Ricardo let go of Lili’s hand and she let him go to the front. She hung back. Cassian took off his helmet and Lili could see the sweat on his face. His hair was flattened and messy. She’d never seen anyone more beautiful.
Things happened at warp speed. A camera crew appeared and he was being interviewed. The other two drivers who’d come second and third were behind him.
Lili found herself being jostled in amongst the crew even though she’d prefer to hang back. She didn’t want to ruin this moment for Cassian. But his gaze swivelled to the crowd around her and suddenly stopped, dead on her. His mouth was still open but no words were coming out.
Lili gulped.
* * *
She was here. She is here.Cassian looked at Lili standing amongst his crew and teammates and felt something inside him dissolve and turn molten. It was the last bastion of defence he’d been clinging onto. He was, in this moment, the most raw, naked and vulnerable he’d ever been. But he’d also never felt stronger and more hopeful. It rose up within him, an unstoppable tide washing away the past and his fears and he embraced it like a drowning man finding a buoy.
‘Signore Corti—that was an amazing achievement, I think we all want to know, what were you thinking about to get such a showstopping result?’
Without taking his eyes off Lili and with his voice reverberating around the winner’s enclosure he said, ‘I was thinking about my wife and her bravery and how she humbles me because I’m not brave at all. I’ve been pretending to be brave all this time but really, I’m just a fraud.’
The interviewer clearly hadn’t expected this answer and while he was gaping with mouth open, Cassian went over to the barrier behind which all of his team were and he reached for Lili who came to him, eyes wide, face pale. Clearly unsure.
He put his hands on her waist and said, ‘Put your hands on my shoulders.’
She did, and he easily lifted her over the barrier. He let her down slowly, relishing the feel of her body against his. ‘I thought I told you to go back to Lake Como.’
She shook her head. ‘I couldn’t leave.’
He lifted a hand and trailed his knuckles down along her cheek to her jaw. ‘Good, I’m glad you didn’t. And I meant what I just said, you’re brave, Lili. And I’m sorry for how I reacted…’ He took a deep breath in. ‘It was just a lot to take in, but I do want to talk to you about it, okay?’
She swallowed. ‘About what exactly?’
‘About everything that happened to you and what you’ve been through.’
‘Oh. And what about…the other stuff?’
He raised a brow. ‘The stuff where you told me you loved me?’
She nodded, her eyes flashing a little bit, some colour coming into her cheeks. Cassian exulted inside. ‘There’s not much to talk about there because you see, I love you too and I think I fell in love with you when you walked out of the swimming pool like a sea nymph. That’s when you stole my heart and terrified the life out of me. I tried to convince myself it was all just physical and it would fade but you were right, it’s only getting stronger.’
He went on, ‘It does terrify me, the thought of loving you and the risk of something happening again but I’m willing to take that risk if you are.’
Lili’s eyes were looking suspiciously bright. She said, ‘I love you, Cass. You brought me back to life. I’ll happily risk the rest of my life for you.’
He shook his head. ‘No, you brought yourself back to life, Lili. Don’t ever forget that. You’re strong and you are loved.’
She reached up and pressed her mouth to his and he could feel her trembling and Cassian relished the feel of her under his arms and her mouth under his and sent up thanks to all and any of the gods for giving him another chance.
* * *
It was only when they eventually broke the kiss that Lili became aware of the silent crowd around them. And then a whispered murmuring started up. Jostling. The interviewer cleared his throat. ‘Um, Signore Corti?’
Cassian tugged her back over to the microphone with him. He said, ‘I do have an announcement to make actually.’
Lili was clamped to his side and she wasn’t going anywhere. Her heart was beating fast. She wasn’t sure if she’d dreamt those last few moments. But Cassian had her hand over his chest, over his heart and she could feel it thudding strongly under her palm.
Cassian said, very clearly, ‘I’m announcing my retirement as a driver, as of this race.’
There was a massive collective gasp not least from the direction of his team, but when Lili caught Ricardo’s eye, he just smiled. Not fazed. Clearly he’d known or he’d suspected.
There was a clamour of questions from other press nearby. Cassian held up a hand. ‘My only comment on this is that it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, it’s not a sudden decision. Our additional driver Roberto stepped in admirably while I was out recently and he’s young and full of talent and ambition, the team will not suffer, I’m sure of it.’
‘But, Signore Corti, you’ve just proven that you’re at the peak of your career! How can you walk away?’
