I fucking won.
The championship, the Cup Series spot, I’ve got it all. Well, almost all…Regan. I hope this doesn’t change anything between us.
I come back to reality with Steve screaming in my ear over the radio in celebration. “You did it! You’re in the Cup Series, baby!” He’s still whooping and hollering as I bring my car back around and stop on the start/finish line. That’s when it hits and I start to lose it.
“That’s fucking right, baby! Let’s fucking go!”
I can’t stop smiling as I take my gear off to climb out in front of the fans. The sound of their cheers from the stands rumbles through my entire body.
This is why I love racing so much. This is why I could never give it up. This feeling right here.
Evan Knight is waiting for me when I climb out of the car to do an interview, and for once, I’m excited about it.
“Dean, you had quite the comeback after missing last week and needing to win in order to claim the championship title and the spot in the Cup Series. You’ve been able to do just that, how do you feel?”
“I feel great, Evan,” I say, still breathing hard from the endorphins. “I can’t believe this is happening. I’m sad to leave this amazing team that got me here, but excited to start the next chapter of my racing career.”
“Your team owner, Tom Sampson, announced right before the race that they are closing their shop doors after this season. Did you know about that? And if so, did that drive you to push yourself even more?”
“I did know about it. I knew I would find a ride one way or another, but this here, this is the best way to do it. Am I right?” I pump my fist into the air and the crowd cheers again just as my team runs in with hugs and congratulations.
“How do you feel about Regan not getting that Cup spot?”
“It sucks for her and her team, and all the hard work they all put in. I have no doubt she will be the next one in line to get a ride as soon as a spot opens up,” I say, and I mean every word of it. But this is for me and Daniel. I look up at the sky and smile, knowing he’s here with me.
FIFTY-THREE
REGAN
This race was grueling,and after leading for most of the day, I fell short of the championship and the Cup spot. I thought I would be mad seeing someone else win that chance in Cup. I don’t feel that way at all. I feel happy and proud that Dean won. Mostly, I’m glad it stayed out of Ian’s hands.
I climb out of the car on pit road, and take off my helmet and gloves. I turn to face the track where Dean is celebrating, standing on top of his car and pumping his fist into the air as the crowd cheers. I find myself smiling, happy for him. He’s earned this.
So many emotions flood me taking in the scene before me. Katarina catches up to me for a post-race interview, and after a loss like this, I would be storming away, not wanting to talk to anyone, but I’m ready to congratulate Dean.
“Regan, what a race to the finish. How are you feeling about the outcome today?” I break my gaze from Dean and his team’s celebrations and turn to Katarina.
“It was a well fought race. But no one deserves this more than Dean does.”
She blinks, shocked at my answer. It’s the truth. She recovers with another question.
“How do you feel about the news of Sampson Racing closing their doors at the end of this season?”
I shift from foot to foot. I wish Dean had told me himself about that, but I’m guessing he wasn’t allowed to talk about it. “I’m sad that they are closing their doors, but at least Dean gets his chance to continue his racing career in Cup next year.”
“Thank you, Regan.” She sets her sights on Ian, who looks furious. Serves him right. After today, I don’t know if he will change, but I hope he thinks twice about how he handles things from now on. But by the glare he’s giving me right now, I’m not holding my breath on that.
Dean’s crew has made it to where Dean is stopped on the track, hugging him and lifting him up. I don’t know what comes over me, I just know I need to be there, by his side. I break out into a run to get across the field.
As I get closer, all I can hear is my heart pounding in my ears, my focus only on him. Only focused on getting to him and telling him how I feel. How I’ve felt for a while now, but I was too stubborn to admit it to myself.
I get to him, and he’s still hugging some of his teammates when one nods in my direction, and he turns and sees me, out of breath and ready to spill my soul to him. A grin grows across his face as he takes me in.
“Regan? What—” I don’t give him time to ask his question. I grab the front of his racing suit and pull him down for a kiss. After the shock of it, he pulls me in close and wraps his arms around me. We both smell like sweat, fuel, and tire rubber, but that doesn’t stop us from consuming each other.
The sound of the crowds’ cheers floods back to my senses. I don’t care that everyone can see or that this will be plastered everywhere by tomorrow morning. All I care about, all I want, is him.
“Regan, what are you doing? People can see.”
