Page 19 of Not So Fast
“First off, call me Claudia. Second, women in this sport need to stick together.” Claudia offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mia. I’ve heard a lot about your podcast.”
Mia wanted to pinch herself. What had her life become that Claudia freaking Simon knew who she was? “Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me too much. Not everything I’ve heard is good. But I like that you’re shaking things up. And making inroads. Good for you.” Claudia dug into her pocket and produced a business card, which she handed over. “Let’s keep in touch.”
Mia, slack-jawed, stared at the piece of paper now resting in her hand. “Keep in touch?”
“It’s an expression.” Claudia glanced over her shoulder. “I need to go now, love. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.” Mia watched as Claudia filed out of the room, then realized she needed to get going herself. She dashed outside and spotted the person she was looking for. “Isabel!”
Isabel looked up from a clipboard. “Mia. Hi. Everything okay?”
“Yes. Got in okay. Checked in to my hotel and everything. I was just wondering if I might talk to Xander at some point.”
Isabel squinted then returned her sights to her clipboard. “Sorry. Not today. Youmightbe able to talk to him after qualifying, but I’m not sure. He’s incredibly busy.”
Mia understood, but it still felt like he was keeping her at arm’s length. Perhaps it was best to accept the distance between them. After all, creeps like Reginald Huff were sniffing around and Mia had a podcast to protect.
“Okay, well, just let me know,” Mia said.
“I will.”
“Wish him good luck in qualifying. In case I don’t see him.”
Mia sighed and looked around the paddock as Isabel walked away. She spotted a few drivers down at the other end. With no one around to tell her what to do, she figured she might as well try her hand at a few informal interviews. While she was at this race, she was going to make the most of it.
* * *
Xander had spent two days with his head down, shutting out the noise all around him. He’d seen Mia only once—theday before yesterday, at media day, but he hadn’t tried to talk to her. Something told him that it wasn’t a good idea for them to be any closer than they were. He wasn’t sure he could trust her. Sure, she’d gone easier on him after the Miami Grand Prix, but so many members of the media were absolute snakes. Did he think Mia was a snake? Maybe. A cute one who managed to make him laugh, but who might bite him, too. She’d certainly demonstrated she wasn’t afraid to tear him down.
On his way to the garage for qualifying, Isabel walked alongside him. “I think we’re all straight on everything,” she said. “No more extra interviews this weekend. Do you need anything from me?”
Xander wondered whether he should ask the question. “Have you talked to Mia Neal? I feel a bit bad that I’m hosting her this weekend and haven’t seen her, but I need to stay focused.”
“I ran into her. She asked me to wish you good luck in qualifying today.”
Xander felt like an ass. “When were you going to tell me that?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“How’s she doing? Is she enjoying herself?”
Isabel squinted at him, skeptically scanning his face. “She seemed fine. Why?”
Xander was eager to play it off. “Don’t want her to have any reason to bad-mouth me again.”
“Seems to me like you really made some inroads with her in Miami.”
Xander scoffed, perhaps a bit too forcefully. “Inroads? More like verbal sparring. That was about it.”
“Which makes it even more confusing that you would end up flying her across an entire ocean. Are you ever going to explain to me how that happened?”
No. Definitely not.“Bit of ego got in the way. That’s all.”
Isabel clapped him on the shoulder. “Whatever you did, just keep making her happy. It’s nice not having to field as many questions about her podcast. I listened to her Monza preview episode last night and she hardly insulted you at all.”
Xander’s ears perked up. He hadn’t listened to that episode yet. “Hardly insulted me?” He couldn’t help it. Curiosity got the best of him.
