Page 112 of Overtake
“That’s when crush turned to love, Petra.”
She sits forward and turns between his legs. “Nico...”
“Then you said, ‘Try to keep up, Conejo.’” The memory makes him smile. “And I’ve been struggling to stay out front of these feelings ever since.”
She’s fully facing him now, water sloshing as she straddles his lap. Her expression shifts from teasing to something more uncertain. “Smooth talker.”
“No. Just an honest fool.” He brushes a loose lock of hair from her face. “I’ve loved you since before I knew what that word really meant.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t seem to know how to respond, and for a moment, there’s just the sound of water moving and the hum of the bathroom ventilation.
“You can’t just say things like that.” Her hands tighten on his shoulders, but her voice wavers. “Not when we’re supposed to be rivals, Nico. Not when everything’s so complicated with the championships and the teams and… you know.”
“Why not?” He kisses her, then pulls back and stares into her eyes. “Championships aren’t everything.”
“No?” There’s hope and uncertainty at war in that one word. “What’s more important?”
“Things.”
Petra rolls her eyes. “Like what, Nico Belmonte?”
He traces her cheekbones with the tips of his fingers. “Like you never backing down.”
“Even when I’m fighting you?”
“Even then.” He holds her face still, needing her to understand. “You make me better. On track and off. Everything I am as a driver and as a person, you’ve pushed me to be, because I want to deserve you.”
“Christ.” She looks away, expression faltering. “There’s so much noise around this,” her gesture encompasses them and the rest of the world, “that I can’t think straight.”
“You can.” He’s gentle and patient with her. No need for force. She’ll come to understand in time. Nico’s sure. “You make decisions under pressure every race weekend. This is the same.”
She’s looking at him again and there’s a little irritation in her voice and gaze. “Don’t be daft. It’s not.”
“How? Why?”
“Because, Nico.”
“Because? Explain.”
She shifts in his lap, agitation rippling through the water. Her irritation has morphed into something closer to anxiety. “Because you’re involved. Because my whole life is hanging on this. Because this isn’t a fucking car that can be rebuilt if I shunt it into a wall. It’s my career and everything I’ve done to get here.Everything the team and the owners and Dad have sacrificed to get me here. Right here. And-and-and it’syou, Nico. It’s your heart. And if I break that…” Her voice gets tight and she shakes her head. “I don’t know how I could forgive myself.”
This vulnerability is a rarity that Nico treasures. He cups Petra’s face. “Look at me.”
She does, those brown eyes he’s been in love with for over a decade, wide and bright, shifting between his as she grapples with the knowledge, power, and responsibility he’s just given her.
“My heart survived four championship fights. It can handle you.” She laughs, and Nico continues because he wants to reassure her. “You’re not going to break anything, Petra. Not my heart, not your career, nothing.” About this he’s sure. “You’ve never crashed when it mattered. Not once. You calculate every risk, every angle, every possible outcome. And then you make the right call.” He leans his forehead against hers. “I trust you with my heart because I’ve watched you make perfect decisions under pressure since we were kids.”
She swallows and the shine in her eyes turns to tears that catch on her lashes. “No, I’ve made some awful choices, Nico. Decisions that nearly ruined everything.”
He captures her tears with his fingers. “You mean you’re human? Shit, that’s disappointing.”
She makes a face and smacks his arm. “I mean— What if this time I cock it up? What if I ruin everything?”
“You won’t, but itwecock it up, thenwewill figure it outtogether.” He kisses her softly. “But you don’t have to decide anything right now. You don’t owe me declarations or promises or anything else.”
“Then what do you want from me?”
“Time.” He lifts her damp fingers to his lips. “To see where this goes. No pressure, no expectations. Just us figuring it out.”
