Trackside Temptation

Chapter Thirty-Two

FRANCESCA

I watched on the big screen as the live stream panned to Matt's car. He sat there, motionless, his gaze fixed forward as he waited for the last car to re-join the grid.

He had Theo and Romain right behind him, ready to chase him down the moment the lights went out. With just fifty-eight laps left in the season, I knew Matt would prove he was ready for his third title.

The cameras cut to the red lights.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

The silence was palpable, the tension thick as we held our breath in anticipation.

Light's out.

The roar of the engines shattered the peace as the cars surged forward, the crowd roaring in time with the clicking of cameras.

"Yeah, good start!" one of the mechanics cheered behind me.

Everybody's eyes were fixed on the screen, tracking the cars as they stormed through the first turn. Theo shadowed Matt closely, creeping up behind him like a predator stalking its prey.

"Come on, Matt!" Nico's voice rang out from the pit wall, a burst of encouragement as his driver picked up the pace.

Several laps passed, with Matt holding tightly onto the lead. His confidence was evident, and it showed in his steady performance. The gap between him and his competitors began to grow, showcasing his undeniable skill.

"Remember when I tried to convince you to watch Formula One a few years ago and you refused?" Ayane said beside me. "Look how far you've come now. Your excitement is almost tangible."

I laughed. "Right? It makes me so nervous, and I'm not even the one driving."

We watched on as Theo initiated an overtake on Matt. Within ten seconds, the gap had shrunk to less than a hundredth. The volatility of this sport was terrifying, my heart rate rising and falling with each passing second. I shrieked as Theo challenged him on the straight, and the team groaned collectively when he successfully took the lead.

"Come on," I silently chanted, fiddling with the edge of my headset.

"So, have you told Matt you love him?" Ayane asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

I turned my head, my eyes widening. "And why would I tell him that?"

Ayane raised an eyebrow, waiting for a response.

I shook my head. "No, I haven't. I'm afraid I won't hear it back if I say it. I know I shouldn't let that bother me, but it does."

She pulled me in for a side hug. "If he doesn't say it back, then I would be questioning my whole life. He looks at you with so much love that I can almost feel it through the screen."

I shook my head.

"And have you seen those edits of you both on Tik—"

"Yes, I have. I don't know how I feel about them."

Ayane laughed. "They're fucking adorable. That's what I'm telling you."

I heard the shuffling and panic from the mechanics behind me as they rushed to the tyres and prepared for a pit stop. Glancing up at the screen, I saw Matt's car approaching.

"Please don't mess this up," I whispered to myself.

Matt's pit stop was the fastest of the day so far, clocking in at just two seconds. The team cheered as he roared back out of the pitlane. So far, everything was running smoothly for De Rossi.