I glance up from my pity corner on the couch. She taps away at her phone, ignoring me.
“I’m bringing in reinforcements.” Tap. Tap. Tap. Her fingers moving against her phone fills the quiet.
“Should I be worried?”
She shoots me a mischievous smile.
Well, that answers my question.
24
Noah
I try to pinpoint the exact moment my friends started ditching me. Was it after Germany? Or France?
I can’t exactly place it, but ever since the summer break, I barely hang with Liam and Jax. Every week, they come up with excuses about being busy. By the time we show up in Singapore for the Grand Prix, they’re nowhere to be found. Yet again.
The only time I see them is during a press conference after Saturday’s qualifier. I ended up driving well and have pole position for tomorrow, securing the best spot at one of the few night races we have. At least things with racing look promising.
Do they not want to hang out with me because I win a lot? The Championship gets competitive after all. Maybe they keep their distance for the brand’s sake since teams don’t encourage us to hang out and play nice. But when I think back on times in the past, they never got this way, which means it has to be something else.
I hang out all alone in my hotel room, overlooking the city, checking out the view of the famous trees and Marina Bay Sands buildings. Singapore bustles with activity before the race. People flood the sidewalks, looking like ants from my suite’s balcony.
Despite all the action, for the first time, I feel lonely.
I’m putting it out there. My therapist would be proud.
I sit on the couch for a few minutes, processing what it feels like to have no one around. My friends rarely respond to my messages. We haven’t planned a night out, a strange occurrence for them in the biggest party city on the Prix schedule.
Even Maya avoids me ever since I kissed her in the Milan restaurant two weeks ago. She sticks to Santi’s side like a stage-five clinger, playing it smart because I’d never do anything in front of him. But she won’t give me a chance to explain myself either. I want to tell her I’m ready to try with her, the whole deal, no more fucking around.
I can’t stand how she evades me. So I do what usually calms me and drones out the thoughts in my head. I pull up Maya’s vlog on my laptop and click yesterday’s upload. My heart drops at her stunning smile, her brown eyes staring into the camera with happiness as she holds a lens to her face.
“Hi, everyone, welcome back. This week we are in Singapore and it’s honestly one of the coolest cities we’ve visited so far during the Championship. I’m here with Sophie, Jax, and Liam.”
Now I have my answer about my friends’ whereabouts. My teeth clench at the sight of them all smiling into Maya’s camera like they didn’t ignore my two texts to hang out.
“We’re here at the Gardens by the Bay. Viewers asked for a Web’s Most Asked Questions with Jax, Britain’s favorite playboy. Liam decided to tag along because he has a serious case of FOMO.”
You’re not the only one, buddy.
“We decided to do a combination deal here. It’s the best of both worlds. I asked viewers what their most pressing questions were about these two clowns. I wrote down the top ones because my Instagram was flooded with options. Ready?”
Sophie grabs the camera and films Liam, Jax, and Maya sitting on a bench with the supertrees in the background. Fan-fucking-tastic. A few people walk behind them and wave at the camera.
A burning sensation settles in my gut.
“Some are embarrassing, and others are outright silly, but I can’t be biased. I picked whichever ones were asked the most.” Maya smiles as she pulls out a paper with a list of questions.
I remember the time I told her she can’t be biased. Guess she keeps me in mind someway, making me smile.
My laptop bounces to the rhythm of my knee, nervousness and curiosity coursing through me about where this will go. Most of the questions she asks Liam and Jax are about F1 and the guys’ racing careers. Seven minutes pass before Maya asks about personal issues. Can’t help feeling like a stalker watching them like this, but she does post it publicly. Screw it.
“Jax or Liam. Or both. The lady subscribers wonder about your relationship status?”
They both high-five each other behind Maya like they’re five years old.
“I can answer for myself. I’m single and ready to mingle. Meet me at the Singapore party after the Grand Prix if you’re interested in hanging out and getting to know me.” Jax rubs a tattooed finger across his chin. Liam grins, not answering the question, that sly little shit.