Page 83 of Drive Me Crazy
My curiosity is piqued since Tyler’s never spoken about it. “About what?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yep.” His lips come together, making the last letter end in a popping noise. “You.”
I wait for him to say more, but he just sips his coffee. “Well, what were they saying?”
“They told me they liked your podcast,” he admits. “Listened every week.”
“That’s bad?”
“Theyasked me why you’d leave such a cool job.” His voice is strained. “Said PlayMedia was the best and that they’d met Brixton before and he’s a fucking legend … the GOAT.”
“So you beat the shit out of him?”
“Mm-hmm.” Tyler shrugs aloofly. “All I’m saying is I get his reaction. It’s up to you if you forgive him or not, but it’s obvious how much he cares about you, even if he has an ass backward way of showing it.”
My phone dings with a text from Josie. She’s been sending me voice memos of her singing a variety of songs including “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé and “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. I truly never know what a text from her is going to be, but I appreciate that about Jos. I haven’t watched any press conferences from this weekend, but she’s keeping me up to date. Apparently, today’s is action-packed.
JOSIE BANCROFT
A reporter just asked why you aren’t here, and Blake ripped off his microphone and left the room.
OMG. Theo’s telling everyone about his skincare routine.
Lucas is now talking about some football game?? I think he means American football, not ours.
These boys do not know how to handle a crisis well. This is comical.
Okay, Blake’s back. He’s giving his statement. “Please respect and refrain from asking me questions about my personal life. Unless it pertains to the race, it has no place in this conference room.”
Totally get why you’re not at the race (fully support you), but I miss you, babes!!
I can’t help when my lips curl into a smile at her rapid-fire texts. Tyler takes the remote and changes the channel to ESPN. We catch the tail end of the press conference. Seeing Blake, even through a screen, makes my heart flutter wildly. As angry and upset as I am, I still miss him. I miss him so much it feels hard to breathe sometimes. I’m homesick for a person.
The race is a nail-biter. Blake’s performance highlights that he’s at the top of his career, but Harry drives just as well. I know Blake tries not to listen to what people are saying, but it’s hard to ignore the question at the forefront of everyone’s mind, including the broadcaster’s. Can Blake win a championship that’s so close? The last Drivers’ Championship that was this tight was a few years back when he beat Lucas by a mere five points. With only two races left in the season, the pressure is seriously on.
I make a last-minute decision to text him after the podium ceremony.
ELLA GOLD
Great win today. I was rooting for you.
BLAKE HOLLIS
That means the world to me, baby. Thinking of you constantly. I’m here when you’re ready to talk. I’m so incredibly sorry.
ELLA GOLD
It was weird not watching a Grand Prix from the pit garage.
BLAKE HOLLIS
It was weird not having you there. I miss you.
Iedit my text back to Blake about ten times. I’m a writer and always have things to say, but my mind is blank. It’s an unfamiliar feeling—not knowing what to say to him. There are twenty-six letters in the alphabet and I somehow can’t think of a single combination that accurately expresses how I feel. So I say nothing.
