Page 11

Cherry

The Australian national anthem plays out for the third weekend in a row, and my chest just about explodes with pride as I sing along at the top of my lungs.

Nicky has just won the Japanese Grand Prix, and he’s currently standing on the top step, his trophy in one hand and his Vortex Motors cap in the other.

Today’s race went a lot smoother than last week, with Nicky leading from start to finish.

Watching him up there now, he feels unstoppable, unbeatable.

It’s like he’s harnessed all the good luck in the world and is taking it with him over the twenty-one races in this year's calendar. At least, that’s what he alluded to in his post-race interview.

“Every race requires a lot of strategy and, of course, skill,” he’d said in response to the commentator’s question about the secret behind his hat trick success to kick off the year. “But there’s always a bit of luck that comes into it. Maybe this year, I’ve got a good luck charm with me. ”

The crowd had gone wild as he winked at them with his signature smirk, and Serena had given me a predictable look. A look that screamed ‘he thinks you’re his good luck charm.’

Utter nonsense.

“We should go out tonight,” she says to me now as the podium celebrations die down and the top three drivers are whisked away to do more interviews.

I look at my watch. We’ve all been here at the track since the early morning and I know I should be tired, but the adrenaline from the race win is a high like no other and I’m keen to get out and celebrate the team’s victory.

“Count me in!”

We walk back down the pit lane and I snap a few photos along the way.

These are the moments between moments; the mechanics wheeling away tyres and other car parts.

The fans still sitting in the grandstand trying to soak in the last bits of the race weekend.

The members of the press pack congregating to pull together their last-minute notes.

It’s the culmination of the theatre that is an F1 race weekend, and it too deserves to be photographed in all its glory.

As it turns out, the followers of my Cherry’s Corner page agree, seeming to respond to these photos the most. Well, after any photo of Nicky. For those, they flock in droves to press that love heart icon.

“Hey.”

Serena and I come to a halt in front of the Vortex Motors garage.

Nathan Jackson—our team’s biggest rival—is standing where Nicky’s car is usually parked when he’s not racing.

Nathan is currently second on the driver’s championship ladder and he finished fifth in today’s race, crossing the finishing line twenty seconds behind Nicky.

And he’s now standing in front of us, looking at us—at me —with intense interest.

“Hi.” My cheeks feel hot and I admonish myself. So what if this man in front of me is stupid hot? Most of the F1 drivers are. He is Nicky’s rival, his nemesis. He all but stole the championship from him last year. And so, he is not the man for me to admire, even from a distance.

“You’re Cherry, right?” My toes curl at his posh British accent. Who knew I had a thing for men speaking English with an accent? Between Patrick and now Nathan, I’m swooning for any man who doesn’t sound like home.

Well, except for Nicky. I’d swoon over him, even if he was mute.

“Yes?” I answer his question with one word that sounds like a question. Like I don’t know if Cherry is my name.

My face is now on fire.

“I’m just going to go…” Serena spears me with a look and walks backwards away from me, while I plead with my eyes for her to not leave me. “Meet me later?”

I nod in defeat. The girl will not save me from this conversation. I’ll just have to figure out my way through it.

“I’m Nathan,” he says now, his eyes bouncing between me and my friend’s disappearing back.

My lips twitch. He’s introducing himself to me? The man who won the World Championship last year and was voted the tenth sexiest sportsman of the year? I may have memorised his photo as well.

“I know.”

He grins, a smile so bright I have to look away.

We don’t like him. Remember that, Cherry.

“Great. Now that we know each other, you’ll have to tell me a bit about this good luck charm Nicky has with him this season. ”

I peer up at him through my lashes. He’s beautiful to look at, with lightly tanned skin, dark blond hair and designer stubble. His eyes are the clearest shade of blue and right now they are looking for trouble.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” I move away from him towards the hospitality area and, to my dismay, he follows.

“Well,” he drawls. “Nicky seems to be on another level this year, and I’m just wondering if you know anything about it.”

“About his good luck?” I stop walking and face him.

“Yes. I wouldn’t mind a bit of good luck myself.”

I tilt my head, looking him up and down and hating that I like what I see. “Have you thought about looking for a four-leaf clover? Or throwing a coin in a wishing well? Or here’s an idea. Maybe you could try just being better than him?”

His smile grows and I swallow a large mouthful of air. Had I taken it too far? He is, after all, the reigning World Champion and a pretty big deal.

“I like you,” he declares, shocking me down to my cotton socks. “How about you come and work for me instead?”

“Never going to happen.”

We whip around to see Nicky standing a few feet away with a lazy smile on his face. He strolls over to us, standing next to me. Very close, next to me.

“Nicky,” Nathan grins at his rival. “Congrats on the win.”

My gaze bounces between the two men, and I feel like I’m missing something. Nathan’s congratulations just now sounded sincere, which makes zero sense, given the animosity that exists between them.

Nicky places his hand on my lower back, gently moving me a few steps away from Nathan. The heat from his palm pressed against me radiates through my layers of clothing, making a mess of my concentration.

What’s going on, again? Where am I?

“Thanks, man.” Nicky is smiling at the current World Champion and it also appears genuine. Huh. Maybe these two have a begrudging friendship that no one knows about? “But don’t even think of trying to steal Cherry away from our team. She’s way too important.”

I am?

Nathan smirks, his eyes zeroing in on where Nicky’s hand is still pressed against my back . Causing many butterflies to take flight in my stomach. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Not when I see just how special she is.”

Nicky tips his chin and Nathan nods and I feel like I’m missing something. Something that is being said but not spoken out loud.

“I’ll see you around, Cherry. It was lovely to meet you.”

This time his smile is sweet and I can’t help but respond to it. “It was nice to meet you, too.”

We watch him swagger his way back to where he belongs and Nicky’s hand falls away from me the moment he is out of sight.

“Was it alright for me to be talking to him?” I ask after several long seconds of Nicky just standing and staring at me.

It’s disconcerting and thrilling all at the same time.

“To Nate?” He quirks his brow. “Of course. He’s a good guy.”

Hmmm. Interesting. He’s warned me to be wary about the ‘guys’ around here, but apparently, that doesn’t include Nathan—Nate—Jackson. His supposed nemesis and F1 rival.

I rub at the headache that is threatening to develop as I try to manoeuvre my way through all this pit lane politicking.

“Congrats on the win,” I say, giving up on the subject of Nathan. “That’s three in a row. ”

He lifts one shoulder. “Still a long season to go.”

“But you have good luck on your side,” I prompt. There seems to be more behind this that I’m not understanding. Maybe he can fill me in on all the subtext flying around here?

“I do.” He smiles and doesn’t expand.

Oh well. I guess that’s that.

“What’s planned for the next few days?” he asks as we walk back to the main offices together.

“Serena says we’re going out tonight to celebrate.” He glances sharply down at me. “I promise to be careful,” I say with a sigh.

“Good.” He nods.

“And I want to get out and see more of Japan if I can, before flying out.” We have a two-week break between now and the next race weekend, which means I have time to explore beyond Suzuka. After much research, I’ve got a list of places I want to see before I leave.

Starting with Kyoto .

“You should go to Kyoto,” he says, reading my mind.

“That’s the plan,” I tell him with a cheerful smile.

He stops at the door to the driver's head office and nods. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He disappears behind his closed door and I gape after him. Nicky is coming out with us tonight? He’s never done this before.

Huh. I wonder what made him change his mind?

· · · · ·

“It’s you,” Serena says from her spot perched at the edge of my bed. “That outfit is so you.”

I twirl in front of the full-length mirror, glimpsing my butt in these pants and liking what I see.

When I was with Troy, he hated when I wore anything too short or too tight.

While he wanted me to look good—fashionable, enviable—he never wanted me to wear anything he deemed ‘inappropriate.’ It got to a point where getting dressed in the morning was the most stressful part of my day.

So, looking at my reflection now, I know he’d hate absolutely everything about these faux-leather black pants, paired with a black halter top that makes my bee-sting boobs look like something.

And that’s more than enough reason to bite the bullet and leave my hotel room looking like this.

This is me taking some of my power back and I don’t hate it.

“Thanks. And you look gorgeous, too.”

Serena looks more than gorgeous in her tight red mini skirt and sparkly black long-sleeve top. With her luminous skin, high cheekbones and bouncy curls, she looks more like a supermodel.

“I do think we’re a bit overdressed for just dinner, though.” I scoop my phone and purse into my cross-body bag and sling it around my neck.