Crossing the finish line, I cruise up to fifth and I hear Marcel mutter something under his breath, sounds like a win. I don’t focus too much on it, though, because we’re not out of the danger zone yet.
Flying through the speed trap, I get caught up behind Griffin from Montcroix and curse down the radio.
“He fucking got in my way.” Agitation bites at the base of my neck.
“Yup, we saw. Dealing with it.”
“Fuck,” I scream, rage simmering.
“Just focus on your lap times, Royce. Don’t lose your head.”
He is right. I can’t lose my head. I needed a Q3 finish. I wasn’t going to get that if I get distracted by what was already happened.
Cruising down sector one, Marcel informs me that I was eight tenths of a second off the fastest sector.
“Where’s Cowan?” I snap down the radio.
“Don’t worry about Cowan, Royce. Head down.”
“Where is he?” I fly out of Clark Corner, and I feel the back end of my car slide. The steering forces right but I manage to get it under control. “Shit,” I hiss, checking my mirrors.
“All okay?”
“Yeah, lost grip.” My words are rushed.
“Royce, box next lap. Let’s get the car in.”
I don’t need to respond. I go silent and focus on driving the car deep where needed and kissing the kerb before opening it up on the straight.
“Purple sector three.”
My fingers tingle as I fly it past the finish line and move to second.
“Bring her home, Royce,” Marcel gently reminds me, and I do as he says, driving around to the pits and waiting for Q2 to start.
Qualifying over,I climb from the car, having secured fourth and outqualified my teammate. Cowan was dropped in Q2, and I know I should be gutted because this is still team points, but I’m not.
As soon as my boots hit the garage floor, I’m seeking her out. Anaïs is there taking photos, Nora is tapping into her phone. Before I can ask either of them where Athena is, my dad strides towards me with a huge grin on his face, pulling me in for a hug then claps his hand into mine.
“Well done, mate,” he says loudly then I see Glenn move towards me.
“Drive like that tomorrow, son, and I think we will have ourselves a podium.”
I wink, placing my helmet on the side as I walk towards my room. My suit is tied around my waist, and I feel like I am dripping. I need a shower.
“Excuse me,” Nora calls behind me, and I roll my eyes.
“Yes.” I spin on my toe and place my hands on my hips, my fingers stretched across my long johns.
“Press.” Her tone is curt, her brows raised, and her fucking eyes bore into me.
“Fuck’s sake,” I mutter under my breath, and she gives me a‘don’t start’look. Sighing, I follow her.
“And don’t get too excited because it’s straight to briefing after.”
Scrubbing my face, I inhale heavily then mumble a string of curse words under my breath.
Dressed in sweats and a tee,I sit in my hotel room, air con drifting through as I wait for Athena to get here. I’m annoyed that I didn’t get to see her. I need her there watching, constantly, and yet when I looked, she was nowhere to be seen.
