But here was Ollie, laying his past out in front of me without prompting.Trusting me with something painful.
“I appreciate that,” I said, and I meant it.“Really.Thank you for telling me.”
He squeezed my hand once before letting go, that easy smile returning to his face.“What do you say we get out of here?Early day tomorrow.”
The walk back to the hotel was quieter, more comfortable than the tension of dinner.Ollie kept the conversation light—stories from his early journalism days, a funny anecdote about a botched interview with a former world champion.I found myself laughing, the heaviness of the earlier conversation lifting slightly.
We reached the hotel entrance, the warm glow of the lobby spilling out onto the street.Ollie turned to face me, hands in his pockets.
“Thanks for tonight,” he said.“I know it wasn’t all easy conversation.”
“No, I’m glad we talked.”I managed a smile.“Get some rest, yeah?”
“You too.”He leaned in quickly, pressing a brief kiss to my cheek before stepping back.“Good night, Lily.”
“Night, Ollie.”
I watched him walk away down the street, then I turned and headed into the hotel lobby.The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside, watching the numbers tick upward as I rose toward my floor, thinking back to Ollie’s story.
Something about that story didn’t sit right with me.
I had to ask Henri.Not tomorrow, maybe not even this week, but eventually.I needed to hear his side of what had happened in F2.This whole thing had to be a massive misunderstanding blown out of proportion by two competitive drivers fighting for the same seat.Even with everything going on, I couldn’t believe Henri to be so cruel—but I also didn’t think Ollie to be a liar.
The elevator doors slid open on my floor.I stepped out into the empty corridor, the soft carpet muffling my footsteps as I made my way to my room.
Whatever the truth was, it had to wait until after Austria.
Chapter Seventeen
Henri
I looked out the window of my driver’s room, thanking the universe that the rain had cleared up.Qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix had been today, and once again I’d managed to squeak out a much-needed pole position.This race had to go well, or I’d be even further behind Lily in points.I was starting to feel the desperation of being behind her in the championship.Two race wins separated us, and a third would feel almost damning.
My sister was curled on the gray sofa, legs tucked under her, scrolling through her phone while demolishing a protein bar.Her eyes looked tired, and I knew she hadn’t been sleeping well.This season the Valkyrie car hadn’t been performing, and based on their data, Georgia wasn’t expecting this weekend’s Grand Prix to go well.I knew she’d started to accept that for the first time in three years, she wasn’t going to win this year’s World Driver’s Championship.Still, she never took her frustration out on me.
Georgia’s phone screen dimmed as she set it face down.Her face hardened into that look she gave me when she was disappointed.“So, now that you’re P1 again after this afternoon’s qualifying, are we going to talk about what the hell happened out there in this morning’s free practice, Henri?”
I turned.“Quoi?”
“You know exactly what I mean.You drove erratically.It’sfree practice, and you nearly took Lily out in Turn 6.Then you came within inches of the barriers during your next lap.I watched the whole thing.”
My collar suddenly felt too tight.I tugged at it, the fabric rough against my fingertips.“I was pushing the car.That’s what free practice isfor.”
“Pushing the car?”Her voice rose slightly, disbelief coloring every word.“There’s a difference between testing limits and being reckless.”
“I needed to get data for the team,” I said through gritted teeth.“They need to know where the car is, what adjustments to make for qualifying.That’s myjob.”
Georgia took a step closer, her eyes searching my face.“Henri, what’s going on with you?This isn’t normal.This morning you looked desperate.”
I flinched at the accusation.“I’m not desperate.”
But that wasn’t true, not that Georgia understood how I was feeling.This season might have been tough for her, but that didn’t take away the fact she’d achieved her dream of a win in Monaco and three championships.
I didn’t have either.“I need to win this race, Georgia.Ineedto.”
“Why?”Her voice softened slightly, but the concern in it only made my frustration worse.“We’re not even halfway through the season, Henri!One race doesn’t—”
“I’m already behind!”The words burst out of me, louder than I intended.“Lily’s ahead of me in the standings.Every point matters.One more mistake, one DNF, and the gap gets bigger.I can’t afford to give her any more ground.Not here.Not anywhere.”
