Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
TESSA
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
“Put me through to Rome,” Beck says through the radio.
I huff. “That isn’t even possible. Now pay attention!”
“I’d just like to know how the hell he dealt with your demands while driving, because I’m having a hard time.”
“Just do what I say, and you won’t have a hard time!” I snap.
Beck sighs loudly.
I glance at the monitors, and I can’t help but secretly root for Rome. This is the fourth race where he’s been paired with Van, and Beck with me. Per usual, we each had to work through some kinks, but both Beck and Rome have been placing better with each race.
Rome is in second with only a few corners left until the checkered flag.
“Inside!” I shout to Beck.
He listens and takes the inside lane instead of the outer, and sure enough, he gains a position.
“Thank you!” I exclaim and throw my hands up. “Finally!
Beck whistles. “Hell yeah!”
I want to say, ‘See what happens when you listen to me,’ but I’m too swept up in the front of the line where Rome is.
My adrenaline peaks with my heart in my throat.
Come on, come on. Use the DRS.
I hold my breath as he jockeys for first, waiting for the perfect moment to overtake Milo.
As soon as he dashes forward, I jump out of my seat and slap my hand over my mouth.
“He did it,” I whisper, talking to myself.
I press my lips together, fighting a smile.
“Who? What?” Beck asks.
The checkered flag waves. Van and the rest of his crew cheer so loud I can’t help but look over at them. My oldest brother smiles like a kid in a candy shop, and I shoot him the smile I was trying to hide.
“By the sound of your voice, I bet Rome got first, huh?” Beck chuckles, and I’m tempted to rip my headset off.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.
I know exactly what it means.
“I bet he’d trade getting first if it meant getting you.”
I roll my eyes and ignore his teasing.
Rome and I haven’t been alone or had a conversation that didn’t involve the rest of the team since the hospital. Even in our group text, it’s been cordial. Like, when I congratulated him on the last race and he sent a simple thank you in response.
I hate it.
Just like I tell myself I hate when I catch him staring at me from across the room, only to love it deep down.
It’s the same contradiction everywhere I see him.
I always search for his car when I pull into Vanstone’s parking lot, and butterflies fill me when it’s there. If his hand brushes mine during Sunday dinner, I crave the rush of heat that follows.
It’s hard to remember all the drama that occurred from before. There’s still an investigation being conducted against Pierce Racing, and Rome is still on probation. Yet it seems like years ago that he was softly skimming my cheek with his finger as I fell asleep in his bed.
And right now, as he pulls up to the number one spot and climbs out of his car, I can’t help but dash over to him with the rest of the Vanstone team. I linger in the back as Van and the others jump on top of him with the crowd roaring in the background.
After the truth surfaced about Pierce Racing, the fans seemed to have fallen even more in love with Rome and our Vanstone team. There’s a sea of teal and purple in the crowd, all of whom are on their feet, cheering for him beside us.
Beck walks over and hugs him, both of them sweaty. My brother leans close to his ear and says something over the cheers.
Rome’s blue eyes fly over to mine, and the smile on my face disappears.
He caught me.
His eyebrows dip for a split second.
My heart stops.
Beck is mid-conversation with him, but Rome isn’t paying attention. He takes a step toward me and stops.
When I stay in place, he takes another one.
And then another.
Until he’s inches from me.
A swallow moves against his neck the same time a bead of sweat drips down the side of his cheek.
I exhale, but it comes out shaky.
His eyes bounce back and forth between mine, and everything around me disappears. “I thought winning would make me feel whole again,” he admits.
A sadness moves through me. “It doesn’t?”
His head moves back and forth slowly. “Not unless I get to share it with you.”
There are thousands of eyes on us, yet all I see are his.
“I’ll keep winning,” he says, “just for a chance to feel your arms around my neck, celebrating with me.”
Rome.
Gia shouts his name for an interview, and when I say nothing, he turns away.
I watch him go, but panic propels me forward. I bump into his back, and he spins around to peer down at me. I rise on my tiptoes and hesitantly wrap my arms around his neck.
He pulls me in close, and we both exhale.
Like neither of us could breathe without the other.
“Tess…”
His warm whisper coats the side of my neck, and I pull back to look into his eyes. The blue is glossed over, and he glances at my mouth.
The smallest smile pulls at my lips. “Congratulations, Rome.”
He sniffs. “Thanks, Princess.”
I grab onto his scruffy jaw. “Now kiss me so we can really celebrate.”
He presses me closer and kisses me heatedly, and for the first time, neither of us cares who’s watching.