“Who are you?” Sloane called.
“I know!” Reese called back.
Sloane went back to her tablet, but it was only a moment before Veronica walked into the garage and paused. “What has you smiling like that?”
Sloane hadn’t even realized she was. “Oh. Race days still have a way of …”
“Of?”
She searched thoroughly for the end of that sentence. “Getting me all excited. For the drivers.”
Veronica smiled. “Okay, well, lean into that. Because if that’s what this is, it looks good on you.”
“Yeah?”
“I mean it, Sloane. There’s a new energy. It’s like the old you is back.” She raised a shoulder, marveling. “And it’s really nice.”
Reese crossed the line with her hands steady on the wheel, heart hammering hard enough to rattle her ribs, but, for once, her head was clear. No panic or reckless instinct screaming at her to prove something. Just pace and consistency, both of which took a lot of restraint.
“And there’s the checkered flag,” Julie’s voice came through the radio.
Reese whooped, the sound wild and unfiltered inside the cockpit. “Yes! Come on!” She smacked the steering wheel once, breathless and grinning. Yesterday’s P3 sprint finish had felt good, but this? This felt like it belonged to her on a whole different level.
The radio crackled again. “That’s P2, Reese,” Julie said, jubilant. “Brilliant drive. No dive-bombs. No chaos. Just pace and patience. You did it.”
Reese laughed into the mic. “Didn’t even hit anyone this time.”
“Even the wall was safe,” Julie said. “Don’t make me emotional.”
Reese rolled into parc fermé, engine popping as it cooled. The moment she climbed out, the sun hit her face, warm and blinding. She tugged off her helmet, shook out her hair, and turned toward Julie, who was easing her way across the pit lane with her cane, smiling despite herself.
Julie didn’t hug. Reese knew that. So when Julie stopped beside her, eyes bright with pride, Reese didn’t push it—just grinned wide and said, “That felt good, huh?”
Julie nodded once. “That lookeddifferent.Last weekend, you were fighting the car. This time, you managed it. You kept your head. The race threw everything at you, and you didn’t blink.”
“Trying something new,” Reese said with a wink. “Still trying to find what works best for me.”
“This,” Julie said way too quickly. “Solved it.”
“Well, okay. Your opinion is noted for the record. Guess I’m growing up,” Reese said, teasing.
Julie smirked. “Don’t get cocky. But yeah … maybe a little.”
“Guess I should get ready to do this thing.” Her stomach fluttered with nervous energy. Reese looked back toward the podium setup in the distance, watching Danielle’s team swarm around her car. “She’s fast,” Reese said quietly. “And ruthless. Her overtake on Marissa today was questionable.”
“Yeah,” Julie replied. “And she has zero regrets about that kind of shady move. But listen to me.” Reese turned and met Julie’s earnest gaze. “Danielle Todd’s been doing this longer. But she’s not as naturally quick as you are. You just needed to prove it to yourself.”
Reese glanced toward the paddock, where Veronica stood a few feet away, sunglasses on, phone in hand, but her attention clearly fixed on Reese. She wasn’t smiling, exactly, but the slight nod she gave was unmistakable. Approval.
Julie noticed, too. “Looks like someone upstairs just started paying real attention.”
Reese followed her gaze and gave a crooked grin. “About damn time.”
Julie tapped her cane lightly on the ground. “You keep driving like that, and they’ll have no choice.”
Reese tilted her head, still flushed from adrenaline, proud of herself, but wanting more. “P2 today. P1 next time.”
Julie’s grin sharpened. “It’s feeling possible now.”
