“Please tell the story again.” I rest my elbows on the table, hands tucked under my chin as I look between Creed and Royce, who is sat beside me.
I wait for someone to start talking. Creed groans, dropping his face, still with that huge smile on his lips as he shakes his head from side to side.
“Back when Anaïs and I were platonic.” He side-eyes his wife.
“Platonic,” Nora scoffs and Rue giggles behind her glass.
“Give it a rest, you two.” He furrows his brow. “Anyway, Luke, from Montcroix bet that me and Ace would become something more. I played it down that it wasjusta crossover of dates…” He trails off and locks eyes with his wife who is smiling all giddy. “And not that I was going to cross a line I shouldn’t.”
I giggle. “We made a bet in Monaco. It was between Royce or the Yacht.”
Creed turns serious for a moment. “I offered Royce instead, but they said no.”
The whole table erupts in laughter.
“No, no, of course, I threw the yacht in knowing full well I had already signed it away.”
Anaïs smiles softly, her arm tucking under her husbands as she rests her head against his bicep.
“But yes.” He chuckles. “I will not be betting anything else again.” He turns his face and kisses the top of his wife’s head.
The table falls quiet for a moment. Royce’s hand slips under the table as he gives my thigh a squeeze. Turning my face to look at him, I give him a smile.
‘I love you,’he mouths and I lean in to kiss him.
“I love you more,” I whisper against his lips.
The sound of glasses being tapped draws our attention. Our moment is broken and I see Edel standing up, her teary eyes on me.
“A toast.” She stutters over her words. “I just want to thank Athena.” She smiles at me. “And Nora, of course, for letting me join my best friend on this whirlwind. Not only have I seen parts of the world that I would have never seen without this opportunity, I also got my dream job.” She swallows “But this isn’t about me, this is about her.” She points her finger towards me, and I blink back tears. “The girl who always dreamt of more, always dreamt of spilling her soul between the pages, always dreamt of getting her book published… You’ve done that all, babe.”
“And bagged yourself a hotshot Formula One driver,” Royce slips in and we all laugh.
Happiness trails down my cheeks and Royce is there, wiping them away with the pad of his thumb.
“This is to you. You made it, babe. You defied everything you were told growing up and do you know what I say to your parents?” Edel’s voice cracks. She knows more than anyone about how my parents treated me, how they belittled me and told me I would never amount to anything. “Fuck you.” The table cheers as she holds her glass towards me.
“Congratulations darling, I love you all the world.” She sniffles as we all hold our glasses out into the middle of the table, clinking them.
Royce cups my cheek, dragging my face towards him as his lips slant across mine. And finally, I know I am home. I have found my place.
“I love you, Lucky,” he whispers, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I love you more.”
Epilogue
Royce
ABU DHABI - THE FINAL RACE
It all comes downto this race. If I cross the line in the top three, the world championship is mine.
My mind momentarily flits back to our flight, Athena on my lap, her back to me and my fingers pressing into the soft skin of her stomach as I pin her skirt around her waist. She loves going on top, being in control, or so she thought.
Truth is, I love her on top too. I love watching the way her tits bounce up and down, love watching the way my cock stretches her tight cunt.
The way her cunt glides up and down my cock, squeezing me with each roll down. Fuck. I am obsessed with her.
