Epilogue - Theo
The final race of the American Tour, and I was experiencing a sense of deja vu.
I was a point behind Sebastian overall, but this race, I’d qualified in first. As I wandered the paddock, shaking hands with celebrities and getting pictures with fans, I couldn’t help but marvel at how easy our relationship and rivalry had been to juggle.
I loved Sebastian, and he loved me. Everything else was secondary.
Except for today. In Vegas, the final race of the season, the title race came first.
I spotted Sebastian in conversation with Albert Stevenson, so I hung back out of the way until Albert had spotted and ambushed some poor C-list celebrity.
As soon as I saw my chance, I pounced, pulling Sebastian out of the throng.
I walked him down a corridor towards the back of the media centre, where no one was likely to see or hear us.
It was dark in the corridor, and I didn’t bother to reach for a light switch.
“Have I told you how much red, white and blue suits you?” I asked, leaning in toward him for a quick, chaste kiss.
“Every week for the last three months,” Sebastian grinned.
“Oh right, I guess I have,” I said. I trailed a finger down the zipper of his overalls. “Better out of them, though.”
“Are you trying to distract me before the race, Teodoro?” asked Sebastian.
“No. Is it working?”
Sebastian growled and leaned in for a kiss that was definitely less chaste. He glanced around us before nipping at my neck, catching skin between his teeth in the way he knew I liked. “Two can play at that game, mi amorcito.”
“Bastard,” I mumbled. I tried to subtly adjust my cock so that it wouldn’t be visible when we re-emerged out into the crowds. But palming it in Sebastian’s presence wasn’t likely to help it go down either. “I hate you.”
“I love you,” Sebastian replied. “And I was thinking…”
He was rudely interrupted by the presence of Frankie Jenkins, who barrelled past us and into the corridor without spotting us. “You need to stop worrying so much!” he shouted,
"Your safety is the most important thing to me," said his bodyguard as he followed close behind. He was a big, hulking bastard whose name constantly eluded me. He had been following Frankie around for the whole season.
"And racing is the most important thing to me, so just drop it, OK?"
Frankie's bodyguard reached for him, and it was almost tender, the way he rested one hand on his shoulder. "I need you safe, Frankie,” he said. "for me, for..."
"Don't you dare say 'us'," replied Frankie. "Not after-"
Sebastian cleared his throat, and both Frankie and his bodyguard looked right at us. His bodyguard immediately and seemingly instinctively moved Frankie behind him, like we were some kind of threat. Frankie reached out toward his hand, then caught my eye and dropped it.
"For fuck's..." Frankie started, then tailed off. "Sorry. Didn’t mean to bother you both. I’ll see you both on track.”
He walked past us and out of the room. His bodyguard sighed. “Can you…you know what? Don’t worry. I’ll fix it.” And then he followed Frankie out of the space, back toward the track.
"I am worried about him," Sebastian confessed. "He's been getting threats all season. But like the rest of us, racing is the most important thing to him. He won’t stop, no matter the danger.”
"The most important thing, huh?" I asked, snaking my arms around his neck.
"I'll remember that in future." It was weird how Sebastian and Frankie had become closer since Sebastian left Remini. Where they’d once been at loggerheads, Frankie had been coming to Sebastian more for advice throughout the American Tour.
"Second, then. But racing was the most important thing to me until you stole my heart, mi carino,” said Sebastian.
"You smooth talking Spaniard," I said. "So what was the let you were thinking of?"
"Well, when in Vegas,” said Sebastian with a grin. "Your family is here, as are all our friends. If I win..." he paused for dramatic effect, "I want to marry you."
My heart was beating so hard in my chest I thought I might faint. “Fine. But I have my own bet in mind."
“Fine?!" said Sebastian, his face incredulous. "I ask you to marry me and your only response is "Fine?”
I put one finger over his lips to cut him off. "If I win, I want to marry you. That's my bet."
"So if you win... marriage. And if I win…marriage," said Sebastian.
"Deal?" I asked, taking a step back from him and holding out a hand to shake.
"You idiot," said Sebastian. He pulled me back to him and kissed me for so long I thought I might faint from lack of oxygen. He finally let me come up for air. "I am looking at the future senor Garcia-Tyler,”
"Mr Tyler-Garcia, surely," I replied.
"If you win, I will let you choose," said Sebastian.
That was the thing about our bets. It didn't really matter what was at stake, we would both be trying our damn hardest to win.
We walked hand-in-hand out to the paddock again, only to be corralled by Albert Stevenson like he’d been waiting for us. “Our two favourite rivals! Have you got any words for the fans back home?”
“Only that I hope they’re enjoying the racing,” I said. I didn’t let go of Sebastian’s hand, we were way past that. “And that I hope to take home the season championship tonight.”
“So sweet, delusional,” replied Sebastian as he leaned in toward the microphone. “But we shall see if little Theo has the mettle.”
Albert grinned. “Viewership this season has been through the roof since you two became an official item, and media speculation on your future has been huge. Have you considered tying the knot? Might we all be invited to one big Moto 1 wedding?”
I adjusted my cap, totally unsure of how to respond. Did Albert have secret microphones stashed everywhere?
Thankfully, Sebastian was much more in control. “We will see, Albert, Right now, my main focus is on winning the race. Who knows what the off-season will bring? Maybe I’ll be too busy with an extension for my trophy cabinet.”
I ducked my head with laughter. I loved my silly, clever man.
And that was the thing. I wanted to win. Sebastian wanted to win just as much, but when it came down to it, we already had. We had money, fame, glory on the race track. Legions of adoring fans and a beautiful farmhouse to escape to when it all got too much.
But most of all, we had each other. And that was the biggest win in the world.
A note from Matt…
Thanks so much for reading Betting on the Chase!