“So you see, I really have no choice. If I don’t do this and earn enough money, I’ll be forced to put him back into public school. I can’t do that Dr. Wilcox. I won’t.”

Dr. Wilcox paused after I finished, considering what he’d say.

“Well, Ava, in all candor, I can’t say I’m surprised in the least. The fact that you go to such lengths to sacrifice for your nephew speaks volumes about your character.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say.”

“It’s the truth,” he added. “And, considering the closeness of your relationship, I’m sure the decision to leave him has also not been an easy one.”

I shook my head and pinched my lower lip between my teeth for a moment. “No, it hasn’t been. However, my roommate, Jillian, offered to take care of him.”

Dr. Wilcox smiled again. “Another blessing. It appears as though the universe wants you to take this opportunity. Doesn’t it?”

I nodded and folded my hands in my lap. Only one last thing bothered me about going on the road with the team. I worried about how it might change my relationship with my coworkers. Sensing that this might be my only opportunity to discuss it, I decided to bring it up to Dr. Wilcox.

But before I could say a word, he looked at me, narrowing his eyes in doubt. “Is there… something else you want to tell me, Ava?”

I swallowed and adjusted my position in my seat. “Yes. There is.”

“Please.”

“Well it’s just, it’s the other girls.”

Dr. Wilcox frowned. “What about them?”

“I don’t want them to be upset with me for leaving like this. We all have such a great working relationship that I don’t want to do anything to screw it up.”

A warm smile spread across his face.

“Ava, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Listen to me. You are a very special person and opportunities like this don’t come along often. You have my word I won’t allow your choice to travel with the team, if that is indeed what you choose to do, affect your role here. As soon as you come back, your old position will be waiting for you. Okay?”

I smiled at him in return. “Thank you for that, Dr. Wilcox. You have no idea how much better that makes me feel.”

“Excellent, I’m glad to hear it.”

With that, he pressed his palms flat on the surface of his desk and eased himself out of his chair. I stood at the same time. He walked around his desk towards me and extended his hand in my direction.

“I’m assuming that congratulations are in order?”

I nodded, smiling as he drew close.

“Thank you, yes.” Before raising my hand to meet his, I paused. “Could I have a hug instead?”

Dr. Wilcox chuckled. “Of course.”

Later that afternoon, I got in my car after work and pulled out my cell phone from my purse.

I dialed Dieter’s number.

He answered.

AVA

It had been more than two weeks since I’d left Austin and followed the tour to its next stop in Miami.

At first, I enjoyed the excitement of going somewhere different and being part of something unique. However, it wasn’t long before I began to realize that the day- to-day things that went on with the team rarely required my involvement.

I wasn’t discouraged from visiting with the team while they were testing and working on the cars, getting ready for qualifying and later, race day. But after spending some time around them the first week we arrived, I felt more like I was in the way than anything else.

To make matters worse, I missed Simon.

Even though I believed I’d prepared myself to be away from him, the truth was I hadn’t. I called home every day to talk to him. Still, I felt worse and worse about what I’d done. Not only leaving him, but dumping the responsibility for taking care of him on my best friend. During one particular call from my hotel room, I asked him to put Jillian on the phone.

“Hey,” she said, taking the phone from Simon. “How’s everything going? Are you having a great time in Miami? What’s it like?”

I scoffed. “No, far from it.”

“Oh no, has something happened? What did Dyson do?”

I exhaled and laid down on top of my bed. “He didn’t do anything.”

“Okay, if you’re not upset with him, what’s wrong?”

I felt ashamed to admit what was really on my mind. I hesitated. Jillian stepped in, filling the silence once again.

“Whatever it is, Ava, you can tell me.”

I swallowed hard, exhaling while I confessed. “I-I think I’m homesick.”

Jillian giggled at me for a few seconds.

“Uh, why are you laughing?” I groaned. “It’s not funny.”

She quieted down. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to. It’s just that you telling me you’re homesick was the last thing I expected to hear from you. You’ve always wanted to travel and see the world. It just seemed funny to me.”

“I do. But, they don’t need me here. I mean, yeah, every once in a while I have to go to the track during testing, but otherwise I’m all by myself.”

Jillian listened to me in silence for a moment.

“What can I do to help you feel better, Ava?”

I felt so pathetic. With the phone pressed against my ear, I rolled my head to one side and exhaled.

“Nothing… I’ll be fine. I just… I miss you both so much.”

“Awww,” Jillian began, clearly choking back some emotion in her voice. “Don’t do that. I’m going to get upset.”

Just hearing her say those words triggered me as well. I sensed a sudden rush of heat come to my eyes but before the tears could start to flow, I sat up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even brought this up.”

Jillian sniffled and after a hard swallow, she said, “Don’t. I know how important all of this is to you and Simon.”

I swiped at my eyes with the back of my palm. “Everything is going to be fine. I’ll be okay.”

“I should be the one telling you that! I don’t mean to be such a hot mess over here.”

Just then, I stood from the mattress and began to walk around my hotel room, eventually making my way towards its only window.

“Ava, are you still there?”

I couldn’t even see the ocean from the window.

“Mmm hmm,” I began, glancing up towards the puffy white clouds overhead. “I think I’m going to take a drive down to the beach. Believe it or not I still haven’t been there.”

“That sounds like a good idea to me.” Jillian said. “And you know you can call anytime, right? I promise I don’t mind.”

“Yeah, I know,” I began. “But I’ve got to get out of this funk I’m in. I’ve still got a couple of months ahead of me, and at the rate I’m going, I’m never going to make it.”

Jillian exhaled a sympathetic breath. “You’ll be fine, Ava. If anybody can handle this, it’s you.”

I thanked her, and then a few seconds later we said our goodbyes and hung up. Soon after, I grabbed my purse and headed out of the hotel to get in my car and drive to the beach.

It was midafternoon by the time I reached the lobby. Walking across it, I happened to glance in the direction of the bar. Dyson and Marco were in there with a few of their mechanics and the team manager, Darren.

From the looks of things, they were kicking back and having a good time together. I stood there for a few seconds looking at them and wishing I could join in on the fun. But it was clear that my role on the team meant I didn’t get included in such things.

Repositioning the strap of my purse across my shoulder, I turned to continue out of the hotel. But just as I did, Dyson looked straight at me. He nodded and smiled. It was the first time I’d seen him away from the track since we arrived in Miami.

I didn’t return his gesture, but instead continued to walk away.

DYSON

With qualifying fast approaching, I’d been putting all my effort into race prep. After finishing second in Austin, I liked my chances. Gunter was running well, but I loved the layout of the course and figured if we could get the setup right on the car, I had a great chance to win.