Chapter 40
LENNON
“Where is he?” I ask Dillan as he does a final walkaround of my race car.
“I don’t know, but breathe, Lennon. He’ll be here,” he says calmly.
This race will be my second one since I came back and we’re using it as our coming-out race. We’re finally telling the world we’re a couple. But both Dash and my dad are missing which does nothing for the growing anxiety building in my chest.
We spent most of the last two weeks getting to know each other again which has been a welcome breath of fresh air.
Both our families and teams have been incredibly supportive of our relationship. Dash’s sister, Audrey, pulled me aside the night we shared our news with his family. She admitted how far Dash fell when he thought we were over. From what she shared with me, he was about as lost as I was.
She also made me swear to never break his heart again. I would never in my power do that, so I assured her.
It’s surprisingly quiet as we all prep for this race. I already have my suit on with my black tank underneath. I absently touch my necklace which was returned to me after Jackson attacked me. The one he stole to hide our identities.
That’s when I finally feel his presence. I turn and see him walking through the drivers’ garage straight toward me like a magnet pulls him. He stands tall and walks with more confidence than I feel. And to my surprise, my dad is with him, matching his strides in my direction.
“I told you he’d be here,” Dillan says as Troy walks up beside us.
I swat at him, and he dodges bumping into Troy making them both laugh like they tugged my braids on the school playground or something. Those two can’t ever be serious, well, almost never. I do have to admit, their comic relief usually hits at the exact moment I need it though.
I focus my attention back on Dash. He’s still wearing his jeans and a leather team racing jacket for Full Tilt Racing. This man is ruggedly handsome. All muscle and confidence. The lift of his chin and the twinkle in his eye tells me he’s thinking of kissing me, and he does.
Once he kisses me gently in front of everyone, I glance around and see several people watching, but I don’t care.
“Why aren’t you dressed? The race starts in like thirty minutes,” I tell him.
“I had a meeting I couldn’t miss,” he says.
“Is everything all right?” I ask.
He pulls me close and kisses me again.
“Never better, Valkyrie. I need to go get dressed and I’ll see you out there,” he says as he releases me and winks.
Dad moves in for a hug. “Drive fast, heart steady, live free, baby girl.”
I pull strength I didn’t know I needed from his familiar words.
About two and a half hours later, the race is almost over, and Dash and I are in the lead. He glances at me as we round the last turn and winks. I wink back and we both turn it up full throttle as we see that checkered flag waving us in.
When we cross the finish line, it’s together. I’ve never tied with anyone before, and to my knowledge, neither has Dash.
We spin around a few times circling one another, gazes locked until he nods, and we both stop. He exits his car first and drops his helmet in the seat and I follow his actions as my heart races in my chest. This is our moment, our coming-out to the world as a couple.
He takes my hands in his as we stand in front of our cars on the track but out of the way of the other cars exiting. He picks me up and spins me around as I hold on to him. Then he sets me back on my feet and kisses me.
In the distance the crowd cheers louder than I’ve ever heard before and I smile against his lips as he breaks the kiss. I see us on the big screen causing me to turn my gaze away for mere seconds until I hear gasps of surprise followed by more cheers.
When I turn back to look at Dash again, he’s down on one knee holding an open ring box. Inside is a pear-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller ones. It’s stunning and it takes me a moment to realize what’s happening.
He stares up at me and swallows hard.
“Lennon Shay Tyler. I’ve loved you for more days, months, and years than I could count.
I’ve loved you for so long, I can’t remember what it’s like to not love you.
You make me believe anything is possible; that love can reach across time and space.
So, the meeting I had earlier was with your dad and London.
We went to visit her together. I wanted her to be there when I asked your dad if I could marry you. ”
My hand flies to my mouth as tears track down my cheeks.
“You told me she said love would win in the end. And I think it has. You are the other half of me. Like my heart knew you were still here, your heart remembered loving me before you could remember anything else. I know you and London always said you were two souls with one heart, and I know you’ve felt like a huge piece of yours is missing without her.
But I think our souls reached out for one another and united our hearts too.
A love like ours is worth fighting for, and you, my Valkyrie, won the battle to come back to me.
I never want to spend another heartbeat apart from you. Will you marry me?”
I get on my knees with him and kiss his lips. The crowd explodes all around us, but all I can see is Dash and all I can feel is his heart beating with mine.
“Is that a yes, Valkyrie?” he asks with his forehead pressed against mine.
“Yes, Dash Conrad. Yes!”
He grins as he pulls the ring from the velvet box and slides it on to my finger.
We stand as the crowd cheers, the cameras flash, and the people we love the most come out to congratulate us.
Later, when we’re both announced as the winners of the race, we stand hand in hand and I can’t help but think that much like he calls me his Valkyrie, he fought for us too. He fought when I couldn’t. He’s a warrior too, he just doesn’t know it.
I lean over and whisper, “I hope you know you’re my hero. As much as I fought my way back to you, you fought against the odds to keep me. My heart will always remember you.”
He smiles and squeezes my hand. “The heart knows what the mind hasn’t even begun to explore.”
And he’s right. Deciding to trust my heart above all else is what led me to this exact moment in time. Battered but not broken, hurting but also healing, and knowing this racing heart in my chest is courageously loved and, in turn, is still able to love this handsome racer of mine.