Page 26 of Until The Lights Go Out

“Perks of dating a driver,” Nicola shrugged.

“Says the daughter of a team owner. And didn’t you say you run an entire foundation too?”

“You’re right. Perks of being me,” she smirked, then we both fell into a fit of laughter. It bubbled up my chest and erupted out. I genuinely didn’t know the last time I laughed this hard. Tears brimmed my eyes. Nicola was so unapologetically herself. I decided then and there that I wanted to be more like that. We finally collected ourselves and ended up sprawled out on the couches in the living room side of the suite, asking each other a million questions. She promised to share her skincare routine, and I promised to do her nails after she noticed the pink designs that I did on mine every few weeks.

“Where is Matteo?” I asked, looking around the room, seeing small bits of evidence of a man.

“Oh, he went out with Alexander,” she explained. “They needed a boys’ night.”

“Were you going with them originally?” I asked, feeling guilt rush through me.

“Stop that!” She wagged a finger at me with a small glare. “This is way better.”

“Doesn’t Alexander have a girlfriend too?” I vaguely remembered seeing photos circulate around. Over the last day or so, I had tried to reacquaint myself with Formula One and all the current drivers, partners, and other important players. I had stayed away for so long, not paying too much attention to any of it, that there were really only one or two drivers I recognized on the lineup.

“Yes, Lucia. She’s Matteo’s sister and the best person ever. We go back to their family’s vineyard during breaks in the season. It is so magical. Luce will be coming to a few races later this season, hopefully!”

Nicola’s entire face softened at the mention of her. “So,” she said after a beat, tucking one leg under her as she turned toward me fully, “your turn. What’s your story?”

I huffed out a quiet laugh, dragging my sleeve over my hands.

“I feel like I’m about to be interrogated.”

“Please”—Nicola waved me off dramatically—“this is light questioning at best. I haven’t even offered you wine as a bribe yet.”

“That feels like a missed opportunity.”

“Tragic, really.”

I smiled despite myself, but it faltered just as quickly.

My gaze drifted to the window, to the city lights stretching out below us. For a moment, I considered brushing it off—keeping things light, easy. That was safer. That was what I’d been doing for years.

But something about Nicola, the way she made space without making it heavy, it made me pause. I exhaled slowly.

“I used to race,” I said, voice quieter now.

Nicola didn’t react with surprise or interruption. She just nodded once, like she already knew there was more.

“I figured,” she said gently. “The way you talk about it…it’s not casual.”

I let out a small, humorless laugh.

“Yeah. Definitely not casual.”

My fingers twisted together in my lap, brushing absentmindedly over the faint ridges of scars along my hand.

“I started really young. Karting, like everyone else. My dad raced in Formula One, so it was kind of…inevitable.” I shrugged lightly. “I loved it, though. God, I loved it. It wasn’t just something I was good at—it was everything.”

Nicola’s expression softened, but she stayed quiet.

“I worked my way up,” I continued. “Did the whole thing—junior formulas, sponsorships, academy programs. I made it to Formula Two.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Quite the accomplishment.”

“It was,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “It was everything I’d worked for.” The smile didn’t last. “There was a race,” I said, the words coming slower now, heavier. “Near the end of the season, we were fighting for the championship. I had won the year before, but I wanted another. It’s addictive like that.”

I could feel it creeping in—the memory. The heat. The noise.