31. Winner Takes All
Winner Takes All
Elio
I’m flying down the track. It’s like I’m one with the car as it edges me closer to the front of the pack.
I know I can win this race. It’s going to be tough, but I’ve beaten these odds before.
Sure, not on a wet track, and certainly not in Monaco, but it’s not impossible.
I just have to give it everything. I’ve already passed five cars. I’m halfway there.
“Pace is decent,” Nick says in my ear. “Rogers, one-point-seven ahead.”
“Copy.”
I push down har der on the pedal, trying to make up more ground. The car vibrates with the exertion, but I know it can take it. P5 is not going to cut it for me. Nothing but P1. I drift a little at the tunnel exit, but I can’t box now. Not until I’m in the podium places, at least.
Rogers is right in front of me, and I hammer down on the next straight, braking at the last possible second. I almost don’t make the corner, but I barely catch it, and I cut him off on the inside line.
“Good job,” Nick says in my ear. “How are the tires?”
“They feel fine. I can keep going.”
“Copy.”
If I’m being honest, they are starting to wear out, but I know I can squeeze in a few more laps. This is when a driver’s skills really come into play.
“We now have Jork, two-point-one ahead, but you’re outpacing him. Just keep going.”
“Who’s in first?” I demand.
“Andersen is first.”
Good for him, but I’m not letting him snag the title.
There are no friendships on the track. I push harder, braking a little too late on a couple of corners, the G-forces making my stomach lurch.
But it’s not the same excitement or adrenaline that used to get my blood pumping. It’s more like apprehension.
What if I don’t brake in time, and I hit the barriers at full speed?
These aren’t even the crash barriers made of tires.
They’re actual walls, since it’s a street circuit.
Would I die if I hit one? To say I’ve never asked m yself this question would be a lie, but for the first time, I care about whether I live or die, and the danger doesn’t fuel the adrenaline junkie in me.
“Elio, you’re slowing down. Make sure you keep that pace if you want to catch Jork.”
I grit my teeth. “Copy.”
I frown, forcing myself back into focus as I go full throttle again.
The world becomes a blur. The track limits, the buildings.
But then, Lucy’s face appears in front of me.
Her words of confidence, her kiss in the garage.
That meant everything to me, but I could see the worry in her eyes, feel it in her kiss, and I hate doing that to her.
My heart tightens so much, I feel my chest is going to explode into thousands of pieces.
I try to chase the image from my mind, gripping the wheel tight.
“Okay, Elio. DRS activated. Overtake available.”
We’re on a straight line, and Jork is right ahead of me. He’s pushing hard, seeing me in his rear-view mirror, but I know everyone is counting on me to overtake him. The space is tight, barely enough for two cars, but I should be able to make it. As long as he doesn’t block me.
I press hard, not giving him any breathing room, and he defends aggressively, blocking me. I fall back a little to rethink my plan. If I can’t overtake from the inside, I’ll pass him from the outside. Does he really think he can keep me behind him? Does he not know me at all?
Now, I’m pissed off, and there ’s no way I’m letting him keep that P4 position. I accelerate hard, sneaking into the tight space between his car and the wall. I hold my breath, hoping my car will pass, and it does.
“Woop!” I exclaim.
“Okay. That was close, Elio. Tires are showing signs of degradation. Box this lap.”
“No, I’m good for a couple more. Not feeling any loss of grip.”
“All of the sensors are in the red. Box, please.
I clench my jaw. “I’m good.”
I can sense Nick’s frustration, but I also know he won’t argue while I’m driving. In the end, I’m the one who decides if I want to box or not.
I know I should, but I’m so close to P3 now. I can’t give up.
“What’s the gap?” I ask.
“Three-point-two to Murray.”
I steady my breathing. “Got it.”
I push myself and the car to the limit, bringing the gap to only one second between me and Alec.
I accelerate on the last corner before whizzing past the pit lane, showing them I have no intention of pitting.
The crew must be cursing at me right now, but I’m the one behind the wheel.
I’m the one who feels the car. Who has the responsibility to bring the win to the team. As always, it’s all or nothing.
“Pit now, Elio,” Nick says, his voice firm.
I ignore him and push down harder on the pedal.
But then Lucy’s face appears in my mind again, giving me pause. Suddenly, it’s not just about me anymore.
My throat constricts. I care about her, probably more than I care about myself.
I always used to think my bonus time was given to me so I could do great things, beat records, and make people proud.
That it didn’t matter if I died the next day, because I was giving everything for what I wanted most in life.
But is it even true anymore? In the past, when I tried to envision the future, it was always a blank.
Sure, I could see myself later that day, or that week—sometimes even the end of the season.
But now, the fog is clearing, and I see us.
Lucy and me. And all the things we could do on this earth together.
Maybe I’ll even live long enough to get wrinkles at some point.
“ Porca Miseria !” I strike the wheel with the heel of my palm as I decelerate and turn into the pit lane. “Boxing now.”
I know it’s probably going to cost me the race, but maybe, just maybe, I have another prize to win after all.
The race is over, and I park my car in my fourth-place position in the parc ferme , where the cars get checked and we all get weighed before walking back to the garage.
It’s tough seeing my friends in their first and third positions when I know I could have been among them.
I should have been among them. But today wasn’t my time. Maybe it will never be.
“Good race. You were a rocket o ut there,” Alec says, hitting my back as we walk out of the room. “Jessie kept giving me your times, and I thought for sure you were going to get us. Or at least fight with us.”
“I know.” I shake my head. “Figured I’d let you have the spotlight today.”
“You overtook me so quickly, I barely saw it was you,” CJ says with a small laugh. “My dad’s going to have a field day with that one.”
I place my arm around his shoulders. “Don’t let him get to you. P6 is great. You brought some points to the team, and I know everyone is proud of you. It was a tough race.”
“It really was,” Magnus says, sipping from his straw. “Glad it’s over, to be honest.”
“Me too,” we all say.
Laughing, we walk back to our garages, each receiving the same warm welcome from our teams, I’m sure.
I’m overwhelmed by hugs and kisses, back slaps and shoulder rubs. All sorts of compliments and congratulations are flying around, but there’s just one person I want to see. And she’s standing in the same corner where I left her earlier, next to my brother.
I walk up to them, and Matteo beams, ready to take me in his arms. I love my brother, I do. But he’s not getting the first hug today.
I open my arms wide as I lock eyes with Lucy, and her face instantly relaxes. She hurries over to me, and the moment she falls into my arms, I feel like I ca n finally breathe again, the smell of her citrus shampoo putting me at ease. I may not have won the race, but my reward is right here.
I cup her face between my hands and place a long kiss on her lips. I’m pretty sure people are cheering and laughing around us, but their voices barely register. All I can think about is Lucy and how her arms wrapping around my neck feel better than any podium.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she says against my lips. “You were amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say, kissing her again. And I know I made the right choice, not pushing today. Not risking it all for one position, because if I had, I might not have received this perfect and beautiful prize.
Lucy
Elio has finally wrapped up his post-race interviews, and we’re heading to the restaurant to celebrate the end of the race weekend before going back to Italy.
“One more night, and then we go home,” Elio says, smiling as we walk out of the elevator. “Well, my home, but—”
“Actually, I think it’s going to be my home too,” I say, biting my lip as I gauge his reaction.
He does a double take. “Really?”
“Yes.” I nod, s miling. “I want to move here. At least until we figure things out.”
His eyes are as wide as his grin. “Are you sure? I was going to try and land a contract with Indigo Motorsports. They’re based in Indiana, which is pretty close to Chicago, right? I checked. You don’t have to leave everything behind for me.”
I smile, touched that he would consider leaving his team, his family, his country to give our relationship a try. That alone tells me I’m making the right choice.
“I’m one-hundred percent sure.” Frankly, it was an easy decision, because I don’t have anything waiting for me in Chicago.
I can live wherever I want. Maybe it’ll last a few weeks, or maybe Elio is my forever.
But if I don’t give this a shot, I’ll never know.
There are similarities in my mom’s story and mine.
We both met a man on vacation, someone from another world who took our breath away, but there’s one big difference.
I’m gaining everything by staying here. A shot at this relationship with Elio and a chance to know my family.
“What about work?” he asks. “Not that you have to work. I’ll happily take care of you.”
“Absolutely not. I’ll figure that out too.
To be honest, I kind of like your YOLO way of life.
Or is it carpe diem? Seize the day,” I say with a chuckle.
“I’m going to talk to my boss and see if I can focus solely on Formula 1 and relocate here.
Since the season lasts most of the year anyway, it could work.
Otherwise, I’ll find something else. Maybe you can teach me Italian. ”
“You’re amazing,” he says, taking me into his arms. “And I’d love to teach you Italiano, but what about your friends, your life?”
“I’ll still see my friends, and I intend to visit Chicago as much as I can. We could go together.”
“I’ll take you any time you want, Bella . Just remind me to bring my own pizza.”
I laugh hard, throwing my head back, and he takes the opportunity to kiss my neck, making me giggle. “Elio, Chicago has regular pizza, too.”
“Phew, we’re saved then.” He grins, then his gaze becomes serious. “So, you’re really sure about this? What you said about your reputation . . . I don’t want to ruin everything you’ve ever worked for.”
I nod, pressing my forehead to his. “I am. Between you and my family here, it’s a no-brainer. And I don’t care what people think. I’m making the right decision for myself, and that’s what matters.”
“That’s my girl.” He steals another kiss. “I have a good feeling about this.”
“So do I.”
He kisses my hand, his dark eyes glinting. “Ready to start this new adventure, Bella ?”
I smile. “ Sì. ”
And I really am, because I know I’ve been put on this path for a reason. Mine is a mirror of my mom’s story, but with a different conclusion, I’m sure. I’ve always been a firm believer in happy endings, and I don’t see this one going off track. We’re taking this to the finish line.