Chapter 38
Audrey POV
relix tamed quite excited. “You won’t believe whos here! This grip on my wrist was surprisingly strany as he tugged me forward cons of het nu m you to my childhood best friend!”
I was still riding the high, the thrill of racing pulsing through my veins. Even Astrid seemed caught up in the moment, leuing Felix pull her along 198 as we approached the entrance, everything changed.
Blake Parker stood there, his tall frame unmistakable even at a distance. What stopped me cold wasn’t his presence – Id half expected him to show up after Felix’s messages. No, it was the sight of Laurel Rose wrapped in his arms, her head tucked perfectly against his chest.
1 yanked my hand free from Felix’s grip, taking an instinctive step backward. Beside me, Astrid made a sound of disgust.
What a bad luck,” she muttered, loud enough for Felix to hear. “Running into them here.”
Felix’s eager smile froze. “You… have some history with Mr. Parker and Miss Rose?*
Astrid let out a cold laugh. “History? That doesn’t begin to cover it! I tell you
Before she finished. “Felix. Blake cut through, his voice carrying that particular note of polite distance as he walked towards us. Then his gaze landed on Astrid and me, his expression hardening. “What brings you here?”
Before I could respond, Astrid stepped partially in front of me. “Any problem? I wasn’t aware Long Island Raceway had your name on the deed, Mr. Parker.”
The corner of his mouth twitched, probably due to annoyance or amusement. “Since when do you race?” His tone carried that familiar edge of condescension that never failed to get under my skin.
I had intended to walk away. Really, I had. But something about his tone, that implicit judgment that I couldn’t possibly know anything about this world of his…
“I learned many years ago,” I said, keeping my voice deliberately neutral.
“Really?” His eyebrows rose slightly. “I wasn’t aware they had facilities for that sort of thing in the countryside.”
The old pain flared – not at the insult itself, but at how easily he still, fell into these patterns. How readily he reached for my background as a weapon.
“I suppose growing up in the country means I must be completely ignorant and uncultured?” I met his gaze steadily. “Is that what you’re implying, Mr. Parker?”
“Just curious,” he said, but his eyes had that dangerous glint I remembered too well.
“Perhaps Mr. Parker should focus his curiosity elsewhere. Some things aren’t worth your precious time.”
“You… know each other?” Felix’s voice carried a note of dawning realization.
I could almost laugh at Felix’s shocked expression. His eyes darted between Blake and me, clearly struggling to process what he was witnessing. After all, Blake Parker was New York’s golden boy. No one in our circles would dare speak to him with such blatant disregard for his status.
Yet here I was, not only talking back but delivering/a string of retorts as if he were any other entitled rich boy at the track. The most intriguing part?
eyes, the Despite his dark expression, I could tell he wasn’t truly angry. Three years of marriage had taught me to read the subtle tightening around his almost imperceptible clench of his jaw. This wasn’t his fury – this was something else entirely.
“Mr. Parker and I were once acquainted. We’re not anymore. It’s that simple.” I turned back to my race car, letting the familiar scent of rubber and engine oil ground me.
“Miss Sinclair.” Laurel’s voice floated across the space between us, honey–sweet and calculatedly gentle. The Hollywood star was playing her favorite role the gracious peacemaker. “Even if there’s been some unpleasantness between us, we should maintain basic social etiquette. Let’s not hold onto past grievances.
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lot spared her the briefest glance, the kind you’d give to somente when completely fed rouck on condity, katere venden li
ostillen in the drivers seat I divided my attention between the mechanics engine anatyals and the scene playing out in per Laurel still stood together – New York’s power couple, exactly at the d always dreamed they would her
Something caught my attention, though. A subtle detail that spoke volumes. In the past, Laurel had always made a poim hit undrelsing da
every social gathering, every charity gala, every Parket family event. She’d wield the title like a reminder that the candidated my posities in
Now, suddenly, I was Miss Sinclair.”
Is this as I wondered. Is this her way of declaring my marringe to Blake officially over?
My foot found the gas pedal almost instinctively. Once the maintenance crew finished their work, I’d take a few victory laps. Not to show off, but to celebrate. After all, some endings deserved to be marked with the roar of an engine and the thrill of speed.
Blake’s POV
Laurel. I watched Audrey settle into her race car before turning to the woman beside me. ‘Would you like to do a few laps?
‘Does Miss Rose race too?” Astrid’s voice carried a mocking undertone. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light I recognized all too well. “Why don’t we make this interesting? A race between her and Audrey? Mr. Parker and I could place a little wager.”
I caught the flash of panic in Laurel’s eyes as she started to protest. “No, I…”
Before she could finish, I draped my arm across her shoulders, meeting Astrid’s challenge with a cold smile. “What are we betting?”
Laurel’s eyes widened as she turned to me. “Blake, darling…”
“Laurel.” I frowned slightly, keeping my voice gentle. “Remember what the doctor said? You need activities you enjoy to help with your anxiety. Racing used to be your passion, your specialty.”
My gaze drifted to where Audrey sat in her car, scrolling through her phone with apparent disinterest. A familiar irritation stirred in my chest. ‘She might know how to drive, but she’s clearly an amateur.”
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After all, what could someone from her background possibly know about professional racing? Even if she’d learned recently, she couldn’t possibly match Laurel’s supposed expertise.
I watched Laurel’s face cycle through various emotions as she processed my words. Something about her expression seemed off, but before I could analyze it further, Astrid chimed in.
‘Oh yes, Audrey’s quite the amateur,” she agreed, her tone dripping with barely concealed amusement. “Surely a professional like Miss Rose would have no trouble winning. Right?”
Color flooded Laurel’s cheeks as she glanced between me and Audrey. I could see her struggling with some internal debate. Finally, after casting a long look
Laurel straightened her shoulders. at Audrey – who was still absorbed in her phone, her brow furrowed in what appeared to be genuine concern –
“I’ll race her, she declared, with more bravado than I’d expected.
Astrid’s face lit up with triumph. “Excellent! I’ll go discuss terms with Audrey. You two can decide what you want if she loses.”
As Astrid walked away, I turned to Laurel. “Don’t make the stakes too high.”
She glanced in Audrey’s direction, a small smile playing at her lips. “Don’t worry, darling. I won’t be too harsh.”
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Chapter 39
