Page 125 of Off the Grid

“We understand why you don’t want to talk about it,” Gia says, her own eyes glassy. “If you ever do, though, we’re here for you.”

“You held this in all that time. You’re a warrior,” Isa says.

But what I feel is stupid. Stupid for not telling my best friends. For thinking they’d judge me for it. For worrying they’d think differently of me.

If only I knew then what I know now . . .

I smile softly and sniff back the tears that threaten. Tears that are happy. That are relieved. That make my soul sigh in the best way.

“I’ve never told anyone about it. Other than my therapist.” I chuckle. “I don’t know why I was afraid to tell you,” I say.

“That doesn’t matter. Not one bit. You did and we’re here now and whenever you need us, we’ll be here in a split second. We’re so honored you’ve trusted us with this,” Gia says as she rests her head on my shoulder.

“I have another confession,” I murmur.

“The one where you tell us you’re falling for Riggs?” Gia asks.

“Yeah, that part.” The words come out smoothly. Almost as if I needed to get one thing off my chest to acknowledge another.

But I appreciate that Gia and Isabella don’t gloat about being right. Rather, they both smile.

“Any man who makes you secure enough to be you, who stands quietly beside you to slay whatever silent demons you’re facing? Who makes you want things you didn’t want before, and who makes you smile as much as you do nowadays? Is most definitely worth falling for,” Isabella says.

“Yeah, but if he hurts you, I’m still kicking his ass,” Gia adds.

I roll my eyes and laugh. “There’s not a doubt in my mind you would.”

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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Camilla

I pull the radio comm headset off my ears and rest it around my neck when I look over to see my dad staring at me. He has a curious expression on his face, and I make my way to where he’s sitting.

He’s made it a point to sit more around the guys now. After the incident that Riggs saw, we decided to take a few more precautions so he doesn’t fall again.

He hates it. I know he does, but if it’s any indication by the long text chain between my mom and me, we didn’t take lightly the decision to broach the subject with him.

“Hi. It’s good to see you down here.”

He pauses, his eyes searching mine. “I’m always here. You’re the one who seems to make it a habit to not be.”

“And?” I like to watch Riggs.

“And nothing. I just noticed the change is all.” He shrugs and sets down his cup of coffee as another team’s car flies past on the track outside for qualifying. Our cars are still in our garages, mechanics milling around them, double-checking every little thing with our qualifying coming up soon.

“Then why do I feel like I’m in trouble?” I laugh.

“Not in trouble at all. You’re being ridiculous. I just saw you standing there with the headset on and I was hit with déjà vu. You sitting on your nonno’s shoulders with an oversized headset on and a sticky something in one hand while your other was reaching down holding his.”

My memories may be faint, but I do remember the view from those shoulders. It felt like chaos all around me as he stood in the middle of the garage with the crew moving at a lightning pace.

“I vaguely remember that.”

“Your mom has so many pictures of you like that. Books full of them.”

“I’m sure she does.”