We pull back and, with one last reassuring squeeze to her hand, we make our way out of the car and into the paddock, hand in hand.
Immediately, some photographers approach us and start taking pictures, asking for our comments on ourrelationship.
We’ve decided that we won’t make any comments unless it’s on our own terms, so we stay silent as we make our way down to the Star News team and their spot.
When we reach them, the whole team is all smiles.
“You owe me five bucks,” Molly says and holds out her hand, making Steve take out his wallet and hand over 5 dollars.
“You bet on us?” Jessica asks, her voice filled with disbelief.
“No and yes. We made a bet about when you would announce your relationship. Before or after the race this weekend.”
We both chuckle and shake our heads at her team.
We thought we were being discreet, but it was obvious that her squad was onto us.
“Even though I didn’t participate in the bet, I was hoping for a grand gesture after a race win, Hastings. I’m almost disappointed,” Andrew cuts in.
“The weekend is still young,” I tell him, as I wink down at Jessica, who looks petrified at the idea of a grand gesture in front of the world.
Chapter 38
JESSICA
The qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix is underway, and I’m standing in the media zone, watching the screens like a hawk.
The session has been intense, with every driver pushing themselves and their cars to their limits.
Luke is currently sitting in P6, and I’m feeling on edge seeing how close they’ve come to crashing.
There is a slight drizzle in the air, but since there isn’t full-on rain, the drivers are pushing it on the slick tires. There is a dry line in the ideal track, but whenever a driver deviates slightly from the dry spots, they start to slide.
With two minutes remaining, Luke begins his last push lap.
My nerves are high, but I’m confident in him.
He can do this.
He’s flying through the first sector, and a purple sector time shows up on screen.
“Come on, Luke, you can do this,” I mutter to myself as he continues through the nextsector, this one also turning purple.
When he goes into the last sector, he has too much speed going into a corner, causing him to lose control of the car. Luke hits the brakes, but it’s too late, and his car is sent straight into the barricade to the side of the track.
The seconds tick on, feeling like long minutes as I watch the screen.
The car is shattered, and carbon fibres are flying around in the air.
I feel my heart hammering in my chest, and everything around me turns silent.
Hoping that the man I love is okay.
I’m hit with a wave of emotions.
I haven’t told Luke I love him.
Please let him be OK. He has to be okay.
