Page 60 of Racing Hearts
“Fine, but don’t be alarmed when Valkyrie gives me your seat because I look better in the car than you do.” A wry smile on my face, I threw a leg over the side and hopped into the tiny cockpit, struggling to get comfortable as my broad shoulders squeezed into the seat.
“Good grief, is this car made for toddlers?”
Georgia snapped a couple photos, and I had no doubt I’d be hearing from Edward about this one later. “You look like Buddy fromElfwhen he’s trying to fit behind those desks.”
As I stepped out, I heard a soft, small voice from behind me. “Excuse me, Mr. Luca?” A small boy with a bright purple Hermes cap was stood there when I turned around. Smiling, I bent down, taking the pen from his hand.
“Want me to sign your hat, little man?”
“Hand it over, Pierre,” his mom urged. I ruffled his thick brown hair before taking the hat from him, signing my name on the bill. “Would you like Georgia’s signature as well?”
“Ew, gross. No girl cooties!” Pierre giggled as he snatched the cap from my hand, proudly displaying his prize. Georgia was beaming at the mother, who was silently whispering an apology, but she just shrugged it off with a large smile, laughing away as she was passed a hat from a little girl.
“You’re great with kids,” Georgia whispered as she leaned into me, waiting for the next set of children to arrive. We took a seat behind the small table, and I grabbed the water bottle that had been left out for me.
“Do you do this often?”
“I like to visit whenever I have a break. Less now that I’m traveling so much,” she lamented. “But it’s always a joy to come back here, to see the smiles on their faces.” Her eyes glistened with genuine affection. “These kids, they’re warriors, you know? They fight battles every day that most adults can’t even comprehend. And if I can bring them a moment of happiness, then it’s all worth it.”
“Who knew Georgia Dubois had such a soft side? This is truly incredible, Georgia.”
I watched her interact with another little girl, her warmth and kindness shining through in every interaction. In the paddock Georgia was so fiercely guarded, and I loved seeing this more relaxed, warm part of her shine.
Over the next two hours, we signed countless posters, hats, and pictures, listening to their stories and answering questions about racing. Some of them dreamt of becoming professional drivers themselves, while others were simply in awe of how fast our cars went.
“Alright, Luca, last one and then we can head off.” Georgia was smiling, but I could see a hint of sadness on her face. She really did love it here.
As the little boy approached, I bent down, giving him a wide smile as he announced, “I want to be a racer just like you, Luca!”
“Oh, yeah?” I chuckled, grabbing his Hermes hat.
“Yeah! You’re my favorite racer ever! I’m going to win Monza, too. My dad’s Italian and he said you’re one of the best racers Italy has ever had, even better than your dad! My dad isn’t a racer, he’s just an accountant.”
I perked up, flashing him a grin. “Your dad says I’m the best racer on the grid, huh?”
“Oh no, he says Georgia’s the best on the grid.” The boy said the words with such sincerity and honesty that I couldn’t help but throw my head back in a laugh as his mother, embarrassed, hushed her son. Georgia let out a snicker behind me.
“Well, I can’t argue with your dad there!” I finished signing the cap and handed it back to his mother, before signing a Hermes cap for the boy’s father as well.
“Thank you,” the boy’s mother whispered. “He always talks about how he wants to be like Luca Rossi when he grows up.” Staring into her eyes, I kept waiting for thejust kiddingbut as the woman continued to stare back at me, I knew that she was serious.
“Keep chasing your dreams, hmm?” I said, ruffling his hair one more time. “And one day you might just find yourself standing on that Monza podium.” The little boy nodded, waltzing off to get a photo in the model Valkyrie car. I turned back to Georgia, who was gathering her things.
“Want to walk to the paddock? I need to grab a few things,” she asked.
“Yeah, I’d love a walk.”
As we pushed through the heavy glass doors, the cool evening breeze greeted us. It felt nice to be outside, especially on such a beautiful day.
“So, did you like today?” she asked.
“It was really fun, Georgia. I haven’t felt that relaxed in a long time, to be honest. Who knew I was someone’s favorite racer?”
“I did,” she said firmly, her voice overflowing with sincerity. “I did.”
“You keep your work here so private. You should tell people about this charity. It’s so good for the kids.”
Georgia shook her head. “I don’t do it for fame, Luca. I do it because I love it. Because working with these children, it’s an honor. They’ve been through enough, and I don’t want to use them for my PR gain.”
