I look back into the room and notice my spring jacket is draped out across the chair. I had laid it out in the mad rush when her father arrived at the door. “Take your jacket, it’s going to rain tonight,” she said. Of all the things she could have said to me, she said that.
I pull my phone out of the charger and check yesterday’s forecast for tonight. Zero percent chance of rain for tonight. I look back out the balcony and laugh.
She was looking out for me, but more importantly how did she know? They say drivers and their crews go off instincts a lot, but this is a lot more than just luck. This girl really is special. She has gifts I’m not even aware of yet, but I can’t wait to learn and discover all the unique things about her.
I want to know everything about her so I can provide her with the happiness she deserves every minute of every day we’re together, and even the moments we aren’t although I have a plan to make sure those moments don’t ever happen.
CHAPTER 11
Erica
Y ou disappeared there for awhile last night,” my dad said as he sat my plate of breakfast down in front of me.
“Yeah, I got lost in the crowd there a few times. It was packed down there last night.”
“Did you have fun?”
I bit my tongue remembering exactly how much “fun” I had and exactly how much “fun” my dad had inadvertently prevented me from having.
“Yeah, it was a really nice evening.”
My dad sat down across from me at our small breakfast table. He stared at his food, but didn’t pick up his fork. I kept my head down continuing to eat, trying not to acknowledge the awkwardness as it appeared he was deciding how he was going to approach discussing something important with me.
“Honey,” he began. I kept my head down but looked up, meeting his eyes with mine. “I’m really proud of you. Really, really proud of you.”
“Thanks, dad.”
“Not just for how well you’re doing this week, but for all the work leading up to your moment. You prepared and prepared and prepared and then when the opportunity came, you seized it.”
I put down my fork and smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without you, dad. You got me the chance.”
“That’s all I got you, kiddo. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make her drink, so the saying goes.”
I laughed. “So, I’m uh…horse?”
“Very funny, but if you were then I simply told you where the water might be, you whipped out your map, got to marching, found that water and drink it all down and when in for seconds.”
“Um okay?”
“Sweetheart, I’m just saying you made the most of your opportunity and I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks, but there’s still a lot to go.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Here it comes, I thought.
“Honey, this is the boy’s club and membership is by invite only. You’re filling a spot, and doing a helluva job doing so, but you have to remember that in this club you’re the only girl.”
“I know, dad.”
“But you haven’t seen how ruthless it can be out there. I just want you to know I’ve got your back and I’m going to be keeping an eye out for you as things get even more intense these last couple days. Things get more hectic as we approach the finish line, so to speak, so if anything goes sideways you let me know, okay?”
“Of course, dad.”
“I’m serious, sweetie. You’re my only child, and you’ll always be my little girl.”
“Dad, not now please.”
“Just be careful, honey. There are a lot of guys out there. Just be careful. You’re an adult now and I know you can make your own decisions, and I trust you, but stick with the logic that has gotten you this far. Try and choose the best long term decisions, and pick your battles.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t tell if he smelled something fishy, or if he was referring to any number of other things that could come up in a garage full of testosterone.
“I love you, baby girl. Just make sure he does too.”
Ut oh.
CHAPTER 12
Erica
I arrived at the garage on a high. My dad may not have known what he interrupted last night at the hotel, but he definitely saw the way I was looking at Gage, and hopefully the way Gage looked at me.
I had a spring in my step and I was whistling when I turned the corner to our team garage, and then I was quickly greeted with a man’s palm.
“Sorry, ma’am. No crew for another fifteen minutes.”
I looked past the security guard and my heart sunk. There was Gage flirting with Miss Italy.
“Sorry, I said,” and turned towards the grandstands. I wasn’t about to subject myself to this torture.
From the grandstands I could see that they were filming a commercial, even though I tried not to look. It made me feel a little bit better that it was just work they were doing, but I couldn’t get my mind off the way that woman was looking at Gage, and more importantly the way he was looking at her.
Endorsement deals were big money and drivers that acted better on camera sold more products, I reminded myself. The only question was whether or not Gage was really acting. He looked so at ease with her and she obviously still had the hots for him. He had made me feel so special last night. My head had been in the clouds, and now I had crashed back down to earth remembering just how normal I was. I wasn’t a beauty queen, or a princess for that matter. He seemed to be friends with just about everybody while I had a hard enough time keeping a best girlfriend.
I thought back to the words Gage had said that had made me feel so powerful, but I couldn’t get the words out of my head that my dad had told me this morning. “Just make sure he does too.”
Just make sure he loves you.
Suddenly I wasn’t so sure, but I reminded myself I didn’t get brought aboard this crew to be with Gage, I was brought aboard to help him win the race and that’s exactly what I planned on doing.
CHAPTER 13
Erica
B efore long we were doing our first qualifying run. Gage had a pretty good run, but not enough for the pole position.
When he came back into the garage the technicians got to work. It was amazing to watch how they spoke with him and made the most subtle of tweaks to the car to put it in line with what he felt out on the track, and his thoughts on how they could get the fastest qualifying time.
A time or two I felt myself getting almost nudged out of the conversation by some of the other guys on the team. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not. They knew both Gage and my dad were looking out for me so even if there was animosity I’m guessing that they kept it to themselves. I’d be gone after tomorrow anyways.
And that’s the part that hurt the most. Now that we were into qualifying there would be no time for anything. From now on everything revolved around the race, and once the race was over there may or may not be reason to celebrate and then the teams would pack up and prepare for the next race all the way over in Montreal.
There wouldn’t be time for romance, or possibly even goodbye.
But last night saying goodbye was the furthest thing from my mind. Tomorrow I would show my worth and try and get a spot on the team down the road. If I couldn’t land a spot on Gage’s team I might get a shot with another driver or maybe even in Indy Car or NASCAR. Regardless, it was Gage who gave me my first shot and I’d forever be grateful.
“Hanging in there, kiddo?” my dad said.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Today’s a busy day. It’s the nature of the beast. You’re doing great, just listening and taking it all in. Don’t be afraid to ask good questions at the right time. These guys may look rough, but they’re here to help.”
“Thanks, dad,” I said.
“No hugs at work,” he said as he quickly wrapped his arm around me and squeezed my shoulder.
“I’ll gladly settle for a half hug
shoulder squeeze right now,” I said, looking up at my dad and smiling.
That was the part I was going to miss the most, the camaraderie. I definitely wasn’t fully accepted as part of the team, at least not yet, but just the way Gage and my dad cheered me up and gave me confidence and the way the guys with their work hard play hard mentality went about their business really impressed and inspired me. I wanted that for myself, and one day I’d get it. The first step was proving I deserved it, and that started tomorrow.
CHAPTER 14
Gage
I lay awake in my bed for the second straight night thinking of her. And for the second straight night my thoughts were all I would have.
I wanted to hold her, to be with her, to touch her, and to protect her from any hard times she might be getting from the guys. I had a talk with them all, but I just wanted to make sure they were minding their manners around my woman.
There it is again. It’s a small subconscious thing, but it’s huge.
My woman.
I’d never felt this way about a girl, ever. She was the first, and she would be the last.
As much as I wanted to win the race, I wanted her more. The best option would be to win the race and then show the team we’re better with her, and to get the press off my back. A win tomorrow could go a long way to solving a lot of things in my life…the most important being getting my woman.
I had to have her. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
I lay on my back, and decided to forgo the idea of dreaming about her tonight, in favor of planning a way I’d never have to be without her again. I needed a plan to make this work, and I needed one fast.
I wasn’t going to let the opportunity to have her slip from my grasp.
CHAPTER 15
Gage
I lined up at the start finish line. I had qualified seventeenth. It was going to be a hell of an uphill battle today. The press had a field day with me in the morning papers. Worst qualifying position at Monaco ever. Too old? Distracted? Gimmicky pit crew move?
Screw them all. I was going to put everything I had into this race. I’d rather spin out in a ball of flames than hold back a single ounce. I was in it to win it. The race and my girl.
The first hour I was cautious and calculated. The track was dry and running fast. I knew this course like the back of my hand and made sure to wait for the smart opportunities to pass. Rookies and newer drivers often get too excited at this unique track, but you can’t fall for the bait. If you try and overtake at certain points they often overcompensate and take themselves out, and you with them.
Valentino had learned that the hard way two laps prior. Rookie move by a veteran. That was one less question I had to answer.
As we hit the hour and a half mark I realized I had to change the compound of my tires, per Formula One rules. I had moved all the way up to sixth, but those five guys in front of me were nearly unbeatable in these conditions. All they had to do was hold on and block me out and the race was theirs.
I tried to make a pass on the next turn, but got shut down just like I thought. I could play offense all day, but this course was set up for defense. I was stuck, but I hadn’t given up.
A sixth place finish would be disappointing to the crew, but a solid performance given our starting position. I never go for those kind of fake victories. I go for the win, and in this case I needed an even better shot if I was going to try and get Erica a place on the team. Sure, it was my team and I could do just about what I wanted, but it would be a lot easier for the cohesion of our group to welcome her in after a win.
“Pitting in two laps,” I said.
“Changing tires,” Dave said.
“Color?”
“White,” he said, with some heavy background noise.
Perfect. A strong dry weather tire to finish out the race and meet Formula One standards.
“All good?” I said.
“Yeah,” he said, followed instantly by “no.”
“Come again.”
“We’re good.”
“What was that noise?”
“Nothing,” he said, followed instantly by “rain!”
“Dave what the hell is going on? I’ve got one and a half laps until I’m in.”
“We’re going white. No problems,” he said, but I could hear hysteria in the background.
“What’s that noise I hear?”
“Background noise. Nothing.”
“Dave, I’m trying to win a race dammit! What’s going on?”
Silence.
“Dave! Talk to me.”
“Small chance of rain,” he said.
I shifted out of the turn and tried to overtake another driver. No luck.
I thought back to the weather report just before the race. Zero percent chance of rain all day today. I lifted my eyes to the skies, blue as a robin’s egg. Then it hit me.
“Put Erica on.”
“Gage, we—”
“Put her on!”
Nearly five seconds passed by, an eternity in racing. I passed my pit, meaning I had one more lap until I pulled in.
“Gage.”
“Erica.”
“Gage….”
“I don’t have time, Erica. Tell me.”
I imagined what she was going through. The new kid on the block, emphasis on kid, and I know everyone was staring her down now. She was under tremendous pressure, and had the biggest guts in the world for speaking up.
“It’s going to rain.”
“When?”
“Five, maybe ten minutes.”
“Where are we?”
“Twenty-five minutes to finish.”
“Pace for full two?”
“Yes.”
I did the math. The race ends after the leader completes seventy-eight laps or two hours pass, whichever comes first. We must have been behind schedule so we were going to go the distance.
“How hard.”
“Hard.”
“For how long?”
“At least five minutes.”
I stared ahead before realizing another car was trying to overtake me from behind. Shit! I blocked him.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Blues,” I said, signaling I was going to put on the grippiest tires designed for rain.
“Gage, you sure?” Dave said into the comm. Erica must have handed it back.
“Completely.”
Make or break time.
Even though we’re all wearing helmets, and I’m in there less than three seconds, my stop had an eerie feeling. I knew Erica was getting it and getting it good. In those couple seconds I crossed both my fingers, for her sake and mine.
I pulled out of the pits and from there it all went downhill. First lap in the longest straightaway I got destroyed. Two cars passed me like I was standing still. Shit!
I only had one strategy from here on out, play defense and pray.
For the next five minutes I expended more energy and brainpower than any race I ever remember. I weaved in and out and back and forth trying to block the cars on my tail from overtaking, and what a tail I was getting. They were lining up to pass me and if they didn’t clip me in the next lap or two I was sure to get clipped tonight…in the face with a few punches.
“Keep blocking, Gage,” came over the comm.
“Where’s the damn rain?” I screamed.
“Not coming, buddy. Just hold position and finish her out.”
“It’s coming,” I said. “It will come.”
Former driver Nelson Piquet once described racing at Monaco as, “riding a bicycle around your living room.” Truer words were never spoken, and at the speed I was going navigating the numerous twists and turns was more like riding a bicycle in your closet with about thirty friends.
I hit the tunnel section under the Fairmont Hotel bracing myself from the quick switch from light to dark. Once I shot out of the tunnel I’d get a blast of light in my eyes and hit one of the fastest sect
ions of the track. I braced for the exit and the cars that were sure to pass.
Driven: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants #12) Page 5