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It was normal, Scarlett was with me, and that was all I needed.
At the same time, it was the end of an era. This summer had changed everything—my self-esteem, my willingness to leave my comfort zone, my relationship with others and myself.
“You won’t because I won’t race anymore. I don’t need it, but I need you.”
was so used to the luxuries in my life that I sometimes took them for granted, but experiencing them through her eyes did something to my soul. I couldn’t describe what it was, but I wanted to give her every good thing in the world.
“I’ve been here since day one, darling. I was simply waiting for you to join me.”
“We all have ugly feelings sometimes. It’s a part of human nature. But it’s what we do with them that counts.” Every time I thought she couldn’t get more amazing, she proved me wrong.
Our relationship was built on unspoken words. We’d gotten better at expressing them over the past two months, but there were still a few words that remained locked away inside me. Three, to be exact.
I hated this. I hated the asshole whose car rammed into hers, I hated that medical technology wasn’t advanced enough to take away her pain, and most of all, I hated how helpless I was.
Despite all my money and all my fame, I couldn’t do a thing.
“I’ll always take care of you.” I cupped her cheek, my chest aching. “But promise me you’ll also take care of yourself.”
The future would always be there, but today, we’d finally laid the past to rest.
“Don’t worry, darling.” It was like Asher could read my mind. “We’ll get through it together.” I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat. We’d spent the better part of the summer preparing for the storm. Well, the storm was here, and he was right: we’d get through it together. We didn’t have another choice.
thought it would be scary, but it was exhilarating because I knew who’d be waiting at the bottom. I trusted him to catch me. He always did.
This was the pain of my heart truly breaking for the first time in my life.
For Scarlett, I could do anything.
“Of our latest playbook: Win Scarlett Back.”
I would’ve felt the same way because racing is what lost me the one thing—the one person—I care about most in the world. You.”
“Then you came along and shattered every preconception I had of who I was and what I wanted. You made me reevaluate my life and want to be a better person—not just for you but for me.”
Asher’s acknowledgment of my silly Pluto rant over the summer and how much the little planet meant to me in this particular moment was so perfect, so him that it made my heart squeeze.
“I love you,” he repeated, his words thick with emotion. “I’m so fucking in love with you, darling, and the only reckless thing I want to do is explore how deep this rabbit hole goes with you. Together.”
We couldn’t change the past. We could only shape the future, and I wanted a future with him. Together.
“I said I love you more than anything else in the universe, including Pluto,” he corrected teasingly. “Don’t dilute the poetry of my words.”
The only power it held was what I gave it, and I’d reconciled with my past enough to not give it any power at all.
“I had special editions made of all her titles so she could sign them for you in person.”
but she didn’t even need to give me anything. Seeing her that happy had already made my night.
it was about the fact that she trusted me enough to let go. To hand over the reins of control and let me take us where I wanted because she knew I would never hurt her. Her trust was more intoxicating than any sexual act. That being said…when I initiate something, I always see it through.
I didn’t always appreciate the way other people said my full name—like I was a brand and a commodity instead of a person. But when Scarlett said it, she said it like she saw every piece of me—the good and the bad—and she loved me because of, not despite, the different facets of my character. I’d been surrounded by money and fame for most of my adult life. But this, right here, with Scarlett happy and content in my arms? This was all I truly needed.
Even if there were seven hundred thousand instead of seventy thousand people here, I would’ve found her just as easily because a part of me would always be connected to a part of her.
She grinned and blew me a kiss with one hand. Her other hand carried a sign that said Kick Holchester’s ass from here to Pluto in huge, bright purple letters. I burst into laughter. God, I loved that woman. I winked and blew her a kiss back. It was cheesy as fuck, but I didn’t care how many people groaned or how many front pages it would land on tomorrow. I meant it with all my heart.
For now, I allowed myself to abandon my worries and sink into the pleasure of the moment. The past was the past, and the future was unpredictable. But the present? It belonged to us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
