“I want to thank everyone for their concern for my health. I know it comes from a place of care, and I know I am truly honoured to have fans — and haters — that worryfor me deeply. I want to assure everyone that I would not be racing without a full clearance. I wouldn’t put myself or my fellow racers at risk like that. I couldn’t dishonour my grandfather in that way. Racing has been my life for so long, and the last two years I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Where racing used to be what I lived for, the last couple of years — the last couple of months — have helped me to reevaluate my life. My work-life balance is completely different. Racing has been my first love for so long, but I now know that if I couldn’t race, I’d have the strength to leave. It’s too bad you’re stuck with me for a few more years yet.”
Reporters laughed and then asked questions, which we’d already expected.
We had a back and forth for five questions before Livie tapped her mic and said, “This will be the last one.”
“Zoltán, you mention your work-life balance changing— does that have anything to do with a romantic connection?”
I tried to keep my face serene as I relayed the question back.
My eyes demanded he didn’t fuck it up.
That cocky, wonky smile reappeared. He turned to the crowd and said in English, “Yes.”
* * *
Zolt won the race. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it purely to show the press that he wasn’t lying — they’d be stuck with him for a few more years.
It meant that I had to be live on TV twice for multiple interviews.
Derek scheduled him for two new interviews. One was Hungarian, so technically I wouldn’t be needed, but Zolt gavea brow raise because, of course, I would be there.
And it meant that we joined the team in going out to celebrate.
I readied myself in my hotel room, listening to a playlist my uni friends and I used to blast in our shared kitchen, singing into spoons and shot glasses, or with less gusto the next morning over our greasy fry-ups.
It took me right back. I was so happy with Zoltán, but I was still missing friends.
Friendships used to come so easily—back before I carried a family-ending secret I was terrified of letting slip.
Once I was ready in an outfit Everly would be proud of — a black leather mini and a black lace off-the-shoulder top, and boots — I braved it downstairs, with Zolt’s encouraging texts.
At the bar, some of the girls were already drinking and laughing, and I slotted myself in, ordering a mai tai and listening to their conversations.
I shouldn’t have worn the heeled boots. I towered over them. Five-foot-nine and then an extra four inches wasn’t wise.
Most racers were on the shorter side, so the grid girls often were in proportion.
ZOLTÁN: Fake it if you don’t know how. But every one of those girls should be honoured to know you. I am.
One of these days, the love I felt for him was going to just slip out.
“Do you text a lot?” one of the girls asked, nodding at my phone. “Sorry, not being nosy, I obviously don’t understand what it says.”
But I locked it quickly. “Sometimes,” I admitted. “It can be lonely when you’re trapped by the one languageyou speak. So we’ve got quite close.”
She turned her head with a raised dark brow. In true grid girl fashion, she was stunning. Rosy cheeks, pouty lips, and sparkling brown eyes.
“Gosh, don’t let Nora hear you say that,” she laughed. “She’s claimed ownership all championship. She was so angry at his relationship reveal.”
My mai tai was placed before me, and I looked around the room for @Noraaaaa12. She was in a slinky halterneck dress that clung to her like Zolt’s leathers did to him, laughing with some of the girls.
I shrugged. “I don’t know much about that. He’s really private.”
The girl nodded slowly, assessing me for a tell that I was lying.
I clinked my glass into hers. “My name is Fia.”
“Mine’s Nadia,” she said. “A shot?”
