Collided: Dirty Air (Book 2)(52)

I fidget in my chair under his examination, bouncing my leg to the beat of my heart. “I didn’t mean to develop a best friendship with Liam. It caught me off guard.”

“If it’s a friendship, why are the reporters suggesting you’re sleeping together?”

“I don’t know. They’re bored and not good at their jobs?” My laugh sounds more like a wheeze.

“I’m not going to have you embarrass yourself and the team.” His words sting.

“But we’re just friends.” Friends who kiss each other with more heat than a burning Bandini engine, but friends nonetheless.

“If I catch one more bad story about you two, you’re going home. No arguments and no begging to stay.”

“You’re not being fair. I didn’t do anything wrong and I can’t control what other people say about me. Maybe you’re mad my name is being mentioned with Liam specifically?” I raise my chin.

“No. I’m mad because I warned you what would happen if you got involved with a racer. My reaction would’ve been the same whether it was Santiago or Noah.”

“Liam and I are just friends. I swear!” I cross my index finger over my heart.

“You couldn’t befriend anyone else? He’s a racer for an opposing team and our main adversary. Of course, reporters are going to talk.” His eyes soften at my frown before they harden again.

“I know. It’s like Romeo and Juliet.” My idea sounds credible.

“They both die in the end. And they’re lovers, not friends.”

I brush him off. Classic stories are more Liam’s thing while I prefer smuttier romantic retellings. “Semantics. Anyway…that’s not the point. You should be happy for me. I met someone who’s my best friend. Everyone needs companionship and I get lonely while you’re busy.” I’m not opposed to pouting my lip while throwing his packed schedule back at him.

“If he does one thing out of line, I’ll make sure his next contract is on an F2 team.”

I shudder because nothing is worse than leaving F1. It’s a low move, but my dad looks serious with his gray brows bunched together and his lips pressed in a tight line. His wariness puts me on edge.

“What are you so afraid of? We’re having a good time, hanging out and stuff.”

“Besides the fact that you gained Liam’s attention? His reputation and your friendship are a recipe for disaster.” He clasps his hands in front of him and stares at me. His concern makes my stomach roll because the idea of getting hurt terrifies me.

I overlook his concerns and my growing doubts. “You worry too much. It’s not like that between Liam and me. We have a tight bond, like Bonnie and Clyde.”

“You really love using iconic examples of couples to describe you two.” One of his eyebrows lifts. My bad. My dad catches me on an off day because I mean nothing by it.

“You can’t protect me from everything. You made mistakes and survived.”

He sits in front of the best consolation prize of being with my mom.

“Listen, I want what’s best for you. You always had a soft heart, forgiving others for everything to the point of putting your happiness on hold. Just be careful, smart, and safe. But I mean it, another incident like this and you’ll earn a one-way ticket back home.” His knuckles knock on his desk before he gets up from his chair. He comes around to my side and pulls me in for a hug before he leaves his office.

Well…that went better than expected.





I decide to spend the afternoon lounging on the grassy area next to the Grand Prix track. My body curls up on a blanket under the sun, basking in the somewhat cool weather and blue sky. After yesterday’s conversation with my dad, my head still reels at his ultimatum, uncertainty eating away at my sense of calmness. Our conversation means I need to be more careful around Liam and how people interpret our relationship.

Speaking of the man who never leaves my mind, Liam finds me, carrying a book and something else. I take him in from my position lying down. The sun hits him at the perfect angle, basking his muscular form in a golden glow. My throat bobs at the sight of him with his arms on display and thick legs within touching distance.

I divert my naughty thoughts. “I think that book is larger than my head.”

Liam prefers big paperbacks instead of an e-reader. He got insulted when I asked him why he doesn’t pack one for his long travels. If I didn’t think Liam was a secret nerd before, the fact that he travels with three different books in his carry-on backpack should’ve sealed the deal. While some people read BuzzFeed articles and take online quizzes when bored, Liam reads book blogs and watches YouTube videos analyzing literature and film adaptations. Even I, a Star Wars fan since childhood, can’t keep up with his crazy theory videos surrounding the cinematic universe.

“Want to see what else is larger than your head?” His voice rasps as his shadow hangs over me, blocking the light from my eyes.

I roll my eyes. “You’re losing your touch. That was a weak one, like a negative two out of ten.”

He situates himself next to me, his clean scent halting my working brain cells. My vision sucks because what I thought was another large book is actually a wrapped-up rectangle.

I look at him warily, pointing to the galaxy wrapping paper. “And what’s that?”