Plus, I’m keen to start a family of my own, not chase ghosts from the past.
“Now then, Steve,” Buford says, taking his hands back and drying his eyes discreetly with a handkerchief before assuming his usual blustery personality.
“We’ve got a race to win tomorrow and I don’t want to see any more car’s wrecked, got it?” he asks, shooting me another sly wink.
“Yes sir!” Steve says, standing up to shake his hand.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Steve
The dream job, the dream girl… the whole day having developed an extra surreal, fairy tale type feeling to it but Penny stays the same. The news doesn’t change her a bit.
Buford stays and we have a late dinner together once I finally get changed. We talk about a lot of things, none of them to do with racing or Penny being his biological granddaughter.
We sleep like two exhausted children and I wake up feeling like a new man. Primed with energy and focus, happy I didn’t dream Penny and me and ready for the qualifying rounds of the second race of my new career.
Penny moves around a bit in her sleep, and I wake to see her facing away from me, which I don’t like, but the sheets have come off her and that fine rear end of hers is the best good morning I’ve had in ages.
I sigh with satisfaction, wanting so bad to touch her all over, but knowing it might change the view, so I just lay back and watch her as long as I can before she finally starts to stir.
Her hand absently reaches behind her and finds me hot and hard, the result of me having stared at her for so long.
“You’re up early,” she yawns, smiling to herself without loosening her grip on me for a second.
“I watched you for a while, didn’t want to wake you,” I murmur, letting my hands run over her shoulder, down to her hip.
“You should’ve woken me,” she says, matter of fact, turning to glancing down at my hardness.
“What’s that saying about no sex before a game?” she asks dreamily.
“I have no idea,” I tell her, rolling onto my back as she shivers a long breath in as she straddles me, fishing behind her to guide me inside her again.
“I’m pretty sure that’s only boxers and football players,” she coos, gasping as she slowly eases herself onto me. I let both my hands rest on her ample chest, slowly working in circles before squeezing them harder and in time with the rhythm she sets for herself.
“I’ll be late for qualifying,” I caution her, not even thinking about cars or the track. Not even thinking about her dad either.
“It’s alright,” she assures me. “I have connections, you can be a little late.”
Everything’s so different, but it’s exactly the same. True to his word, Buford hasn’t said anything and the team manager, his other grandchild is oblivious to everything that’s happened, and he even makes sure to keep Mike and me at a sensible distance throughout qualifying.
Buford must’ve had words with Mike, because he only juts his chin in recognition of me when he sees me, but hugs Penny and acts like nothing’s happened, which I can tell makes Penny feel a lot better too.
The car’s perfect, and I qualify first on the grid again. This time around, my mind is on the race and Penny, and I feel more confident knowing that at least one of those, the most important one, is already mine.
The race? Doesn’t exactly go to plan and I come second place.
I know Buford will be mad, he promised me rewards only if I win races, but I can’t help thinking I’ve already won. With Penny waiting for me in the garage after I cross the finish line, a cup, and prize money… even Buford’s praise, none of it means much compared to having Penny there.
I feel a little guilty though, and notice Buford hovering around the pit but ignoring me, staying out of sight from Penny too. Mike only gives me a distant look and the crew themselves seem a little disappointed.
Penny’s happy to see me though, and without thinking twice, she kisses me the way I want her to, and I kiss her right back, holding her close and picking her as I turn us both around.
Our own victory dance, even if I did only get second place, I’m a winner with her in my arms.
“I’ve got after race stuff to do,” I whisper in her ear. “Don’t go too far though, okay?”
She nods and I see both Buford and Mike reappear in the garage, talking quietly among themselves before a few other crew members get involved, a mild ripple of excitement running through the garage.
“What’s up?” I ask, stepping over to them and figuring I may as well take what’s coming to me.
“Protest,” Mike says, looking past me.
“You didn’t get second,” Buford says, knitting his brow.
I cross my own. “That doesn’t make sense,” I say. “I was second across the line, third was three lengths back.”
Both Buford and Mike smile, unable to hold it back any longer.
“Mike here lodged the protest. He reckons he saw some illegal mechanics on the first place teams car this morning, turns out he was right. You won, Steve… you’re the winner… came in first after all!”
Mike holds out his hand, which I take in my own, pumping it hard before embracing him. “You didn’t have to say anything,” I tell him.
“Yeah I did,” he reminds me. “You won fair and square, plus you’re the better driver.”
“And a better friend?” I ask, not meaning to, but needing to broach the topic at some point.
“Just make her happy Steve, love her and keep her safe, like I know you will,” he says, bumping his chest into mine as his hand slaps my back.
“I will, Mike. You know I will,” I tell him,
