Chapter 43
Four months later
“ How does it feel to take pole for the last race of the season?”
“Feels good. Especially after the struggles we faced during FP2 yesterday,” he answered. Gripping the railing, he offered a soft smile to Indy. She was evidently destabilised by his gesture, and he enjoyed seeing the power he held over her.
She returned a devastating beam, and he felt his cheeks heat up. Screw that. She always knew how to weaken him. “You’re only two points ahead of Thiago in the drivers’ ranking. Do you feel confident? Think you can be a four-time World Champion?”
He nodded, determined. “I do. The car works well on this track.”
“Are you having flashbacks from 2021?”
He chuckled. “I will definitely have them during the last couple of laps. But you know what, Thiago’s performance was amazing this season. I went up to him this morning to congratulate him. He was consistent all season long and his skills have improved a lot. I’m really impressed.”
“This is very nice of you to say,” Indy pointed out.
Beside him, Ava was holding the recorder, but her smile was as full of pride as Indy’s.
“It’s just the truth.”
“Well, thank you for your time. Good luck for tomorrow’s race.”
“Thank you.” He winked, and as he was ready to turn on his heel, he stopped short. “I forgot to ask. What are your plans for the winter break?”
A laugh bubbled out of Indy’s mouth, its sound akin to his favourite song blasting from a stereo. “We’re still live.”
Miles feigned shock. “My bad. See you, then.”
Walking away with Ava, he simply exhaled happily, and draped an arm around his press officer’s shoulders.
“What’s up with you?” Ava amusedly inquired while typing on her phone.
“I don’t know. Just happy. Life’s good.”
Miles peered behind his shoulder to watch Indy conduct her last interview of the day with Thiago. She threw her head back and laughed, a hand on her stomach, and Miles stopped in his tracks to simply stare at her. Ingrain this image in the back of his mind. With the evening sun streaming down her face, she looked absolutely angelic, and he wondered if she knew that she effortlessly attracted light. If she knew that, when the universe was on the brink of welcoming nightfall, she was still radiant.
Indy, this beautiful woman who’d achieved her goals and inspired others not to be afraid and chase after their dreams.
Indy, this bright person who had held his hand when he was basking in darkness.
Indy, the love of his life, who had guided him towards light—his own personal star.
“Update me,” Miles breathlessly demanded to AJ. “How far am I from Valencia?”
“The gap between you two is eight-thousandths of a second. It looks like Valencia’s front end isn’t as reactive as it was a couple of laps earlier. Especially in corners.”
Interesting. “Okay.”
Miles’ gloved fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he panted, keeping his focus zeroed in on the red car before him. The heat coming off the circuit blending with the high temperature of the engine made beads of sweat cascade down the bridge of his nose and temple, dampening his balaclava.
“My water system is broken,” he indicated as he braked before taking a tight corner.
He was so close to Thiago.
So close to overtaking.
He’d had a good start and led the race for twenty-two laps until he had to pit and change his tyres. With now a fresh set of compounds on, he could reclaim his position and win the race.Especially with a distance so minimal between the two cars, and knowing that his engine was powerful on this track.
“Copy,” AJ responded. “There are thirty-one laps left. Think you can hang in there until the end of the race?”
“I don’t have a choice. It’s fine.”
“Seven-thousandths of a second between you and Valencia. C’mon, baby. DRS is activated.”
The front wing of his car nearly grazed the side pod of the red car as they drove through turn six before twisting into turn seven. The engine roared in his ears when he accelerated, his fingers pushing at the clutch to move gears forward. He pushed at full throttle down the straight line, staying behind Thiago to seek a slipstream. Gaining the extra speed he needed right before the corner, he slipped on the inside, finally overtaking Thiago.
He zipped through the circuit, watching his rival chase after him.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” AJ shouted. “Get us that win.”
Fireworks still exploded in the night sky when he parked the car before the “1” sign. He fell back against his seat, tipping his head back as he shut his eyes all the while sounds of cheers resonated around him. He lifted the visor of his helmet, pressed his fingers to his eyelids, and released an exhale full of relief.
Just because it was the fourth championship he secured under his belt didn’t mean that the feeling of winning wasn’t thrilling anymore. On the contrary, it was sensational and exciting. Phenomenal. Incomparable.
He’d broken another record, and he was proud of himself for doing so.
Savouring this blissful feeling, he laughed, then looked up to see Thiago and Rowan hover above him. They had already taken their helmets off, their grins wide and full of happiness.
When he pulled himself out of the car, he stood on the halo, raising both fists skywards, roars of joy exploding in the crowd. He then stumbled in his friends’ arms, patting their backs.
“You’re fucking incredible,” Rowan told Miles, squeezing his nape.
“You really deserve it,” Thiago said, engulfing him in another embrace.
He winked, swallowing his emotions. “Congrats to you two.”
Charlie hugged him tightly, whispering how proud he was to have Miles as a mentor, a friend, and the brother he never had.
After taking his helmet and balaclava off, he ran into the wall of car mechanics screaming his name, laughing heartily when they lifted him over their heads. All the pats he received on his back were full of delight and pride. This was his team, his family, the people who worked their asses off to build him the perfect car.
Miles pulled AJ in. “Thanks, man.”
AJ smacked his back. “Thank you.”
He was congratulated by Enzo, his team principal, Kamari and Ava who were waiting for their boyfriends, and even Kai, Romeo, and Ezra were there. How the two hockey players had managed to find the time to travel while still in the season was beyond him, but having his friends cheer him on meant the world.
He fell into the arms of his father, the hug lasting longer than the ones before. Henry cupped the back of Miles’ head, a sob racking his chest. “That’s my son! You’re incredible.”
Miles sniffed, firmly gripping his Dad’s shoulder. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, man. Go find Indy. She’s a crying mess.”
He chuckled. “Of course, she is.”
Miles jumped over a barrier, making a beeline for the woman who had been holding his heart in the palm of her hand since the moment they met.
She was standing at the back with Scott, looking all serious and professional, but her rosy cheeks were stained with tears, her eyes still glassy as she followed him with her gaze.
She cast a quick glance to Scott. He nodded, smiling. “Go.”
Indy ran over to him, in her Louboutins and pretty, off-shoulder burgundy dress, falling into his embrace.
When he swept her off her feet, arms around her waist as he made them spin around, it seemed as though the entire world became a blur.
She cradled his damp face, her forehead falling against his as her laughter blended in with his own.
“You did it,” she murmured. “You did it again.”
His chest rumbled with laughter and emotion as he set her down. With the pads of his thumbs, he dried off her face. “How badly did you want to jump and scream and tell me to win?”
“So badly. I couldn’t help but sob when you crossed the line, though. Carmen might have a word with me about that later. You’re worth the trouble.”
Softly, he kissed her, his heart exploding in sync with fireworks. “I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
That was all he could say in this moment. All he could think of.
He just needed to hold her for a while. Needed to anchor himself to her after this stressful race, so he simply tucked her into his chest, aware of the photographers surrounding them. Threading his fingers through her hair, he leaned down, his mouth finding hers in a sealing promise—to always support her the way she continuously showed up for him. Tears blended together, heartbeats syncing, and just like that, everything made complete sense.
“The man that you are,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. Another tear rushed down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb. “Remarkable.”
“And the woman you are… Absolutely breathtaking, amazing, and stellar.”
“Stellar? Are you flirting with me?”
He barked out a laugh, delicately brushing her cheekbone. “Thanks for only noticing now.”
Indy pecked his jaw, then took a step away. “Go do your thing.”
“One last thing.” He caught her hip, needing her as close as he could to murmur the next words into her ear. “Truth or dare, Indigo?”
Emotion swamped her mesmerising gaze. “Dare.”
“I dare you to spend the rest of your life with me.”
Sapphire eyes bore into his, her smile matching his wide one. “Challenge accepted, Golden Boy.”
FIN.