Morning, Owl. I hate when you leave the nest. This bed feels lonely now. But I do have sheets again, so that’s something, I guess.
I grin. I’m notorious for rolling up sheets around me like a cocoon when I sleep, and Caleb has now experienced this first-hand.
Aw, I miss your big luxurious bed with you in it, Roo. I’m out on a walk. Just filmed some more content about Montreal. Oh, and I have a meeting scheduled with the network next Wednesday to discuss my future.
Caleb Collings is typing …
Are you okay? Do you need to talk? Do you want me to go with you?
Swoon. I love how much this man cares for me.
I text him my reply:
It means everything to me that you want to be there with me. Thank you. But this is my career. My choices. I’ve got to be the one to handle it. I will represent myself, provide a case for why they should keep me, and then see what they want to do.
Caleb replies, but this time, it’s a selfie of him with his famous scowl, and I burst out laughing right on the sidewalk.
I respond:
I love your scowl face.
Another message drops in:
My offer stands if you change your mind. I’m going to be in Monaco at the beginning of the week, but I’ll return to England early for this meeting. Just let me know, okay?
I text him that I will and tell him I’m headed to my hotel for breakfast. We agree to talk later, and I take a leisurely stroll back. It’s interesting—F2 doesn’t run in Montreal, so I don’t have a grid walk or anything to do for them this weekend. I have my tire feature and Xavier, and the rest of the weekend I’m free.
Buzz!
I flip my phone over and see I have a text from Catherine. We text each other quite a bit, and I love this friendship growing between us. I tap open her message to read it:
Caleb told me The Downforce Network knows. Are you okay?
I reply:
I kind of have a sick feeling in my stomach, but at least it’s done. I’m focusing on my work this weekend.
Catherine Collings is typing …
Are you planning to come to the garage this weekend?
I think about this. Yes, I’ve informed the network that I’m dating Caleb, but I don’t feel it’s appropriate to put it out for public view until I’ve had this meeting with them. I tell her I’m going to watch practices, qualifying, and the race from the media center. She says if I change my mind I can hang out with her, which I appreciate.
And it’s something I’ll definitely do in the future. But for now?
I live in the present. I have an interview to prepare for.
And I can’t wait to see how the bad boy of the track handles my irreverent questions this afternoon.
* * *
The setup for the Montreal Grand Prix is so unique that I can’t help but do a video about it for my social media channels as I make my way to the paddock for my interview with Xavier.
“Welcome to the Montreal Grand Prix,” I say, filming myself as I walk. “The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is actually on Notre-Dame Island—a man-made island in the Saint Lawrence River. The track here is tough. It has challenging chicanes, a hairpin curve, two long straights—and of course, groundhogs.”
I plan to ask Xavier about the groundhogs, which have been known to make their way onto the track while the cars are on it. I talk a little bit more about the circuit, the history of it and how it’s a great track for overtakes, and then I turn my phone off. I’ll edit that together and put it up this evening.
I pass through security with my credential and walk into the paddock. The Hoffman motorhome is not far from Collings Motors, and it’s so weird knowing Caleb is over there doing his job while I’m over here doing mine.