“Oh, yeah, can’t wait… buzzing.” My smile widens as I look down at her.
We ride the lift in silence, and I can feel Dane’s eyes burning into me. My eyes pinch at the corners as I narrow my gaze on him.
“I have been doing some reading up on F1,” she chimes, her bag swung over her shoulder. It looks heavy.
Without thinking, I slip it off her body and carry it for her. She gazes at me, blinks a few times, and then gives me a soft smile.
“No need to read anymore, kid. You’re about to get front row seats on the action.” I slip on my sunglasses as we approach the main door of the hotel, swinging my arm over her shoulders. “Let’s give them a show.” I press my lips to the top of her head, inhaling heavily as I do before we’re out and the fans begin to scream.
Sitting at the table,one headphone over my ear, the other pressed to my head, I half listen to what Glenn is saying. I am more interested in what Athena is doing, sitting with Nora and Anaïs, whispering and giggling.
Annoying.
Me
What are you whispering about?
I feel her eyes on me momentarily before my phone pings.
Athena
Nothing that is of interest to you, Mr Lexington.
A smile plays across my lips.
Me
Spoil sport.
Flicking my eyes to my dad, I see he is fully engrossed in what our team principle has to say, giving us the big spiel about what is expected of us this season. I nod along, tapping my fingers on the desk.
My eyes skate back to her again. Her tanned legs are on show, denim shorts wrapped around her thighs. A pink vest that leaves very little to the imagination covers her full chest which rises and falls as she laughs quietly. Her black curly hair is up in a ponytail with a few loose strays falling around her face. Herfingers play with the delicate gold chain that sits around her neck, and I hate that I am distracted by her.
Slowly, my eyes lift to those full pink lips, cushioned and plump. Freckles are dotted every so lightly across her nose, and I find myself wanting to map them out to see if I can match any constellations to them. And then her fucking whiskey eyes. Man, I would drown in them if I could.
My phone pings.
Athena
Stop staring at me. You’re meant to be listening.
She scolds me and I chuckle.
Me
So, are you, are you not?
Blinking, I tilt my head back and focus on the ceiling. I need to stop looking at Athena as anything other than a work colleague. That’s all she is.
It’s just the pent-up nerves from getting back in the car. I want this championship so fucking badly.
“Okay, I am just going to call the analysts in, and they can go through the points of the car and what you can expect.” Glenn’s loud voice booms around the room and only then do I focus back on him. “Then we can go to questions.” He nods towards my dad.
“You seem to be off your game,” Cowan leans in and whispers.
I flip him off. “Fuck you,” I snarl and focus back on Glenn as he starts talking to the technical director.
I switch off. It’s mind numbingly boring but we have to do it. Athena is sitting there taking notes, occasionally peeking a lookat me and I smile which causes her cheeks to turn pink. I love that, though.
