Chapter 32
Niki
Izip up my driving suit under the stare of a wide-eyed Rosie.
I wink at her, and she glances at the track, her face reddening.
“Welcome to Dunsfield Aerodrome,” Senna says to her as she waves her hand like she’s the host of a game show. “It’s been used in films and television shows, but Top Gear is the most memorable.”
“The show with Matt LeBlanc from Friends?”
I hold in my chuckle as Senna stutters, “Yes, he presented it, but it was made famous by Jeremy Clarkson, who presented it for years.”
Rosie nods, and I stare at the nape of her neck. Does she like neck kisses? They were my signature move.
My phone beeps with a message from Clara asking if I’ll be in Miami. We broke up for the right reasons, and although I can’t act on it, I only have eyes for the curvy former rugby player chatting with my sister.
“Dunsfield Aerodrome is where I brought Connor last year. He didn’t enjoy driving anymore due to Niki’s accident.”
My breath catches. “Is that true?” I ask Connor, who shrugs.
He kicks the ground. “I performed rituals to help me get in the car, but they became obsessions. And it got worse after the crash in Hungary.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask as he continues to avoid my gaze.
“You weren’t around. You were in...wherever you were.”
“Greece,” Rosie says. Everyone looks at her, including Tawny and Jacs, who walk out of the changing rooms in matching driving suits. “A town in Rhodes wearing silly sliders.”
“You were in Greece the whole time?” Senna asks me. Rosie shrinks.
“Yes. But you were telling Rosie about the aerodrome.”
“This is also where we tested the Lambo,” Connor says, kissing my sister on the cheek. “And when I say tested…”
I cover my ears. “Not this again.”
Connor pulls Senna closer and dips her for a kiss to the sound of us gagging.
“I’ve changed my mind about dating Billy’s brother,” Jacs grumbles. “These two have put me off relationships for life.”
“But you promised to take me out for a night of drinking and flirting with strangers,” Tawny replies, folding her arms and huffing. “I want a boyfriend who doesn’t know anything about racing and doesn’t see a date as an excuse to question my racing techniques.”
“Fine. We’ll go. Senna and Rosie should come, too.”
Connor wraps his arms tightly around Senna and makes her promise to wear an “I love Connor” T-shirt. I want to do the same with Rosie.
Rosie’s mouth twists, and her shoulders sag. “It’s a bit tricky because of my daughter.”
“I’ll babysit her. Connor will help,” I announce.
“I’m up for that,” Connor adds, making everyone laugh.
“I’ll consider it,” Rosie says, although her smile is cute and tentative. It was worth it to stop her shoulders from sagging.
“Niki has a history of running Barbie dolls over with his go-kart, not to mention the time you shoved my doll down the toilet,” Senna replies, her fists on her hips.
“You got me back for it by racing better than me. And I’m very proud of you.”
Senna hugs me from behind, and I don’t hunch or freak out.
“Thank you,” Senna whispers.
I explain to Rosie, “I didn’t tell Senna I was proud of her and her accomplishments for years, but I am. I didn’t shout her praises because I was a bit of a selfish idiot.”
“A bit?” Connor mumbles.
“Shut it.” I glare in his direction before turning to Senna. “You may be my little sister, but you’re the bigger force.”
“Are we driving or what?” Jacs asks.
Tawny claps, drawing an eye roll from Jacs. “Yes. How about me, Senna, and Niki, and then the winner goes against Connor and Jacs? There will be plenty of time for several races. I’ve always wanted to drive against my heroes.”
Senna and I do a jig in front of Connor.
“Her heroes.” I point to the two of us.
“You’re adorable,” Jacs tells her sister, who grins as she ties her hair into plaits.
“Can I sit in the car with you, baby?” Connor asks.
“Okay,” Senna agrees, sliding on her gloves. “But no chatter. I came to win.”
“Do you want to sit with anyone, Rosie?” Jacs asks.
Rosie shakes her head. “It’s nice to be here and see this side of the business.”
“This isn’t business. This is pleasure,” I whisper in Rosie’s ear, making her blush.
I need to walk away. A semi in a racing suit is impossible to hide.
I must remain professional, especially with others around.
I want people to recognise her as an exceptional assistant, which she is, even if my dreams last night were filled with her calling me sir.
“Pick your cars. Mine’s the McLaren, and although I love you all, no one else is allowed to drive it,” I shout as I walk towards my car. I need it clean, and if others use it, I’ll either want to wet wipe it, which I don’t want them to see me do, or freak out while driving it.
I slide my fingers across the red body as I step close. It matches the fitted jumper Rosie’s wearing. She’s a flame teasing me with her heat.
I shake my head, ease myself into the seat, and squeeze my knuckles.
Outside of my window, spring bursts through the green of the grass.
Flowers lined the roads as we drove here, and for the first time, I have hope.
My counsellor is helping, and I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
I glance at Rosie, who bites her lip as she watches me.
She’s helping, too.
Through the radio in my helmet, Tawny says, “It’s always been my dream to race against you two. Senna inspired me as a woman in racing when she was a teenager, and Niki, I grew up watching you.”
“Thanks,” I say cheerily, although I’ve never felt so old. If I race again, it will be against people who watched me drive when they were children.
“Let’s do this,” Senna says. Connor babbles in the background.
“Is he going to talk the whole race?” I tease.
“Only if he wants me to kick him out of the car,” Senna grumbles. “On the count of three.”
I squeeze my steering wheel and breathe in the leather. There’s thirty of these hypercars in the world, and as of yesterday, I own this one.
“One.”
I glance at Rosie, who stares at my car as Jacs chatters. She fiddles with the chain around her neck, and my blood rushes down. She has no idea what that action does to me, and it seems me driving a hypercar does something to her.
“Two.”
You ain’t seen nothing yet, Rosabella.
I rev the engine. She twists the chain around her finger.
“Three,” Senna shouts.
I floor the accelerator and take off with a smirk.
Tawny leads, but we’re the Coulter siblings, and it’s not long before Senna and I gain on her.
The adrenaline drips through my veins, and I lose myself in the high I’ve missed. I’ve driven my supercars around local roads, but this is racing against the best, and I’m starving for it.
“I’m coming for you, Tawny,” I growl into my mic.
Senna laughs. “I’ll be there before you.”
“I love this,” Tawny shouts with a giddiness that makes me laugh. “Bring it, Coulters.”
Senna tries to crowd me out, but I refuse to back down as I level with her.
“Get lost, Niki,” Senna snaps.
“Not today.” I crank my engine and ease ahead of her before the corner. I take the curve with ease.
We’re near the end of the first lap already.
We agreed on two laps, and as much as I want to look at Rosie as we pass her and Jacs, I’m all in on this battle.
When I win, I’ll convince her to sit beside me in the next race.
I want her hand on my thigh as I drive and the scent of the soap that always lingers around her deep in my lungs.
Her beaded bracelet presses against my chest, where I tucked it in my racing suit.
I gain on Tawny as I reach the chicane. Senna picked the wrong car, and she’s lagging.
It’s me and Tawny now with half a lap to go.
There’s radio silence as my speed climbs on the straight. I’ve not felt this powerful since the day of my crash. I falter as I remember crawling out of my car as flames licked at my racing suit and having to rip my helmet off at the last minute as a barrier trapped me.
But I did it and I survived. I tremble slightly as I grip the wheel.
This is where I’m in control. Not when I was in the hospital or while I hid in my villa in Greece, but here behind a wheel. I’ve been through hell in a car, and I survived. I’m not the man I was, but I can be that guy again.
I floor the accelerator and nudge the space behind Tawny. I need this win to show Rosie the man I can be. She’s experienced the weak side of me. I want her to see my power.
Anxiety that I’m not enough disappears with the fumes from my car. I adore the power, the speed, and the control. I’m closer to driving professionally again. I’ll beat this health anxiety and be the man I was before the crash, the hospital, and the virus.
My chest tingles with adrenaline and excitement as I level with Tawny.
I imagine my strut after returning to F1, followed by the moment I’m back on the podium, staring into the crowd, and seeing Rosie’s beaming face.
Metres from the line, I pass Tawny with a fist pump.
I cheer through the radio. “How do you like me now?” I say before laughing.
“Screw you, Niki,” Senna replies.
“I loved every second of that! I nearly beat Niki Coulter,” Tawny shouts.
As I ease up on speed, I drift around the track before parking outside the main building.
For the first time in a long time, I’m the fucking winner.
I step out of the car, and Rosie runs to me.
“Can I come with you next time?” She’s breathless as she reaches for my hands.