Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
“Happens all the time.” God knows it’s happened to me on more than one occasion. “But that’s what makes it fun. The adrenaline, the split-second decisions… that’s what I live for.”
“I’m nervous for you,” she whispers, her breath fanning over my chest. “I know it’s ridiculous because you’ve done this a million times, but… I guess now that things between us have changed, I feel more… invested.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I reassure her, my arm tightening around her waist. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I know how to handle myself out there. But I have to admit… it’s nice having someone worrying about me other than my parents. Knowing I’ve got you in my corner feels… right.”
She sighs. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“No.” I wrap both my arms around her. “You being here… it matters. More than anything.”
“It matters to me too,” she says sleepily and those words… the things they do to me.
Posey falls asleep and I listen to her steady breathing for a while before I finally drift off into a perfectly contented slumber.
CHAPTER 20
Posey
God, my hands are sweating and my stomach is in knots, and all I can think is that I’m not sure I’ll bear up under this pressure of caring for an FI driver.
Lex made it through Q1 and Q2 to advance to Q3, which just started.
The top ten fastest cars, twelve minutes to set the fastest lap.
I’m planted in a section of the paddock, very near the pit wall. I had been so eager to see the paddock because watching on TV doesn’t do it justice. It’s considered the heart of the racing world during a Global Prix weekend where the teams, drivers, media, sponsors and invited guests gather in a temporary city of motorhomes and hospitality suites. It sits directly behind the team’s garage, and on the second floor over said garage is the paddock club.
It’s an exclusive, VIP area where celebrities, sponsors and other important guests can watch not only the action below in the pit lane but on the track’s main straightaway. It’s where Harley has me parked, standing on an outdoor balcony to watch this last round of qualifying.
If I bend over the rail and look down, I can see the pit area where drivers come in for their astonishingly fast tire changes. These are done in two to three seconds, much faster than stock car racing as there is no refueling in Formula International.
Across from the pit lane is the pit wall where each team has an operational command set up. Perched on stools with their headsets in place, the engineers, strategists and the team principal make all the crucial decisions during the race, communicating back and forth with their drivers. Harley’s currently seated on the middle stool with Gareth Elrod to her left and Anya Weber to her right.
The Crown Velocity paddock club is filled with the type of people who like to rub elbows, but I’ve steered clear of it, claiming a spot on the balcony near the corner. Most of the people are inside where the air conditioning keeps things cool, watching the cars on several big screen TVs.
I grip the rail as the roar of engines fills the air, vibrating the metal under my hands. It’s impossible not to feel the electric energy that pulses through the Bahrain International Circuit, but I take no joy in it for my heart is lodged firmly in my throat.
I saw Lex this morning, early, before we parted ways at the track. He had that focused look in his eyes, the one that tells me he’s already in race mode, his mind occupied by the strategy, the car and the competition. He gave me a quick kiss, his hand lingering at my waist for a moment longer than usual, before he was swept into the day’s chaos to get ready for the qualifying rounds.
The last two days have been a blur. Lex has been completely consumed with prep, and I’ve hardly seen him during the day. He’s been pulled in a hundred different directions—photo ops, interviews, sponsor meetings, simulator practice sessions and long hours with the engineers, tweaking every possible aspect of the car. I don’t know how he does it. The mental and physical stressors alone are exhausting, and I’m just watching.
But every night, no matter how busy or tired he is, he’s been in my bed. And each night, we’ve grown closer. It’s more than just physical now—we’ve settled into something that feels like it has weight to it.
Last night, after he’d crawled into bed, his skin still damp from his shower, we talked about the future. Propped up against the headboard, side by side, both of us had our phones out, comparing schedules. It felt weirdly domestic but still a little terrifying as my life will be changing in a big way. I’ve committed to following this man around the world to be with him and I have no clue if I can handle this type of existence. But for Lex, I’m sure as hell willing to try because this is the beginning of my happily ever after.