Page 27 of Overdrive (Speed Demons #1)

I stared at my phone, scrolling through the influx of messages. Most were congratulatory, but a few were biting. Dismissive.

Overrated. A one-hit wonder. Wannabeétienne.

I set my phone down, exhaling slowly. This wasn't new. It wouldn't be the last time. But that didn't make it suck less.

I reached for the phone again, thumb hovering over the power button—ready to shut it off—when another notification lit up the screen.

A name I hadn't expected.

Callum

Tough day, Auri. But don’t let it get to you. Everyone has them.

My stomach tumbled. Callum Fraser didn’t do check-ins.

I stared at the message longer than I should have. It felt too easy, as if he saw right through the front I was barely holding together. Like he knew.

And I hated that. Or maybe I didn’t.

I could ignore it, leave him on read, pretend it didn’t affect me the way it did…. Don’t be stupid,Aurélie.

You’re annoyingly perceptive.

Callum

Comes with being a four-time champ. Now go rest. Bahrain’s coming up.

I let out a soft breath, shaking my head. I wasn't sure what this was—what we were—though I knew one thing. Suzuka had humbled me. But I wasn't done yet. Bahrain would be different.