You’re incredible.
You’re all I think about.
I’m so damn lucky.
But it wasn’t just about me; it was about her too. The way she kissed back, the little hesitations, and then the boldness—it felt like she was saying something too. Maybe it was,I trust you. Maybe it was,I want this too.
When we finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me like I was the only person in the world. Her lips were a little swollen, her cheeks pink, and it was impossible not to grin at her.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of that,” I murmured, my thumb brushing over her cheek.
Her shy smile grew into something brighter, and damn, it was like I was seeing the sun for the first time. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to. Her hand slipped into mine, and that quiet, unspoken connection between us said everything.
“Alex, Alex!” Gianna’s voice broke through my thoughts as she ran over to us. I smiled at the little blonde whirlwind and reached out for her. “Look!” Gia’s excited voice brought me back to the moment. She had managed to build a surprisingly tall tower, her little hands holding the precariously balanced blocks in place.
“Whoa, look at that, Gia! That’s taller than you!” I said, making a show of how impressed I was. She giggled, delighted with herself.
“Taller than you too!” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, her gaze traveling up my seated frame.
“Are you saying I’m short?” I teased, raising an eyebrow. “Because I don’t know about that. I think I might still have you beat.”
Gia giggled even harder and dramatically shook her head. “No, silly! You’re huuuuge.”
I leaned forward conspiratorially, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Well, I am a giant, then. Do you know what that means?”
Her eyes widened, and she leaned closer, utterly captivated. “What?”
“I’m the best at knocking down towers!” I growled, and with one swift motion, I toppled the blocks with a playful swipe. Gia let out a delighted squeal and immediately set to rebuilding.
From the blanket, Lucia laughed again, shaking her head at the two of us. “Really, Alex? You couldn’t let her bask in her victory for more than ten seconds?”
“She’s a competitive spirit,” I said, shrugging with mock seriousness. “Gotta keep her sharp.”
Gia puffed out her cheeks at me. “I’m gonna build a bigger one this time, and you can’t knock it over!”
“Oh, it’s on,” I said, crossing my arms and pretending to look skeptical. “But it better be strong, or it’ll meet the wrath of the Block Destroyer!”
She gasped dramatically, her tiny hands flying to her cheeks before she dissolved into giggles. “Mama, help me! He’s too strong!”
Lucia got up and joined us, kneeling beside Gia and whispering some strategy into her ear. The sight of the two of them, heads close together, plotting against me, made my chest tighten in the best way. This was it—this was the kind of simple, unfiltered joy I didn’t know I needed until now.
Lucia glanced up at me with a smirk, her eyes sparkling. “We’re forming an alliance. You don’t stand a chance.”
I held up my hands in surrender, grinning. “All right, all right. I’ll let you two geniuses have this one.”
Gia cheered, and Lucia laughed, leaning back on her heels. Watching them like this, the ease they brought to my life, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. The track, the pressure, the spotlight—they all felt miles away in moments like these.
As Gia threw herself into the task of rebuilding, glancing up at me with determined little smiles, I realized something else: I didn’t just care about Lucia. I cared about this—about them.
* * *
It was qualifying day in Brazil, and the energy in the garage was electric. The team buzzed with anticipation, fine-tuning the car after some upgrades that promised to push us higher in the standings. Qualifying well today could mean a podium tomorrow, and everyone was dialed in, myself included.
I was mid-conversation with Simon, mapping out race strategy, when I caught sight of her. My blonde whirlwind. Lucia walked into the garage, wearing a Belen Racing jacket that fit her like it had been made for her. My heart kicked up a gear. The way she moved, her confident stride, the easy smile on her face. It did something to me every single time. We hadn’t had a real conversation about this fake-to-very-much-not-fake thing we had going, but I had every intention of making that crystal fucking clear after the race. I wanted her to be mine.
Then there was Gianna, beaming up at everyone, clutching a Barbie dressed in a racing suit I’d found for her weeks ago. She held it high like a trophy as they weaved their way toward me, the crew parting like the Red Sea to make way for them.
“My favorite girls,” I said, a grin splitting my face as they closed the distance. Gianna didn’t hesitate, launching herself into my arms with the kind of boundless energy only a toddler could manage.
