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EPILOGUE

Blake

The grandstands have been packed since earlier this afternoon, the sounds of cheering fans mixing with the rumbling noises of the garage. The last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi is always madness and mayhem, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve barely spent time with my family because of all the chaos, but Ella’s been with them all day.

“Uncle Blake! Uncle Blake!”

Finn runs at me at full speed, the bulky noise-canceling headphones he’s wearing slipping off his head and onto the ground. I quickly put them back on him. He’s cried at past races due to the loudness and I don’t want a repeat performance.

I pick him up and he wraps his tiny arms around my neck. “How many championships have you won?”

Weird question considering Ella easily knows the answer and he’s been with her all morning. In fact, she probably knows more about my career than I do. I ask him if he means Constructors’ or World and he wiggles out of my arms and is off without a word.

He’s back a minute later, barreling into me breathlessly. “World!”

“Then the answer is five.”

This is not the answer he wants to hear. His shoulders sag forward, disappointment flooding his face. I think five World Championship titles is bloody good considering no one else has ever won that many, but I’ll just go fuck myself, I suppose.

“I asked Ella to be my aunt and she said she’ll only marry someone who’s won at least eight of those.” He sighs dramatically. “How long will that take?”

I look over at where my girlfriend is standing in the corner talking to my sister and brother-in-law. There’s no stopping a smile from hovering on the edge of my lips. That cheeky woman of mine. I’m glad my nephew’s proposing to her on my behalf; not so glad Ella’s challenging me while simultaneously turning me down. She catches my eye and shoots me a wink. I motion for her to come over.

“Eight championships, huh?” I slip my arms under her jacket so I can feel the warmth of her skin. “Quite the order, Miss Gold.”

“Someone’s got to keep you in check.” She rests her chin on my chest and looks up. “Win today and you’re already at six!”

“No pressure.” I chuckle. It’s a good thing I don’t get nervous. “How many championships until kids are on the table?”

She gives me a gentle kiss. “Let’s take it one championship at a time.”

“We can have a lot of fun making a baby,” I mention. I’m already imagining Ella pushing a pram around the streets of London. “If we have a boy, I hope he’s just as well-endowed as me.”

Her face falls into my chest as laughter bubbles out of her. “Can we start with a puppy and take it from there?”

“One hour,” an engineer calls out. “One hour!”

The pit garage erupts in applause and cheers for our final race. It’s been one hell of a season. After today, we’ve got two and a half more months until we’re doing it all over again. Not that our time off will be spent idly. The mechanics and engineers will be back in the garage, working hand in hand on next year’s car. Theo, Lucas, and I will be fulfilling our personal sponsorship agreements and meeting at our respective team’s headquarters to start strategizing for the upcoming season. We may only race for twenty-one weekends of the year, but we spend all fifty-two weeks prepping.

I pull Ella in for a shameless kiss. Running my tongue over her bottom lip, I hear her release a quiet hum. I don’t realize how intense the kiss has gotten until Theo smacks me in the back of the head.

“If you guys are going to bang in here”—Theo smirks—“at least make people pay, so you can turn a profit.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Bugger off.”

Ella’s cheeks flush and she hides her face in my chest. If she knew he’s probably heard us having sex in my suite, she’d positively pass out from embarrassment.

“So, Goldy,” Theo says. “Were you planning on telling me that Miss Bancroft is single?”

I’ve known about Josie and Andrew’s breakup for a day or two, but there’s no way I’m repeating anything Ella tells me in private ever again. Loose lips sink ships and I have no intention of being the Titanic.

“Don’t even think about it,” I warn him. “Keep it in your pants.”

Ella lifts her head up and pokes Theo in the chest. “I have no qualms about cutting your dick off and sending it back to Australia, Walker.”

Theo scratches his chin. Ella may be just over a meter and a half, but she can be intimidating as hell when she wants to be.

“First no threesome and now no rebound sex?” He juts out his lower lip. “You’re not letting Theo Junior have any fun.”

“You named your dick Theo Junior?” Ella’s brows knit together. “That’s painfully unoriginal.”

“Is not!” he huffs. “What would you name it?”

Jesus Christ . I really don’t need to hear my girlfriend and best mate discuss names for his cock, so I tune them out. Ella focuses her attention back to me as I finish zipping up my suit and getting on my gear. She loves Formula 1 but loves knowing I’m safe even more.

“Good luck, babe.” A smile clings to her lips, causing her dimple to pop up. “I love you.”

“More than ice cream?”

“Oof, that’s a tough call.” She lets out a low whistle. “But yes, I love you more than ice cream.”

“Well, I love you more than anything.”

“Told you he’s a one-upper, Goldy.” Theo rests his hands on Ella’s shoulders, shaking her gently. “When are you going to learn?”

“I better see you boys on the podium later!” she calls out as she walks back toward my sister. “Go kick some tushy!”

I hear Finn and Millie giggle at the word “tushy.” For someone who swears like a sailor, Ella becomes quite child-friendly the moment my family is in range. Finn’s giving me a run for my money for Ella’s affection, but I think I have the upper hand.

Forty minutes: The pit lane opens and I head out to take my reconnaissance lap.

Thirty minutes : I’m pushed to the front of the grid as soon as I finish my test lap. Part of me feels bad that Theo has to play second fiddle to me once again, but I can’t think about that right now. The roar from the stands is deafening and drowns out the sounds of my engine.

Twenty-five minutes: I hop out of the car and wait patiently as my team babies the Tickle Monster, making sure she’s ready to go. One minute until the first fire up.

Twenty-two minutes: When I hear a mechanic turn on the engine once again, I let the adrenaline rush through my body. It used to be my favorite feeling. Now it’s second to the feeling I get whenever Ella looks at me.

Twenty minutes: Josie yells at the mechanics to move out of her way as she grabs photos of me and Theo in front of our cars. I know she has an arsenal of captions ready to go, depending on if I win or lose.

Fifteen minutes: I’m back in the cockpit after the national anthem. Instead of going to a club later to celebrate the end of the season, I’m going to a family dinner. Ella already looked up the menu online and knows what she’s going to order.

Ten minutes: Another fire up. Mechanics swarm my car, monitoring with cables, plugs, and laptops.

Seven minutes: I readjust my helmet and shrug my shoulders to loosen up as the tire blankets are removed from my car.

Five minutes: Everyone leaves the grid. Now it’s just us twenty drivers. This used to be the love of my life. Now it’s just one of them.

Three minutes: The formation lap goes by quickly. I’m happy with the tires my team chose. I think our strategy is going to clinch me another World Championship title.

One minute : The first light goes on. I take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. I’m ready to go.

Forty-five seconds: Another light flicks on. The thought of Ella cheering me on makes me feel weightless.

Thirty seconds : Three lights.

Fifteen seconds: I hear the crowds chanting my name as the fourth light goes on. The steady sound of it fuels me.

Ten seconds: And just like that, the final light flicks on.

Zero seconds : All five lights extinguish. Let’s go get ourselves another World Championship title.