Page 52 of Homecoming

“I don’t know whether to punch you in the face or kiss you,” she said conversationally.

“What?”

“After the week from hell, not being able to eat, drink, think… sleep,” she trailed off.

“I—” I tried to talk but didn’t get far, because she put a hand up to silence me.

“I decided, fuck that.” She turned to me, fire in her eyes. “You don’t get to accuse me of anything and not let me defend myself. You do not get to stop believing in me or succumb to your doubts when I didn’t do anything but show you that you can trust me. Show you how much I cared.” She swallowed. “Show you how much I love you.”

“How could you still love me after what I’ve done?” I asked, hope blooming.

She loved me.

“It’s because of that boy. The boy you were, and down deep still are. That’s why I love you. I fell in love with you years ago. When I didn’t even know what love was. what it meant. I loved you. And no matter how hard I tried, and believe me I did try, I couldn’t stop. You can wear all the masks you want. You can show the world any image you want. But, here. With me? I want the real Ian. The one I know you are. The one you hide from everyone, sometimes even yourself. That one, baby,” she said sarcastically, “he is the real prize. And he’s mine. Trophy or no trophy. Whether you’re racing or not. Mansion or a trailer park. It doesn’t matter. Don’t you see? It’s you I love. It’s you I want. Not an idea of you, not a mask you put on for the world, for your fans. Just you, that boy on the steps. And you don’t get to take him away from me.”

“I promise,” I said slowly. “I won’t. Ever again. I won’t let anyone, not even me, stand between us again.”

It was a vow I intended to keep. No matter what.

“Good,” she said.

We stood staring at each other, neither of us moving.

I was at a loss for what to do.

I wanted to take her in my arms. Kiss her. Tell her over and over how sorry I was. Tell her again that I loved her.

But, it was her choice.

I’d taken it away at the beginning, not relenting when she said nothing was going to happen between us.

It was her move now.

She needed to be the one who would give the green light. After all, she was the one who had to forgive me.

A brief thought fleeted through my mind. What if she couldn’t forgive me?

What if this was really the end of us?

I didn’t think I could live with the knowledge I had everything I ever wanted, and with one stupid move, I had destroyed it.

“Well, are you going to stand on the other side of the room all night, or are you going to kiss me?” She asked, irritation clear in her voice.

With that one question she’d handed me the world.

I loved Formula One. It was my life’s goal. But karting was the best part of my life. It was the only time I could say I’d really made it. Sure, I was in the race for a championship year after year. And won three. But that part of my career? At only sixteen, all alone in the world? Climbing the steps of that small podium, race after race. Yeah, the best part of my life. Until that day when she walked into the pit.

That was the day I finally came home.

And even if it took a lifetime, I was going to prove to Lola there was nothing more important than her.

I was in front of her in a flash.

“I’m going to kiss you for the rest of my life.”

I leaned in and did just that.

Lola