Hope.
CHAPTER 16
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
Sloane found Reese in her driver’s room, sitting on the bench along the wall, hunched forward with her elbows on her knees, staring at the floor like it had personally betrayed her.
“Knock knock,” Sloane said, peeking in through the half-open door. “Can I come in?”
Reese looked up, surprise flickering across her face before she nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”
Sloane slipped inside the small room reserved for Reese and closed the door behind her, the click of it sealing them off from the rest of the Ravensport team. Her presence would probably raise a few eyebrows, especially after Danielle had run her mouth, but Sloane didn’t care. In this moment, there was only Reese, how she was feeling, and what she was carrying.
“You okay?”
Reese stood and tossed a few things into her bag with a little more force than necessary. “Define okay.”
Sloane sighed. “She shouldn’t have come after you that way. She was pissed about her own lousy finish and took it out on you. She’s jealous.”
“She can say whatever she wants about me.” Reese whirled around. “But when she said your name? No. Not gonna happen.” She shook her head, her body still coiled with fury.
“So,” Sloane said lightly after a weighted moment, “other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
That pulled a ghost of a smile. Reese scrubbed a hand over her face. “I almost forgot I won a race today.” She tugged her hair loose from its ponytail, letting it cascade past her shoulders. “I’m guessing you heard the details of what was said out there?”
“The whole world heard,” Sloane said. “It’s the talk of race town.”
“Is that what they call it?”
Sloane grinned. “Yes. I named it.” She tossed in a wink.
“You know,” Reese said, eyeing her, “you’re a lot more playful than I would have guessed.”
“Oh, see, I like keeping people on their toes. Aren’t surprises more fun?”
“In this moment, I can’t argue with that.” Reese’s mouth tipped down again. “I’m sorry you got dragged into it out there. That’s the part I hate most. You caught a stray bullet, and it wasn’t fair. If I could erase anything, it would be that.”
Sloane crossed the room and sat beside her, their knees brushing. “Here’s the thing, though, Reese.” She paused, teasing. “Can I call you Reese?”
Reese shot her a look. “Oh, you have jokes now, too?”
“Occasionally. I use them to deflect.”
Sloane placed her hand on Reese’s leg, warm and secure. “So, here’s the thing. I’m a big girl. I know this sport and the world around it. Racing eats headlines for breakfast and spits them out by dinner. If we’re interesting today, tomorrow someone else will be.”
Reese squinted one eye shut. “Why do you always have better perspective than I do? It’s deeply annoying.”
“It’s my gift,” Sloane said solemnly. “Perspective. Followed by irritation.” A pause. “Boobs aren’t bad either. At least that’s what I’m told.”
That finally did it. Reese smiled—a real one, the kind that softened her eyes and loosened something tight in Sloane’s chest. Seeing it felt like winning something herself. “That part’s true. I can attest.”
“That’s right. You can.” They shared a smile.
“Did you see my podium?” Reese asked quietly.
Sloane lifted a brow. “You mean when you assaulted that champagne bottle like it owed you money?” She shrugged. “Yeah. I saw it.”
Reese laughed, breathier now. “Race wasn’t awful, right?”
