IN DESPERATE NEED OF A GOOD SHAG
BILLY
I don’t see Frankie at the impromptu victory party at the bar next to the hotel. I’m not at all surprised. Rocco mentioned she went straight to the hospital as soon as the race ended. Didn’t even stay for the podium ceremony. He said she told him to tell me congrats.
I sigh and swirl the rocks in my gin and tonic, wishing I could drown in it like the lemon wedge is currently doing. Clara decided not to come to the party, but Lady Ava did. She’s currently a few feet away at the bar talking to Antonio. I’m hoping that it’s more than just small talk. I don’t want to have to turn her down later and make things awkward between us. I sip my drink and contemplate abandoning it and just heading back to my room when Rocco drops into the vacant chair at my table. “Where’s your trainer?”
“I don’t know,” I say and feel dread. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people that think I’m involved with her. I’m not. Never have been. Never will be.”
“Yeah, I know,” he says easily. Too easily? It’s weird. “She usually comes out after a race. Especially one where you win.”
“Yeah,” I say. Is this just weird because Rocco is making an effort to make small talk, which he never ever does, or is it something else? I’m too exhausted and depressed to figure it out. “She decided to stay in tonight. I think it’s just… been a weird weekend for all of us, you know?”
“Oh yeah. I know,” Rocco takes a long swig from his glass of amber-colored liquid. He blinks slowly as he swallows and turns to me. “Given any more thought to our conversation at the airport?”
“About the possible changes next year?” I make sure no one is in earshot before I say that. I put my half empty glass down on the dark wood table.
“I heard your interview today, so I guess you’ve made up your mind,” Rocco says and frowns. “You don’t know how to say no to me is the issue, right?”
“I probably should change teams,” I admit, without giving him the reason. “But I won’t. I love Bash.”
“This isn’t Bash’s team anymore,” Rocco reminds me.
“She isn’t doing a horrible job, Rocco. Admit it,” I say, and the creases deepen around his eyes as he frowns harder than I think I’ve ever seen him frown before.
“I’ve earned a chance to run my own team.”
“Okay. But is this an ego thing? Because you have more actual power on the engineering,” I remind him.
He takes another swig of his drink until nothing is left but the ice, and he puts the glass down next to mine. “I can be whatever the fuck I want at my own team. At Mirabella, it’s all up to her, and I’m not waiting around for her to decide my fate.”
He stands and glances down at me one more time. “I’m gonna miss working with you, James.”
“Yeah. I’ll miss you too,” I say, but he’s already stalked off toward the bar.
A second later, Ava has taken over Rocco’s empty seat. My God, this day just won’t get better. I give her a tight smile. “Did you enjoy the race?”
“Of course! Thank you so much for the pass,” Ava says and flips her silky blonde hair over her shoulder. “I should be in bed already. I’m exhausted. I’ve been partying in Mexico for two weeks already.”
I nod, it’s the most interest I can bother to show. If she realizes how disinterested I am, she doesn’t show it. She sips the cocktail in her hand and smiles at me again. “I extended a couple days because I wanted to go to the Grand Prix, but now I have to get home. Have an early flight out tomorrow.”
“Well, I guess you should get a good night’s sleep,” I say politely, and she blinks. She’s not offended, just surprised by the brush-off. I decide to vaguely tell her the truth to avoid this getting more complicated than it already is. “So listen, I wasn’t involved with Lucia like you thought. But I have been involved with someone. It was… as serious as I get.”
“So not serious at all?” Ava lifts a perfectly shaped brow and then smiles and pats my forearm resting on the tabletop. “I’m just throwing in some humor. Sorry.”
“You’re not wrong. I don’t do serious, but this was… complicated.” I sigh and scrub my jaw. “Anyway, I think it’s over now. I just… I think it’s just best if I take a breather from hook-ups for a bit.”
“Yeah. That’s fine, William. Honestly, don’t look so wrecked about it. I’m a big girl, and I can handle it.” Ava winks at me and takes another sip from her glass.
I feel like a weight has been pulled off my shoulders. “You know there’s other drivers that are single. And they’ll consider it an honor to curtsey for you naked.”
She laughs. “I think I’ll pass, but thanks for trying to stroke my ego.”
“I’m serious, Ava,” I tell her.
“Look, I’m not in desperate need of a good shag,” she tells me and pats my forearm. “I just thought since you were here and I was here, it might be fun. But contrary to what I might have led you to assume, I’m actually pretty particular about who I let into my chambers… and I’ve seen the dark side of running with this crowd. Look at what happened to Frankie Castera.”
“What happened to Frankie Castera?” I blurt out.
