Page 121 of Game on, Love
So, I swallowed the words, letting them settle back into the corners of my mind as I smiled. “Thank you.”
And when her eyes lit up at my acceptance of her words, I knew I had made the right choice. I hadn’t replaced her feelings with mine, and for now that was enough.
She linked our hands together before truly showing me her world.
TAKING A DETOUR, SHEpulled me to step out of the paddock to give me the true fan experience she had promised me. As we walked around the circuit, the energy was completely different from the one in the paddock. Everywhere you looked,there were fans in team merchandise, some chilling by the bright, massive screens as they displayed the junior format races, some mingling by the food stalls, while some interacting with the different booths that held interviews and activities for fans to get involved in. The space had a buzz to it, and I was beginning to understand why she was so in love with this aspect of the sport.
It wasn’t just about the different sessions that ran throughout the day; there was a sense of community bringing them in and that tied them together.
After having a go at the simulator and competing in some reflex tests, Raina led me straight toward a section that was a lot quieter, but it was where the real magic was displayed.
From old cars lined with relics of the sporting history, and some classic ones that were part of iconic race wins, to several championship-winning cars, including Vedant’s car from last year, they were all gleaming under the sunshine as she admired them like she was falling back in love with the sport for the first time.
“This one’s from 1998,” Raina said, pointing to a car that was covered in that iconic Ascari red. “One of the greatest seasons, and the season that made my Mum fall in love with the sport.”
I ran my hand down her back, and she looked up at me with a smile. “You know, it’s actually designed by the same engineer who designed the new generation of cars. They have just evolved over the years.”
“That’s cool,” I replied genuinely, and she grinned.
We spent a little longer admiring the cars before we turned to the main piece of the exhibition: the championship trophy.
We stood there for a moment, watching the trophy glint under the lights, and I felt her straighten up.
“You okay?” I asked as the tension settled further into her posture.
“Just thinking about tomorrow,” She sighed.
“You worried?”
She nodded. “They’ve had a history of going lethal with each other. Neither wants to give up space, but both expect it from each other. I have no idea how they’ve kept it clean for this long, but those two going on the last race on points is like the ultimate test, and either way, I’ll have to see one of them lose when they both deserve it.”
Tightening my hold on her, I gave her an understanding look. I knew that even though they all had called it a truce, she wasn’t going to pick between her friend and her brother because it wasn’t fair to either of them, and I knew that all of us loved her a little more because of it.
THE PADDOCK WAS A BLURof energy once the qualifying session wrapped up. Mechanics running around with used tyres, drivers and media personnel walking up down the pit lane as they finished up the interviews, while the chatter of reporters and photographers added to the frenzy.
By the time it had started to die down, I was sitting in the open space outside of the Hillcrest Motor home, Rihaan and Dev next to me as we waited for Raina and Vedant. Raina had been still wrapping up her work, having to start a little later due to my sudden appearance, but now was stood in my direct eyesight as she spoke to Axel.
He had put his car on pole position, while Vedant, who was still in his debrief, had qualified in P3.
“QUACK!” Rihaan whisper-yelled in my ear making me jump, and I looked at him in dismay. I could feel the stares that had turned in our direction as he laughed out loud, and my own grin formed on my lips just as Dev stood up and walked off.After everything that had gone down, I’d kept my conversations minimal with him and neither of us wanted to change that.
“What the fuck?” I asked, and Rihaan raised his brows.
“I have been speaking to you for the last five minutes, but it’s like you’re staring at her like you’ve never seen her before,” His voice was laced with amusement as he shook his head.
Before I could reply, a shadow fell over us, making both of us look up. Raina looked at us with an amused expression, but I could spot the exhaustion creeping in as her gaze flicked between me and her brother.
“Should I even ask?” She sighed, but her tone was teasing and soft.
Rihaan leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. “You’ve made my best friend sappy, Rai. He’s been staring at you like a lovesick puppy for the last five minutes.”
Raina tilted her head, the amusement only rising in her eyes as she focused on me. “Is that so?”
I lifted a shoulder before tugging on her hand, and like she was expecting it, she landed on my lap easily, and I wrapped an arm around her. “I wouldn’t say like a puppy. But you walked out of the media pen, I saw you… and Ichosenot to look away.”
Rihaan groaned before he straightened up. “And I’m officially out of here before I vomit.”
When both of us ignored him as we maintained our eye contact, he walked off as he muttered about not knowing how he’d survive next years with us, but that only made me grin instead.