She taps my chest with her finger.
“Her heart remembered you even when her brain didn’t. It means something, Dash. It might even mean whatever went down between them wasn’t what you think it was. So, wake up, get your head out of your ass and fix this.”
37
LENNON
Once the interviews are done, well…for the most part, myself and the second- and third-place winners are directed to take the stage to receive our awards and recognition.
“I’m so proud of you, Lennon. Now get out there and shine like the star you’ve always been,” Dad says as he hugs me tight.
Mom hugs me too and then kisses my cheek before wiping a tear from under her eye. She’s missing London in this moment of victory as much as I am. I don’t know how to fully embrace this win without her. Bittersweet doesn’t even begin to describe this moment.
But for weeks now, my name has been mentioned in every news outlet and social media platform. The whole world, even those not typically racing fans, has become invested in my climb back to the top. Most have cheered me on; some have equally hoped I’d fall and stay down.
My name has carried the weight of my father’s legacy and now my own has become bigger and heavier than I everimagined possible. I love racing. Love…loved. It’s still very much who I am, but without London and without Dash I’m not sure any of it matters. Who am I creating this legacy for?
I glance back at my team as my parents usher me toward the back of the stage and see Troy and Dillan standing with Hendrix. They all wave me on and Hendrix winks at me before I turn around.
That’s when I collide with Dash. My heart is jarred by how close he stands to me, his hands gripping my arms, so I don’t fall. His dark eyes hold me captive as he realizes he’s holding on to me and all too soon he releases me.
My arms immediately miss the feel of his fingertips on my skin. How pathetic am I? He’s made it painfully clear over the last few months that he’s moved on. He said we were done, and he’s made no effort to talk to me during all this time I’ve been rebuilding myself.
And if that weren’t enough of a slap in the face, there’s always someone hovering near him even though he seems to pay them no attention. His eyes, when he looks into mine, may tell one story, but he’s made it painfully clear he’s not interested in adding any more chapters to the book of us.
At my welcome back surprise party, I was determined to reclaim that part of my life and my heart. I was ready to go full throttle with him; real-world consequences be damned. Because it was one of London’s last pieces of advice to me. Our love would show up and show out. She said chasing one another would be a race we’d both win.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. But I know now, what I feared all along is true. Sometimes love isn’t enough. There certainly can’t be a relationship when only one of you is willing to fight for it. I can’t make someone try who doesn’t want to.
What I do know is even though I see his love for me reflected in his eyes, his actions and his absence scream as loudly as a midnight train.
“Congratulations, Valkyrie. You did it,” he says as the corners of his lips tip up just a bit.
“Thanks. You almost had me right up until the end though.”
“Almost,” he says and the tone in his voice is heavy like he isn’t talking about the race at all.
We stare in silence for about a minute more before the third-place winner, Mack Elliot, breaks the trance by shaking hands with Dash and then swinging me around in a playful hug.
“Lennon Tyler! What a comeback, girl! I’m so proud of you. Glad you’re back on the track,” he says.
“Yeah, thanks, Mack. Congratulations to you too,” I tell him.
He glances between me and Dash.
“You two are a powerhouse out there. Hard to make first or second when y’all are my competition. I know y’all are on opposing teams, but man, if you weren’t. Y’all are like couple goals. Always thought you were a thing under everyone’s radar,” he says as he grins and shakes his head before his sponsor calls his name.
“If only the world saw what we almost had, I guess,” I say under my breath.
“What?” Dash asks with a furrowed brow.
“Nothing, they’re calling you,” I say as the announcers call us out.
I see Audrey, Dash’s sister, off to the side and she waves at me just as my name is called.
Mack and Dash are both standing on the podium when they finally call my name and I stand just a bit higher than them in the center. The cameras flash and people move through the crowd to get a better look.
Bodies are dancing to the music now playing and confetti makes it hard to see. I turn to look at Dash and a girl runs from the crowd, jumping into his arms nearly tackling him before security can pull her away.
