Vinny grabs my hands and squeezes them gently, letting me know he’s listening, and he cares.
“I’m so sorry about London, amore. I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be going through,” he says gently with his lips turned down in a sad way.
I nod, unable to answer. But he sees my struggle and swipes the first tear off my cheek that trickles down anyway.
“Don’t try to bottle up your pain in front of me, amore. This…you and me…we’re friends and I’m here for you. And nothing you say to me leaves this space between us.”
“I was hoping you’d still say that. I know we haven’t talked as much over the last few years, but I need help flying under the radar for a few days. And I also need your help reappearing when I’m ready.”
“I’ll make it happen; whatever you need,” he says as he takes my hand and walks with me into his house where I proceed to tell him the whole story from loving Dash Conrad to finding myself again to what my plan is.
A week later…
“Are you sure about this?”I ask Vinny again as we arrive at the speedway where up-and-coming racers compete against one another trying to make a name for themselves and catch the attention of sponsors alike. This is a track I’ve raced countless times. We get out of his SUV and I’m already in my racing jacket with my helmet and gloves tucked under my arm.
I’m about to do something with a name, that’s for sure. Some will think I’m here making a new one, continuing a legacy if you will, but those who know…those who are paying attention will know it’s not a continuation; it’s the genuine article. It’s me reintroducing my name to the world and letting them know Lennon Tyler hasn’t gone anywhere.
“I’m sure, amore. This is the race to get you back in the spotlight—in whatever light you need. And the car you’ll be driving is the best. It’s ready. Let’s go check it out,” Vinny says while pulling me along with him to a green-and-black Camry which looks very similar to my car waiting for my return in North Carolina.
“You’re sure the team letting me drive this is all right with it?” I ask.
“I took care of everything, Lennon,” he says quietly against my ear as he presses a kiss to my cheek. “You give ’em hell like I know you can. Don’t hold back. Show them what you’re made of.”
I smile at my friend and wonder how he hasn’t found his person yet. Someone will be very lucky to have his love. He deserves all the happiness in the world.
He introduces me—as a Tyler Motorsports racer—to the team he sponsors who’s allowing me to race their car tonight. He’s trying to help me remain as anonymous as possible until I’m ready. He mentioned telling the team not to gawk or ask questions when they saw me, and that in itself lets me play either role I want to—London or…me.
He told me earlier there will be cameras here. Lots of press because he spread a rumor that tonight would be a race any racing fan wouldn’t dare want to miss, promising a big reveal.
As the team meets me, I feel their curious glances on me. My face and the Tyler name are no strangers to the racing world. I made lots of waves in my racing career. The fact I’m a womanwith so many wins and achievements in racing garners even more attention for me and my family.
The moment the first flash of a camera catches my attention, I square my shoulders back. No turning back now.
As always, Vinny heads off anyone trying to get too close. He tells them they’ll have to wait until after the race is over before turning to me with a wink.
He escorts me to where the race car is waiting on the grid. They have me in the pole position much to my surprise on a track with nineteen other cars. This race will run fifty laps. As we get closer to it, cameras are flashing from everywhere and stunned drivers gawk as I walk by.
My blood is pumping with a familiar adrenaline and I feel alive.
“Wow, you look just like Lennon Tyler,” a driver beside me says as he studies me.
Vinny stares him down, all his sweet tendencies out the door and he’s back to his prickly self the outside world normally sees.
“I’m a twin. Didn’t you know?” I ask with a quirk of my lips. It wasn’t an admission or even a lie.
The guy blinks a few times like he isn’t sure what he’s seeing or what he should say, so he goes with, “Good luck out there.”
“Thanks, you too,” I reply flashing my signature smile before glancing back at Vinny.
A ghost of a smile passes over Vinny’s lips.
“Blow their doors off, amore. I know the goal here but try to have fun too. And remember, I’ll be in your comms if you need me.”
He kisses my cheeks and walks away toward where he’ll be stationed.
I glance around the track and still find other drivers watching me along with reporters who have gathered close by. As much as I love racing, and as many times as I’ve done this exact race onthis very track, it’s almost surreal to me. A distant memory from a simpler time.
I put my helmet in the driver’s seat before pulling out my gloves and sliding them on one at a time, but not without running my thumb over both my and my sister’s bracelets. I check the comms in my helmet as I pick it back up. Once satisfied, I pull it on and immediately hear Vinny in my ear.
