Page 138 of Away We Go

“Okay, yeah,” I concede. “But then we’re not leaving the house for weeks.”

“Deal.” She squeezes me tightly and whispers into my ear, “I’m so proud of you.”

I let that sink in; her words meant more to me than the trophy or the champagne or the million-dollar bonus I’ll get in my bank next week.

Cherry’s admiration is like a drug for me. I’d do anything to earn it.

“Let’s go, big man.” Nate hooks his arm around my neck and pulls me away from Cherry, flashing her his flirty grin and earning a warning growl from me in return.

“Chill, mate,” he laughs as we walk towards where the third-place driver is wrapping up his post-race interview. It will be our turn next. “That woman has only ever had eyes for you.”

I let this settle in my stomach as he steps up to the microphone. His posh British accent washes over me as he starts his interview, and I look back to where I left Cherry cheering along with Serena and the rest of the team.

It’s amazing what a difference twelve months can make. Here we are at the end of another season, and I feel like a different person.When I’d returned home to Melbourne for Matt and Nancy’s wedding at the start of the year, I was burnt out, lonely and unhappy. After fourteen years of racing cars, I was struggling to find the joy in it. In anything.

Enter Cherry. My best friend’s little sister. Who stumbled back into my world and brought me back to life again. It should be strange, after knowing her for her whole life, to feel this way about her. But it doesn’t. Loving this woman is as easy for me as breathing. I just wish our path to being together had been easier. I knew that bringing her into my world wasn’t going to be smooth—the life I lead is littered with potholes large enough for someone vulnerable to sink into—but I hadn’t realised how bad it had all become for her. And that so many of the issues were stemming from a person within my own team.

It had all come out after the Las Vegas race. Many hours after she came back to me and emerged from my arms and my kisses and my bed, we finally talked. A proper talk. Cherry revealed what I’d long suspected about Troy (I’m going to kill him) and how that ultimately led to her walking away. She detailed the extent of the online hate, which was amplified by the fact thatVortex Motorswas flailing after the mid-season break. And then she admitted what happened with Frieda.

A make-over. She suggested a makeover. For my perfect Cherry!

The woman had to go.

And she did, a mere hour later. I know firing Frieda won’t be the magic pill to fix everything for Cherry, but I’m convinced with my support, continued therapy and a publicist who will workforher and not against her, we’ll weather this storm. Especially knowing my life will be very different in a year from now.

“And now let’s hear from the race winner today and five-time World Champion, Nicolai Dimitrios.”

The roaring of the crowd snaps me back into the moment and I see Nate wrapping up his interview. Where I’m a man of few words in interviews, he’s a man of a few too many.

I step up to the microphone, bracing myself for the impact of what I’m about to share.

“You’ve accomplished it all this year, Nicky.” Jean-Paul Cannon, former two-time World Champion and a friend of mine, starts with a beaming grin. “Drivers’ title, constructors title, finishing with a race win today. Where do you go from here?”

My eyes drift to find Cherry’s blue ones, which are twinkling back at me. “Well, funny you ask that, J.P. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of highs and success during my time racing with Vortex Motors and I’m grateful for everything we’ve achieved together.”

I draw in a deep breath. “And so, it feels like the right time to announce that next year will be my final year in Formula 1.”

A collective gasp washes through the grandstands and I nod in understanding. Retiring after the year I’ve just had is an unusual step and one that’s not done very often. But I’m of the mentality to retire while I’m on top and personally, I’d have been happy to retire here and now. It was Cherry and Jack who convinced me to go one more round around the calendar before tapping out, and with everything the team and the sport have given me, it feels like the least I can do.

“Wow, Nicky. This is quite unexpected,” JP says, quickly masking his surprise like the professional he is. “What prompted this move?”

My eyes find Cherry’s again. “It feels like the right time. I want to spend more time at home. I want to be the person who actually waters my plants and mows my lawn.” The crowd laughs. “I’ve hadthe privilege of a long and successful career with you all, but now I want to spend more time standing still.”

JP nods with understanding. He’d wanted the same thing when he retired several years ago. “And will you be standing still on your own?”

I chuckle, shaking my head and giving him nothing. “All I’ll say, JP, is that I’d love to be watering my plants and mowing my lawn with my wife and kids around me.”

Now the crowds go wild and I can see Cherry’s cheeks glowing from here. We’ve only been together for a short time and have never even spoken about marriage or kids as yet. But the way I feel about Cherry? That’s a forever love, and once she’s feeling more comfortable with me, with our relationship that will always be in some sort of spotlight, I’ll be asking her to marry me.

I’m already planning our honeymoon on my yacht.

“Well, then, Nicky. Looks like the fans will have one more season to enjoy watching you behind the wheel.”

“That’s the plan.”

We smile at each other and I wave to the cheering fans. When the time comes for all this to end, there will be parts of Formula 1 that I will miss. And the love and support from the dedicated fans who pour their hearts and souls into our sport will be at the top of that list.

“Enjoy your break and we’ll see you back here refreshed and ready to go for one last season.”

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