Rosie: I’ve watched Peppa Pig for the last hour with Tabi. She had a nightmare. It’s because of something at preschool. I wish I could see the race and check if you’re okay.
I make a note to arrange a subscription to the television channel that shows Formula One for her.
Rosie: Sorry, was that too much?
Niki: It wasn’t too much. I hope you get sleep later.
I bite the inside of my mouth, trying to remain professional and not imagine what she wears to bed or what she looks like when she first wakes.
Rose: No chance. Tabi wants to visit the farm park again. Three weekends in a row. It’s not the glamorous life of an Australian Grand Prix.
I laugh.
Niki: No, but it sounds fun. I’ll join you one day. I look great in a pair of dungarees.
I suck in a breath. That’s not professional boss behaviour. But before I can try to make it less weird, she sends another text.
Rosie: I bet you do, sir. Catch you later.
Niki: See you next week. And thank you for everything this weekend.
My cheeks flush, and I sense Senna’s stare.
“By the way,” Senna adds, “Clara tried to get into the garage before the race, but I sent her away.”
I wince. “Why is my ex in Australia?”
“Modelling job. But you don’t need her around after she dumped you. I told her she wasn’t welcome.”
“She didn’t dump me.”
But Senna doesn’t hear me. I shove my shaking hands in my pockets at the prospect of bumping into the woman I last saw from my hospital bed.
CHAPTER 19
Niki
“Ineed to talk to you about something,” Jacs shouts, rushing towards me as we prepare for the Australian podium ceremony even though Tawny came ninth and Connor sixth. Normally we wouldn’t attend a podium when none of our drivers are top three, but Senna wanted all the crew to watch to inspire them for the season.
“Me first. I need to talk to Niki,” Connor shouts as he joins us.
“Shouldn’t you be in press?” I ask, holding my hands up, but that gets me nothing as they push each other, shoving and jostling for my attention.
Connor may be over a foot taller than Jacs, but with her, as she calls it, “footballer calves and rugby player thighs” and her sassy Scottish strength, she’s close to knocking him out.
Connor shouts, “Jacs wants?—”
Jacs covers Connor’s mouth. My stomach rolls at the germs spreading between them.
“I don’t want anything.”
Connor elbows her in the ribs. He pulls her hand off hismouth and shouts, “Jacs wants to ask your ex out.” He turns and stares at her with a smug smile as my shoulders hunch.
I glance at Jacs, who gets two pink spots on her cheeks. “All I said was she looked hot. And I said it to Senna, not you.”
“And she told you?” I ask as Senna walks towards us.
Connor waves. “No secrets between me and my boo.”
