Chapter Thirty-Seven
Georgia
Walking out of the Valkyrie garage, I felt an arm drape itself over my shoulders, drawing me in for a hug. I gazed up at Luca, who was sporting a cheesy grin on his face. He looked like he had just hit the jackpot, and in a way he had.
“Well, well, well, looks like I won my little bet,” I heard Edward announce behind us.
“Who did you bet anyway?” I knew about Edward’s annoying gamble, but I realized I didn’t actually know who had bet for or against us.
“Georgia, I am soooo glad you asked.” Edward held out his hand to Luca, who immediately went into his back pocket and took out his wallet, handing Edward €100 as he shook his head.
“I’ll get the rest to you next week,” Luca grumbled.
Edward smirked with satisfaction. “You see, Georgie, I bet Luca that you two would fall in love by the end of the season. Luca was so insistent that you’d never look at him again after he rudely ditched you all those years ago, but I knew better.
I know a jealous woman when I see one.” He threw me a wink, and I scoffed in response.
“I wasn’t jealous!” The protest was weak—and untrue.
“Oh, please, the way you babbled on about Luca and who he was supposedly dating or what he was doing and ‘how annoying’ he was. You were jealous. Figured as soon as you got to know the sweet, soft Luca that I knew, you’d fall madly in love with him.
Well, after he got his act together, of course. Which I figured you’d help him do.”
Edward looked incredibly impressed with himself as he finished, literally patting himself on the back after putting away his prize money.
“And so, now I am a thousand euros richer, and you two will have lifelong happiness. A win-win for everyone.” Without another word, Edward took off for the Wilmington garage, a smug smile still gracing his lips.
We had barely taken a step toward mine when a familiar sneer cut through the air.
“Well, look at that,” Anthony snickered. “Still clinging to this little PR stunt, even after the article.”
“That’s a weird way to say congratulations to the race winner,” I replied coolly, trying to step around him.
“You think you’re so special, don’t you?
” Anthony sidestepped me, blocking my path.
“Guess it’s good you gave up at Hermes, Luca.
With your abysmal driving today, I would have taken your seat anyway, but now I get to crucify you both on the track next year since the press isn’t doing a good enough job of it. ”
I perked up, glaring at Anthony. What did he just say?
Then it hit me.
“You were the Daily Reporter’s source, weren’t you?” Of course, that apology back in Monaco wasn’t real. Anthony didn’t have a genuine bone in his body.
Anthony’s smirk was all the confirmation I needed.
“Why?”
He chuckled darkly, but before he could answer, I cut him off.
“You know what, Anthony? I don’t care why you did it. It doesn’t matter, because none of it’s true. I’m done letting assholes like you think they have power over me. No more.” I tried to push past Anthony, but he lunged forward, gripping my arm tightly.
“I guess batting your eyelashes as a pretty racer really does have its perks,” he said coldly.
“Hard to compete with someone who can sleep her way out of anything.” My body tensed, but Luca stepped forward and stood directly in front of me, their faces only inches apart as he grabbed Anthony’s arm, forcibly removing it from mine.
“Funny. From what I heard, you’re the only person trying to sleep their way into F1, but you were so lousy, Daddy had to buy your seat.
” Luca’s voice was just loud enough for the three of us to hear.
“If you think for one moment that Hermes is going to give you my old seat, you’re out of your mind.
Can’t imagine they’re into racers willing to sell stories to tabloids. ”
Anthony’s face twisted in anger, his fists clenching. With his other arm, he grabbed me again, trying to pull me close.
Luca was on him in a heartbeat. His hand locked onto Anthony’s wrist, yanking it from me with enough force to send a message. “Touch her again, and I’ll make sure no one recognizes that ugly face of yours.”
Anthony staggered back, stunned.
“You know what, Anthony, I almost hope you do get Luca’s seat next year. It’d be nice to beat you all over again, just like I did in IndyCar.” With a smug grin, I turned on my heel, leaving Anthony behind us.
The walk back to Luca’s driver’s room was enveloped in comforting silence, hand in hand.
And this time, it felt genuine. The gentle pressure of his fingers in mine was soothing.
Luca opened the door to his driver’s room.
Not wasting any time, Luca pressed his lips to mine in a possessive kiss that made my entire body light up in flames.
I tangled my fingers in his thick hair, releasing a contented sigh as our lips met for another kiss.
He scooped me into his arms and carried us over to the couch where I straddled his lap, eagerly leaning in for another kiss, but Luca stopped me.
“I’m so sorry, amore.” His forehead rested on mine.
“Luca—”
“No, let me finish. Please. I need to explain the last two weeks.” His voice was low, rough, and earnest. “In Mallorca, I overheard that comment to Lily about us not meaning anything. Between that and stupidly letting Anthony fuel my jealousy of éliott, I convinced myself that you maybe didn’t want me.
Or at least, that I wasn’t good enough for you.
So, I decided to give us some space, because I thought it would be best for both of us. ”
His voice cracked as I ran a hand through his tousled hair.
I cupped his chin softly, forcing him to look at me.
“First of all, éliott and I went on a single, awkward date when we were eighteen. We had such little chemistry, by the end of the date, I’d already set him up with another friend of mine.
A detail I’m sure Anthony conveniently left out.
” I kissed the tip of his nose, watching relief flood onto his face.
“Secondly, it’s me who should be apologizing.
I should never had said that, Luca, because it wasn’t true.
I’m sorry for making you feel not worthy enough.
Henri approached me that morning, and instead of going to you, I took the easy way out and let my fear speak for me.
” I swallowed, my thumb brushing across his jaw.
“Then the Rennen announcement came out, and I panicked. I didn’t know where we stood, and instead of asking, I pulled away. ”
“No more doubting, amore.” His lips brushed against mine, and my heart leapt at the certainty in his voice. “This is real.”
“I know,” I breathed, kissing him again, slower this time, letting it say what words hadn’t.
“In fact,” he murmured, “I have something to talk to you about.”
“Mhmm,” I replied, clearly not listening. My hands were already wandering, tracing the waistband of his jeans as I leaned in for another kiss, eager to taste every inch of him before our night got interrupted again. Luca grinned against my mouth, tugging me closer.
“You,” he said between kisses, “are going to be the death of me.”
I began working on his belt buckle with deliberate slowness, drawing a low groan from his chest.
But before I could make good on my distraction, there was a sharp, insistent knock on the door.
“Lovebirds, we have to go! You can have sex back at the hotel!”
“Ew, gross, no!” I heard Henri yell behind the door in disgust. I’d forgotten that Lily and I had driven together this morning.
I groaned dramatically and flopped back onto the couch, laughing as Luca scrambled to fix his belt, his face flushed and his shirt crooked.
He looked adorably unprepared. When I opened the door, Henri and Lily were standing there like two drunk gremlins with bottles of champagne, both grinning like fools.
It was clear from the looks on their faces that they had definitely had too much already.
“Come along, children,” I said, grabbing my bag. “Back to the hotel before we get shit-faced tonight!”
The four of us crawled into my car, which was much too small for four people.
“So… Lucaaaa,” Henri slurred, reaching over to the front seat. “Now that you’re in love with my sister, we have some rules to discuss.”
“Oh, shut up, Henri,” Lily protested, pulling him back into his seat. “Leave the happy couple alone!”
“Non!” Henri’s accent always came out thick whenever he was drunk. “I will set some ground rules!”
“I can only imagine what these will be.” I grinned.
Henri had pulled out his phone, and my heart warmed at the fact that my brother had made an actual list. I wanted to protest, tell Henri to fuck off and put his phone away, but I felt touched that my brother had thought about this relationship.
His protectiveness was shining through, and this time, it was endearing.
“Shhhh…” Henri shushed me, and I knew he was intent on continuing this list of demands. “No making out with my sister in front of me. For the rest of this season, no sex on the Hermes plane. That’s a sacred place. Oh, and no sex when our hotel rooms are next to each other.”
“Too late on that last one,” I interjected, earning me a glare from Henri and a cheer from Lily.
“You break her heart, and I will make sure next race you burn with your car. Understood, Luca?” Luca huffed and turned around, only to see a very determined Henri with a frown on his face.
“Don’t worry, mate. Your sister’s heart is safe with me.”
Once we arrived at the hotel, Luca and I didn’t even pretend to play it cool. We made a beeline for our suite, abandoning Henri and Lily in the lobby with barely a wave goodbye.
The second the door clicked shut, Luca had me pressed against it, his hands gripping my waist like he never wanted to let go. His mouth found mine in a kiss so full of relief and hunger, it stole the air from my lungs. I felt like a drowning woman, and Luca was my life raft.