Page 32 of Burn
“Being German, I don’t usually like spicy food.”
“I remember.” I can’t help but smile, thinking about the time we went for Thai food in New York. He’d never had it and ordered a four pepper–level dish. He spent the rest of the night guzzling milk and perspiring heavily.
“You’ll be happy to know I love spice now.” He says this almost triumphantly, as if he expects me to be proud of him.
“That’s nice.” I wonder why he’s going to all this effort to chat with me when he could be laying the groundwork for a hookup with the flight attendant. “I need to, ah, send some work emails here, and it’s hard for me to concentrate with you staring at me.”
“Oh, right.” He slaps his muscular thighs and stands. “I’ll let you be. Think about that Tex-Mex place and the chili, though.”
“Will do.”
When he leaves I stare out the window at the clouds whizzing past. Chili? With Max? What. The. Eff? I imagine us eating together, laughing, talking about everything from books to the best racing documentaries to silly stuff like our favorite Japanese mascots. Like we used to. But as much as I want all of that, and more, I know it’s not going to happen.
Can’t ever happen. Because of my father, and because I don’t think I’m in a place where I can handle another breakup.
Chapter Thirteen
LILY
Things move at warp speed when we touch down in Austin. Lucas is waiting to greet Max and whisk him away for an afternoon of interviews and physiotherapy, while Tanya and her team descend upon me. As we split into two groups going into separate cars, Max and I glance at each other. The corners of his mouth turn up and he shoots me a subtle wink.
A little jolt goes through me. Somehow the man is simultaneously adorable, goofy, and impossibly sexy all at once. Still, I hope no one saw that little display of flirtation.
In the back of the car, I ask if we’re headed to the track or the hotel.
“Track,” Tanya says briskly, then launches into a detailed list of what needs to be done, PR-wise.
“ESPN wants a one on one with you talking about your father. That’ll run during pre-race coverage. And GermanGQwants a photo shoot of you and Max. I’ve scheduled the interview for this week but pushed the photo shoot to Las Vegas. Told them you had too much going on this week.”
“Why do I have to be in a photo shoot?” I understand the need for an interview, and don’t mind that too much—I can gush about my father all day long. But so much can go wrong with a photo shoot. I’m not great at hiding my emotions and being around Max is already difficult enough.
“It was originally scheduled for Max and your father. But they think it will be interesting to have you in it now, given the circumstances.”
“Fine.” I scratch my eyebrow. “Keep the interviews at a minimum, though. I have a lot of work to do.”
Like talking to Jack about the engines.
“There’s been an outpouring of support for your father. This is big deal, since he’s a legend in the sport. Savannah and Dante Annunziata have sent their well wishes and have made a large donation to the hospital where your father is getting care, in his name.”
I press my hand to my heart, touched. “That’s really sweet.”
She lists several other kind gestures, and then goes over the team obligations I’ll be required to attend. When she gets to the Boots and BBQ–themed party this evening, I hold up my hand.
“I don’t own boots.”
“Noted. Tell me your size and I’ll get you some.”
For the first time, we laugh. “Seriously, Lily, you need to roll with this and have fun. I know how much you hate the press, but try to enjoy at least some of these events, okay?”
“I’ll try. I promise.”
“I know it won’t be easy, given your past. We need to come up with messaging because we’re getting a lot of inquiries.”
All of the color drains from my face. “The gaming company scandal?”
“Well, that, and Max. Honestly, in the annals of Formula World scandals, it doesn’t even rank in the top ten.”
Good lord. I didn’t think we’d reached scandal level. “What have you heard?”