Nyck called me seconds after he commented on Marcus' post.

"Hi Nyck, all okay?"

"I'm so fucking hungover, my head hurts really bad. Also, Marcus and you got together or something?"

"No need to panic, we just got breakfast together. Now get up, you have a race in four hours"

"Grr..."

He hangs up before I can say anything else.

.

"So" the boy next to me begins, "how come you're single? I think so many boys would be more than grateful to be with you"

I sigh at Marcus' words. "Nyck is just too overprotective, and every boyfriend so far left me. I guess I just was a rose in the hands of those who had no intention of keeping me whatsoever"

"That was poetic, wow"

By the time we get to stare at each other one more time, the cars are all lined up and ready to start the race.

My heart beats faster with every second that passes, and the 19-year-old notices that.

He takes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile. "It'll all be good, I promise"

.

Everyone finally shut up, focusing on the race. Sean was currently fighting for the first place, while my brother was struggling to gain some points.

In that moment I felt happy for the team, but sad for Nyck. He works so hard every day to struggle now for a P10?

Marcus still hasn't let go, making it one hour of us holding hands, which probably has all the media talking, thing I don't care about.

"You good?" He asks me

I nod, trying to see if Nyck has gained any positions.

"It happens to everyone. Be great on one weekend, suck on another"

"Yeah, I guess" I say to the dirty-blonde haired guy.

.

Sean won the race, with Nyck just in P7. Still a really good performance after a race full of struggle.

"Thanks to everyone supporting me this weekend," the winner begins to say his speech, "it feels amazing. The team is the best. Also, special thanks to Nyck's brother for coming over and giving me her full support." He can't find me in the crowd.

"In what world did I give him my full support?"

Marcus starts to laugh. He squeezes my hand. "Just ignore his antics. You'll be fine"

We smile at each other and wait for Sean to get off the podium, while looking at my brother in the media space.

.

"It is just frustrating, you know? Trying to stay positive for the media" he tells me after we get back to our hotel rooms

"I get it. You don't have to lie to me. If you want to, let it all out"

And he did. He let it all out. Screaming, crying, all that. I've never been so proud of him.

"You know, Henrjik" I say and he softly punches me "I don't care if you finished on the podium, you won, you didn't even finish or you finished on a random position. You're still a winner in my eyes, and this will never change."

"I love you, little one." We hug "Stop calling me by my name, though"

"I'll stop, I'm sorry"

"It's okay"

.

I kept texting Marcus and he kept texting me for the rest of the day. I get why he can't see me, and I respect that.

Even though what I want most is to see him. I just cannot lose this last day of seeing him.

When I'm lost most in my thoughts, Sean texts me.

hey, wanna meet?

sure, when?

and where?

can you meet me

in 5 in front of the

casino next to the

track?

of course, see

you then!

Even if I had no intention of going, I went anyway. Probably should have listened to my gut.

"Hi pretty" He says

"Hi Sean" I say. Let's just get this over with. "Why did you wanted to see me?"

"I actually wanted to ask you something" I could see him fussing around, being agitated.

"Are you single?"

My mind was racing. Naturally, I had to say yes, but my mind just told me to say no. What if I say I'm Marcus' girlfriend? Could he play it off?

It felt like hours of strategizing in my head what to say, when it actually were a few seconds. "No, I actually have a boyfriend now"

His face turns sad, and I immediately regret the decision I've made.

"And who's the lucky guy?"

In that very moment, a text makes its way to me, like we've been talking through telepathy.

how's my favorite

girl in the whole

world? 🥺