40. Emerson
Emerson
Electricity hums through the air of the track this morning. Pit crews bustle about their cars, teams strategize on their race, and drivers go through their pre-race rituals.
The energy tingles through me as well, but for an entirely different reason.
“Lookin’ sharp,” a familiar voice calls out from behind me.
I turn to find my Dad strolling toward me with the widest grin spread across his face, and wearing a black hat with our team's logo across it. “Hey, Dad.”
The tension slowly flees from my muscles as we embrace.
“It feels nice to be back at one of your races again.” He beams as his eyes flitter around the busy pit.
“I’m sorry I kept you away.” I swallow, regret swirling in my stomach. I missed my Dad being at my races for the past two years.
He grabs my shoulder and gives a firm squeeze. “No living in reverse, remember? I’m here now, and that’s all that matters.”
I nod and take three deep breaths to calm my anxiety.
“Were they able to show you where the team box is?”
“Yep, I got the grand tour. Just wanted to come down here and wish you good luck like I used to.”
That brings a smile to my face and an ache to my heart. He’s always been my biggest supporter. Though he couldn’t make it to every race, he always attempted to make it to at least one or two. Sometimes he would even bring Mama if she was feeling well enough to travel.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss having him at my races. Him being here today means more to me than he’ll ever know.
“Any word from Henley?”
He nods. “She sent me a text about three hours ago saying her plane got delayed, but that she’ll be here soon, just maybe not for the start of the race.”
A prickle of nerves ripples across my skin as I run my hand through my hair.
“Deep breaths, Em. This is just another race. Another bend around the curve. No matter what happens, you’ll have the both of us waiting for you at the finish line.”
Swallowing deeply, I absorb his words. “Thank you.”
He squeezes my bicep, then gives it a pat. “Alright, I’m going to get out of your hair so you can mentally prep. Have a good drive, son.”
I watch him start to walk toward the tunnel. “Hey, Dad?”
He turns, brow raised.
“Love you.”
Curiosity melts into quiet tenderness as warmth spreads across his features and his eyes become misty. “Love you, too. Forever and always.”
The man knew exactly what he was doing when he left me with Mama’s favorite addition to ‘I love you.’ She had always said that sometimes those three little words just weren’t enough.
Sometimes we all just needed a reminder of how all-consuming our love is for each other.
That’s when she started to add ‘forever and always.’
Beau finishes talking with Eddy, my driving coach, and heads straight for me. His gaze bounces from the tunnel my Dad is exiting through to my frozen stature. Placing his hands on his hips, he slides in front of me, shaking me out of my haze.
“You good?” His tone is firm but laced with a hint of concern.
“Yeah . . . I’m good.”
“And you’re still sure about what we discussed last night?”
“Mm-hmm.” I nod.
He takes off his ball cap, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Alright, then let’s get you in the car. It’s time for you to get us a win.”
Beau winks and a grin spreads wide on my lips.
I can do this.
Sweat beads down my forehead as I take a sip of water from my helmet. We’re already two hours in, only forty minutes left. For the most part, I’ve been able to keep my lap speeds consistent, except for one when the LMP2 Audi in front of me spun out after a flat tire.
Luckily, I was able to maneuver my Porsche around them without becoming a part of the wreck, but it was incredibly close.
“Em, how you holding up?” Eddy’s muffled voice streams through my helmet.
“A little warm.” Even though I’ve only been out two months, I guess my body hasn’t fully acclimated yet to the intense heat of the car’s cabin. “But otherwise, I’m doing alright.”
His laughter rumbles through. “Well, make sure you stay hydrated, because right now you and Axel are matched for laps and time again.”
Of course we are.
“I’ll make sure I stay focused.”
“Good. Now keep up the good work and bring us all a win, Em.”
Just after I stopped talking, I noticed that Axel was hot on my heels again. Winding around the different cars. In seconds we were side by side.
Looks like this is going to be a fight all the way to the end.
HENLEY
“Excuse me. Pardon me,” I huff politely as I maneuver around fans trying to make my way to the stadium.
When the plane landed, we got stuck another hour on the tarmac waiting for a spot in the terminal. Once we were finally able to depart, I practically sprinted all the way out to the taxi line.
I may have also told the taxi driver I’d tip him an extra fifty dollars if he got me to the raceway as fast as he could.
Sweat beads down my back, my heart feels like it’s about to thump right out of my chest, and I’m pretty sure that the back of my heels already have blisters.
But I don’t care.
The only thing that matters to me right now is making it to the box so I can watch my boyfriend race.
Preston had sent me a text with details where the family box would be, and I was only a few feet away. When I turn the corner, I’m met with his warm smile as he waits next to the door.
I almost pass out in relief. I made it.
Falling into his open arms, I finally let myself breathe.
“Hen, did you run all the way here?” he asks. His tone is half joking, half serious.
A rush of air flees my lips. “Practically. I may have also bribed the taxi driver to drive as fast as he could. He put a lot of New York drivers to shame.”
Preston laughs, lifting my backpack from my shoulder and grabbing the handle of my carry-on. “Should have told him IMSA is hiring.”
Laughter spills out of me, and it feels like I’m able to finally take a full breath. The pressure that’s been clamped against my chest the past couple of days finally unlocks.
“Let’s go watch the end of the race.”
We make our way to a clear spot in front of the window.
“So, what did I miss?”
“He’s off to a good start so far. There was a little spinout toward the beginning, but Em was able to maneuver swiftly around it. Right now, he and Axel Graves are the front runners in their class.”
“Axel . . . Why does that name sound familiar?”
“He’s the one Em bumped off the road—also the one he punched in the face.” Preston smirks.
“Ah yes, it’s coming back now. I hope he beats his pompous ass.”
“Me too, kiddo.”
One night while we’d been swimming, Em had opened up about that last race. I still remember every single word that man said to him. If I ever meet him in person one day, it won’t only be Em’s fists he’ll have to worry about.
“How did the interview go?” Preston hums beside me, and my stomach flops.
“It went really well.”
“That’s great, Hen! We knew you’d knock it out of the park.”
It goes silent between us for a bit. We alternate watching from the windows and watching from the TVs placed on the walls around the room. Preston is rocking back and forth on his heels, and I can tell that he wants to ask me what they offered. Finally, I hear him let out a breath beside me.
“So, did they give you an offer?” he drawls slowly.
Wrapping the ends of my hair, I twirl them anxiously between my fingers.
“They offered me the job.”
Preston’s eyes go wide, and his lips part to ask me more—until the entire room gasps.