Page 28

CHAPTER 28

Connor

“Thank you,” I say to the nurse who accompanied me on the plane back to England.

“Thank you for the signed photo. My niece is obsessed with you. She’ll love it.”

He disappears back into the airport to return to Hungary, and I’m faced with a sobbing Jimmy.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. I would have come to the plane and helped you out, but I’ve got Fluffers in the car, and I couldn’t leave him and?—”

“Come here, Jimmy, it’s okay,” I say, enveloping him in a hug. He cries against my chest. “Let’s get to your car. This is the longest I’ve stood for the last two days. That’s when the accident was, right? I’m still a fuzzy with the hospital and travel.”

“Yes. Two days. Oh no, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be crying on you.”

I hold him at arm’s length to look into his eyes. “Mate, it’s fine. Going down to my house on the coast and looking after your fluffball is the perfect recuperation. I’m grateful you’re giving me a lift because I’m not sure I can drive right now.” Will I ever drive again? I’ve been on the cusp of resigning since I woke. But then I wouldn’t be near Senna.

Jimmy eases me into the car like I’m a baby deer.

“Nice car. Where did you get it?”

Jimmy shrugs as his cat shouts at us from his carrier in the footwell.

“You be quiet, Fluffers. This is Connor, and he’s going to take care of you,” Jimmy replies before running around and jumping into the driver’s seat.

A black and white grumpy cat with one Elvis Presley sideburn sits in the carrier. His glare reminds me of Senna when she first saw me in her boardroom.

“How is everyone?” I ask casually, although I’m only thinking of her.

I don’t remember much after I crashed into the wall. My memories of getting out of the car and seeing Senna are fuzzy, as is the hospital trip where I saw her face, but that could have been a dream, too. If she was there, that was the last time we were together.

I pull down the visor to check the mirror. The scratches on my hands and the black eye that’s like a child’s painting where they’ve run amok with purple and black paint are the only physical hints that I’ve been in a crash. The true damage is psychological.

“I’ve got so many messages from people who didn’t want to bother you with calls while you were in the hospital. Silas says he’ll have you in training before you know it. Macca is proud of how you handled the car and knows you'll smash it as soon as you’re back on the track. I told him those words weren’t appropriate, but he insisted I pass it on,” Jimmy grumbles as he drives us out of the airport and towards the motorway. “Engineer humour.”

“Anyone else?”

“Did your mum and brother speak to you? They called Silas initially, but he said it was okay for them to call you.”

“Yeah, I had brief video calls with both of them. Layla was still travelling during her university break, so I told her not to come home. She deserves freedom after her hard work. I was insistent with Mum, as she wanted to fly to Hungary and wrap me in a blanket, but her job is critical. Other people need her more than me.” And I refuse to be a burden.

“Ralf and Ric said they’ll be in touch when you’re in your holiday home. Jacs made you a secret care package. I sneaked a look at it, and it’s energy drinks and a candy penis. I don’t understand that woman,” he says, shaking his head.

I smile. “Me neither.”

“Everyone else is on holiday or finishing work before the summer break. I’m grateful that you’re looking after my boy while I’m in America. I haven’t seen my family in a year.”

“It’s my pleasure. You deserve a holiday.”

I want to ask if he’s avoided mentioning Senna for a reason. Maybe she’s travelling to Australia to see Mr. Can’t Even Say He Has A Good Personality Because All He Cares About Are His Muscles Vet.

“And you heard about Antoine?”

“No. I’m guessing his dad tried to talk the FIA out of punishing him. How did he spin it this time?”

“Senna fired him. She did it during the race just before he crashed into you.”

I fumble for words, but my mouth is so dry that my tongue has stuck to the roof of it. I thought she would. But fuck. That means something else. She doesn’t need me to protect her anymore. There will be other issues, but she’s starting to handle the board and winning battles.

I can leave.

I scroll through my emails and find the draft of my resignation. My finger hovers over the send button. Fluffers shouts at me. He’s eyeballing me with his eyes half closed.

“You’re so cheeky, Fluffers,” Jimmy says before looking at me. “I’ve got the stuff you requested from your apartment and extra bits. There’s tonnes of food in the car. You’re going to have the best time together. Fluffers is so loving.”

I’m too scared to look at Fluffers. I swear he’s trying to psych me out. I pop my phone into my pocket in case he shouts at me again. “Yeah. And it will be nice to spend time in my house. I bought it five years ago after a recommendation from Filip at Vessa, but I’ve never spent time there.”

“Because you’re usually on a tropical island with Niki and lots of…fans?”

“And the rest,” I say, giving a fake laugh. Most of my summers were spent getting drunk and doing something dangerous during the day and sleeping around in the evenings. “But it will be good to enjoy the quiet this year.”

“I couldn’t cope being completely alone. You’ve got a car for when you’re lonely?”

I give a non-committal grunt sound. I’ve no intention of driving.

“Cool. We’ll be there soon.”

Fluffers shouts and stares at me again. He’s going to kill me in my sleep.