Page 26 of Lights Out (Love in the Paddock #1)

“Autumn!” my dad calls out from the hall before appearing in the doorway. “Get to the question. Who sent the flowers?”

Dad flashes me a teasing grin, and I gulp. I have never kept anything from my parents, but this is the one time I want to keep something to myself.

“It’s a congratulations bouquet,” I explain.

Both of my parents look at me, waiting for me to expand. I can see their brains working. Was it from my agent? Or one of my friends?

“Ooh,” Dad says knowingly. “I think it might be a boy.”

I will myself not to blush.

Mom blinks. “Really? Isla! Who is it?”

“If it goes anywhere, I’ll tell you,” I say mysteriously. Then I clear my throat. “What time is dinner? I’m so looking forward to another meal at home before back to hotel room service.”

Mom looks disappointed I’ve switched the subject, but Dad looks more amused, much to my relief.

“I’m going to go downstairs to start it. Probably about an hour. Your dad is going to grill chicken and steak for fajitas,” Mom says.

“Oh that sounds so good!” Hadleigh says.

“Okay, we’ll be down by then,” I say.

My parents leave the room, and as soon as Dad shuts the door behind them, Hadleigh turns to me. “Isla, when are you going to tell your parents about Caleb?” she asks, sinking down on my bed. “You usually tell them everything.”

I retrieve more clothing from my closet, then turn and face Hadleigh as I fold them on my bed.

“Are you afraid of what they might say?” she asks gently.

“Yes,” I admit. “But it’s not what they might say, it’s what I know they’ll say.

I’ve gotten the career break of a lifetime, and I’m willing to possibly throw it away for an F1 driver.

They’ll ask how many relationships he’s had before, and when they hear none, they’ll wave a red flag.

They’ll talk about the abuse I’ll take on social media if we do decide to date and ask me if Caleb is worth the huge gamble that I have to take.

Because he won’t suffer if it doesn’t work.

He loses nothing. But I could lose everything. ”

Hadleigh is studying me carefully as I finish speaking. “Do you agree with that?” she asks softly.

I swallow hard. “If they think those things, they wouldn’t be wrong.” I pause for a moment and then look at her. “What do you think?”

She doesn’t reply right away, and my stomach sinks a bit.

“I think,” Hadleigh says slowly, “I wish someone had left that kind of impression on me that I’d be willing to risk all of it for a chance at love with him.”

Love.

That’s why I’m risking all of this. Caleb is special.

I know I don’t know him that well, but I’m basing this off our personal interactions, not things I’ve read or seen about him online.

I like this man who has revealed himself to me.

I like who he is without the visor down. Caleb is someone worth getting to know.

And possibly falling in love with.

“I’m not going to say anything for now. Caleb and I could have dinner this week and it could not be the same. It could fizzle out, or we both could want different things …” I trail off.

“Or the chemistry could be crazy stupid like it was during that interview you had with him,” Hadleigh points out.

I bite my lip. I had Hadleigh skim social media for me, and yep, some astute viewers commented on the chemistry between us.

“I think I want to know where this is going before I tell Mom and Dad. You, Catherine, and Xavier are the only people who know.”

“Xavier?” She looks shocked. “Why does he know?”

“Xavier is truly Caleb’s best friend,” I say, resuming my folding and putting another blouse into my suitcase. Then I look over at her. “And Caleb probably told him so he wouldn’t make a move on me.”

Hadleigh laughs at that. “Well, if Xavier ever needs a distraction, you can tell him to slide into my DMs.”

I chuckle at that. “I will.”

“So what are the plans when you get to Monaco?” she asks, her eyes sparking with curiosity.

“Well, The Downforce Network has put me in their rooming block at this posh hotel in Monte Carlo for starters, so the first thing I’ll do is check-in. And pinch myself to prove that I’m actually there.”

“I knew studying analysis was a mistake!” Hadleigh declares. “I get to go to Des Moines for a conference this summer and you’re going to freaking MONTE CARLO!”

“Yes, but I’m the one who has been living at home because covering high school tennis tournaments doesn’t pay the bills,” I remind her. “You’ve been a legit adult since you graduated, with your own apartment.”

“I would have lived at home with my parents if it meant moving to London and going to Monte Carlo for work.”

“Yes, but you hate motorsports.”

“I’ve reconsidered since I watched the race this past weekend.”

I snort. “Wrong. You’ve reconsidered since you saw Xavier Williams.”

“I stand behind my change of heart. Along with his millions of fans on the World Wide Web.”

“World Wide Web? Did you really just say that?” I laugh.

She shrugs. “I felt like bringing out a nostalgic term nobody uses anymore.”

“Watch him in Lights Out , that racing reality show. They have lots of good footage of him. Although Caleb warned me a lot of the content is, quote, ‘rubbish’ and played up for dramatic effect.”

Hadleigh quirks a brow. “So lots of hot footage of Xavier, with bonus fake drama?”

“Yes.”

“I think I have a new series to binge,” she declares wickedly. Then I spot that mischievous look in her eyes. “What about Caleb? Do they have good footage of him?”

“Footage? Yes. Good interview material from him? Nope.”

Then a thought hits me. Oh crap. Once it gets out that we are dating, we could be a whole freaking subplot for the show.

Fabulous.

“He doesn’t seem to do good interviews for anyone else unless they are named Isla ,” Hadleigh says.

I feel my face grow warm.

“But seriously, Isla? What an amazing new adventure you’re about to go on. I’m jealous. But I’m so happy for you because you’ve worked so hard for this.”

“Some people will say Caleb did it for me,” I remind her.

“You said it yourself. He opened doors, but you were the one who not just walked through them, but kicked them down with your talent. Who cares what they say? The Downforce Network gave you a contract. What some troll online thinks about that doesn’t matter.”

She’s right. It doesn’t matter.

I look over at the peonies on my nightstand. It’s time to take a chance on something that does matter, even if I have to risk everything I’ve gotten so far to do it.

Which means boarding a plane tomorrow night for France.

And seeing a certain F1 driver in Monte Carlo on Thursday night.