“Off the record,” he said, “you’ve shown real talent out there. A lot of improvement since the season started.” He studied her carefully. “Your instincts are rare. And now that you’ve paired them with discipline, you’re dangerous to them.”
He gestured toward the door. “The extra time on the sim? It’s paid off. I see it.”
Reese looked up, genuinely surprised. “Thank you. It’s helped.”
“I don’t say that lightly,” Rodney continued. “You’re faster than you were six months ago in F2. I’ve pulled the data. Smarter, too. You’re making better decisions under pressure, and that doesn’t happen by accident.”
She swallowed and nodded once.
“But you will lose your ride if something like this repeats,” he said, the steel back in his voice. “Don’t let that happen. Not after the progress you’ve made. Not when you’re finally putting all of it together.”
He held her gaze, the warning settling into something steadier. “And for the record, I don’t give a flying fuck who you spend time with in your personal life. That’s none of my business.” His expression sharpened. “Just keep it off the track. Out of the garage. Don’t give anyone an excuse to question what you’ve earned.”
“Yes, sir,” Reese said quietly, a thousand thoughts colliding without finding purchase.
Rodney stood, signaling the end of it. “Good. Now go cool off. You’ve got another race to win tomorrow.”
Sloane had already made it back to the Formula Next offices by the time the altercation between Reese and Danielle had unfolded in front of what seemed like half the academy. By the time she arrived, the entire suite was buzzing. Conversations dropped a notch whenever she passed, everyone carefully skirting around the comment Danielle had apparently made about her.
Veronica, however, wasted no time. She ushered Sloane into her office, closed the door behind them, and gave Sloane the full version of what had transpired out there. Unfortunately, it was even worse than what she’d been hearing.
“She actually said that?” Sloane asked, incredulous.
Veronica nodded, tenting her hands on the desk. She looked caught between two roles—head of the academy and longtime friend—and for the moment, she leaned into the former. “It was unprofessional, completely out of line. I’m sorry she dragged your name into it. She’ll be spoken to, by the academy and by her team. I promise you that.”
Sloane studied her for a beat. “Okay. Now tell me what you really think. I want Ronnie, not Veronica.”
Veronica’s shoulders dropped, tension easing as she exhaled. “I want to shake that girl and ask her where the fuck she gets off. How clueless do you have to be to go after a legend like you? I’m offended on your behalf. I think she needs a reality check, and I’m not sure I want her back at the academy next year. Fuck her. She’s an ungrateful brat who has no idea the doors that have been opened for her by women like us.”
“Oh, I like it when you’re you.”
“Good, because I’m unapologetic about it.” She sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. “She’s not likely to return to the academy anyway if she keeps pulling points. Winnaker’s F1 leadership is desperate to reinvent itself and get out of the basement. Word is, they’re circling Todd.”
“They want to offer her an F1 seat?” Sloane blinked, processing. “It is what it is,” she said evenly. “Though I think there are better options.”
Veronica watched her for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly. “She’s the reason you’ve seemed lighter lately. The better option. Reese.”
Sloane could have deflected. Could have pretended it wasn’t true. But Ronnie wasn’t just her boss—she was her best friend. Hiding felt pointless.
She nodded. “Yes. I promise you it was unexpected.”
“Okay. I believe you.”
“It’s not that I was trying to keep it from you, but I needed to figure it out for myself first.”
A pause. “How serious is it?” Veronica asked, coming around the desk, a tennis ball already in her hand.
Sloane accepted it and tossed it against the wall, catching it on the rebound. “It’s not like that. She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just … um, having a good time.” The description didn’t seem to do them justice, but it was all she had.
Veronica arched a brow. “In bed.”
Sloane winced. “Yep. There was one of those,” she admitted. She lobbed the ball back to the wall, and this time Ronnie caught it. It went on like that for a little while, tossing the ball back and forth between each other and the wall, neither one of them speaking until …
“She was ready to throw a punch for you out there,” Veronica said, looking over at Sloane.
“Yeah? I’m not sure violence is the green flag you think it is.” She added a smile to show she was being playful, refusing to look too closely at the way all this made her feel. Reese having her back. Caring enough to risk it all because someone had insulted Sloane. Not to mention the fire, the passion, the grit that made Reese uniquely herself. Hadn’t that been a part of the attraction?
Veronica squinted. “I think you understand my point.”
