He made me confess I was jealous as hell seeing him at Silverstone with his female fans. The idea I could be envious of anyone took him hours to get his head around. He whispered as he pressed kisses to my neck, “The only reason I smiled at that moment was because I saw you, and your brightness eclipsed everyone around you.”
Telling him that was cheesy as fuck earned me a quiet spanking. I can’t wait to move into his house during the summer break. We’ll make a little noise without worrying Tabi’s on the other side of the thinnest walls ever erected.
“Stop bouncing,” Senna hisses to Connor. “You’ll hurt your other foot.”
Connor sheepishly kisses her cheek. “Sorry, boss.”
Niki’s mum squeezes my hand as Niki takes the corner. Connor crashed here last year. She’s done that a lot. I expect racing drivers’ mums are some of the most stressed people, which worries me since Tabi declared she wants to be a driver like Niki and Tawny.
Niki’s already shown me the helmet he wants to buy her. The bastard.
“He could win this race,” Niki’s dad says.
“There’s two laps left,” Jacs says, joining us. It’s hard to hear over the cars, so I’m watching people’s lips. “Although I wouldn’t put anything past him. And if it means he messes with Vessa, I’m all for it.”
Tawny overtakes Billy, and Senna fist pumps. “Yes, Tawny!”
“That’s my sister right there,” Jacs shouts, banging Senna’s desk.
“I’m not going to miss this,” Niki’s mum says as Niki closes in on Marco, the race leader, who’s doing everything to block him.
As Niki comes alongside him, Marco attempts to freeze him out and push him off the track. Niki pulls back. That demonstrates how he’s changed. The reels celebrating Niki’s last race, with added commentary from his parents, showed Niki didn’t always understand risk, a bit like Billy, but nearly dying taught him repercussions in the most brutal way.
“He’s a fighter,” I whisper. “If he can do it, he will.”
Senna hugs me before returning to her screen.
Tawny follows Niki closely.
“Come on, bro. Show them how Coulters win,” Senna says.
“Spank that bitch,” Connor replies, drawing a raised eyebrow from Niki’s dad.
“Spank him,” Niki’s mum shouts.
I hide my giggles. Watching Niki race, I’ve been in wide-eyed wonder and fucking horny. I blame that time he drove me and the promises he’s whispered when thrusting into me about future visits to the aerodrome and his dream of racing in Le Mans, maybe with Connor and Senna.
It’s the final corner of the race. I want Niki to win his last race more than I want to play rugby again, although he’s promised to make that happen for me.
Niki’s side by side with Marco. My heart bangs against my ribs. Niki’s mum squeezes my hand so tight, I swear she’ll break it.
Marco tries to push him wide like before, but Niki’s ready. He drops back and attempts to overtake from the other side. He inches past him. The pit crew leans forward, hands in fists.
Marco attempts to push again, but that’s when Niki accelerates and lets him slide across the track into the gravel.
Tawny passes Marco, who can’t get traction quickly enough.
Niki flies across the finish line, the chequered flag waving.
The entire crew bound around the garage.
Senna shares her headphones, which connect to his radio, with me.
“You did it, Niki,” Senna says. “You’re incredible, bro. I’m so proud of you.”
“I did it for all of you. My racing family and my other family.” He gasps a sob. “Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself and for letting me have this last shot at racing. We drive because we must, not because we can. You let me dream, and from my teenage years with Coulter, you dreamt with me. We achieved this together.”
“You changed racing with those dreams, Niki.”
