“And that’s why you love me.”
“Rosie’s a brilliant assistant, and I’m grateful for her support. She’s arranging all the things I need.”
Connor opens his mouth, and Senna holds her hand up. “Don’t you dare make a joke about my brother’s needs unless you want to go to a sexual harassment seminar. Are we clear?”
He kisses her on the cheek. “Yes, baby. Sorry.”
I shake my head. “Why does spending time with you two always end in this smoochy bullshit? You’ve both killed my joy. Why did you call me over, anyway?”
“I’ve read whisperings on social media that we’re not as good as we think. The board is pressuring me, and I’m struggling to believe we can achieve,” Senna says, rubbing her tattoo.
“Are you also second-guessing yourself because Connor and Tawny are starting in sixth and eighth position?”
She takes a deep breath and nods. “Marco’s between Connor and Tawny,” she says, referring to one of Vessa’s drivers. Vessa’s the best racing team in the championship. “He’ll cause problems for us.”
“Connor needs to go out there and push for fourth. It’s worth testing Tawny and the car. She should have two pit stops and tyre changes. Keep her on soft tyres with one set of mediums while Connor goes for one stop. She should use a soft-medium-soft strategy. She’s not been testing track limits as much since our simulator practices, and we’ve chattedabout how Billy might try to overtake or test her. She knows what she’s doing.”
“You’ve really helped her.” Her voice is lighter than seconds earlier.
“I’ve raced against most of these guys for years. I was probably getting close to retirement before the accident.” She furrows her brow, and I keep talking. I’ve never admitted it to anyone, but my last races before I crashed were full of indecision about my future. After everything that’s happened, I’d forgotten I’d considered that. “I understand their strategies and remember having those drivers behind me risking it all.”
“Thank you, Niki. I’m glad you’re here.” I suspect she keeps saying things like this because she’s scared I’ll disappear again, but I’m not going anywhere.
My pocket buzzes, and I check my phone.
Rosie: Hey, boss. I hope you’re doing okay. If you need to chat, I’m right here. I hope Coulter Racing wins today and that Connor and his small dick don’t fuck up. Banana hammock?
My guffaw draws high eyebrows from Connor and Senna.
“Rosie wished us luck.” I quote the part about Connor’s small dick.
“What the fuck?” Connor yells.
“I told her about the time we compared dicks and how yours was tiny.”
Connor looks like he’s going to cry. “It was really cold that day, and I was nervous, and…Senna, tell him how huge my penis is.”
Senna slams her fist on the desk. “As soon as we return to England, you’re both attending seminars separately. I rue the day you two started hanging out again.”
I chuckle as I type out my reply to Rosie.
Niki: Not banana hammock at all. I told Connor what you said. He might cry or show it to me to compare again. And thank you for everything. You’ve made this weekend easier.
My belly flutters like a mini tornado is growing in me.
Rosie: Haha! Keep your eyes firmly on his face. And my pleasure. You’ve got this, boss. And if you get anxious, here’s my favourite photo from last week.
The photo’s from the shelter. It’s Graham with me and Rosie on either side of him. I’m drawn to her grinning face and big eyes. I can do today because she’s cheering me on. With her beside me, I might be capable of more than I believed possible.
Maybe one day I’ll be the old Niki again.
CHAPTER 28
Niki
Isit in my bed, wrapping the duvet tightly around me. The Saudi race from Sunday, where Connor was third and Tawny sixth, plays on the screen, but it’s white noise.
I press my fingers to my neck glands as I shiver.
