Page 69 of Not So Fast
After his pit stop, Xander had come out in P10, but as other drivers began to slide all over the track and visibility became worse and worse, he passed cars like crazy. “That’s P4 for Xander Bishop. What an overtake from the Brit! Could it be that he’s trying extra hard for his home Grand Prix? I think that might be the case. Matsumoto has finally relented and gone in for the intermediate tires as well. With three laps to go, it might be too late.”
“Come on, Xander,” Mia muttered, her lower lip trembling with a mix of emotion and nervousness she couldn’t begin to understand. “You. Can. Do. It.”
Yes, she absolutely wanted him to hold on to what he had, but she also knew what was within reach—if he moved up one more position, he’d be on the podium.
* * *
Xander couldn’t see shit.
There was so much mist and spray it was impossible. At this point, he was driving on pure instinct and thankful for the blinking lights on the backs of the cars ahead.
Focus, Xander. Fucking focus.
“Lockford is struggling for pace, Xander. You can take him,” his engineer said.
“Stop talking. Please. Just let me drive,” Xander snapped.
He hated losing his cool, but so much of what he wanted was within reach and he needed everyone to just get the hell out of his way. Starting with Brett Lockford.
* * *
P2. Xander was in P2.
“Here it is,” the announcer said. “The final lap.”
The paddock club was packed with people now, trying to avoid the rain. Everyone was staring at the TVs cheeringXander on—the hometown boy, about to become a hero. If all went well.
“Come on, Xander!” Oscar yelled at the screen.
“Oh, my God,” Freya said, clutching her stomach. “I’m going to be sick.”
“I hope your parents are watching,” Mia said.
Thinking about someone else was a good way to distract herself from what was happening. From the enormity of it all. But she could also imagine Audrey consumed by the nerves of watching her son risk life and limb on a track that had turned to an ice rink in the rain. And Edward, filled with hope for a fantastic finish at the Grand Prix that meant so much to the entire family. Once again, a podium finish for Xander felt like too much to hope for. Too much to hold on to…
And then, just like that, Xander flew across the finish line. In second place.
Mia, Freya and Oscar screamed at the exact same time, as did everyone else in the paddock club. It was an explosion of sound, followed by a bright flash of light—a reaction awash in pure joy. The three of them jumped up and down, arms wrapped around each other, Freya crying and Oscar laughing and Mia somewhere in between.
Catharsis didn’t begin to describe it. It was church bells and a shout from a mountaintop and the roar of a crowd at a ticker tape parade. And when the celebration calmed enough for the result to sink in, Mia looked at Freya and then at Oscar, with their wide-as-the-sky grins, and she realized she felt like part of something. Something big. Bigger than anything she’d experienced in her life.
She’d stepped into this world expecting that she’d nevertruly belong, but she’d found her place. With Xander, his family, this sport. She belonged.
“Hurry! Let’s go!” Oscar yelled. “We have to run down to the podium. I don’t want to watch from the balcony!”
Mia and Freya grabbed their bags and the three of them hustled downstairs, frantically winding their way through the crowds in the paddock and then into the mayhem of fans running to stand in front of the podium. Luckily, the rain now was nothing more than a sprinkle. Isabel spotted Mia, Freya and Oscar and flagged them down.
“I’ve got a spot for you three to watch. Come on.”
Isabel led them behind the barricades to where select family were allowed to watch the podium ceremony near the mechanics and engineers. Mia had seen people stand in this coveted place many times on television, but she’d never imagined she would be there herself.
“I’m so glad you’re here for this,” Freya said, leaning into Mia.
Mia couldn’t explain the way she felt right now—light and free, with nothing but pure happiness coursing through her veins. She kissed Freya on the temple.
“Same. Thank you for sharing this with me. It was so much fun.”
From the podium, they began announcing the drivers’ names. First up was Florian, who received an enthusiastic round of applause from the crowd, not only because he’d taken third place, but possibly because everyone felt bad for his breakup.
