Page 86 of Game on, Love

“And in terms of the championship, how does it feel like you’re going to be teammates with your current title rival? Is it like a full circle moment for you two from your junior championships?”

He paused, as a flicker ran through his eyes before he nodded. “I’ll be honest, my focus right now is this season and to defend my championship. Next year will definitely be interesting and, in many ways, a full circle moment, including racing for the teamIwas a junior driver for, so it will be fun to see what else awaits.”

I nodded, thanking him before he gave me a final look, staying in his place for longer than required before walking away to the next journalist.

I spent the rest of the day working behind the scenes, popping out to grab lunch with Leah—who was equally as quiet as me, but somehow I’d managed to escape my brothersandAxel, who was also on the hunt for me after I decided to grill him more than a little for his mistakes during qualifying. Though, unlike Vedant—who had given me extra polished and sharp answers after getting pole, Axel managed to keep his humour alive in his responses before ending his interview with a look that told me I was extra brave today.

Maybe I was, but I knew I’d kept it clean when Hazel dropped me a note. She was happy with my work, and that was enough for me.

26

Oliver

MY ROOM WAS DARKas I stared at the ceiling. I’d given up on sleep after tossing and turning for hours. Now, the clock on the dresser mocked me as it glowed the time.

04:27 AM.

My mind had been on a relentless loop ever since my conversation with Mum last night.

It wasn’t an unexpected call, but what was unexpected was that I’d been so caught up with my own life to notice that she’d been lying to me. And no matter how much I wanted to be upset with her, I couldn’t exactly put it on her. I knew that Dad had been the one to persuade her to do so, which made me more irritated than anything.

Ever since he’d gotten his diagnosis, it was like he was fighting a battle that was more than just mental or physical. He’d always been larger than life to me, not just a world-class cricketer but my hero. At first, the signs were subtle: a slight tremor in his hand, a sudden fall as he hesitated in his stride. For a lot of young people, it may not be a cause of concern, but to a cricketer who relied on his coordination and movements, the alarms rang louder than a tower bell.

At first, he’d been adamant that it was nothing that physical therapy couldn’t fix, but losing his strength completely—the thing that defined him as a man and his life—hit him harder than any of us expected.

He was forty-nine. Everything about it felt so wrong, but it wasn’t until last night that I caught up on how bad things had gotten. He’d looked so frail, so lost as he stepped into the framethat it knocked the wind right out of me, though thankfully, it hadn’t crossed my face.

He’d made a joke about visiting him before I lost my old man, and I couldn’t help but think it felt like I’d already lost him. He had a smile on his face, but the look in my mum’s eyes told me that it was a show. And as much as I hated seeing him like this, I hated that there was not a single thing in the entire world I could do to help him.

I sighed, turning onto my side, and Milo grunted before shifting back in his place next to me.

He hadn’t left my side since Raina left, almost sensing that I needed something or someone around me.

A part of me wanted her next to me, knowing she’d understand what I was going through, but the hesitation lingered in my chest—just because she understood, it didn’t mean I had to burden her again. What if it triggered her? In a grey, cloudy sky, she was the one thing that felt like she was shining the light through the cracks, and I’d be gutted if I was the one who made her be like that again when I’d only just gotten her to open up to me.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, lightening up the room with a glow, and I frowned, unsure who could be texting me this early in the morning.

But as I read the name, the knot in my chest that I hadn’t realised had formed, relieved.

Raina:Hey, sorry, I just saw these. My phone died halfway through the quali and I forgot to take a power bank with me.

A faint smile tugged at my lips despite the ache in my chest as I debated replying. I’d texted her my‘views’on qualifying in the hope it would make her smile that I was following through on our list, just like I knew she was.

That debate all but lasted two milliseconds, and I typed back.

Oliver:Rookie mistake, love.

When no reply came back in another couple of seconds, I switched apps to look up what the time was in Austin.

10:30 PM

That was quite late, considering I’d poked around her schedule enough before she left to know that she was planning to be back in her hotel room by nine to make sure she got a good night’s sleep.

Thinking she’d already passed out, I clicked my phone off and slid it back on the nightstand. I let out a deep breath, my shoulders still tight as the screen lit up next to me, but this time with a video call.

Raina’s name flashed, and I froze. I wasn’t exactly in the cheeriest of moods, and though she’d only ever seen me like this one time, I’d still masked it on better, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to right now.

But the memory of her voice and the calmness her brown eyes brought in me each time I saw them was enough for me to turn to hit ‘accept’.