ALICE Ch 65

“I hope you won’t be cross with her,” Glynda says to Irina as the huge black SUV glides toward the airport. “She’s not as business-minded as some, and at times I believe she’s not the most intelligent.”

Irina smiles in reply as lights flash by the vehicle. She twists slightly in her seat to look at the back of the SUV, where Colby and Alice are in the third row, fast asleep leaning against each other. The vehicle smells suspiciously of soap.

Glynda scowls and joins her in looking back at them.

“What’s she looking so pleased about?” she asks suspiciously.

“Perhaps her new pit crew,” Irina suggests lightly.

FF1

Bright lights shine on the simple chair.

Alice Wilde looks calm and in control.

“How did you feel heading into Australia?” the interviewer asks.

Alice snorts. “Confident,” she replies. “Ironically, I guess. My engine still hadn’t been fixed and I had an untested pit crew.”

“And the situation with Faye Darcy?”

“Well.” Alice takes a deep breath. “That hadn’t really…” She trails off. “That hadn’t started to get out of hand yet. Or maybe I just hadn’t really noticed,” she adds with a laugh.

FF1

Melbourne.

Every city that hosts a Grand Prix is beautiful, or rather Alice generally gets to mainly see the parts that look night. Melbourne is sunny, warm, and expensive. But it’s an easy place to figure out for a Westerner, and Alice appreciates that. Excellent hotels all blur together, but Alice finds herself in considerable comfort.

“I’m not from Melbourne,” Kylie repeats patiently.

“You still have to show me around. You’re my local contact,” Alice insists.

“And what, exactly, is on your list of important things to see in Straya?” Kylie asks. “Come on.” She beckons to remind Alice to keep on with her set of curls using adjustable dumbbells.

“Uh…”Alice says, obligingly curling. “Something romantic. Isn’t Australia known for romantic stuff?”

Kylie gazes at her pityingly.

“You aren’t even trying,” she says.

“You know, like… vineyards and stuff. I’m picturing us making out by some grapes or something.”

“Vineyards. In Melbourne.”

“You have them, right? I thought I heard that Australia had wine.”

Kylie sighs. “There is. An hour outside the city.”

“I bet I can get us there faster. I drive fast,” Alice says.

Kylie rolls her eyes and looks at her phone. “Glynda wants to see you.”

“What’s she want?”

“Probably something to do with Formula One.”

“Is everything OK?”

Kylie frowns. “What?”

“You just seem a little off.”

Pink appears on Kylie’s cheeks. “Why don’t you pay attention to your form and not to me, huh?”

“I always pay attention to you,” Alice says.

“I know,” Kylie replies, blushing. “Looks like you have to pay attention to Glynda now.”

“Man…” Alice whines. “Can’t I just romance an exotic Australian woman in peace?”

“Woman engaged to be married,” Kylie says, although her heart doesn’t seem to be in it.