Page 100 of Drive Me Wild
Cooper Fraser, McAllister’s reserve driver who’s filling the open spot on the team next season, is in for a world of fun. Blake’s my best mate, but he’s not an easy fellow to impress, and he doesn’t like newcomers. Or when people challenge him. Or about nine hundred other things. Thank God for Goldy.
“We’ll see.” He shrugs noncommittedly. “I’m going to head to my room to call my sister. See you on the grid?”
“Mm-hmm. Tell her I say hi.”
Like a revolving door, Russell enters the room as Blake leaves. He’s holding a box with a bright red bow on it, and I light up like a candle during a blackout.
“You got me a gift, Russ? How sweet! You do know my birthday isn’t for a few more weeks, though, right?”
He rolls his eyes and chuckles. “From Charlotte, mate. Not me. I’m just the delivery man.”
Eagerly ripping into the wrapping paper, I find a brand-new shiny red helmet. It’s the same high-grade carbon fiber design as my other helmets, made for speed and safety, but this one features photos of some of my favorite memories and moments with McAllister. Winning my first Drivers’ Championship, Blake and me at our first podium win as teammates, a team photo from the Australian Grand Prix, sitting on Russell’s shoulder after I clinched a win in Singapore, Lucas and me spraying champagne at one another. There’s even one of me and Jos from a few years back, way before I ever knew how much she’d mean to me.
“This is amazing,” I breathe out. My sister has a knack for design and has been creating my helmet designs for years, but this one takes the cake.
“We should get a shadow box for it so you can keep it in your AlphaVite suite next season.” Russell knocks his knuckles against the helmet. “Rosalie loved the shirt you bought her, by the way. Blue’s her favorite color.”
Russell’s wife sent me a photo earlier this morning of Rosalie wearing an AlphaVite shirt that looked more like a dress on her tiny four-year-old frame. She reassured me it’ll fit better by the start of next season.
“She told me sequin is her favorite color,” I remind him with a grin. “And that her favorite flavor is rainbow.”
Russell lets out a deep laugh. “She’s got an imagination, that’s for sure. You ready to head down?”
“Mm-hmm,” I confirm. “I want to get a few pics of me with the car before the race.”
He ruffles my hair in response. “There’s the Theodore I know and love. Let’s do it.”
I find Josie at a café table with Ella and Wes on my way to the garage. She flew in last night to be here for my final McAllister race, and I appreciate that more than I can say. While she won’t be at every Grand Prix with me, she’s going to try to come toas many within reasonable flying distance as she can. I’m not worried. We’ll make it work. We’re us.
I kiss the top of her head. “Hey, princess.”
“Hey, babes. Where are you off to?”
“Grabbing some beauty shots with my car.”
She lifts her camera and raises her brows. “Want me to take them? For old time’s sake?”
“Let’s do it.” As we walk out toward the garage and pit lane, I murmur, “I thought of a new name for your tits.”
She throws her head back and half-sighs, half-laughs. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”
“It’s what I’malwaysthinking about,” I remind her. “How do you feel about Sweet and Spicy?”
“I…” She gives me a meager shrug. “Well, actually, it’s not horrible. I’ve heard worse.”
“Is that a yes?”
My girlfriend—fuck, it feels good to say that again—doesn’t have time to confirm before reporters are in hearing distance and start bombarding me with questions. It looks like the tourist crowds outside of Buckingham Palace. McAllister’s already announced a new CEO—someone who’s less of an evil douche canoe—so I’m hopeful they’ll lay off with those sorts of questions. Not my zoo, not my monkeys.
“Walker! Walker!” they all shout. I nod at someone from theLondon Dailyand the rest of the group simmers down.
“What made you sign with AlphaVite? There are rumors that multiple teams extended you a contract.”
“My girlfriend told me that blue is a sexy color on me,” I answer with a wink. “Well, she told me I look sexy naked, but if I have to be wearing clothes, that blue brings out my eyes.”
I receive an immediate elbow into my ribcage, courtesy of Josie. “Hope you enjoyed seeing Sweet and Spicy for the last time ever.”
My lips somehow twitch up higher.
