Page 21 of Falling Fast
‘Wow.’ I feel like I’ve barely started filming before I’m lowering my camera again. As for Logan, I think I’ve found a new Instagram star. ‘That was seriously impressive! How often do you practise this?’
‘A lot. That way we don’t have to think during a race. It’s like muscle memory.’
‘Doesn’t it get boring?’
‘The alternative is worse. Imagine being the guy who messes up on the day.’ His face splits in a sudden grin. ‘They’d havehimto deal with.’
‘Hmm?’ I turn to find Leif standing behind me, dressed in his usual pale jeans and Rask T-shirt combo. His expression is as brooding as ever, though something about him looks different today. Something I can’t quite put my finger on.
‘Oh yeah. He’s pretty terrifying when he’s in a bad mood.’ Logan talks in an exaggerated whisper. ‘One time hesighedat poor Frankie over there. It was pretty brutal.’
I force a smile. If I remember correctly, I got a little more than a sigh from Leif in our meeting last week. But then everyone else seems to get the best version of him.
‘Hey, Logan!’ somebody shouts. ‘We’re ready.’
‘Gotta go.’ Logan extends a hand to me. ‘Nice to meet you …?’
‘Ava.’ I shake his hand with a smile. ‘Thanks for the help.’
‘Any time.’
I take a deep breath before I turn back to Leif, surprised to find him staring after Logan with slightly narrowed eyes. ‘I wonder if I could have a word? If you’re not too busy?’
His whole body tenses, like he literally hoists his shoulders back and goes completely stiff, which isn’t very flattering, but whatever. I’m getting used to it. Judging by his conflicted expression, he’s also trying to think up an excuse to get away from me, but too bad. If he thinks he can escape, he’s got another thing coming.
‘Is it about social media?’ His voice is even deeper than I remember.
‘Amongst other things.’ I smile sweetly. ‘I have a number of items to go through. It won’t take long.’
‘OK.’ His face takes on a resigned expression. ‘Come to my office.’
‘You have an office?’
‘Corey and I like to call it that.’
‘Great.’ I clutch my iPad to my chest and follow him into a large corner room with a football table, basketball hoop, a couple of black leather sofas and a kitchen area.
‘This is nice.’ I look around, impressed by how neat and tidy it all is. ‘Very organized.’
‘Yeah, well …’ A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. ‘Corey’s not here.’
‘Oh.’ I suddenly realize what’s different about him. He has a beard, a very short, neatly trimmed and pale one, not so rugged lumberjack after all, more sexy male model. It looksso soft my fingers actually twitch with the urge to touch it, but fortunately my brain intervenes, diverting my gaze towards a pile of books on the coffee table.
‘Are those yours?’ I rock back on my heels in surprise. There’s an autobiography of lauded architect Frank Gehry, along with a large photo book of the hundred most important buildings of the twentieth century and another about neo-futurism. ‘You like architecture?’
‘Yes.’ He sounds suspicious, like he thinks I might turn this fact into a social-media segment.
‘So do I.’ I pause and then can’t resist adding, ‘Especially Scandinavian architecture. The Deichman Bjørvika is one of my favourite buildings in the world.’
‘Mine too.’ He tilts his head. ‘Have you been to Norway?’
‘No, but I’d like to. It sounds beautiful.’
‘It is.’
There’s a moment of heavy silence while we stare at each other. It feels weird to have something in common besides F1. Even weirder that we’ve been in the same room for over a minute and neither of us is frowning yet.
‘Anyway …’ I exhale heavily as the silence drags on. ‘First of all, I wanted to say thank you for the interview video. It was really good.’