Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
I’ve been hyperfocused the last week and it’s not lost on me that this turnabout coincided with Posey coming into my life. At first, she was like a seat belt involuntarily clicked into place over my fast-paced lifestyle, but now I view her as more of a calming presence.
In contrast, Ronan acts more like a man who’s just come off a winning streak at a casino, not someone who’s prepping for the first race of the season. He’s got a swagger that borders on dangerous, but even I admit that’s not all bad. There’s a certain level of obnoxious confidence drivers must have out on the track.
Ronan isn’t focused the way I am, wanting to maximize every rep. Instead, he’s kept up an almost annoying stream of chatter.
“Mate, I’m telling you,” Ronan says, wiping the sweat from his brow with a towel, “last night was legendary.” He leans against the rack, his eyes gleaming with the usual cockiness. “Met this girl at the club—absolute stunner. Legs for days. Took her back to the hotel, and well, when she took her clothes off—”
I shake my head, laughing under my breath as I tighten my belt to do my last set of deadlifts. “I get the picture. Don’t need the visual.”
“What can I say? Life’s short. Gotta make the most of it.” Ronan smiles smugly, clearly proud of his latest conquest.
“If you say so,” I mutter, moving up to the bar so that it nearly brushes my shins.
Ronan reaches out, lightly punches my bicep. “Come on, Lex, you used to be like me. You lived for those wild nights too.”
I don’t answer right away, instead bending over to grip the bar. I pull eight solid reps and drop the weights to the floor. “Yeah, well, some of us grow up eventually.”
“Grow up?” Ronan echoes, eyebrows rising in mock offense. “You saying I’m a child? Or are you just turning into an old man?”
I grab my water bottle, take a long swig. “Maybe I’m saying it’s time to leave behind the playboy crap. Doesn’t that get old? A different girl every night, no real connection?”
A hard glint enters Ronan’s eyes. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience. What’s with the sudden monk-like attitude? Or could it be… a certain girl?”
The comment hits me harder than I expect, like a jab I didn’t see coming. My pulse quickens, and I take another long sip from my bottle, feeling Ronan’s stare as he waits for my reaction.
“You’re settling down with Posey, aren’t you?” Ronan’s tone is teasing, but there’s an edge of curiosity. “Mate, I never thought I’d see the day. Lex Hamilton, the bad boy of FI, tied down by a girl?”
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, still avoiding his gaze. The words hang in the air and for a second, I consider brushing it off with a joke. But something about it feels… real. Too real to laugh off.
“Yeah,” I admit finally, the word feeling strange but true in my mouth. “I guess I do like her.”
Ronan’s eyes round as he stares at me like I’ve just grown antlers. “Wait, wait, wait. You like her? As in… you’re not just shagging her?”
“Never said I was shagging her,” I point out flatly, because unlike Ronan, I’m not sharing those details. “But I do like her. She’s different from the other women.”
He leans in, his curiosity now fully piqued, and I’m surprised when his tone is almost supportive. “All right, mate, talk to me. This is a side of you I’ve never seen. What’s going on? What is it about her?”
I study my teammate and longtime friend, and for once, his expression isn’t cocky or teasing. There’s actual interest there, a kind of odd camaraderie that doesn’t focus on the track. We’ve been through a lot together, Ronan and I. Years of being teammates, traveling the world, winning and losing races, and occasionally finding ourselves in trouble off the track. He’s been like a brother in a way—someone I could count on when things got messy, but also someone who never pried too deeply. Until now.
“I don’t know, mate,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “She’s just… different. She’s smart, funny, and doesn’t give a damn about all the fame or the racing. It’s like she sees past all that crap. And when I’m around her, I’m not… I don’t feel like I have to put on a show.”
Ronan nods, his gaze unwavering. “So, what happens when she leaves? You said she’s only here for a few weeks, right? What’s the plan after that?”
I exhale, feeling the weight of that question settle on my chest. “That’s the thing. I don’t have a plan. She’s going back to the States to work. Her life’s there. I guess I’m just… enjoying it while it lasts.”