“I don’t, but…” he mutters. “I think I owe you…merde.”
I don’t respond to his stilted words. Instead, I wait until he finally breaks and opens his mouth again.
“I chase the high, always have. Racing, partying, girls, chaos.” He exhales hard through his nose, his eyes still downcast, fingers still fidgeting. “I’m fast and loud. I’m alive… and then it flips, and I’m doing shit I don’t even register until afterward. My brain blanks out, and that’s when my body acts.”
His fingers still before he speaks again.
“Today wasn’t planned. I didn’t even think. It just… happened. And last year…” He swallows. “My temper almost cost me everything. The title and my contract.”
I frown. “It did?”
He dips his chin in answer before explaining. “Raine figured me out, somehow knew I had some anger issues, and he started poking it, little by little. Saying shit in passing, just enough to dig in, and I let him.” His lips twist with guilt. “End of the season, at the last race, he said something, I don’t even remember what it was. It was stupid, but I snapped and punched him in the stomach. Didn’t even care who saw.” He glances at me, and then back down again. “My team manager, Paul, did. He saw it all.”
I wince, but he doesn’t see it.
“It’s a miracle I wasn’t disqualified for unsporting behavior.I would’ve deserved it, honestly. After that, Ipromised myself and Paul I’d hold it together this season. That I’d grow up, but now it isn’t even the second race, and I’ve already shoved Payne and nearly fucking killedyou.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m already fucking it up.”
“Fuck Raine.”
His head jerks up, eyes wide. “That’s all you’ve got to say?”
I shrug. “Hate the guy.”
Luc searches my face, and I almost squirm under it. I should give him more, probably should say something to smooth the moment out, but I’m not here to make friends. Especially not with the golden boy who lights up every room like a flare, but then leaves people singed.
Still, I feel sorry for him.
“You’re better than Raine. Don’t let the dickhead ruin your life.”
Like I did.
“He is a dickhead.” Luc leans back a little. “But so is Payne.”
My spine stiffens. “He’s not.”
His brow furrows. “Haven’t you heard what he did last year?”
“Allegedly,” I argue. “Just rumors. There’s nothing confirmed.”
“Are you one of those assholes who thinks victims have toprovethey were raped?”
“If it’s asconveniently timedas hers was,” I say before I can stop myself.
Luc’s whole face shifts. “What do you mean?”
I look away. “Never mind.”
“Anyway.” He exhales like we’ve finished the heavy part, but I’m still reeling from what almost slipped out. “Now that we’ve settled that we’re friends, to make up foralmost breaking your spine, I’ve decided to share my physio hours with you.”
“Never said we’re friends,” I mutter before I even register what else he said. “Wait,what?”
“Physio hours. I’ve got double sessions because of my back, and you’re a privateer. You don’t have a physio, and I hurt you pretty bad. The way it looked, anyway.” He stands, tossing the empty energy drink can into the trash. Then he turns and grabs my wrist. “I’m here to escort you to your first session.”
“No,” I say automatically.
“Yes.” He tugs as if that settles it. “You need a massage after that crash, or your muscles will cramp down so bad you’ll wake up feeling like you got hit by a truck. I don’t wanna hear you fucked up qualifying tomorrow because of me. Then youwouldhave a reason to hate me, and my fragile ego cannot survive that.”
He pulls me toward the exit, and I dig my heels in on instinct.
