ALICE Ch 53

Back at the hotel, Alice manages to get her hat off. That’s all she can manage. She orders a cocktail and sits on the bed, forcing herself to sip instead of gulp. She can handle this. She keeps reminding herself that this is not the worst possible outcome by any means. Driving is a sport, and sports involve disappointments. Guenther Steiner says that in Formula One the highs are very high and the lows are very low. This shouldn’t even count as a low.

But it’s her second race. First the car. Then the wheel.

She isn’t sure how long she’s been sitting there when someone knocks at the door. Alice doesn’t want to see anyone, so she stays quiet, hoping they’ll go away. They don’t. The lock beeps and Kylie enters the room.

Alice scowls. “You aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Glynda didn’t send me.” She sits beside Alice on the bed.

“Working for free?”

“You are edgy today.”

“It’s not a great day.”

“I saw that. Go get in the bath.”

Alice snorts bitterly. “Here to cheer me up with a pity fuck?”

“I’m not going to fuck you. And I don’t pity you,” Kylie adds, leaning over to bump Alice. “You just got paid a lot of money to not drive.”

“I’m gonna cry.”

“Go cry in the bath.”

Alice stares blankly across the suite. “You’re sure you won’t fuck me?”

“Quite sure,” Kylie replies with a laugh. “I will give you a shoulder rub.”

“I’ll take it,” Alice says miserably.

“Go on.”

Alice rises to her feet. She barely feels Kylie’s light pat on her rear as she drags herself to the bathroom. Kylie’s right. She needs to relax and move on. Bathing in negative feelings won’t help. Focusing on the positive won’t fix it, but it’s better than the alternative.

Alice runs the jets and strips, climbing into the steaming water. It does feel nice now that she’s cooled off and has a stiff drink in her. Kylie enters the room a moment later, closing the door and pausing. An intensely awkward staring contest ensues.

“Stop looking at me,” she says finally, cheeks pink.

“You’re literally looking at me naked in a bath,” Alice retorts, although she’s not being especially provocative. Sure, she’s nude, but she’s sitting there with her arms wrapped around her knees.

Kylie points a finger. “You’ve seen me naked before. Don’t make it weird.”

“You’re making it weird!”

“Close your eyes.”

Alice lets out a groan that she hasn’t done since she was sixteen. She closes her eyes and listens as Kylie strips.

“Budge,” Kylie says, pushing on her bare back. Alice scoots so that Kylie can climb in behind her. It feels like Kylie’s kneeling back there. Kylie’s skillful hands fall on Alice’s shoulders. “Just think about something other than today.”

“No problem,” Alice replies.