Page 132 of Off the Grid

“I disagree . . . but I understand.” Is that the right thing to say?

She runs her thumb back and forth over my bottom lip. “Thank you for listening.”

“Of course. Cami . . . anytime.”

She nods and smiles softly again as I shift to sit beside her so she can curl up against my side.

We sit like this for some time, her head on the crook of my arm, and my fingers laced with hers.

We settle into the silence of a new norm that I’m not quite sure I understand yet but know that I like.

This woman walked into my life—a life I’ve dedicated to racing and myself for so damn long—and made me reconsider that decision to shut everything else out.

She made me look forward to something other than racing—her. Sure I’ve dated people on and off, but there’s never been someone I wanted to pick up the phone and call to tell something.

She did and I do.

Fuck, man.

She got to me.

And then she made me care. And now this.

I thought it would be better knowing the truth.

Truth be told, it’s almost worse.

Because now I know there’s a nameless, faceless fucker out there, who I can’t hurt or make pay for what he did to her.

And helpless doesn’t look good on any man.

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CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Camilla

I don’t know what I expected when Riggs came knocking on my door, but his quiet understanding and steady presence was not it.

He listened despite the anger I could feel vibrating off him.

He refrained from telling me what I should have done when I know he probably wanted to.

He didn’t make me feel judged.

And now as we sit propped against the headboard in my suite, watching the coverage of today’s race, all I feel is comfort and compassion.

A graphic is flashed of the final race standings and it’s ridiculous how much I shimmer with pride seeing him so very close to the podium.

“Do you know how rare it is for a rookie to finish in points consecutively like you have? It’s pretty incredible. You should be proud of yourself.”

“I made fun of your clothes.” His words startle me.

Here I am thinking about racing while he’s still thinking about me.

It’s new to him. Fresh. Of course, he’s still thinking about it.

Just like seeing Brandon across the paddock today startled me more than I want to admit. Especially after all this time. Especially because I thought I was so much stronger than today demonstrated.