Breaking the Grid

Brother

As I stepped out of the Vogue studio, the brisk Manchester air was a welcome change from the stifling heat inside. The shoot had been intense but rewarding, a day full of striking poses and meticulous adjustments to get each shot just right. I was dressed in a sleek black ensemble that made me feel both powerful and elegant—a stark contrast to my usual racing gear. Kimi, who had been hanging around the studio all day, flashed me a playful grin as I walked toward him.

"Queen of smooth, as always," he teased, giving me a nod of approval.

I laughed, feeling a bit of the day's weight lift off my shoulders. "Thanks, Kimi. It was a long day, but at least it's done. Ready to head to London?"

He nodded, his gaze briefly flickering to the car as we made our way. I pulled out my phone, still buzzing with notifications. As I glanced at the screen, a message from Katie caught my eye. It was odd to hear from her since we hadn't spoken since the party where we'd had an unexpectedly great time together.

Opening the message, I saw: Hey Blair, hope you're well! Can you help me with something?

I quickly typed back: Hey! Sure, what do you need?

Almost immediately, another message popped up: I'm planning a trip to France with Caitlin in a few weeks. Could you help me figure out some bookings?

Before I could respond, a third message arrived: Oops, gotta head to training! Let me know if you're free this week. Maybe we can meet up?

I hesitated, my mind drifting. The idea of meeting up sounded appealing, but the thought of Kyra being there made me hesitate. I didn't want an awkward encounter. Still, Katie was someone I genuinely liked, and I wasn't going to let one person stop me from enjoying time with friends.

Just as I was about to reply, another ping came through: There's a golf night tomorrow with some of the girls. Would love for you to come.

I stared at the message, weighing my options. It would be nice to catch up with Katie and the others, but the possibility of running into Kyra made me uneasy.

Kimi must have sensed my shift in mood. "What's up?" he asked, glancing over with curiosity.

I tried to shake off my doubts and smiled. "Katie invited me to a golf night tomorrow. I'm thinking of going."

Kimi raised an eyebrow. "And Kyra might be there?"

I nodded, feeling a bit vulnerable admitting it out loud. "Yeah. I'm not sure how that'll go."

Kimi smirked, seeming amused by the situation. "Well, you should go. Sometimes it's good to face things head-on."

I sighed, rubbing my neck. "I know, but I'm so overthinking this. It's just—there's a lot going on. Racing, the shoot, and now this golf night. It feels like everything's piling up."

Kimi's expression softened. "Look, I get it. You've been juggling a lot lately. But you know what? Sometimes you just have to dive in. You're strong and you've faced tougher challenges."

I looked at him, appreciating the support. "Thanks, Kimi. It's just that I don't know how to handle this situation with Kyra. The night was... intense."

Kimi chuckled, his tone light. "Yeah, I saw. But remember, you can't predict everything. If it's awkward, it's awkward. But if you avoid it, you'll never know. Plus, it might be good for you to have a change of pace."

I nodded slowly, feeling a bit more settled. "You're right. It's just—well, it's complicated."

Kimi grinned. "Welcome to your life. Nothing is ever straightforward with you, and that's what makes it interesting. You've got this."