Page 53 of Crash Course

And still thinking hours later when I go to cover my dad’s shift at the ARI garage. It’s been almost a month since his knee replacement, which means I only have a few more weeks to tell him I’ve been working his job. But I’ve only just got him on board with my school, and our relationship feels too tentative to strain more right now.

Usually when I’m working at Keane’s, my music is cranked and I don’t hear gossip. But I forgot to charge my AirPods, so that night, I overhear the guys chirping.

“You hear the rumor about Dekker?” one mechanic grunts.

“There’s no way ARI tried to get him fired. And we shouldn’t be talking about it,” Bo tosses, glancing around uneasily.

“ARI’s not careful, they’re going to hand this season to another team. Ignite’s been promising they’re going to finish strong.”

“Ignite isn’t going to get to us. We’re understaffed in the garage,” another mechanic says. “That’s the cause of all the problems.”

I have my own problems, like getting noticed for this internship. That’s where I focus my brain for the next hour.

“Keane,” I start when I’m in the kitchen chugging coffee on a break. “How much effort do the F2 teams put into adjusting their setup?”

“Hardly any because they don’t have the resources. The teams are lean compared to F1, but it’s more about the drivers anyway.”

“But what if the car doesn’t suit a particular driver? There are some tweaks that are legal, right?”

“I guess so. Why?”

I shake my head. “Just a hunch.”

“Hey, Mac. When’s your dad back?” another mechanic asks.

“Soon.” I chug the rest of my coffee, ignoring the kick of guilt in my stomach.

“Hi, New Girl.”

Theo’s voice on my phone has me smiling as I shut the door of the Fastback and head toward the main building on campus.

I haven’t seen Theo all week, and I didn’t realize until just now how much I missed his presence.

“Are you back?” I’m scanning the courtyard as I head up the walkway as if he might appear at any moment.

“Yeah, got in last night. Media’s been intense but I’m finally able to duck out for a bit. Ashford PR team isn’t as fun to hang out with as you are. Or as fun to look at.” My lips twitch. “I’m going into withdrawal, and you still owe me that date.”

“I’m in class all day, and I have to work tonight.” The regret in my voice is real.

“Then let me bring you a picnic.”

A little rush of anticipation surges through me.

“You weren’t joking,” I say as I meet him on the grass lawn at lunch under the shade of a big tree. The end of September has been unseasonably warm, which is why I’ve peeled off my sweater in favor of a tank top.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat, and you don’t post on social, so I had to guess.”

The spread is impressive. Definitely enough to feed four people, possibly Keane’s entire night shift.

“This is the tiniest sandwich I’ve ever seen.” I hold up a triangle stacked with different colored fillings. I bite into one and it’s delicious. “Did you make this?”

“Yes. If by ‘make,’ you mean asked the cook for afternoon tea to impress a girl.”

I laugh. It’s typical Theo, but I love it.

“How are you settling in?” he asks.

“Classes are hard, but it’s fun to have everyone else love something as much as I do.”