No thanks are necessary. I’m next to Mason—he’s down to do whatever you want to do. Suggestion: Ask him about his mum’s Connectivity messages to him. He LOVES talking about that.
I snicker. Mason’s mother loves to communicate with him via the social media platform Connectivity, so all the world can see her comments. I know Caleb is setting him up here, and I plan to let Mason know it when I talk to him. That would make for some fun content.
I text him back:
I will definitely ask him about his mom’s messages. Any personal favorites of yours I should highlight?
Caleb Collings is typing …
I don’t know how to narrow this down, but if I had to give you my top two, it’s the one where she calls him out for his drunk dancing in a nightclub after he won the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. The other—and sorry, I can’t pinpoint a date—is the one where she told him in all caps to “CALL YOUR MOTHER MASON.”
I begin to laugh. I remember that one. Actually, Sarah Clark has done that one more than once. It’s really funny that she uses Connectivity to get Mason’s attention.
Caleb Collings is typing …
Okay, Catherine is going to set you up with credentials. She’ll text you all the details when they are ready.
I reply:
Thank you so much for this, Caleb. I appreciate it more than you could ever know.
Caleb Collings is typing …
Happy to do it. Oh, and if you do want to slip into the cockpit of an F1 car? Make sure it’s mine. It’s superior to Mason’s.
I grin and text him back:
Then I will check out your ride when I’m there.
Caleb Collings is typing …
All right, I’ve got to go to this sponsor brunch. Catherine will tell you what time to come out to the track. See you in the garage, Isla.
I stare at his message, hardly believing what I’m reading.
See you in the garage, Isla.
Goose bumps ripple my skin as I reread that sentence. But then I quickly put the red flag on that and focus instead on getting home so I can edit this video—and show The Downforce Network the kind of story I can land for them if given the chance.
* * *
I finish up my edits and watch the video of me with Caleb one more time. I’m back at home—due to the fabulous pay of a freelance reporter just out of college, I’m living with my parents in Miami Beach right now—and I’m sitting on my bed, editing my work.
I nearly laugh. If Caleb could see me now, I don’t know how impressed he would be with my living and workplace arrangements.
While my office isn’t exactly professional, my video is. It’s good. I’m not saying that in any egotistical way. I’m saying it because I got Caleb to not only be on camera, but becomfortablein front of it. I smile as I watch it back. Caleb is charming. He showed a fun side that he had kept fiercely under wraps until now.
Until me.
A tingling feeling runs through my stomach again, but I tell myself this is normal. He’s a gorgeous F1 driver who stood up against sexist behavior. Of course my stomach is going to tingle when I look at him. He’s hot. His value system is hot.
I’m reacting like any human with a pulse would react.
I upload my video to the site for The Downforce Network, then shoot my assignment editor a quick email, telling him it’s in the drive, and Caleb Collings is my host for the motorhome tour. I read it carefully for typos and clarity, and then I hit send.
I put my phone aside and flop back onto my pillows.
DID THIS DAY REALLY HAPPEN?