Page 48 of Not So Fast
“Tell me more about your mom. Are you close?”
Mia shrugged and wiped her mouth. “It’s been just the two of us since I was eight. I love her to death, but it’s complicated. I mean, she was always there for me when I was growing up. She always told me I shouldn’t be embarrassed that I was so good in school. She always told me I could do anything I wanted to do.”
“That’s wonderful.” Xander would be nowhere if his family hadn’t told him the same thing and supported him in the same way.
“Except it isn’t really true. Because I’m doing something I really want to do right now, and she thinks I’m selling myself short. She thinks podcasting isn’t a real job. And she’s also not a fan of Formula One.”
“Doesn’t like motorsports?”
“It was something my aunt got me into when I was young,and those two have a never-ending rift so it’s more that than anything.”
He hated that Mia was receiving so little encouragement from her mother. His family was immensely important to him, and he never could’ve gotten as far as he had without their support. Mia’s success was a real testament to her drive and determination. “Maybe I can turn around your mother’s thinking on the subject. If I ever get the chance to meet her, that is.”
“Maybe in Austin? Although, I don’t know how we would ever get her to the track. I’d probably have to trick her. Tell her there’s a flea market or a craft fair.”
Xander laughed. “That’s several races away. We still have Austria and Silverstone before that.”
“Right. Plenty of time to figure out how to trick my mother.”
With some chitchat about F1 and the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, they finished their breakfast, and Xander took care of the dishes.
“Can I give you more of the tour?” He didn’t mention that he planned to end it in his bedroom, so they could get back to enjoying each other’s company in the way that was far more fun in person than over the phone.
“I’d love it.”
It didn’t take long—just another peek at the mudroom and laundry, a quick walk through the chronically unused dining room, then into the great room at the back of the house, where he kept much of his book collection and enjoyed a glass of whiskey most nights.
Mia ran her fingers along the spines of the books, carefully scrutinizing the titles. He couldn’t help but be on edge about it. She was so smart she was surely well-read. Dickens. JaneAusten. Harper Lee. Did she think he was uncultured because so much of his collection was modern-day fiction with a heavy focus on sci-fi? He hoped not.
“Oh. Cool. You have a copy ofRace Car Vehicle Dynamics. I love this book.” She removed it from the shelf and began thumbing through the pages.
Xander snatched it out of her hand. “You’re making fun of me. I realize it isn’t high literature, but it’s actually quite a fascinating read.”
She snatched it right back. “I am not making fun of you. I have this book at home. I’ve read it like twenty times. I love it.”
“Why in the world would you have this?”
“When I said I know a lot about the sport, I wasn’t kidding. I saved up and bought an early edition when I was ten or eleven.” She shrugged and put the book back on the shelf. “I was curious about how the cars work.”
How he loved that she looked at the world with her eyes wide open, eager to take it all in. He could learn a lot from her, and not simply facts or information. He was so focused on Formula One and his career that he often had tunnel vision. Stepping back and taking in a wider view might be good for him.
“You’re full of surprises.”
She grinned and peered up at him. “You are, too. Because I can’t figure out where you keep all your trophies.”
“You don’t want to see those.”
“But I do. I just figured you’d have them all over your house. Or in a big display case. A super-obvious one in the middle of your living room. Apparently not.”
“They’re upstairs. In my office.”
“Show me. Please.”
“Okay. It might be a little messy in there, but sure.” Xander led the way upstairs and all the way down the long hall to the very end. “They’re in here.” He opened the door, confronted by the sad state of his office. A desk and chair were in the middle of the room and a few mostly empty bookcases were along one wall, surrounded by stacks of cardboard crates.
Mia stepped inside. “Xander. What the fuck? Are you telling me your trophies are in boxes?”
“Well, yeah. I didn’t build this house until two years ago and I guess I just haven’t had any time to unpack. I only have a handful of Formula One trophies.” Xander opened one of the containers and peered inside. “A lot of this is from Formula Two and Three. And karting stuff. Stuff that doesn’t matter.”
