She can keep telling herself she’s over it all she wants but how can you move on when your life’s purpose is to fuck with him? I don’t give a shit about Reisner – shave his head and break his right wrist for all I care – but I give many shits about Jules and it bothers me how much she’s still plagued by this guy.
I exhale roughly as I rake my fingers through my hair. ‘That’s why helping women is so important to you. You don’t want anyone to feel the way you felt.’
She nods slowly. It all makes sense now. Why her podcast is so important to her. Why she looked like she could’ve cried when Spanish fans gushed about how she helped their mental health. I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished. A lot of people would’ve crumbled after all that, but not her.
Her latest accomplishment flashes in my mind: Tom Webber. Their relationship now leaves an even worse taste in my mouth. He’s a vehicle for keeping Damian front and centre. I need to distance them. It’s only a matter of time before they have sex, and I won’t allow what Jules and I have to end because she’s hellbent on extending this pain.
The only question is, how do I keep them apart?
Wait.
‘What are you doing after the British Grand Prix?’ I ask.
‘What do you mean?’
‘There are three weeks between Britain and Belgium. It’s sort of a second, early summer break. What are your plans?’
‘I have some brand work, podcasts to record, meetings. This and that.’
‘Could any of it be done in Miami?’ I look up at her from under the eyelashes she seems to like so much.
‘What?’she says, like I’ve proposed a trip to the moon.
I sit up. The more I think about this, the more I’m certain this is the greatest plan I’ve ever come up with. ‘It’ll be fun! It’s my big sister’s birthday next week. There’ll be tons of food, great music. No one parties like Colombians. We can take my boat to the Keys and see the dolphins. I’ll show you how to do Miami like a local.’
She chews her thumbnail. ‘Won’t your family mind an intruder? Especially a non-Spanish-speaking one?’
‘You clearly haven’t been around Hispanics. The more the merrier.’
She still doesn’t look convinced.
‘Besides,’ I go on, ‘they probably won’t even notice. There’ll be so many of them.’
She flinches. ‘How many?’
To someone from a small family with no siblings, what I come from might look like half of Dade County. I’m not saying they’re not overwhelming in person – they’re worse – but by then Jules would have no choice. I’ll ease her in. Start with the calm ones and move up to the crazies.
I wave her away. ‘That doesn’t matter. C’mon Jules, do something spontaneous for once. Something you haven’t planned. Something that doesn’t advance your masterplan for world domination.’
Something hardens in her eyes. A test. ‘I can be spontaneous.’
No you can’t, sweetheart, but I’m going to help you. ‘Do you trust me?’
She scoffs. ‘No.’
‘Ok, but can you not trust me on a boat, with tacos, surrounded by dolphins, far away from all this grey?’ I gesture to her yard, the window now speckled with rain.
Finally, a smile spreads on her face. ‘When do you want me?’
Chapter 31
TIAGO
It’s stopped pouring. For now.
‘You’re still fine with Plan B?’ asks my race engineer, crossing his arms as he glances nervously at the sky. ‘Even if it’s heavier than forecast?’
‘Yeah, it’s the right call,’ I say, leaning in close so no one sauntering past us on the grid can hear. ‘I can manage degradation better than the guys ahead. They’ll panic first. I’d rather be late and right than early and wrong.’
