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LUCIA

T he Belen Racing garage was alive with energy as the final lap of the race unfolded. Engineers and crew members leaned toward their screens, gripping headsets, their voices rising with excitement as Alexander maintained his lead. The roar of the crowd outside echoed into the space, a pulsating wave of sound that matched the pounding in my chest.

Gianna sat on my hip, her small hands clutching the team hat Alexander had given her that morning. Her tiny face was lit up with excitement, eyes glued to the screens as the cars sped through the last corner.

“Go, Alex!” she squealed, bouncing slightly in my arms.

I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. The final stretch was a blur of speed and sound, but when Alexander crossed the finish line, securing first place, the garage erupted. Cheering, yelling, and laughter filled the space as the team celebrated. The sound was deafening, and Gianna clapped her hands, shouting, “He did it, Mommy! He won!”

“He did, baby,” I said, my voice thick with pride and emotion. My heart swelled, watching the crew exchange hugs and high fives, pure elation rippling through them. An older man wearing a Belen Racing shirt walked over to me with a wide smile. I tried to place him, he looked like Belen Management from his crisp white button up, Paul maybe?

“We’re heading to the podium,” he said, motioning toward the exit. “You and Gia should come too. He’ll want to see you.”

Before I could answer, Anna appeared beside me, her expression carefully neutral. “Lucia, just a heads-up—if you go out there, there’s a good chance the cameras will catch you both. Are you okay with that?”

I hesitated, glancing at Gianna. The idea of us being photographed and broadcasted made me uncomfortable, but before I could decide, Gianna tugged at my shirt.

“Please, Mommy,” she begged, her big green eyes full of excitement. “I want to see Alex and his trophy!”

My resolve crumbled instantly. I could never say no to her when she looked at me like that. I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Paul gave a whoop of approval and led us out of the garage. The noise of the crowd hit us in full force as we moved toward the track. The podium loomed ahead, bright under the lights, and the cheers grew louder as Alexander climbed out of his car.

He stood on top of it, throwing a fist in the air, and the crowd went wild. Gianna clapped enthusiastically, shouting his name, while I stood frozen, watching him soak in the moment. His helmet came off, and everything seemed to slow. His hair was damp with sweat, his face flushed and shining with triumph, and his ecstatic smile made my chest tighten. He found me quickly.

The world fell away. In that moment, with the crowd screaming and the chaos of the team celebrating around me, it was just us. I saw him—truly saw him—and it hit me like a freight train. I loved this version of him. The one who was wild and free, the one who lived for these moments of pure joy.

Alexander turned his attention to the team, hugging his race engineer and managers as the reporters swarmed. He moved through the post-race motions quickly, his focus snapping back to us. I wasn’t prepared for the way my heart leapt when he ran toward the barrier, his gaze locking on me again.

He reached the crowd of crew members, accepting their congratulations with quick hugs and pats on the back. Then his eyes landed on us—on me, holding Gianna close. A smile spread across his face, brighter than the lights above us.

“I knew you could do it,” I said when he reached us, my voice barely carrying over the noise.

Gianna cheered, her little hands clapping furiously. “Yay, Alex!”

Alexander laughed, pulling us both into a hug. Gianna wrapped her arms around his neck, her giggles infectious. He squeezed us tightly, his forehead brushing against mine for the briefest moment before he leaned closer.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he murmured in my ear, his voice low and rough. “For me, not them. I am going to kiss you because there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.” My breath caught, and I nodded against him. He pulled away from the hug, cupping my face with one hand.

His lips found mine, and the world stopped. It wasn’t like any of the staged kisses we’d shared before. This was raw, unfiltered, and all-consuming. His warmth, the taste of sweat and triumph, the electricity sparking between us—it was everything. My free hand clutched his arm, grounding me in the moment.

When he pulled back, the cheer of the crowd surged, and Gianna’s giggles filled the air. Alexander grinned, pressing a quick kiss to Gianna’s cheek before wrapping his arms around us both again. As he left us and made his way to the cooldown room, then the stage, I felt like I was still buzzing from that kiss.