Page 27 of Too Fast To Fall
“Why? I think it’s cute.”
“Cute is subjective.”
She shrugged. “Well, the woman and her boyfriend wanted a picture with Gus. Then more people showed up. So I took about—”Piper looked up as she counted on her fingers, then waved her hand “—I don’t even know. Twenty? Thirty? People just kept walkingup and asking for a photo with him.”
Emilio hadn’t thought to worry about this. When he and Victoria were still together, she’d always cared for Gus during raceweekends, but sheneverwould’ve gone walking around in the general admission areas. She didn’t mingle with “the normos” as Victoria referred tothe fans. As for the other dog sitters he’d had, most didn’t care at all about the racing and stayed with Gus in Emilio’sdriver’s room. “I don’t think you should do that again.”
“Why? It was fun. Kept me occupied for at least an hour and Gus loved the attention.”
“I don’t love the idea of you two giving the fans so much access when you’re by yourselves. From a safety standpoint.”
“I felt perfectly safe the whole time.”
“What if Gus decided to take off? What if someone nabbed him? Some fans will do some pretty unhinged things.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.”
“It’s your job to keep Gus safe.”
She looked so deflated. “I’m sorry. I just thought your fans would love it. They love Gus because he’s your dog. I talkedto a lot of the fans. They worship you. They think you’re the greatest driver. Meeting Gus is a big treat for them. And it’sa little way of saying thanks by letting them take a photo with him.”
“I still don’t like it. I despise social media. It’s too much oversharing. Victoria loved to overshare.”
Piper slumped back against the couch cushions and folded her arms across her chest. “Kyle loved to overshare, too. Mostlyhis penis.”
Emilio cracked a smile. “A joke. It sounds like you’re over him.”
She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “Just a moment of brutal honesty. Don’t worry. I still have moments where I feelbroken in two by the whole thing.”
He had to wonder if that was really true. It seemed to him Piper didn’t let most things faze her. Or maybe she was simplygood at putting on a happy face. “Can I see the photos?”
“The ones I put on Gus’s account?”
“Gus’s what?” Emilio blinked.
“I set up an account for him. I wasn’t about to post his photos on my account. I mean, he’s not my dog. And that way, youcan take over the account or you can hand it off to the next dog nanny. He already has a ton of followers. Several thousand.It doesn’t take long for the fans to hop on something.”
“I officially hate this idea.”
“Just look, okay?” Piper eagerly handed over her phone.
He scrolled through the photos, and he had to admit that not only were they full of joy, Piper had a bit of a photographerin her, too. “Is Gus smiling?”
“I thought the same thing!”
Emilio shook his head. How did everything turn to rainbows and sunshine around Piper? “The photos are cute.”
“Does that mean you’re okay with it if I keep doing this?”
He didn’t want to squash Piper’s enthusiasm, but he also didn’t love the idea of Gus becoming internet famous. “Let me talkto the team. You never know. Sponsors get mad at the smallest things.”
“Okay.” Piper was clearly disappointed.
Emilio’s phone beeped with another text. This one was from his mom.
I heard your father isn’t coming this weekend. I’m so sorry. This is what he does. He doesn’t support you like I do.
“Great,” he muttered under his breath.
