We love Aileen. She always brightens up our days.
Is Gillian Fender as nice in person as he seems on screen?is the first question Aileen asks, and I smile at her.
She knows that I like specific questions a lot more than the ones Lincoln asked. It makes me feel like the person is actually interested in my day rather than forcing a conversation. I know it’s a strange pet peeve to have, but I’ve felt this way for as long as I can remember.
Aileen’s and Nova’s faces light up when I tell them how kind Gillian is and they are intrigued as I share what will happen on Wednesday. Nova met most of the drivers because she took a year to travel and went around the world with Papa for an entire season two years ago, but I never had the time.
Now, it will be my job to get to know them, and while I’m somewhat excited about the meeting, I’m also very nervous.
Hopefully, everything will go well.
Chapter 7
Adrian
Sheisn’there.Iwas hoping to run into her at Hyde Park, the same place where we met three months ago, but the mysterious woman isn’t here.
And now I feel like I’ve officially lost it.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Why does it matter if I see her again or not?
I’d never let it lead anywhere and we might not even be compatible. A ten-minute conversation from months ago doesn’t mean that I’ll like this woman, even as a friend. If this wasn’t the first time I’ve felt this way, I’d have written her off as just another interaction in my life, butI can’t. I can’t get rid of the image of this woman’s face, can’t get rid of the way my chest warms at the thought of her.
Every little part of me aches to see her again, and it’s beyond frustrating.
I shake my head and wrap my scarf tighter around my neck. England is too fucking cold. It gets cold in Monaco during the winter too, but not like this. Not this mushy snow and rain mix that is simultaneously freezing and also soaks my shoes and beanie. I can’t believe I’m out here because of someone I met once, just because she didn’t know who I was and I could have a normal conversation without being asked a favor or to sign an autograph. Which I love doing for my fans, but sometimes I don’t want to be Adrian Romana the Velocità Rossa Formula One driver. I just want to be Adrian. The guy who cleans up his friends’ messes more often than not, but who is also a complete mess on the inside.
Fuck, nope, don’t go there.
My phone rings in my pocket, dragging me out of my thoughts and back to reality. My sister’s name lights up my screen as I make my way back to my car, the Velocitá Rossa SUV I rented three months ago and decided to rent again this time. It definitely wasn’t to attract the attention of the mysterious woman should she live around here somewhere. Absolutely not. It’s just because I know this car and am comfortable driving it in the winter conditions here.
I’m not a completely lost cause.
“Yeah?” I say as I hit Answer.
“Can you stop being a creep and come back to the hotel so we can go for dinner?” she asks, giggling at her words.
“Creep? I thought you of all people would think it’s romantic I went to the same spot I met her the first time, got completely drenched by this fucking rain-snow combination, all just to see her again,” I reply, but Val is still giggling, so Gabriel takes the phone from her to speak to me instead.
“Itisromantic. I’m proud of you, Adrian,” he says, and that’s exactly when I realize my mistake. If Gabriel, Mr. Cheesiness himself, thinks I did something right, then I’m way out of my league. “But it’s also a bit pathetic, so just come back so I can get ma chérie some food,” he adds, and now I feel even worse.
“Yikes, brutal honesty. I appreciate it,” I lie, and Gabriel chuckles into the phone.
“No, you don’t because you always think you know better when it comes to anything relating to yourself,” Gabriel says before not so subtly whispering, “Or even the entire world.” I snort, a humorless sound that makes him chuckle again.
“Fuck you too, Gabriel.” I hang up before giving him the chance to speak again.
With one last look at the entrance of Hyde Park, I drive off, willing away the disappointment in my chest. If it was meant to be, I would have seen her again, but it’s not.
So I can finally let go of that stupid conversation and her drop-dead gorgeous face. With those brown eyes surrounded by long, black lashes. Those full, pouty lips. The round face that was so unimpressed by me. The thick, brown-blonde hair that came out from underneath her beanie.
I can let the thought of her go,right?
Chapter 8
Nevaeh
