My team and I are doing our routine track walk with Adrian’s right behind us. Someone, and I wish I knew who, thought it would be a good idea to give him and his performance coach scooters. They’ve been battling each other for the last two kilometers, always interrupting my team and me when we try to talk about basics and strategies.
“Focus, would you?” I call out in French when he zooms past me for the fifth time.
“Fuck off, would you?” he yells back, and I flip him off when he turns around to roll back to his team.
He blows me a kiss, and I think about stealing the scooter from him both because he’s distracting and because he makes it look like a lot of fun.
“Gabriel, watch this curb at the end of turn twelve, okay?” Tomasso, my strategist, says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I assure him I will, making a plan in my head to try out different ways to avoid it during free practice tomorrow.
“Watch out!” Adrian warns as he speeds down the straight again, this time with Leonard by his side instead of his performance coach.
Surprise settles in my chest as I watch the Brit race against my teammate on the little scooter. Leonard takes his job more seriously than any of us, never getting distracted in any way, shape, or form. This side of him, the laughing, playful one, is someone only Adrian brings out. They have a special bond I wish I knew more about. Out of all the drivers, Leonard chooses to be himself around my teammate. It tugs on my curiosity, but it’s none of my business, so I don’t ask.
When we get back to the pit box, Valentina is talking to one of the engineers, smiling while telling him a story. He laughs at whatever it is, bending over to let it out. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, should be as good-hearted as her. The way she speaks to everyone, managing to brighten up their days is something I’ve never seen before.
Then, her eyes drift to mine, her smile no longer directed at anyone other than me. Fuck, she adores me. She’s all mine.
“How was the walk?” she asks when I’m in front of her, but I capture her lips with mine.
A little giggle escapes her, warming everything inside of me. My day might be long and tiring, but a single kiss from Valentina works like a shot of espresso.
“Good, except Adrian forgot how to be a grown-up for the entire duration of it,” I explain loud enough for my teammate to hear.
“I’m sorry I know how to have fun. You should try it once in a while,” he says and places his hands on his car to check something his engineer is pointing at.
“Riding scooters is not the kind of riding I prefer either,” Val chimes in, knocking the air out of my lungs. I fucking love it when she’s dirty.
“Now that sounds like fun,” I reply, guiding her against my chest by placing my hands on the small of her back and applying the slightest amount of pressure.
She gives me a naughty smirk, licking her lips before speaking again. A little move like that, and my cock pushes against my tight jeans, my body begging me to find a private room with her.
“Yeah, horseback riding is my favorite,” she whispers before kissing my jaw and attempting to walk away.
I manage to take her hand, spinning her around once and then bringing her against my torso again. Val is smiling from ear to ear, fully aware of the effect her words and actions have on me.
“You drive me crazy,” I whisper in French and let go in case she wants to leave again, but she doesn’t. She presses her hands against my stomach, biting her bottom lip.
“I know,” she replies and steps back. “What are you going to do about it?” she challenges, and I’m about to throw her over my shoulder when Tomasso drags my attention away from Val. A knowing smile spreads over her face while I’m forced to focus on my job again.
By the time I’m done discussing technical things with my strategist, Valentina has fallen into a conversation with Adrian and Daniel, his performance coach. I sit down on the chair in my box, taking out my sketchbook to try and capture how beautiful she looks. It’s impossible, but I always have a lot of fun taking a shot at it anyway.
“I can’t believe you two are dating. I should buy her a pair of glasses,” Cameron says, and I shake my head with a chuckle.
“Did you just come here to insult me?” I ask, and he crosses his arms in front of his chest, staring down at my drawing. I tilt my sketchbook toward him so he can see better.
“Why else would I be here?” he teases with a smile so contagious, I can’t help but return it.
“Asshole,” I mumble, and he lets out a laugh. Cameron squats down in front of me, his phone in his hand as he spins it around, a nervous habit of his. “What’s going on?” I ask, putting my notebook and pencil away to focus on him.
“My team found a problem with the engine. I dunno if it’s fixable until Saturday,” he explains, and I give him a comforting look.
“They will, don’t worry. You know how hard our teams work. They’re incredible and deserve a little more faith from you,” I almost scold, and he looks up at me with furrowed brows.
“Valentina really did a number on you. You didn’t use to be so positive. It’s frightening,” he says, and I give his knee a nudge. It throws him off balance, making him grab my legs to keep from falling.
“Don’t be an ass,” I say, helping him stay upright and laughing with him.
“An arse? Me? Never,” he replies, and I give him a playful frown.
“You made me get a tattoo on my butt cheek when I was drunk! I think that counts,” I defend with amusement in my voice.
“First of all, we were both drunk, and, secondly, can you imagine how stupidly in love you were with Val to do that to yourself? And now, you’re dating her,” he points out, and the corners of my mouth lift before I can stop them.
“It hasn’t changed how much I care for her, only that I get to prove it to her now,” I say and grab my sketchbook again, my attention shifting to Valentina. She grins at Adrian, who is obviously joking around, like always.
“Don’t fuck it up, mate. There will never be anyone that can compare to Val, and, if you break her heart, I will destroy you,” he says and stands up, making me tilt my head backward to look at him.
“I’m pretty sure Adrian should have that talk with me,” I tease, but Cameron doesn’t even crack a smile.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her, Gabriel. You’re my best friend, but so is Val.” I give him a reassuring nod.
“You have full permission to destroy me if I mess things up,” I say, and he gives my head a pat, shaking it from side to side.
“I hope it’ll never come to that.” Neither do I.
