Chapter 39
BARCELONA, SPAIN
I t had rained the entire day, and Miles was certain they’d delay the race start with how wet the track was. Fortunately, everything went according to plan, and the formation lap had started at three p.m. on the dot.
Miles loved wet races for the sole reason they were always chaotic. Exhilarating. Unpredictable.
Back on the grid after getting his engine and tyres warm, he quickly glanced at Rowan who was starting on pole.
“How wet is the track?” AJ asked while the other cars lined up in the respective starting position.
Miles hated it when AJ talked to him seconds before the race start. Still, he answered, “Like a goddamn pool.”
“Maybe we should’ve put wet tyres on.”
“No. Intermediates are fine. The track is going to dry out in a couple of laps.”
“Understood.”
Miles flexed his fingers around the steering wheel, his foot hovering above the gas pedal. His stare was zeroed in on the five horizontal lights, his breath catching when the first one lit up. When all five of them went out, he pushed on the throttle and roared off the track.
Rivulets of water were being sprayed towards him as he followed Rowan’s trajectory. Good thing he knew the circuit’s shape by heart. This track was one of Miles’ favourites—a track filled with high and low-speed corners, a long, straight line at the start to push at full throttle, and a corner in turn three where he knew his car had a great balance to favour overtaking.
“I can’t see shit,” he told AJ. “I can’t even imagine how it is at the end of the grid.”
Just as he said those words, a yellow flag was brandished in the air.
“We can barely see anything on the monitor, either.”
“What happened back there?”
“Just a little collision, but it’s all good now. Green flag. You’re a second away from Emerson. Catch him.”
Ten laps later, the track had finally dried out. Despite always racing less than a second away from Rowan, Miles hadn’t been able to find a gap to overtake and was waiting for DRS to be enabled.
“No rain for the next fifteen minutes,” AJ announced. “McMillans are about to do a double stack to put slicks on.”
Miles frowned and hit the left paddle to downshift as he took turn fourteen. He then sped up through the straight line, staying lined up behind Rowan to seek a slipstream to gain extra speed. Rowan slipped away after the first turn, and Miles continued to follow his trajectory and the dry line.
“Risky, but okay. Is it supposed to downpour or just drizzle?”
“Heavy rain.”
“Then we’re keeping inters on.”
“You sure?”
“I’m the one driving the car. Let me do my thing.”
It took twenty-two laps for DRS to be enabled. By staying lined up behind the race leader, Miles had managed to gain extra speed. He was less than a second away from Rowan, and in the DRS zone, he hit the button that made the upper part of his rear wing flap open, and his top speed was finally increased.
He overtook Rowan on the inside of turn three whilst the latter locked up and slightly drifted off the track limits before regaining composure and chasing Miles down the circuit.
“Yes, baby!” AJ shouted, excitement blending into his tone. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
There was a yellow flag on lap forty-one, right after the rain had stopped pouring. Heavy rain was actually drizzle, and Miles had pitted to put another set of intermediate compounds on. He was still leading the race.
“This race is chaotic. So many yellow flags.”
Miles had predicted it—the thrill this Grand Prix would bring him. Despite loving a wet race, he still prayed no one would get injured. He’d witnessed too many accidents in the past whilst driving in the rain.
“Yeah, but it’s Charlie this time, so…”
Panic flared inside his chest. “What happened?”
“Bauer spun around, taking Charlie with him. Front wing damaged. There’s debris on the track, so the safety car is arriving. It was inevitable for Charlie, so he’s out. But he’s okay.”
“Damn it, Charlie.”
Twenty-five laps later, Miles was zipping through the track, flat out. His suit was damp with both perspiration and rain, his breathing staggered.
“Last lap,” AJ announced. “You can set the fastest lap time.”
If he did, he’d gain an extra point. “Damn right, I will.”
A little over a minute later, Miles passed the chequered flag, claiming the win after a challenging race.
“Mega race,” AJ said cheerily. “Nice fight with the guys.”
He waved to the full grandstands, then gave a thumbs-up to Rowan and Thiago who drove past him. “Yeah. It was fun. Every GP should be like this.”
“Agreed.”
When his car was parked, his engine turned off, and his steering wheel plucked out, Miles pulled himself out of the car and stood on the halo, pumping both fists in the air. He ran towards his pit-crew, his car mechanics, and his dad who were all chanting his name behind barriers. Jumping into their arms, he accepted the congratulatory pats and laughed.
He embraced both Rowan and Thiago, then unbuckled his helmet and tore off his balaclava. Passing his fingers through his hair, he sighed in contentment and searched the crowd. He spotted Indy in a heartbeat—his agonising heart finding its other half, the desperation to be complete fading away as he was met with sapphire eyes—then rushed towards her despite Ava telling him he needed to head into the cool-down room.
The trophy didn’t matter at that moment. The post-race interview he needed to attend didn’t matter. All he could see was Indy beaming at him from where she stood. He knew that she was working, knew he shouldn’t make a beeline for her like this, but he couldn’t help himself.
He swept her off the ground, one hand wrapped around her waist, then kissed her.
“What are you doing?” She laughed, her wide eyes staring at him.
He put her down, leaving a lingering caress on her hip. He was aware of the world’s attention set on them, of the cheers that had erupted in the crowd, and that Ava was about to scold him, but he didn’t care. He simply grinned, marched backwards, and winked. “Just saying hi to my girl.”
“Stop looking at me like that,” he muttered to Ava as he walked out of his room with her on his heels.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Your little smile. Why are you smiling like that?”
A laugh bubbled out of her mouth, and they stepped outside of the motorhome. Miles was exhausted from the weekend, but he knew that his friends were about to head out to celebrate, so he decided that instead of being anti-social, he’d accompany them.
“I like seeing you happy,” Ava confessed softly.
“Because I won?”
She glowered at him. “Miles. I’ve always liked your passion for racing, and you’ve worked so hard to get where you are today. But you know I’m talking about you and Indy. You just look so…carefree. Relieved. I love this for you.”
He wrapped an arm around Ava’s shoulders, pulling her in. “Thanks, Ave. It means a lot.”
Her big, brown eyes stared up at him, glinting with emotions. “You deserve to be happy.”
God, how far they’d come—the both of them. Ava had seen his bad days like the good ones. Had always cheered him on, no matter what. Even when they had distanced themselves from one another when she’d worked for Primavera Racing during a couple of years.
“So do you. Rowan, he treats you well?”
Her smile grew at the mention of her boyfriend. “Like a queen. Why? You’re going to threaten to kill him if he hurts me?”
“Yeah,” he said seriously. “You’re like my sister. No one harms you.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “Men.” She hugged him tightly. “You’re insufferable.”
He kissed the crown of her head, chuckling. “Love you, too. “
“Besides, your behaviour with the media has really improved. Sure, your answers are still short and cold, but you’re more open in a way. You’ve attended more events than ever this season, and you’ve participated in a lot of activities for PR. I’m really proud of you.”
Before he could express yet again his gratitude towards her, Rowan came running over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and planting his chin atop her head. “Why are we being sappy?”
Miles exchanged a glance with Ava, and smiled.
When Indy reached them, she looked up at Miles. The adoration and longing in her eyes couldn’t be mistaken, and he just loved that look she only kept for him. Loved the way her features brightened when one of her colleagues called out her name to say goodbye. Loved the way she hooked her arm under Ava’s to pull her towards the paddock’s exit. Loved her laugh as it boomed. Loved the way she stopped, letting Ava join Rowan, and turned around with her palm extended towards him—like an invitation to spend an eternity together.
He loved her.
He loved her.
He loved her, and it was about time he let her know.
“All good?” she asked.
He kissed her temple. “All perfect.”