‘Ooooh, can’t wait to soak in it. My muscles are fucking aching right now.’ I groan, cracking my neck from side to side.
‘Wow, for once I think we were thinking the opposite way around because I was thinking about riding you in it.’
‘Caleb, you naughty, naughty boy!’ We soar on towards Europe, the plane alive with the happiness of all my favourite people. I’m the new world champion and everything in life is falling into place. I’ve found my place in the world– and everything I’m worthy of.
Epilogue
Johannes
‘I’m so stuffed. Just looking at that cheese is making me feel like I could be sick.’ I push the plate away from our side of the table and open my arms so that Caleb can snuggle back up against me.
‘I did tell Kian that it was just going to be the four of us, not the four thousand, but he and Grant have been working so hard on this stupid cheese, he was desperate to show it off.’ I cannot believe that Kian Walker now has his own farm-shop cheese. Four-time world champion, Kian Walker has turned into a cheesemonger. What in the world?
‘Well, it was so good, we’ll have to take some home with us. Can we take food back into Germany?’ Caleb asks, and the way my stomach squeezes when he says home, almost brings all the cheese back up.
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ I reply, pulling him closer so I can press a kiss into the side of his neck. We’ve spent the last two weeks post-season in Germany. I’ve been giving him a tour of the project house I’ve bought and talking about what we’d like to do with it. We haven’t spoken about moving in together, and it’s probably way too early to even contemplate, but we’re both talking as if we’re going to share the home, and I’m absolutely okay with that.
I think this is maybe one of the first winter breaks where I’ve not been out skiing or travelling the world. All I want right now is to spend time with him, cosy nights in on the sofa, watching cheesy films. I’ve even set up a desk in my spare room so he can work on finishing his PhD thesis.
Sometimes, I just linger in the doorway watching him deep in research on his laptop. I don’t think I’ve ever been more in love in my life.
I get it now. I get everything Harper felt when he realised Kian was the one. I get why it basically drove him insane, because it’s the weirdest feeling ever. It takes over your whole body, consumes your every thought.
I’m just grateful that it’s Caleb. A man I trust, quite literally, with my whole life.
‘Earth to Jojo.’ Harper waves in front of my face from where he’s sitting between Kian’s legs on the opposing sofa. It’s only the end of December and we’re all aware that we’ll be heading back to the grind of racing before we know it, but this, right here, right now just feels so nice. Even if we are trying to make a patio dinner work in the great British winter.
‘Sorry, what did you say?’
‘I asked you when you were heading out to Bahrain. I haven’t managed to convince this grump to come with me for pre-season training. Apparently, he can’t bear to be away from the sheep. So I’m going to need some entertainment.’
‘I believe what I actually said, was that Grant and I have a production meeting and then we’re working with the designers for the milk packaging. Sadly, I do not live to follow you around the world.’ Kian punctuates that with a kiss to Harper’s head.
I know Harper wants more time with him, and I also know that Harper wants to best Kian’s four titles so he can come home and have children, but how they make it work in the meantime is just so nice to watch. It almost makes me feel guilty for taking away a championship from him this year and delaying his retirement. Almost.
‘We’re flying out start of February, waiting for Nils to confirm which day, but that boy is hard to get a hold of right now.’
‘You don’t need to tell me that. We were in Monaco at the same time and I was trying to get him to come play padel with me and Kinsley and Elijah. We had to ask Ogum in the end and I’m pretty sure that guy hates me.’
‘Nils has had two different girlfriends in the last couple of weeks alone. I’ve asked if he’s okay, but apparently he’s just having fun.’
‘Like that wasn’t the two of you just four years ago, chasing after any man who’d give you attention.’ Kian chuckles and the worst thing is, he’s so right.
‘And now look at us, both tied down.’
Kian quickly covers his husband’s mouth with his palm to stop him making a tied-down joke, but Harper just licks his hand, which is equally disgusting.
‘We’re spending a late Christmas with Caleb’s family and then we’re doing a little bit of travelling around America. We’ll meet up with you two idiots for the ski trip and then Caleb heads back to the factory and I’ll be doing all my pre-season conditioning. We’ll be at the penthouse while the kitchen and bathrooms in the German house are gutted and re-done.’ I’m looking forward to all of it, but most of all I’m looking forward to that last month. A month of normal couples living, both of us going out to work for the day and then coming home to each other. I never realised until we were planning it how much I wanted a little bit of domesticity.
‘What time do you guys need to leave tomorrow?’ Kian asks.
‘Our flight isn’t till late evening, but it’s from Heathrow so we’ll call a car probably around 5 p.m.’
‘Meeting the family, huh? How you feeling?’ Harper knows exactly how I’m feeling– like I’ll probably need to bring a change of pants with me.
‘He’s basically terrified of my mom. They’ve spoken on the phone a couple times, but she’s like the biggest matchmaker ever and she’s a bit disappointed she didn’t pick Johannes out for me.’
And that only makes my stomach churn more. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel if she actually doesn’t like me.
