Page 105 of Drive Me Crazy
“Yeah.” It comes out as more of a question than a statement. “Why would Remi know about an office building in Manhattan?”
Blake scratches his cheek, parting his lips like he wants tosay something. The way he keeps tilting his head is exactly what Murphy does when you say “treat” or “play ball” in a high-pitched voice.
“I assumed you’d want to be back in New York.” He tugs at my hands, pulling me up from the chair. I lean against him, wrapping my arms around his waist. My body molds against his like he was sculpted just for me. “I’d buy a place and we could be there in between races. That’s why I was learning the neighborhoods.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “You’d do that?”
“Of course.” He looks offended that I even had to ask. “I love you, El, and if that’s where you want to live, that’s where I want to be, too.”
I’m not sure how many times I’m going to need to hear him say he loves me before it stops being my favorite phrase of all time.
“I’ll miss the bagels and pizza,” I concede, “but I’ve done all I wanted to do in New York. I can always visit. I’m ready for something new. Plus, I’m crazy in love with this cute guy who lives in London.”
“Cute? I’d say so ridiculously good-looking you can barely be in a room with him without wanting to tear his clothes off.” He squeezes my ass, drawing me tighter against him. A lopsided grin appears on his lips. “I pinky promise you’re going to love London. It’ll feel like home in no time.”
I pull his lips against mine. “You’re my home.”
“You’re mine, too, baby.”
EPILOGUE
Blake
The grandstands have been packed since earlier this afternoon, the sounds of cheering fans mixing with the rumbling noises of the garage. The last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi is always madness and mayhem, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve barely spent time with my family because of all the chaos, but Ella’s been with them all day.
“Uncle Blake! Uncle Blake!”
Finn runs at me at full speed, the bulky noise-canceling headphones he’s wearing slipping off his head and onto the ground. I quickly put them back on him. He’s cried at past races due to the loudness and I don’t want a repeat performance.
I pick him up and he wraps his tiny arms around my neck. “How many championships have you won?”
Weird question considering Ella easily knows the answer and he’s been with her all morning. In fact, she probably knows more about my career than I do. I ask him if he means Constructors’ or World and he wiggles out of my arms and is off without a word.
He’s back a minute later, barreling into me breathlessly.“World!”
“Then the answer is five.”
This is not the answer he wants to hear. His shoulders sag forward, disappointment flooding his face. I think five World Championship titles is bloody good considering no one else has ever won that many, but I’ll just go fuck myself, I suppose.
“I asked Ella to be my aunt and she said she’ll only marry someone who’s won at least eight of those.” He sighs dramatically. “How long will that take?”
I look over at where my girlfriend is standing in the corner talking to my sister and brother-in-law. There’s no stopping a smile from hovering on the edge of my lips. That cheeky woman of mine. I’m glad my nephew’s proposing to her on my behalf; not so glad Ella’s challenging me while simultaneously turning me down. She catches my eye and shoots me a wink. I motion for her to come over.
“Eight championships, huh?” I slip my arms under her jacket so I can feel the warmth of her skin. “Quite the order, Miss Gold.”
“Someone’s got to keep you in check.” She rests her chin on my chest and looks up. “Win today and you’re already at six!”
“No pressure.” I chuckle. It’s a good thing I don’t get nervous. “How many championships until kids are on the table?”
She gives me a gentle kiss. “Let’s take it one championship at a time.”
“We can have a lot of fun making a baby,” I mention. I’m already imagining Ella pushing a pram around the streets of London. “If we have a boy, I hope he’s just as well-endowed as me.”
Her face falls into my chest as laughter bubbles out of her. “Can we start with a puppy and take it from there?”
“One hour,” an engineer calls out. “One hour!”
Thepit garage erupts in applause and cheers for our final race. It’s been one hell of a season. After today, we’ve got two and a half more months until we’re doing it all over again. Not that our time off will be spent idly. The mechanics and engineers will be back in the garage, working hand in hand on next year’s car. Theo, Lucas, and I will be fulfilling our personal sponsorship agreements and meeting at our respective team’s headquarters to start strategizing for the upcoming season. We may only race for twenty-one weekends of the year, but we spend all fifty-two weeks prepping.
