Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I nod slowly, soaking it in, my arms tightening around her. “And he left?”
“Yup. And then I called your parents. I wanted to give them a heads-up that he wasn’t in a very good place. They’re both worried about him and they’re going to talk to him… maybe see if he’ll get some help.”
I nod, considering that. Of course my parents will try to help him, and they should. That’s what parents do. But I find myself still unable to care very much about his well-being, unwilling to forgive the fact that he struck Lara and called her a slut.
Maybe in time, but I doubt it.
I exhale, tension unspooling in my chest. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Her eyes lift to mine, soft but sure. “Because you’re in race mode and I knew you’d worry. I didn’t want this on your shoulders when you needed your focus.”
I study her, amazed and gutted all at once. “You still should’ve called.”
She gives a small smile. “I wanted to tell you in person.”
I touch her cheek. “How do you feel?”
“Relieved,” she says without hesitation. “But I’m a little sad he thinks we betrayed him. That this was going on before.”
I stiffen. “What a douche. I mean… how could he think that?”
Her eyes drop away and when they return to mine, I’m shocked to see that they’re filled with guilt. “Because he knows me. And he knows I’ve always had feelings for you, even if I buried them. Even if I told myself they were just leftover childhood loyalty.”
I stare at her, pulse thrumming.
“We were always dancing close to the edge,” she continues. “That kiss when we were young and then that one night we were together. It shook me, and although I knew it probably wasn’t the right timing, I think I was always disappointed in that. Maybe he could just… sense it?”
“It wasn’t the right time,” I confirm with a press of my lips to her forehead. “We wouldn’t have worked because my life was consumed with moving up the racing ranks and you had a job back home.”
She nods her agreement. “We would’ve burned out.”
“But now we’re here, and the timing is exactly right.”
A long silence heavy with everything unsaid stretches between us.
“I hate what happened with him,” I murmur. “I hate that he said what he did. That we came to blows. I don’t think I can forgive him.”
She nods. “I know. But maybe… one day, you can build something new. Different.”
“Maybe.” It’s all I’ll commit to. My brother is the least of my worries right now.
We stand there a moment longer, the quiet hum of the garage wrapping around us like a shield.
Then I pull her hand into mine, lift it to my mouth for a light kiss on her fingertips. “So, what happens now?”
“You tell me,” she says, smiling.
I take a breath, no hesitation. “Call me crazy, but I want you with me. Traveling. At my side. Every city, every paddock, every race. You work remote. We’ll make it work. Monaco, Zurich… hotels and planes and chaos—I want all of it. With you.”
She laughs through a soft exhale. “That has potential.”
“And I know you’re not a fan of Monaco, so I can sell that home and we can base ourselves out of Zurich. Whatever you want.”
“I want to be with you,” she whispers. “Whatever that means.”
“It means building a life together. Traveling the world. Having kids and teaching them to surf. We’ll grow old together back in Torquay and spoil our grandkids rotten.”
“Sounds like a fairy tale to me,” she breathes out, eyes misting.
“I love you,” I say, voice low and steady. “I’ve loved you since we were fifteen. Probably even before that. And now that I’ve got you, I’m not letting go.”
She smiles, all softness and fire. “Then you’re stuck with me.”
“And you love me too?” I tease.
“More than you can possibly imagine.”
I kiss her like it’s the first time—slow, certain, sealing everything we just promised.
We’re not unfinished anymore.
We’re just getting started.