And that test is coming in the form of the Austrian Grand Prix in two weeks.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I call Caleb as soon as I’m safely inside my apartment. His face pops up immediately on my screen, and I can’t help but giggle.
“Were you anxiously waiting for my call?” I ask as I sink onto the sofa.
“Yes,” he says seriously. “What did they say?”
“I think I want to start with what I said first.”
“Okay. What did you say?”
“I laid out my case. What I want for my career, how I didn’t date you in exchange for content or accessibility—although I know bored keyboarders will run with that theory.”
He scowls.
I wish I were there to kiss that scowl away.
“I told them what I bring to the network, how I’m not gaining access to be able to break big stories—that’s not how I built my platform. It’s by talking about the fun and interesting things.”
“Exactly. So what happened?” Caleb asks, and I can tell he’s anxious to hear the decision.
“I’m not done yet.” Nervousness swirls in my stomach, but I want him to hear the words I said today. “I told them I was not the kind of person who would break the unwritten rules. Never. But that all changed because of the kind of man you are. I told them what I was looking for in a man. How you supported me. Made me laugh. You’ve helped me grow as a person. I said ithad nothing to do with you being a driver, but everything to do with who you are as a person. And I would risk everything for a chance to be with you.”
His expression goes completely soft. Gone is the anxiety. It’s been replaced by something else, something that makes my heart skip a beat, something wonderful and new in his eyes. I force myself to not be distracted by dissecting that look and continue.
“Michael pointed out there are other ways for me to report on motorsport,” I tell Caleb. “Like rally or MotoGP.”
A curse escapes his lips. “That is bull—”
“But he said he doesn’t intend to reassign me,” I interrupt.
“He … doesn’t?”
I smile. “No. I’m staying on F1.”
Caleb doesn’t respond right away. In fact, he looks shocked. “You are?” he finally says.
I nod. “I am! I understand this limits the type of reporting I can do, but it aligns with the brand I’m already building. So I’m still on F1.”
“Isla, you scared me!” Caleb begins to laugh. He rakes a hand through his hair. “With the way you were talking, I thought you were going somewhere else!”
“Nope!” I tell him happily. “You’re stuck with me. Round after round.”
“I’m so damn proud of you. My girl has balls,” he declares.
I laugh at that. “Thank you.” Then I grow serious. “But we’re still taking baby steps with this. I’m not reading comments on my accounts. I’ll post my content and move on. We’ll go out, but no obvious PDA. The speculation can start, they can say I’m sleeping with you to get stories, your out-of-control fans can come after me, and then we can all move on.”
“My out-of-control fans?” Caleb asks, his black brows drawing together in confusion.
“You’re going to have some who are very upset you have a girlfriend.”
Dawning lights in his eyes. “Right. People who have never met me.”
“Right? Like these people don’t even know your flaws that might be a complete turn-off!”
“What?” he asks, chuckling.