Page 56 of Not So Fast
I’m not playing mind games, you bloody git.
“How about this? How about neither of us play mind games for the rest of the season and we just try to be supportive of each other as teammates.”
Dirk grabbed his helmet. “I don’t think so. Nice try.”
Xander couldn’t even be bothered to be annoyed anymore. He couldn’t even be bothered to tell Dirk to go fuck himself.
* * *
Mia was thankful it was a beautiful sunny day without a cloud in the sky. This circuit was notorious for rain, fog and all sorts of bad weather. She didn’t want anything to get in the way of Xander having a fantastic race.
She stood at the railing on the viewing balcony, watching intently as the last of the cars took their places on the grid. Xander was right beneath her. Did he know she was watching and silently cheering him on? Her heart did a little flip in the center of her chest at the thought. She hoped he knew she had her eyes trained right on him.
* * *
From the moment the lights went out, Xander zoomed ahead like it was nothing. He felt like his old self, but better.Looking ahead, just as Mia had said. Charles felt fantastic—the balance was perfect. The engine roared with all the ferocity Xander wanted. He gripped the steering wheel, relishing the sheer joy of racing. Of going fast. So very fast. Swooping and diving and cutting in the most effortless way. Lap after lap, it was nothing but fun.
He completed another lap, seeing from the team’s marker that there were only three more left in the race. It had gone by in the blink of an eye. And he’d managed to hold on to sixth place with no sign of anyone threatening to pass from behind. Finally…a bit more redemption.
* * *
“Come on, come on,” Mia muttered.
It wasn’t that she was nervous. Xander’d had a fairly uneventful, competent race. Unless something disastrous happened in the closing laps, he was golden. Still, she knew this sport. Bad things happened in the blink of an eye. A tire puncture. A crash from a driver who let his focus lapse for a split second. A late safety car. Anything was possible. And she wanted this for him more than anything—a glimmer of the success he’d worked so hard for.
* * *
Xander flew across the finish line.
“That’s P6, Xander,” his race engineer said. “Well done. Started in sixth. Ended in sixth. Can’t ask for much more than that.”
“Yes! Brilliant! Thanks to everyone for the incredible work this weekend. Super happy with that.”
He continued with his cool-down lap, taking in a deep breath and savoring the moment. He knew it wouldn’t last. The truth was that this was progress, but it wasn’t everythinghe wanted. It wasn’t a statement or a declaration about where he wanted to be. It wasn’t a podium. It wasn’t a win.
And now that things had improved, he had to wonder if he had it in him to pull off such a feat.
* * *
Mia rushed down from the paddock club, trying to figure out her next best move. She wanted to congratulate Xander, who’d be coming out of the garage sometime soon. But she also needed to lie low. Not make it obvious they were a thing.
“Mia. Mia Neal,” Claudia Simon called from a few feet away, waving. “Can I get a minute with you before the drivers come into the media pen?”
If Claudia hadn’t specifically said Mia’s last name, she would’ve been doubting Claudia meant to talk to her.
“Do you need me to check if you have something in your teeth before you go on air? Because from where I’m sitting, you look perfect.”
Claudia’s eyes went wide as saucers. “I was hoping to interview you.”
“Me?” Mia refrained from asking the follow-up questions—Why? Now? And why again?
“Yes. I’m sure our viewers would love to hear from an influencer like you.”
There was that word again—the one that made her both happy and a little sick.
“Oh. Okay.” Palms sweaty and forehead clammy, Mia stepped next to Claudia. “Just tell me what to do.”
“You’re great. Stand right there and I’ll ask you a few questions. Easy peasy. We’ll be live again in a few seconds.” She turned to her cameraman, who pointed at her a heartbeat ortwo later. “For the audience at home, I’m with Mia Neal, host of the popular Formula One fan podcast calledNot So Quick.”
