Page 62 of Over the Limit

There’s a knock on the door.

“It’s time already?” I ask reluctantly.

“It is,” Lana, my PR minder, says.

I grumble but change my shirt and make my way out to the garages. To where the media, dignitaries, and garage pass holders mill about, shooting the shit, and trying to feel important in a world where only the drivers and the cars they drive are.

We’re required to be here. To be present. These are our garages. Our team. And our presence is noted and documented.

“Grin and bear it,” Lana says under her breath as we’re spotted for the first time by the crowd.

I plaster on the smile I don’t feel and greet those who come over to me. Normally I don’t mind this scheduled socializing and playing the game. But today, not so much.

I’ve got too much on my mind.

“Lachlan. Good to see you.”

I look over to see Hannah Brown from Motorsports Today. “Hi, Hannah. How are you doing?”

“Good. Glad to be back.”

“He’s two months now?” I ask of her newborn son, and her face lights up immediately at the mention of him.

“Yes.” Her grin radiates. “He’s growing so fast it’s crazy.”

“I can’t imagine.” I glance around the garage out of habit, well aware that her cameraman has his camera trained on us. “What can I do for you?”

“Answer a few questions?” she asks sheepishly.

“Of course.”

“So coming off the small improvements from the Austrian Grand Prix, how is the mood and optimism in Team Apex right now?”

“I think we’re always optimistic. Every race is an opportunity to prove ourselves and our competitiveness. Sure, we’ve had a few bumps in the road this year adapting to the changes implemented at the beginning of the season, but everyone has had to adjust, not just us.”

“True, but Apex has struggled.”

My smile is quick and reticent. “It would be stupid for me to deny that considering everyone can hear our race communications and see the results every Sunday afternoon, but at the same time, I believe in our engineers and mechanics and know that they are doing their diligence to turn this around.”

“Is that what you worked on at Sterling Ridge?”

“What happens at Sterling Ridge, stays at Sterling Ridge,” I tease and get the laugh from her I was working for.

“So it’s top secret, huh?”

“Working on how to better communicate is never a negative.”

“Very true. One more question, if you will?” she asks. “There are a lot of contract rumors buzzing around.”

“Is that a question or a statement?” We both laugh, and I continue. “Contract rumors are always buzzing, even when everyone is signed and has a home. But sure, yeah, there’s a buzz in the background.”

“So there’s no truth to the fact that there is in-fighting between you and Oliver Rossi?”

I glance over to where Rossi is talking on camera in the front of his garage, much like I am. He’s looking up at the viewing area that sits directly above the bay. There’s a strange expression on his face. One that’s fleeting at best, but I catch it.

And I follow his gaze right to where Blair is standing at the railing, hands braced, and looking down below.

Right at me.