“Okay,” I answer after a minute or two, but I am met with soft snores.
Tucking my hand under my face, I watch the clock hand move and after a while, my eyes grow tired and I give in to sleep.
Glancing around the team jet,we all look just as exhausted as each other. I sit with Royce and Nora. Anaïs and Creed sit over the other side of the plane. Dane is opposite, and Cowan is tucked behind us with some other man who I haven’t met.
I’m dressed in Alo leggings, a tee, and an oversized jumper that swamps me. Thanks to the viral video of me and Royce, sales spiked and I got a pretty penny in royalties. Anaïs also took a whole day out of her schedule to rebrand my social media and with a lot of persuading, she agreed to take it over and post on my behalf and my God, she is phenomenal. My agent Maria has called me a few times, but I have dodged her calls and managed to pacify her with text messages.
“Is Rue meeting us over here?” Nora asks Anaïs and my ears prick up.
“Not sure, she said she was hoping to get out, but I know she is super busy.”
“Does Rue work for the company?” I ask. I know the answer, but don’t want to admit that I did some heavy social stalking before I flew to Australia.
“She does some bits when she can get away from her book shop, but they’re expanding, so she is grounded in Monaco mostly.”
“I see.” I nod, sensing Royce’s eyes burning into me.
“You would love her, she’s great.” Nora nods and Anaïs laughs slightly. “What?” Nora snaps.
“Nothing, just love how close you both are now. Once upon a time you got a little jealous over me and her, didn’t you, Nora?” She rolls her eyes in response and my lips twitch.
“Seems a few of you like to get jealous,” I mutter, my gaze locked on Royce.
He scoffs, his large hand rubbing up and down his thigh.
My mind drifts back to this morning; I woke before the alarm went off and he was still curled behind me. I gently rolled on my back, head turning as I watched him sleep.
The want for something to happen between us grows as the minutes slip by, but we both signed a contract and I cannot afford to fuck this up. Neither can he.
We both want the end game; I want a successful career, he wants World Drivers’ Championship. Both very different. Both career opportunities. But that doesn’t mean I can’t fantasise about what I would like to happen.
Royce clears his throat and brings me around from my thoughts. The only way I will get my fix is writing these dreams into my words. Reaching down for my laptop, I inhale heavily as I open the lid, the word document blinking at me.
“You feeling inspired?” His brow raises and my cheeks turn pink.
“Maybe.” I shrug, letting my eyes fall to my keyboard as I begin typing.
“We’ll have to share a bed more often.” His voice lowers, but not enough for Nora’s supersonic hearing to pick it up.
Her nostrils flare, eyes wide as she looks at the both of us.
“No, no, no.” I shake my head, swallowing. “We just shared a bed.”
Royce laughs and I kick him in the shin. “Ow!” he whines.
“Well, tell her nothing happened.”
He rolls his eyes. “Nothing happened,” he groans, leaning forward and rubbing his leg.
“Good, make sure it stays that way.” She tuts, turning her attention to Anaïs and falls back into conversation.
“Idiot,” I mutter and he scowls at me.
“Swap places with me,” he says to Nora. he blinks at him a couple of times. “Please.”
“Fine,” she snaps, unbuckling herself.
They switch out and my heart thumps in my chest.
