“I’ll get Anaïs on your social media today, tidy it up a bit, make it more professional looking.”
“I have loads asking where to buy my books too… What the hell is happening?” she whispers almost in disbelief.
“You’ve gone viral,” Nora says and Athena just stares at me.
I give a knowing nod.You’re welcome, kid.
We walk into the paddock,hand in hand. It feels weird but at the same time it doesn’t. Her palm fits perfectly in mine, fingers linked and locked. I’m dressed in my Saint Onyx polo, blackcargos, and trainers. The cameras flash and Anaïs’s apprentice is near us taking shots and videos.
Athena keeps her eyes forward. She gives me a small squeeze of my hand now and then, but I reassure her. Stepping into the Saint Onyx trailer, I move her in front of me and head straight down to the café.
“Breakfast?” I ask as I pull my backpack off and dump it at my feet as I grab us a table.
She sinks herself down. We’re not alone long when Anaïs bounds over like an excited puppy.
“Hello, love birds.” Her elbows rest on the table, hands pressed underneath her chin. “How was the sex?” She giggles. “Only joking.” She winks at Athena and I scruff her hair up. “Hey!” she shouts at me.
“What do you fancy?” I ask Athena.
“Latte, oat milk, vanilla, and some whipped cream.” She kind of winces as she says it.
“Food?” Even though that coffee sounds like a meal in itself.
“Just some toast, or cereal, I don’t know.” She shrugs and Anaïs smiles.
“I normally get egg on sourdough, or smoked salmon and poached egg.” She twists around to look at the busy counter. “They can pretty much whip up anything.”
“Okay.” Her voice is small. “I’ll have poached egg on granary, please.”
“Not a problem.” I sit next to her and wait to be served.
She looks at me confused. “Why did you ask for my order if we’re going to order at the table?” The corners of her lips curl.
“I just wanted to get you out your head. You’ve got this.” I place my hand over hers and bring it to my lips as I press a soft kiss on the back if it.
“You’ll get used to it, the cameras, the reporters, life in the paddock.” Anaïs swirls her hand around in the air.
“Yeah?” Athena asks, a little hesitant.
“Yeah.” She beams back just as Julietta walks over and takes our order.
Athena is standing nextto me, my arm wrapped around her waist as I hold her against me. I’m dressed and ready. My suit is half up, hanging around my waist. My underwear is plastered with our logos and the sponsors. My dad is giving us a pre-race talk, and the nerves are already biting at the base of my neck.
“This is it, the new season.” His voice is loud “I honestly think we have the car and the drivers.” His eyes skate between me and Cowan. “But we need to remember we are ateam. We follow orders and listen to what our radio engineers say.” I sigh, heavily. “You know how this works, let’s not fuck it up.”
The garage claps and everyone is fired up. My dad comes over to me, giving me a pat on the back before moving to Cowan. Staring, I watch as they laugh and joke and it gets my back up instantly.
“Eyes on me.” Athena’s voice pulls me from my head.
I do as she asks. I let my blues sink into her ambers.
“You pulled me out of my head earlier, let me get you out of yours.” She smiles as her body peels away from mine and I instantly miss it.
Pulling on my suit, I zip it up and fasten the Velcro strap around my neck. She walks over and grabs my crash helmet. Reds, white, and silvers wrap around, with a visor which is slightly tinted. She holds onto it as I place my radio in and slip my balaclava on.
“You all good?”
“I’m all good, kid,” I say softly and have to stop myself from kissing her.
