Page 10 of Too Fast To Fall
He reminded himself to focus.Just do the thing you love. Drive the car.
“Ugh. Poor Emilio,” Piper mumbled. “He’s stuck in a never-ending DRS train.” The DRS, or drag reduction system, allowed driversto open their car’s rear wing in the DRS zone, giving them additional speed. The problem was that the driver in front of Emiliohad DRS on the driver in front of him, so no one had a speed advantage. With only a few laps left, Emilio probably wouldn’tbe able to break out of the train unless someone made a mistake.
Mia glanced at Piper and narrowed her eyes. “Is Emilio your favorite driver? You seem pretty wrapped up in him doing well.”
Piper could feel the heat building in her cheeks. “No. I don’t have a favorite. I’m just feeling invested because he’s theonly driver I’ve ever met.”
“Hmm. Maybe I can introduce you to Xander some time. Then you can root for him, too.”
Piper had to wonder why she’d had any hope that Emilio would do well in the race... Perhaps it was because she wanted toknow what that hella handsome face looked like up close when it was delivering a smile. It had to be devastating. Which reallymeant it was probably for the best she would likely never witness that. She might never recover.
As Brett Lockford drove across the finish line and won the race, exactly as she’d feared after qualifying yesterday, everyonein the paddock club cheered.
Mia slow-clapped. “Fourth place for Xander is great, but I know he wants to be on the podium. Miami has never been a greattrack for Mega, though. It’s probably just damage limitation at this point.”
Piper assumed that Emilio’s eleventh-place finish wouldn’t go over well, especially considering he’d won the championshiplast year. She’d love to chat about it with Mia, but she didn’t want to ask too many more questions about Emilio.
Gus emerged from under the table and whimpered, then nudged at Piper’s arm with his nose. “I should probably deliver Gus toEmilio’s driver’s room.”
Mia rose from her seat and held her arms wide for a hug. “It was awesome to meet you, Piper. I hope I get to hang out withyou at another race.”
“That would be amazing.” Piper sighed. Today had been such a dream come true, but it was coming to a close. Maybe she andher dad really would go to this race next year. That would be lovely. She wouldn’t get the same VIP treatment, but at leastshe’d have the memory of today.
Emilio needed to get the hell out of Miami. Get cleaned up, retrieve Gus, get on the plane and forget any of this happened.He did a quick stint in the media pen under the watchful eye of Isabel. To no one’s surprise, he was asked multiple timesabout his poor race performance and the mistake of leaving Vermillion. He gave the same tired answers, then hightailed itout of there. They ducked through the paddock and headed back for Mega hospitality.
“Piper’s in your driver’s room with Gus,” Isabel said.
“A dog sitter lasted a whole day. Progress.”
Isabel stopped him before they entered his driver’s room. “We should talk about Gus. You need a full-time dog nanny. Someonepermanent. I love Gus, and I’m happy to watch him every now and then when you need help, but the reality is that it’s affectingmy job.”
Emilio had worried he’d been too reliant on Isabel. “Heard. I’ll make some calls. See about finding someone.” He hated thethought of starting this process again, but he’d do anything for Gus.
“You don’t need to look. She’s about to be right in front of your face when you open this door.”
Emilio reared back his head. “The woman from today?”
“Yes. Piper. Piper Murphy.”
He knew her name. He’d just told himself it was okay to forget. “Making it one day is hardly a true test.”
Isabel cocked both eyebrows at him. “You know what? Let’s check out the scene inside that room and then tell me if you honestlybelieve there’s a better prospect.” She opened the door and stepped inside.
He followed, and there sat Piper. On the couch with Gus curled up at her hip, his head in her lap.
She gently stroked his head, the exact spot Gus loved right above his eyes. “I’d get up, but he seems so happy,” she saidin the softest of tones.
Emilio’s breath caught in his chest. His race had been pure misery, but a contented, cared-for Gus was such a welcome sight.A worry erased. “Was he well behaved?”
“A perfect angel. No trouble. I don’t understand how anyone could have any problem at all with him. He’s a bundle of joy andsweetness.”
Isabel cast a look at Emilio. She didn’t have to sayI told you. It was all over her face.
Gus raised his head slowly, looked at Emilio, then back at Piper, then again to Emilio before settling his head in her lap.He sighed and closed his eyes. He’d never been like this with any of the other dog sitters. Ever.
“I don’t understand what these dog sitters are doing to make him run away.” Emilio inched closer.
Piper shrugged. “Dogs are sensitive creatures. Could be a lot of things setting him off. I guess the important part is thatwe had no trouble today.”
