Page 2 of Drive Me Crazy
“Ella, c’mon. You left—”
“Poppy,” Jack warns, cutting her off. “We’re supposed to be having fun and clearly Ella doesn’t want to discuss it.”
I shoot him a grateful look, but he and Poppy are staring each other down like parents in a bitter custody battle. Now would be a great time to snack on some Pit Stop Popcorn or Crash Test Chips, but they’re on the other side of the counter.
“You’re right. Sorry,” Poppy acquiesces after a minute. She focuses her attention back on me. “Do you think Blake’s listened to your podcast?”
My shoulders tense, but I don’t bother reminding her that it’s no longer my podcast. “I’m assuming he’s looked me up. It’s not hard to put two and two together.”
“I’m sure he knows it was all in good fun,” Jack reassures me.
I didn’t say anything untrue or outrageous about Blake on my show, but I did poke some fun at his messy performance last year. My podcast was listed under sports and comedy for a reason. How could Inotmake a joke about him driving into more panties than wins? I’m praying George is right and Blake won’t care that I made a few subjectively funny remarks about him.
“Pop, should we give El her present?” Jack changes the subject. “Before people arrive?”
He sips his drink, a Jump Start Gin and Juice, with a glint of mischief in his eyes. Poppy disappears, arriving back momentarily with a gift bag covered in race cars. No shocker there. It’s filled with a variety of fun tchotchkes, but it’s the last few items that really surprise me.
“Condoms.” I blink rapidly. “You got me condoms.”
I take a closer look and see the phraseSave Fuel, Ride a Driverembossed on the foil wrappers. My drink sputters out of my mouth, nearly hitting Poppy’s chest.
“So?” Jack asks, staring at me with undisguised amusement. “What do you think?”
“That you two are certifiable.” I hold the roll out in front of me. The ones in red foil are apparently cherry flavored.Yum.“I don’t think I’ll be using these, but I appreciate it.”
Formula 1 drivers are infamously known as fuckboys.No, thank you. I’m twenty-seven years old. If I still felt like playing mind games and faking orgasms, I could walk into any bar within a five-block radius of my apartment. I want to be swept off my feet, not swept under a rug after a one-night stand.
“One final thing,” Poppy says, pulling a lipstick out from the bottom of the bag. “Open it!”
I’m praying it’s not a bright red color because regardless of what she says, it just doesn’t work with my complexion. My eyes widen as I twist the bottom of the tube. I was way off base considering it’s a goddamn knife.
Poppy claps her hands together. “Now you’re protected from STDsandattackers!”
“Condoms to screw men”—I laugh, twisting the tube so I don’t accidentally stab myself—“and a lipstick knife if they try to screw with me.”
Jack chuckles with a wink. “London’s not going to know what hit ‘em.”
“Neither will Belgium,” Poppy adds. “Or Australia. Or Japan. Or any of the other places you’re traveling to.”
I clink my red plastic cup against hers in agreement. Twenty-one cities in fifty-two weeks. If that kind of time and distance can’t help me move on from what happened, I’m not sure what will.
TWO
Blake
MY ANGER MANIFESTS itself in one of two ways. I either lose my temper and yell at people or stay so quiet that they’re uncomfortably on edge. Right now, it’s the latter. I can see the silence wrapping around Keith and George like a scratchy blanket. I’d feel bad, but I’m certain if I talk, one of them will leave this meeting with a black eye.
“Keith tells me you’re not happy with my co-author,” George finally says, sipping his cappuccino calmly. “What are your concerns, mate?”
“This has to be some sort of a joke, right?” The sharpness of my voice leaves no room for questions. “You didn’t seriously hire her.”
My anger doesn’t seem to shake George. Instead, he seems rather amused. He takes another sip of his coffee, his cool gaze meeting my fiery one. I want to take the mug out of his hand and break it into a million fucking pieces.
“Need I remind you of George’s contract?” my manager interjects. “He can employ whomever he pleases to help him given the tight deadline.”
“I’ve read the damn thing,” I argue. Well, my lawyer has,but semantics. “My team has to approve anyone he hiresat leasttwo months in advance.”
“Ella was vetted and approved back in December, Blake,” Keith confirms. “You just refused to have a conversation regarding the book until now.”
