Page 84 of Falling Fast
‘Yes! He didn’t want to celebrate with you either.’ I push my face up to his. ‘Do you want to know why?’
‘Why?’
‘Because heknows.’
‘Knows what?’ Leif sounds exasperated now. ‘Ava, you’re making no sense.’
‘That you’re going to Fraser!’ I practically shout at him.
He sways away from me and goes very still. ‘Where did you hear that?’
‘It doesn’t matter. The point is, after everything you’ve said to me about loyalty, you’re leaving Rask! And I refuse to celebrate a win when you’re about to abandon us.’ I toss my head. ‘Or are you going to deny that you had dinner with Gio and Mark Haddon the other night?’
‘No.’ His expression doesn’t alter.
‘Or that they offered you a job?’
‘No.’
‘So it’s all decided?’ His calm demeanour is maddening. ‘I can’t believe you’re so … so –’ I wave my hands in the air – ‘disloyal!’
‘Disloyal?’ He gives a short laugh. ‘Are you really going to lecture me about loyalty?’
I stiffen as a tendril of worry penetrates my mildly intoxicated brain. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Just that maybe you ought to try looking in the mirror.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘No? Be honest, Ava. What are you really upset about: the idea that I might be leaving Rask, or that it’s Fraser we’re talking about and not Quezada?’
My chest contracts so violently I have to take a deep breath in order to speak again. ‘How do you know about Quezada?’
‘Formula 1 is a small world. I recently found myself in a bar with Jasper Ramirez. Apparently you’re going to be a great addition to his team.’
‘When …?’ I clear my throat, feeling extremely sober all of a sudden. ‘How long have you known?’
‘Since Mexico.’
I stare at him in dismay. ‘BeforeAustin?’
His gaze flickers. ‘What does Austin have to do with it?’
‘That’s when Gio asked you to join Fraser! Is that why you’re doing this? Because you’re mad at me?’
‘Ava, I’m not leaving Rask.’
‘But you had dinner …’
‘With Gio and Mark? Yes, I did. Bastian and Quinn were both there too. It was a pleasant evening. If you hadn’t been ignoring me, you could have joined us.’
‘But Gio … and Maisie … She said he’s been trying to persuade you.’
‘He has, and I’ve been saying no. I’m going to keep on saying no. Because I gave Bastian my word and that means something to me.’ He folds his arms over his chest. ‘You know that, Ava. I told you about Britta.’
‘Oh.’ I sink back down on to the bed. My voice is so quiet it’s barely above a whisper. I can’t believe I got this so wrong. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Yeah, well, I guess neither of us know each other as well as we thought.’
