“Already holding it.”
“Pit Master to Little Sister, confirmed with binoculars. He is holding up a water bottle for some reason. I’m not sure what this is about, but I wish you’d both use the proper lingo. Also, please be advised that the pink Caddy is about to pass you.”
“I thought winning wasn’t important,” I laughed shakily.
“Not being last is our only rule.”
I picked up my speed, my heart racing faster than Jiminy. “Little Sister to Motor Daddy.”
“I’m here, but I’m not calling you that.”
“You’re in love with me.”
There was a pause and then, “Was that a question?”
“Yes. No. I mean, I hope not. Hang on.” I glared at the old ladies and revved past them once we were going straight again.
“There. The thing is, I’m pretty sure I love you too. Scratch that. Entirely sure. It started with revisiting a crush, but now it’s a permanent condition. If you love me back, then I don’t want to live with you and be with youuntilorunlesseither one of us decides to find a house or move away. I want to do this for real. With you. For keeps and without any escape hatches. I love you, Wade Hudson. So, yeah. Um. Over.”
I winced at the whoops and hollers that sounded like Bernie, Chick and my sister shouting into someone’s radio before Wade responded again.
“Affirmative. You’ve started lap ten, Gus. Finish this and get your sweet ass back to the paddock so I can tell you to your face.”
Affirmative.
Wade Hudson loved me.
The knowledge had me making my fastest lap time on my way back to the paddock.
When I pulled in, people were swarming the car and cheering,though I’d barely finished the first half hour of my two-hour turn and my lap time had probably put my team behind their usual numbers.
They didn’t care. They just really loved to celebrate around here.
I felt like celebrating too.
I’d taken the biggest risk of all, one that had nothing to do with the race, and if the expression on Wade’s face as he headed straight for me was any indication, it had paid off.
Or it would as soon as I could make my way out of the prison of belts and straps that kept me inside this literal metal cage of death and away from the moment where the man finally said the words.
Because he hadn’t actually said them yet.
He’d implied. Inferred. Insinuated. Suggested. But despite my usual spiraling and habitual insecurity, I knew I was right. I really, firmly believed I was probably right, which was why I’d declared myself on the radio in front of everyone we knew and any strangers who might be walking by.
Words were important, damn it.
I barely felt the hugs and back pats as Chick and Bernie tried to help me out of my helmet and the now-sweaty top half of my racing suit.
The soaked hair that had escaped my braid was starting to frizz as it clung to my hot cheeks. I understood the purpose of the cooling layer now. This was a hot, stressful and uncomfortably sticky business. My deodorant was nothing more than a distant memory and everything, including the backs of my knees, felt gross and wet.
Then Wade was standing in front of me and I forgot about it all. I looked up at the big, irritatingly handsome man and saw the answer blazing out from the eyes I adored.
He loved me.
“This is like the scene from that Sandra Bullock movie, where the family was all standing around staring and waiting for their idiot son who was taking too long to tell her he loved her and propose.”
Everyone, Wade and I included, turned our heads to stare at Lucy, whose face was almost as red as his mustache. “My wife is a romantic. Plus, we need to move this delightful side quest along so we can get Rick into the car to make up some lap time.”
Rick was already geared up, apart from his helmet, and looking decidedly impatient as he watched Dalton drive the car to the fueling area.
