Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
?? SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND
“ O kay, you’ve got this, mate.”
“Can you stop the sweet talk when I’m driving?” Rowan grumbled. “Update me on the situation instead.”
“Understood,” Jamie answered. “The safety car is going in on the next lap. Nineteen laps to go afterwards.”
“Awesome. Let the fun begin.”
The British Grand Prix was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of Rowan’s favourite races on the calendar. Not only was it Primavera Racing’s home Grand Prix, but also because the circuit’s layout was thrilling, being one of the fastest tracks. Besides, races were always filled with exhilarating moments.
He had started on pole, but the race was red-flagged during the first lap when an incident at the end of the grid occurred. Several cars had been involved in the collision, and one driver had been sent flying violently into a barrier.
Fights after fights with Huxley as the latter kept trying to overtake him, Rowan had to pit during lap seventeen when he had made contact with his rival, causing a puncture on his front right tyre.
Miles had been leading ever since the incident, but Rowan wouldn’t let him win. This victory would be his, and no one else’s.
Last week, he finished P2 in Austria. So far, he was having an amazing weekend and was intent on standing on the highest step of the podium today.
Pushing on the brake when he got too close to the Imperium Racing car, Rowan zig-zagged to keep his tyres warm. He watched sparks fly behind his rear wing as the car dragged on the asphalt, desperate to claim his win once the green flag was waved in the air to replace the yellow one.
Then, the safety car went into the pit lane, leaving the circuit to the drivers to finish the race.
Rowan accelerated at the same moment Miles did, going flat-out before braking late before the corner, attempting to overtake on the outside. Miles’ car was quicker and swifter in turns, so Rowan didn’t manage to take the lead back.
Two laps later, Rowan started chasing Miles down the long straight. Coming wheel to wheel, he pushed his rival slightly out on the pebble, making a move on the exterior of the turn and staying ahead.
Rowan was back at the front, and he would fight to stay there.
As he raced in a corner before pushing on the throttle to escape the queue of cars lining up behind him, Rowan glanced in his rear-view mirror to watch Thiago trying to go around the outside of Miles Huxley, but he went off the track in the process.
“Come on, Tito,” Rowan muttered. “Let’s make this a 1-2.”
Slipping off the track limits, Rowan went into the grass, yet managed to stay out front when he fell back on the circuit.
“Twelve laps to go,” Jamie announced on the radio.
Though Rowan had speed, great tyre management, and complete control of the strategy, he wasn’t sure if he could hold Miles Huxley off for too long. Imperium Racing was too fast. Too good. But Rowan loved a good challenge.
It appeared like there was a problem with the Imperium car as Huxley’s pace shifted drastically. With the sun beating down on Rowan, he felt his suit clammed with sweat sticking to his body, his chest heaving as he took a tight corner.
Managing to catch a glimpse through his rear-view mirror of Miles slowing down and allowing Thiago to overtake, he felt a surge of pride wash over him.
“Get him, baby,” Rowan praised, grinning under his balaclava as he took Beckett’s corner.“That’s what I’m talking about.”
There were only five laps left when another yellow flag was brandished.
“What happened?” Rowan groaned in slight annoyance as he hit a button on his steering wheel to set his pace at ninety kilometres per hour.
“A McMillan stopped on the track in sector three. He can’t take corners.”
“Ah.”
Once again, not surprising.
“Keep delta positive.”
“Yup.”
It took two laps before the green flag was brandished again.
When Rowan sped up, he observed his teammate trying to put as much distance as he could between him and Miles. So, Rowan decided to help by slowing down.
“I’m going to give Tito DRS as soon as it’s available.”
“Good job,” Jamie praised. “Great teamwork.”
Rowan scoffed. “Look at me doing the strategist’s work again.”
“You and your massive ego will kill me one day.”
Rowan only chuckled at his race engineer’s remark.
Anticipation thrummed through his system as he led the race lap after lap, keeping his teammate on his tail in order to secure a double podium.
His fast car roared through the track, leaving sizzling sparks in its wake.
The high temperature coming off the circuit blended with the July heat caused his breathing to stagger, beads of perspiration falling down the bridge of his nose.
He didn’t lose focus in the high-speed corners. Aimed the apex of the corner with millimetric precision. Handled the vehicle easily.
The moment Jamie announced it was the last lap, Rowan pushed at full throttle and fled through the entire circuit flat-out, causing his tyres to degrade rapidly. He didn’t care though, because he had just done the fastest lap time, and had won the British Grand Prix.
Rowan grinned broadly as he brandished the trophy high in the air, listening to the overjoyed screams and delighted cheers coming from below.
When he glanced down, all he could see was a sea of red—mechanics, engineers, fans—praising him and Thiago, chanting their names.
And through that mass of people, he managed to find Avery. Standing there, a beautiful smile on her lips as she looked up at him as though he was a shooting star. No matter where he was, no matter what surrounded him, he could always find her like she was the missing piece that completed his puzzle.
He winked down at her, and she winked back.
Not a single call from his father, not even a mere text. Rowan was used to this. He felt so numb that he didn’t feel a single shred of pain now.
He was done pleasing his father. Done pushing himself to his limits to be validated. Done hurting himself just to be neglected like he’d been his entire life. If even winning didn’t mean a single thing to his father, then he needed to focus on the people who were there for him.
Regardless of his destructive thoughts, the message he had received from Avery’s father brought a grin to his lips.
Andrew Maddox
Thank you so much for inviting us to this weekend. It was awesome! Massive congrats on your win.
Hit me up when you’re free to grab a beer or something. If that’s cool with you of course
I’m so happy my daughter found a persevering man like you.
Cheers!
Feeling a warm sensation dancing inside his chest and setting his entire body to cracking embers, he lifted his gaze to look at Avery who was waiting for him to finish dressing up, scrolling through her phone and chuckling on rare occasions.
“You look handsome in this photo.” She showed him the screen that displayed a shot of him standing on the podium, racing boot in hand, grinning a moment before drinking the champagne from his shoe.
“Hope you’ll have it printed.”
“To hang it above my bed?”
He hummed. “There’s an idea.”
She feigned disgust by scrunching her nose, and returned her attention to her phone. “I’m alright. I’d rather not see your annoying face first thing when I wake up.”
“That’s a shame,” he chided. “I’m sure my prettiness has the same effect as a ray of sunshine.”
She chuckled. “You wish.”
She was so captivating. So beautiful.
And he was on the brink of making the biggest mistake of his life.
“Avery,” he breathed out shakily, standing up.
They needed to head out for post-race interviews, but he just needed one more moment with her—one last moment. Away from the entire world. Away from cameras and prying eyes.
Her gaze collided with his, and he felt his knees threatening to give up on him just at the sight of her doe eyes. “Everything okay?”she asked.
“Come here, baby.”
The instant he winded his arms around her body, aligning their drumming heartbeats in perfect harmony, he sighed in relief.
No matter how tightly she held him, no matter how hard she clung to him like her life depended on him, Rowan still doubted he was good enough for her.
The questions never stopped ricocheting against every corner of his mind. Never ceased being loud and driving his thoughts into a frenzy. Sometimes, he couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t focus—paralysed by fear.
“I’m really proud of you,” she whispered in his ear. The murmur dug a hole in his chest, expanding and widening until his entire body ached.
He felt a lump make its appearance slowly, agonisingly, in the back of his throat. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the stinging sensation flooding his waterline.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “For everything.”
With her ear pressed to his chest, he wondered if Avery was able to sense his sudden dismay. “Are you okay? Your heart is beating so fast.”
“I’m grand,” he lied. “Still coming down from today’s high.”
She was silent for a moment, tightening her hold around his waist. “Okay. We need to go.”
He let her go with a heavy heart, but just as she was about to open the door, he grabbed her elbow and made her turn around. Slanting his mouth on hers for a slow, passionate kiss, he swallowed her gasp and let his tongue brush hers, sealing himself to Avery by this invisible cord tying them together.
The tip of his nose grazed against hers when they pulled away. “Avery…”
“Yes?” She flicked her gaze between his. Rowan was on the cusp of breaking to pieces.
He memorised the precise brown of her irises, frowning. Who knew this particular shade had become his favourite colour? “Nothing. I just…”
“It’s okay,” she murmured, smiling softly. “Take your time. We can talk later.”
But Rowan wasn’t sure if eternity was enough time. He was confused, scared of the strong sentiments he felt for her. Part of him wanted her for every lifetime he’d be granted to experience, but that sombre part was still convinced she deserved better. Deserved someone who had the courage to shout and profess his love from rooftops, deserved someone who could easily give her the love she merited without any term or condition.
For the first time in his existence, Rowan wasn’t sure whether to listen to his heart or his head. Teeter towards happiness or destroy himself by letting her go.