Page 52

Maybe there was a silver lining here. Tomorrow he’d be hitting the track for the first practice session.

So would Nico. He hadn’t seen her since she’d left his parents’ house.

But if none of this had happened, how was it going to look between them on the track?

They never did figure out how they were going to manage a relationship while racing.

And he knew why. Because it wasn’t possible.

You already knew that, you idiot. And then you go and not only start up something but do it with another driver, a driver on your team—Nico Angelini of all people!

Rocco blinked when he suddenly realized Dario was staring at him.

“Is there something you’re not telling us, Rocco?”

“Like what?”

Dario remained silent.

“Like maybe you fell for the girl?” Celeste ventured.

Rocco’s eyes widened as he felt the pulse in his wrists throb and his palms sweat. “What?! Why do you say that?”

“Maybe because your face says it?”

“I haven’t been sleeping well, that’s all.”

Celeste peered at him so intently it felt like she was trying to pierce his skull and read his thoughts. He turned away.

Celeste sighed. “Rocco, I’m so sorry. But …”

“But what?” Rocco snapped.

“Well, when she did that on New Year’s Eve, she didn’t know you.”

“She knew damn well who I was. She called me by name.”

“She knew who you were, but she didn’t know you . Remember what it was like between you two? The stuff that you were saying on social media?”

“She was saying shit too!”

“Exactly. That’s my point. I don’t believe she went into that bar with a plan to con you. How could she? She didn’t know you’d be there. But once she saw you, well, I guess, given some of the things that were said when you two were feuding, I can understand her wanting to—well, do what she did.”

“You’re not serious.”

“Can you honestly tell me that you wouldn’t have looked to do something similar given the chance—back then? If you could? Remember that tweet about the coffee? I mean, think about it, she didn’t even know you’d be racing on the same team.”

“Even if I would have, and I’m not saying I would, it’s not the same.

I haven’t made a career out of lying and conning people.

What about everything after that? Why not just tell me?

Who knows what that uncle Mickey had planned.

He sat down to dinner with my family, slept in their house.

I heard him talking about some business with my parents and grandparents.

Who knows what kind of con he was planning, how much money he might have stolen from them. ”

“Okay, but that doesn’t mean she was intending to do whatever it was he had planned.”

“You don’t know that. How can you believe anything she says? How can you trust her? You can’t. Period. She conned not only me but my family the minute she stepped foot in that house. Even before that with my nieces. It’s bad enough not owning up to what she’d done were we just teammates, but …”

He couldn’t finish that thought. He felt sick thinking of what he’d told her, what he’d done with her, and all the while her knowing he was clueless, making him look like a fool.

“Everything about her is suspect,” he huffed. “That business about, her mamma dying, her nonno, Templeton. It’s all bullshit.”

Rocco slumped in a chair, holding his head in his hands. He rubbed his eyes to forestall any tears.

“Okay,” Dario said, “I get it, about not trusting her. But we don’t know for certain that everything she said was a lie. And who is Templeton?”

“A pet rat—supposedly.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Wow. I’ve never known anyone who has a pet rat.”

“You still don’t,” Rocco spat. “You can bet she lied about that too.”

“I don’t know,” Celeste said. “It’s hard to see her making something like that up.

It’s too random. Why would she come up with a lie about a pet rat?

I think it’s true. And if it’s true, then some of the other stuff she told you might be true too.

Just because she didn’t tell you she was that woman on New Year’s Eve doesn’t mean she lied about everything.

Remember some of the things she admitted to when we played Never Have I Ever? ”

Rocco lifted his head and pointed his finger. “There you go! Look at the things she admitted to doing. I should have known then.”

“Known what?” asked Celeste. “You admitted to the same things.”

“That’s different.”

“Why? Because you’re a man?”

Rocco turned to Dario. “You want to jump in here? Anytime?”

Dario shrugged. “I don’t know what to say. I understand the way you feel, Rocco. Definitely. But even you have to admit Celeste has a point.”

Rocco glared at him.

Dario held up his hands. “Maybe you can’t see it now. That’s fair. But … with time … eventually, maybe … you’ll be able to see it.”

“God,” Celeste said, “now I’m thinking about that black eye. That scumbag Mickey probably gave it to her.”

Rocco put his head down again, thinking of that scar on the back of her head.

I will not feel bad for this woman. I’m the injured party here. I’m the one who’s been wronged. She’s conned everyone—including Dario and Celeste.

Celeste sighed. “Well, what did she say? I mean, did she say anything about why she did what she did?”

“No,” Rocco huffed.

Celeste narrowed her eyes. “Did you give her a chance to explain?”

“Why? So, she could come up with more lies?”

“No, so she could explain. I’m not saying you should forgive her. I’m not saying you have to get back together with her or trust her. But don’t you want to know? I mean, there has to be a story there.”

“Oh, there’s a story, all right. But that doesn’t mean it’s a true one. Trust me, she’s good at telling stories.”

That stupid fucking little prince. God you’re an idiot, Rocco Vittori.

Celeste sighed. “I think she was torn. She must have feared if she told you, she would lose you. Which, given what happened, looks about right. It’s sad.”

“Excuse me! I’m the victim here.”

Dario groaned. “This is all we need on the racetrack.”

Rocco stood up and resumed pacing. “It’ll just go back to the way it was in the beginning, before Monza.”

Dario shook his head. “And that would be a good thing? Do you remember how well you were doing back then?”

“I’ll be fine. I just mean she’ll steer clear of me, and I’ll steer clear of her.”

“What about that Mickey?” Dario asked.

“You don’t have to worry about him. I paid him off, put him on a flight, and told him if he ever came near Nico again, the next time he got on an airplane it would be in the cargo hold in a body bag.”

“You did that for Nico?” Celeste asked.

Rocco blinked. “What’s that?”

“Getting rid of Mickey. You did that for Nico?”

“What? No! I didn’t do it for her. I did it for my family and myself.”

“But you said Nico.”

Did he?

“Well, yeah,” he stammered, “her too. If he’s hanging around her, that means he’s hanging around me and my family. She is my teammate.”

At least until the end of this season , Rocco thought, recalling what Carolyn had said to him about returning to Blue Jet Lightning.

Nodding, Celeste peered at him. “I see.”

“What?”

“What what?” Celeste said. “I just meant, I see your point.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” he demanded.

“Like what?”

“Like you know something I don’t.”

Celeste shrugged. “Am I?”

When Rocco turned his back, she mumbled, “Maybe because I do.”

“I heard that!” Rocco roared as he stomped into his bedroom and slammed the door behind him.