by Storm, Sloan
“Eight months,” I replied, shaking my head in disbelief at the amount of time.
“Okay, eight months, Ava. That is completely ridiculous.”
The light turned green, and I put my foot on the accelerator, pressing it down steadily.
“I’m not disagreeing with you, but the last man I need to break that streak with is Dyson Vix.”
“Why?” Jillian replied, slapping her palms down on top of her knees. “What’s wrong with him? He seems to have a thing for you. He was very sweet to Simon. I don’t get what the problem is.”
I exhaled. “The guy is a player, Jillian. We’ve already had this discussion. I don’t think it’s a good idea to put myself in a situation with someone like that.”
“Oh, come on. What are you trying to say? That you can’t go out and have fun with him for one night? Are you worried you won’t be able to control yourself? Is that it?”
I snapped my head in her direction for an instant before looking down the road again. I chewed the inside of my mouth. A sudden dryness came to the inside of it.
“What? No. That’s not what I’m saying, Jillian. He’s just not the kind of guy I want around Simon.”
Jillian moaned. “Oh, give me a break, Ava. What—are you gonna marry the guy now?”
I shook my head at her little insult.
“I think you’re taking this whole thing way too seriously, Ava.”
“Well,” I began, gesturing towards the backseat with a nod of my chin. “What choice do I have? He comes first. End of story.”
Jillian folded her arms across her chest. “Well I’m sure that you’ll be in the front row on his wedding day. Old, single Aunt Ava.”
I grimaced at her for a moment before I spoke once more.
“Something kind of funny did happen. When we went for a walk.”
Jillian looked at me. “What?”
“Do you remember when I told you he slept with those women after his exam at Dr. Wilcox’s office? The Russian girls?”
Jillian chuckled and shook her head. “How could I forget?”
“Well, one of them came up to us while we were talking outside of the garage.”
“Really? What happened?”
I spent the next several minutes telling her about the encounter between Dyson and Anastasia. I told her how he more or less brushed her off, demanding that she not bother him while we were talking to each other.
“Oh my God,” she said. Jillian glanced towards me again. “What happened?”
“She stomped off.”
“What did Dyson do? Did he go after her?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Ohhh, see? I told you he’s into you, Ava,” she replied, barely able to contain her excitement. “I don’t get why you’re being so difficult about this whole thing.”
I had to admit his attempts at being charming were beginning to soften me towards him, but not enough to even think about letting my guard down. I was under no illusion—he was only after one thing from me. And so, while Jillian might have a point that it would be fun, the downside was too great.
I waved her off. “It doesn’t matter whether he’s into me or not. I can’t just look past that kind of behavior. I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Jillian shook her head. “Ava… He’s a single guy. He’s a race car driver. Why are you holding all of that against him?”
“Now you’re beginning to sound just like Dyson,” I began, shaking my head. “I’m not, by the way. He can be a playboy all he wants. It doesn’t affect me in the least.”
“Well, I don’t know.” Jillian said. “I guess I can kinda see his point of view.”
Just then, we turned onto the street leading towards our apartment complex.
“So, what are you suggesting? That I go out with him?”
“It’s just dinner, Ava.” Jillian groaned. “A meal.”
I let out a deep exhale.
“Okay,” I grumbled, pulling my car into the parking space. “I’ll do it, if for no other reason than to shut you up. Are you happy now? You win.”
“No,” she replied immediately. “You do.”
AVA
After Jillian’s tongue lashing, I took Simon into the apartment and put him in bed before I went to get ready. Jillian promised me if he woke she’d be sure and give him something to eat.
Before I left the racetrack, Dyson and I had exchanged numbers. If I decided to come, we’d agreed to meet at his hotel in the lobby. After one last moment of doubt, I texted him and confirmed I’d be there.
Left with no excuse, I searched my closet for the most flattering dress I owned. After a quick shower and a bit of last minute teasing from Jillian, I headed downtown to meet him.
Once in the hotel parking lot, I made my way towards the entrance. Approaching it, I noticed a sizable crowd of people in the lobby. It was large enough I couldn’t use the revolving door to get in, but instead, I had to use a side entrance.
Entering to a noise-filled room, I scanned the surrounding area for Dyson. Not seeing him right away, I continued around the periphery of the group, until, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his unmistakable presence. It seemed the crowd was gathered for him, circling around and attempting to take pictures, get autographs, and the kinds of things that fans do. Once I saw him standing there, I backed away and decided to watch for a few moments.
I’d never actually been around someone famous before. Up until that instant, the only Dyson Vix I knew was the smooth talking playboy. However, with a crowd full of adoring admirers of all ages, and both sexes, gathered around, he seemed quite different all of a sudden.
I watched him interact with men, women and children. He posed for pictures, signed autographs, and smiled the entire time. Surely that took some getting used to - sharing your private time with complete strangers whenever they recognized you. It wasn’t something that interested me in the slightest, but he appeared to revel in it.
Just then, he happened to glance in my direction and our eyes met. After a couple more handshakes and pictures, he excused himself and began to make his way towards me. While he approached, I became aware most of the crowd turned and looked in my direction.
I felt my pulse quicken a bit and my hand tighten around the strap of my purse. Just as I was about to turn away from the crowd of prying eyes, Dyson smiled and called out to me.
“Hey! Ava!”
I waved at him with a small waggle of my fingertips. Seconds later he closed on me.
“Glad you could get out,” he said, now standing about a foot away. “I’m starving. How about you?”
I nodded, relieved he’d rescued me from the stare of strangers.
Fifteen minutes later, Dyson and I sat in the hotel restaurant. Even though we’d ditched the crowd, it seemed as if there were always eyes on me. Or maybe I was just being paranoid. I wasn’t really sure. In any case, my discomfort didn’t go unnoticed. While we waited for our server to return with the wine, Dyson spoke.
“Everything all right, Ava?”
I reached for my ice water at the center of the table. Wrapping my fingers around the cold glass, I smiled and nodded at him.
“Mmm hmm. Fine.”
Dyson leaned back and narrowed his eyes at me. “Funny, cuz you don’t seem fine.”
While he spoke, I took a sip of my water. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s totally normal, Ava, you know… To be a little bit uncomfortable.”
I shrugged and placed my glass back down on top of the table. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
Dyson nodded. “Uh huh. Well, it’s not always this bad. Only when I’m racing. It’s way worse in Europe where Formula One is bigger. But here, in the States, I can get around without too many people bothering me.”
I smiled and looked away from him for a moment.
“So it did bother you?” he said, confident he’d figured me out.
I shook my head. “It didn’t bother me. I sup
pose I wasn’t prepared for it.”
“Yeah, you get used to it.”
“You might. It seems to suit you.” I replied.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, I just mean that you seem like the kind of man that would constantly love to be the center of attention.”
Dyson remained motionless for a couple of seconds. Eventually, he leaned in towards me, bracing himself against the edge of the table with his elbows.
“Well, I suppose if you were the one dispensing the attention, I’d like that quite a bit.”
He lingered there, looking at me.
I sensed a rush of heat flash across my face and neck, thankful it stopped there before going any lower. I hoped he hadn’t noticed. With any luck, the restaurant was just dark enough. A few seconds later, he eased back into his chair without comment. If he did see it, he seemed content not to mention it.
As for me, I realized a part of me was… interested.
Oh no.
Just then, the waiter returned to the table and uncorked the wine. I used the opportunity to compose myself. The server paused, offering Dyson a chance to taste.
Dyson waved him off.
“You can just go ahead and pour it, man.”
The waiter nodded, and a few seconds later, he’d filled both of our glasses halfway. Dyson wrapped his fingers around the stem of the glass and nodded for me to pick mine up as well. He lifted his and moved it towards me. I touched the thin glass against his, clinking them against each other.
He smiled, pausing before he drank. “To new friendships.”
I smiled in return and lifted the glass to my mouth. Seconds later, the heady aroma of oak and fruit filled my senses. I swallowed the thick liquid down, allowing it to linger on my tongue for a few moments.
“Delicious,” I said, placing the glass down on the table.
“Yeah,” he said, nodding and returning his to the table also. “A lot better than the cheap shit I grew up on.”
Just then, I realized I hadn’t considered much of anything about Dyson’s background. In the time since I’d met him I’d been so focused on fending him off, I hadn’t spent any time thinking about him in that way. But now, with a bit of wine settling in on my brain, I eased back into my chair and allowed the idea into my mind for the first time.
“Where did you grow up, Dyson?”
“Pomona,” he replied, picking up his wine glass once again. “You know where it is?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve hardly ever been out of Texas.”
Dyson took a big gulp of his wine. “It’s in California… East of Los Angeles.”
“Does your whole family still live there?”
“Yep,” he began. After placing his glass back down on the table, Dyson continued, “They’ve been there for three generations now. It’s a great place to grow up, especially if you are a racer. I’m looking forward to getting back there.”
“Oh, are you going for a visit while you’re here?”
He nodded. “One of the races on the U.S. tour is in Los Angeles, so I’ll get to see them.”
“What about you?” he said. “How did you wind up becoming a nurse?”
As much as I didn’t want to do it, I really felt as if I had no choice but to lie to him.
“I had to take care of my nephew, provide for him.”
Dyson listened intently. “The nephew with no parents, right?”
I looked at him in silence, swirling the wine in my glass.
“He’s a good kid,” Dyson said, pointing at me. “I guess he has you to thank for that.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Yes, I’ve raised him since…”
Stopping short of telling him the rest, I closed both hands around the top of my wine glass and glanced away.
“Didn’t mean to pry, Ava. Again, it’s not my business.”
I wasn’t even sure why I didn’t just come out and tell him the truth. He turned his attention away from me for second, waving at a group of fans seated in a booth nearby.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, standing from the table and making his way over towards them.
In spite of my uncertainty about him, it was pretty clear his admirers adored him. I studied him as he interacted with the group, shaking hands and signing autographs. A few minutes later he returned to the table and eased into his chair.
“Did you miss me?” he said, turning his mouth upward in what was fast becoming a signature smile.
And then, without thinking, I blurted it out.
“My sister died in a car crash,” I began. “Simon’s dad… No one has seen him since before Simon’s birth.”
The words tumbled from my lips, and before I realized it, I’d told him almost everything.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, raising the glass to my lips and taking a haphazard gulp.
For the first time since I’d met him, Dyson seemed to be at a loss for words. He looked at me for a moment before shrugging.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You did what you had to do in that situation. Simon’s a lucky kid. Never apologize for doing the right thing, Ava.”
With my hands still wrapped around the glass, I shook my head. “That’s not what I was apologizing for. I just didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”
“Well, I asked you about it. It’s not a problem.”
I placed the glass back down on the table and sat upright in my chair once again. “Um, well, thank you for understanding. Thank you for listening.”
“Sure thing. Thanks for… trusting me.”
I nodded and reached down to my lap, smoothing my napkin across the tops of my thighs.
“So, why did you stop at being a nurse? Someone like you, Ava, you could easily be a doctor.”
I glanced up at him, smiled and chuckled. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re going to get all of my secrets out of me tonight?”
Deep dimples formed on either side of Dyson’s mouth as he smiled at me. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Picking up my nearly empty wine glass, I tossed back the final remnants. After I did, Dyson lifted the bottle and poured some more. While he filled it, I watched the dark liquid swirl around the bottom of the glass.
“Well, the truth is,” I began. “I was in medical school when my sister died. I had to leave. There was no one else who could take care of him. I mean, there was my mother but… Never mind. That’s a nightmare itself.”
While I spoke, Dyson poured some more wine into his own glass. “So, you want to go back someday? To finish up?”
I shrugged. “I used to, but raising Simon has given me so much joy. I’m not saying I wouldn’t, but if it meant doing it at the expense of having him in my life, then no, I wouldn’t do it.”
Dyson swirled his wine around in the glass and looked at me. “Sorry to hear that. See, to me, that’s exactly why you deserve to do it.”
AVA
Jillian was predictably annoying with an endless stream of questions about my dinner with Dyson. As much as she wanted to make it seem otherwise, there really wasn’t much to say.
Yes, Dyson was more pleasant than he’d been before, bordering on charming. I had a good time, even enjoyed myself. But as I explained to her over and over again, none of that mattered, because he was still the same player. And to make matters worse, he was a playboy leaving town as soon as the race finished.
Speaking of the race itself, Dr. Wilcox insisted I accompany him to it the next day. He even asked me to bring Simon if I wanted. But the events of the day before proved to be too much for him, and he’d gotten sick. As much as I didn’t want to go without him, I really had no choice. We’d all been invited to sit in the team owner’s suite, high above the track.
Soon after the race got underway, Dieter Marsh, the team owner, made his appearance. Middle-aged, and speaking with a thick German accent, he introduced himself to us not long after he entered.
The whole experience was surreal.
It
wasn’t anything I was used to, and in fact, as much as I tried to make myself at ease, I never really felt comfortable in the extravagant setting. Dr. Wilcox noticed and approached me not long afterward.
“Is everything all right, Ava?”
I nodded. “Mmm hmm. Yes, I’m having a wonderful time.”
“I see,” he began, gesturing towards the far wall. Along the entire length of it was a massive spread of food. “Are you hungry? Don’t you want anything to eat?”
“Oh, I will. I’m just taking it all in.”
Dr. Wilcox smiled and gestured for me to follow him towards the bar. “Come on, I think a drink will settle you down.”
I swallowed and tugged a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think I like the sound of that.”
Not long after, I’d taken a few sips of my dirty martini. As the mix of vodka and olives settled in, I began to relax a bit. Around that time, Dieter approached Dr. Wilcox and me.
“Are you enjoying the race?” he asked, glancing between us.
Dr. Wilcox and I took turns nodding.
“Is this your first Formula One race, Ava?”
“Yes.”
Dieter lifted his glass to his mouth and drank. “How do you find it?”
If I were being truthful, I’d say it was interesting, but since I wasn’t completely at ease in the situation, I couldn’t enjoy it as much as others looked to be. Of course, I didn’t want to tell him that, so instead I smiled and took the polite route instead.
“It’s really exciting, Dieter. It’s too bad there aren’t more races in the United States.”
Dieter nodded. “Well, we are all hopeful this tour will help us expand the fan base. I suppose time will tell.”
I took another sip of my drink. Dieter turned his attention towards Dr. Wilcox.
“I want to thank you for helping us out on such short notice. I’m not sure what we would have done otherwise.”
Dr. Wilcox waved his hand with a casual motion. “It was our pleasure. Happy to help. Which reminds me, what’s the latest with Dr. Luca’s passport?”
While Dr. Wilcox spoke, Dieter drank more of his cocktail. “It’s funny you should ask.”
I glanced at Dr. Wilcox. A confused look came to his face.