Page 116 of Over the Limit

Others.

I turn the water off, wrap a towel around my waist, and step into my driver’s room. Of course he’s here.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now, Dad,” I mutter and turn my back to him. The last thing I need to see is the disappointment in his eyes. I can already feel it.

“You don’t need to talk. I do.”

“Good. Great.” I roll my shoulders, the ache in my neck from the collision starting to present itself.

“I knew you had eyes for her. It was obvious to me. But I never thought you’d risk your career over it.”

“Risk my career?” I snort.

“Yes. Risk it. Because that’s just what you’ve done and if you think no one in that garage is going to talk about what they just heard or saw between the two Apex drivers, then you’re as naïve as you are pussy-whipped.”

I whirl around. If he was trying to get my attention, he sure as fuck just did. “My life. My business.”

“You need to shut it down, Lach, and focus on your career.”

“Unbelievable. Of all people—”

He holds his hand up to stop me. “I’m not telling you not to pursue it. I’m not telling you not to even love her. I’m telling you that you’ve worked your whole fucking life for this moment, and this is the one time you need to be selfish. That you need to think of you. That you need to keep the seas fucking calm so you can make the press because you just signed a big contract and not because you stole your teammate’s girlfriend.”

“I didn’t steal her.”

He nods and I hate that I wonder if he believes me or not. “If this Blair is your person, she’ll wait. She’ll know that this is the wisest course of action for your career right now.”

His words burn in my chest. Not seeing Blair? That’s not a fucking option.

“I know you’re already rejecting what I’ve said, but I’m telling you that you need to hear me. That you need to listen to me. Fifteen years’ worth of preparing for this career and you’re risking that to throw it all away for a woman?”

“Dad.” The word is hoarse. She’s not just a woman. She’s Blair. She’s . . . fucking everything.

She’s my all of the above.

“I know, mate. But if she’s who you think she is, she’ll understand. She will. And if she doesn’t, then she’s not worth being with you.” He gives a definitive nod before stepping out of my driver’s room and shutting the door behind him.

Fuck.

I’m back to being fifteen and forced to question anything and everything.

Just fuck.

I shout the word over and over in my head.

As I get dressed in my Apex gear.

As I check my phone one more time for texts I no doubt know she sent but that I never received.

As I consider my dad’s advice. The truth to his words. The punch to the gut they make me feel.

It’s going to be a long fucking post-race.

Not just with the media.

But with Gio and our team.

With my thoughts.