Page 63 of The Fast Track

There’s even more models-cum-influencers in the Orbital section now than before. It’s obvious who the culprits are, judging by the gleeful grins on Pat, Georgios, and some of the mechanics’ faces as they stand in a crowd that’s at least a 1:8 ratio in their favor. The girls turn like hungry lionesses as Dietrich steps into the area.

“I think you’re the only one who thinks too many girls is an issue,” I tell him, grinning.

“I know, I sound like ablag. It’s fun at first, but once you realize most girls only want to sell the tabloids a story about the teddy on your bed, it’s not so nice.”

“What kind of teddy bear?”

He laughs.

“Dietrich!” Yet another girl waves at him. I do a double take when I recognize Hannie, my co-reject from earlier. I’m happy she made it in, though surprised she knows Dietrich—he’s not exactly social with the locals like the rest of the guys are. She walks toward us, her face breaking into a tentative smile.

Dietrich jerks out his hand, grabs my waist, and pulls me so quickly to his side you’d think Hannie was an armed robber and I was body armor.

Her smile evaporates, and she veers off sharply to another table.

Dietrich’s still latched on to me, his entire body tense. He only lets go a few long moments later, releasing a slow breath.

“Wait.” The gears in my brain turn, significantly slowed by the deafening music and alcohol. Something deep in my memory unearths itself. “Hannie. Isn’t that your ex’s name?”

The stricken look on his face confirms my suspicions.

“What’s she doing here? I thought she lived in Germany.” Heidelberg, according to F1 TikTok.

“She does.” Dietrich sinks down on a couch. “I have no idea what is going on. She has been texting me. She wants to talk, but…” He heaves a sigh. “My father thinks she’s a badinfluence. We broke up because she wanted me to quit F1 and come back—she said there was no point doing long distance if I wasn’t doing what I wanted to.”

“Did you want to? Quit?” It was mind-blowing the first time he brought up leaving, but ever since then, I can’t help noticing how much he autopilots through all his race weekends.

“I was going to. We had a plan. I would retire, spend a year taking courses and applying to university, then study environmental sciences at Heidelberg while Hannie finishes up school and gets a job nearby. But in the end, I could not make Papa understand. And Hannie was done with me.”

“Why not talk to her now?” The words feel like they’re coming from someone else. Dietrich Lange—my date and the driver I’ve been crushing on for years—clearly still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, and somehow I don’t want to throw myself off the side of a cliff.

“I am scared that it will not end differently from last time.” Dietrich looks like a frightened little boy, not an F1 champion on top of the world.

My face must be all wonky, because he gives me a sober look. “I’m very sorry, Justine. I am a mess. I invited you tonight, and now I’m making you listen about my ex.”

He’s apologizing because he thinks I’m upset. Which, if I liked him as much as I should, I would be. But I’m not, somehow. Because I’m too busy stressing—obsessing—over someone else.

“It’s okay,” I say, completely truthful.

“You are an amazing girl.” He smiles ruefully. “No wonder my father is a fan.”

“Your dad likes me?” This is a surprise, given Niels Lange is hardly the pinnacle of progressivism.

“He thinks you’re one of the most ambitious and ruthless talents he’s come across. He hated Hannie for years.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry for disturbing your evening with my talk. Let me take you to dinner next week?” He grabs my hand, but it feels forced, like his smile.

I gently work my hand free. “I don’t think that’s what you need right now.”

Dietrich gives me a confused look. He must not get rejected often, which is fair, because even I can hardly believe what I’m saying.

“I think you should go talk to Hannie.”

He bites his lip uncertainly. “I want to move forward.”

“Are you sure you’re not just scared of what might happen if you let her say what she came here to say?”

“There is no point. Nothing has changed.”

“You don’t know that. She clearly has second thoughts if she got herself on a plane to Milton Keynes. Hear her out. You owe it to yourself.”