Three laps to go.
“Get Athena,” I breathe as I cruise down the straight, gliding the car around the first apex and flying through sector one.
“Everything okay, Royce?” my dad’s voice echoes down the mic.
“Just get Athena,” I ask again, but this time my words come out in a beg. I can hear a slight commotion, my breaths low and heavy.
“Royce.” Her voice slips around me like silk, wrapping me tightly.
“Hey baby,” I croon, “just needed to hear your voice.”
“You’re doing so well.”
I inhale sharply. “Hey, lucky.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you remember back in Las Vegas when I said we should get married?”
Her soft giggles fill my ears. “Yes,” she whispers.
“Fuck.” I sigh, pushing the car to its limits as I drive down the short back straight. “Should have married you there.”
She goes silent on me.
“I love you, Athena. I’m not even thinking about winning.” I pause for a moment as I turn sharply, slowing down as I roll the car round and accelerate out of the corner. “All I’m thinking about is you, waiting for me when I climb out that car.”
Two laps to go.
“I’ll be there.”
Checking my mirrors, it’s clear Ajax is closer. “Time on Ajax,” I bark.
“Just under a second, mate,” Marcel’s collected tone eases my nerves.
“You’ve got this, Royce.”
Her words sink inside of me, and I curse as I take the corner wide, slowing myself down which helps Ajax out as he tries tolunge up the inside. Pulling tight to the corner, I slide around it before pulling away and leaving him behind.
“Just stay on the radio.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Her voice is steady and calm. “And that married in Vegas thing? How about we jet off somewhere and do it?”
One lap to go.
“Fuck,” I whisper down the radio, my heart pounding in my chest, the blood thrashing in my ears.
“For real?”
“For real.”
Silence echoes momentarily.
“Now bring it home, baby.” The softness of her tone pushes me as I drive like this was my last chance. I have wanted this since as long as I could remember, and now, it was finally about to happen.
Rounding the last corner, I watch the fireworks go off as I chase down the finish line, weaving my car from the kerb and my heart stops beating for just a second as I cross the line.
“Oh my God.” Her voice is there. “You did it! Baby! You did it,” she screams down the radio.
