can be the best version ofmyself, and yet you’re all shy even though you’re grinding against my dick.”
She chuckles.
