ALICE Ch 315

Monza is sunny, gorgeous, and as far as Alice is concerned, perfect. She has no idea what’s normal; maybe the cool is unseasonable, but these temperatures in the low seventies are to die for. The town is the cutest thing she’s ever seen, and even the paddock seems more glamorous here.

She finishes signing a FUTA cap with a silver sharpie, then leans in for a selfie before returning her attention to the journalist. She can’t keep track of who these people work for. Racing is such a huge deal in Europe compared to the US; there are magazines and TV shows. It’s bananas.

“I’m glad to be back. I can’t wait to drive. It’s so nice here. I want to move here,” she says.

FF1

“Yeesh. Getting tense out there,” Riley mutters as she and Adella struggle out of their clothes. A massive problem with their pit facilities is that there’s nowhere for them to shower. They get all sweaty slinging tires and screwing around with tools, then they have to change before returning to the hotel to clean up. It’s also getting late. “I want to take a bath. And then you’re going to take me out in this cute town and we’re going to have a real date. You got that?”

Adella yawns as she strips down. “OK,” she replies.

Riley’s phone goes off. “Oh, come on.” She cringes as she looks. “It’s Viv. She wants us to come up.” She sees the look on Adella’s face and swats her. “Is she even your type?”

“You’re my type, my love.”

“Oh my god. How are you not exhausted?” Adella just wants to make it with a movie star. And that movie star just wants to make it with Riley; that had been abundantly clear when she’d come nosing around the FUTA sets back in the day. Annette had eventually chased her off. Riley does not understand the relationship between Viv and Annette, but it’s deeply weird. Not that anyone is normal once you get to know them. Being married to Adella has certainly taught Riley that. Adella still stares at Kayla’s tits at holidays. Mary’s too. There is no changing her.

That’s all right. Once dressed, Riley takes her wife’s hand, and they venture out.

Lotte’s in the elevator with Sun; it looks like they’re going out on the town. Riley wouldn’t trade her marriage for anything, but there’s a little pang of envy. This Formula One thing is an adventure, but what would it be like for someone unattached?

She stops those thoughts as they get into the elevator. She already had that period of her life. It’s not that she wants to go back, it’s that she’s afraid to go forward. The next step with Adella is kids. Riley can tell that Adella is no more ready for it than she is. Formula One has given them an excuse to procrastinate.

“What are you smiling about, America?” Adella murmurs as the elevator stars to move.

“Nothing,” Riley says, squeezing her hand.