by Lindsay Becs
“So, you think you’re a racer now, yeah?” he starts, my eyes snapping to his as I feel defensive from his tone. I bite my lip to think about my next words before I lash out. I slowly nod, not taking my eyes off of his. He breaks the connection first. “Look, what you did was stupid, to say the least. However, you did make a damn good first impression nonetheless.” His face breaks into a smile, and I feel my tense body begin to relax a little.
“I am a racer,” I state, looking him straight in the eye again.
“Of course you’re a bloody racer. You’re my child.”
My brows pinch in confusion. “Then why would you never teach me? I asked you to train me. I wanted you to train me, and you told me no.”
“Because you’re stubborn like your mother, and I knew in the end, I wasn’t the right one to work with you.”
I huff out a breath. “I can’t believe this.”
“I was angry when you started so young because you were just that, Poppy. Young. You needed time to be a kid. I wasn’t happy that you did it behind our backs, and I was even more upset that Zander—who was an adult—lied to me about it.”
“He didn’t lie,” I grumble.
“He fucking did lie. He put your life in danger. You weren’t ready yet.”
I roll my eyes, anger I felt back when I had my accident resurfacing again.
“I was ready. I was ready since the day I could walk, but all you saw was that I was a girl.”
“That’s not true or fair,” he says firmly. “It had nothing to do with that.”
“Bullshit! It had everything to with that. It still does.”
He rubs his temples, taking a breath. “You have to know it isn’t going to be easy for you to break into racing as a female, yeah?”
“I just want a chance. I don’t expect any special treatment because I’m a girl or because I’m your daughter. I know I already have two strikes against me. All I ever wanted was a fair shot.”
He nods, slowly watching me. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“You’re hired.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m announcing my retirement after the next race. I want you to replace me for RK.”
“What about Zander?”
Now, I’m not sure why that’s the first thing I think to ask, but it is. He gave up everything for me to get a chance. Shouldn’t he get something in return for his sacrifice?
“What about him?”
“He was fired from Ducati,” I tell my dad.
“Not surprising.” He nods solemnly.
“Hire him to race for you again. You only fired him because of me in the first place. You know as well as I do that he’s a fucking awesome rider. He should be here with RK too. This is where he belongs.”
“Watch your mouth,” he tells me, and I roll my eyes. “We’ll see. What about his kid?”
“By next season, Blake should be legally his. He could race if he wanted to.”
“But does he want to?” he asks, making me pause.
“You won’t know unless you ask.” I smile.
Leaning back in his chair, he chuckles. “You two will be a deadly duo, I’ll give you that.”
“We could bring home a one-two every race.” I stand to leave but pause at the door. Turning around, I look at my dad once more. “We could be the next great love story of Royal King.” I smile again, leaving that to sink in.
It’s time Royal King has a new couple on top.
Me: Do you still want to race?
Zander: I don’t know if I can.
Me: That’s not what I asked.
Me: Do you still want to race?
Zander: I’ll always want to race.
Me: We’re going to make everyone at the IMR our peasants.
Zander: But the question is… am I the king or queen?
Me: Queen of course
Zander: I figured
Me: How’re things there?
Zander: Really good actually
Zander: Only missing you
Me: I’ll be back soon
Zander: You’re dad’s calling
Zander: I’m scared
Me: LoL! Answer it, you pussy!
Zander: Yes, my lord
Laughing, I toss my phone on the bed. Everything seems like it’s falling into place. I hope it’s not too good to be true. I want to believe that I can be happy and trust that happiness.
I have five months to train like I’ve never trained before. Five months before a new season begins and I’ll be introduced to the world as the first female rider in the IMR. The daughter of a legendary champion, continuing the legacy of my father.
I’m more than a pretty face. And I’ll prove that to everyone.
My phone rings, and I answer it with a hello.
“Did you do this?” Zander asks.
“What?” I ask hesitantly.
“Tell your dad he had to hire me.”
“I told him he should but the choice was his. He knows as well as I do that you deserve to have a place on the RK team.”
“Holy shit, Soda Pop. Is this really happening?”
“We’re going to win it all, Zander. You and me. Together,” I tell him, full of confidence.
“Fuck, I love you,” he sighs into the phone.
“I hate nothing about you, twenty-seven.”
“We’re really going to get it all, aren’t we?”
“I damn well hope so.”
22
Zander
I feel more nervous today than I ever have in the past. More than my first race. More than the first time I kissed Poppy. More than when I was told I was going to be a dad.
This time it’s for real. This time there’s no going back. This time I know the face I’ll let down if I screw it up.
I promised him I wouldn’t.
Last night, I sat beside his sleeping body and watched as he inhaled and exhaled calm breathes. His sweet little face with a nose like his mother’s but lips and hair like mine. I realized it would be the easiest promise I’d ever make because he was the most important thing in my life.
When Benton called to offer me a spot on the racing team again, my heart leapt to my throat and my heart pounded in my chest. I wanted it. Bad. But I gave him my own stipulation.
Blake.
I told him I’d walk away for good in a moment’s notice for my son if it ever came to that. He laughed over the phone and told me that if I’d said anything less, he’d rescind his offer right then.
I’ve hardly had time to train for the next season since we spoke three months ago. It doesn’t matter though. I’ve been fighting for something greater than a trophy. I’ve been fighting for my son.
Thinking back to last night when I kissed his head before switching off his lamp. I turned to see Poppy watching me from the doorway. I don’t know how long she’d been there, but I smiled at her and she smiled back.
She’s become my partner in all things. Standing by my side and supporting me every step of the way. Even when the courts and counselors and caseworkers all took their turns hammering her with questions and probing into her life, she took it all in stride because she’s in this as much as I am.
“Don’t be nervous.” Poppy puts her hand on my bouncing knee, bringing me back to the present, like she can read my thoughts as we wait to be called back.
“What if I screw up?” I ask, looking at her and needing her calming force to wash over me.
“You won’t,” she says simply.
“But how do you know?”
“Because if you do, I’ll castrate you. It’s as simple as that,” she states in an even tone with a lifted brow. I’m not fooled; I know she’s one hundred percent serious about that. Some may joke, but not her. Not now. Not about this.
I nod at her as I lean over to kiss her cheek and take her hand. “Thank you for being here. For everything.”
“Dude. You know I’m in.” She squeezes my hand to assure me. “All in.”
The
judge walks in and everything happens pretty quickly. He asks Blake what he thinks about living with me all the time, and my heart bursts when he replies, “This is awesome!”
Natalie’s been surprisingly supportive through it all. As much as she tried to fight things at first, she quickly saw a change in our son for the better. She also recognized that I wasn’t trying to force her out of his life. He will still see her occasionally and talk to her whenever he wants. I’d never try to take that away from them fully. I only want Blake to have stability and a healthy, happy home, something that I didn’t always get when I was his age.
Walking out of the courthouse with my son in my arm and my girl’s hand in mine, it felt like I had everything. The world was our oyster, like they say.
Adrenaline is coursing through my veins at rapid speeds. I’m breathing heavy, and I can’t take the smile off of my face. I feel everything in this moment. The exhaustion, the excitement, the joy, the pride, the humbleness of it all. Removing my helmet, I tilt my head back and let the sun heat my face. This is everything.
She rolls up beside me, removing her gloves first. I watch her blue painted nails as they unbuckle the strap of her helmet with practiced deftness. Her hair falls in waves around her shoulders as she shakes it out.
I’m captivated by her—as I’m sure the entire race community is too. Her grace, her strength, her beauty. All of it keeps you under her spell.
Turning to look at me, she smiles, and my own lips lift to match. “We did it,” she says before she starts to laugh, the sound more beautiful than all the engines roaring around us or the screaming fans cheering our names.
“You did it,” I tell her before I cup her face in my hands, kissing her.
I don’t care that there are probably hundreds of cameras on us. I don’t care that the world will see. Let them. I love this woman.
My lips move over hers tentatively at first, gauging to see where she is on the whole PDA spectrum. When her tongue sweeps across my lips, making me groan, and pushes inside my mouth, I know she’s in this too. Our tongues move in matched rhythms as our lips are relentless.
Knowing I need to slow down, I begrudgingly begin to back away from her. She bites my lip at the last second and chuckles into my mouth.
“That’s for passing me on turn twelve,” she chides.
“Oh, is that how we’re playing this?” I ask, amused. She nods, biting her own lip this time. I know that look, the little minx. “Come on.” I tilt my head to the left. “It’s time you get your first crown, my lord.” I bow in front of her, making her giggle.
Hopping down from her bike, we make our way through the crowd to the podium to take our places hand in hand. She stands on the first-place spot while I stand next to her on the second place. Turning to look at me, she smiles. That smile already tells me that I’ve won the best thing I ever will.
Not caring again, I step up onto her box and kiss her once more. Catcalls ring out around us, making us laugh. We manage to keep our lips apart long enough to receive our trophies. The crowd is going absolutely crazy in every direction.
This season is going to be the best one yet.
Epilogue
Poppy
“You look beautiful,” my dad tells me, kissing my cheek.
“Thanks, Dad.” I smile.
We’re at the end-of-the-season banquet for the IMR. It’s strange being here this time for me and not for my dad. The last time I was here, Zander and I had flirted the night away while my family was close by. It’s unreal how so much has changed in the last two years.
“And don’t you look dapper, young man,” he says to Blake, who’s holding my hand.
“Thanks! My dad put gel in my hair, and now it won’t move,” Blake tells him.
“I see that. Very nice,” he chuckles.
We take our seats as we wait for the ceremony to begin. I feel Zander’s fingers dance across my bare shoulders, making my skin erupt in goosebumps. Resting my chin on my shoulder, I look back at him and bite my lip. He looks so damn sexy in his tux, which matches Blake’s.
“Behave,” I mouth to him. A corner of his mouth lifts in a delicious smirk, and I know I’m in trouble tonight.
Minutes later, he’s called to the stage, but before he goes, he bends and whispers, “I hate nothing about you but love everything you are.” More goosebumps line my skin as he bites my earlobe and then walks to the front of the room.
On stage, he meets my eye and winks at me, knowing he just made a river flow between my legs. I raise a middle finger to him as discreetly as I can. But my brother’s laugher from the other side of Blake tells me that at least one person saw. Oh well.
“Thank you,” Zander says through a smile as the cheers begin to die down. “This season has been unlike anything I ever thought it would or could be. After being fired from not one but two racing teams, I thought for sure I’d never be on the pavement of a race ring again. Thankfully, one of the teams that had let me go gave me another chance, and I regained my second family.” More claps and cheers ring out through the room.
“But one thing I know for sure is that none of this would have happened or been nearly as sweet without a certain little tyrant by my side,” he continues, and everyone laughs. “Poppy, come up here,” he urges, and all eyes land on me.
Uncomfortably, I make my way to the stage, where this is supposed to be his time, and stand there awkwardly next to him. “What are you doing?” I whisper to him through gritted teeth.
“This season I got to race with, and against, my best friend, my teammate, and the love of my life,” he starts and echoes of ‘aww’ break out. “But you all saw how brutal she can be; she didn’t let me win very often,” he jokes, causing more laughter, and I shake my head. “I’ve never had more fun working than I have this year. Poppy may be a tyrant at times, but she is also caring and kind, funny and can’t cook to save her life, but an amazing partner and help with my son.” He smiles at me softly, and I still don’t know why he’s making his time about me.
Then, he pulls a small box from his pocket and drops to his knees in front of me. “My queen in life, my lord on the track, my Soda Pop since day one…I will never hate anything about you. Will you accept this humble peasant before you and be my wife?”
My hands are covering my mouth as tears spring to my eyes, seeing him before me not on one knee but both, on a stage in front of my family, his son, and everyone we work with.
“Yes,” I choke out as I drop down in front of him.
Cradling the back of my head, he pulls me to him and kisses me there in front of everyone. I barely hear the cheers and whistles going on around the room. I’m lost in the bubble of us.
I pull back and laugh. “I’m all snotty now, and you have lipstick all over your face,” I tell him as I try to wipe my tears without smearing my make-up any more than I already have.
“I can taste the snot and that’s gross, but I don’t care if you paint me purple. I want the world to know I love you.”
“I’m pretty sure you just did,” I say before leaning forward to kiss him again.
“Alright, alright, enough of that.” I hear my dad’s voice next to me, making us pull apart. Everyone in the hall laughs around us.
Zander stands and helps me up, slipping the ring on my finger and kissing it, making my stomach do a somersault.
“Congratulations,” my dad says, shaking Zander’s hand and hugging me before we head back to our seats.
I barely hear when I’m called up to the stage again to get my championship trophy for winning the season.
“I’m a little distracted,” I say when I get to the podium, a goofy grin on my face.
“That’s my fiancée!” Zander yells, and everyone chuckles as I shake my head.
“Thank you to the IMR for allowing me the chance to prove myself among the boys; for forgiving me for my out-of-the-box introduction. To my family, friends, and competitors, thank you for pushing me every day. My dad, from whom I learned my lo
ve of racing. My mom, who poured her stubbornness along with her grace into me.” I blow a kiss at my parents. “And Zander Macallan, my teacher, my mentor, my fiercest competition, and my fucking fiancé!” Everyone yells and shouts as I raise my trophy and make my way to sit back down.
The rest of the night plays out, and I don’t hear or see anything but Zander. I love him and I love Blake and I can’t wait to be a real family with them for the rest of our lives.
I didn’t always choose the easiest way to get what I wanted out of life, but I did end up with the best life has to offer.
Want to know how the King family started?
Meet Tatum and Benton, the first king and queen of the race circuit in Promise Me Always.
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About the Author
Lindsay Becs has always enjoyed writing as an outlet and a fun hobby. Having pushed outside her box, she wrote and self-published her first book in 2017. Now, she hopes to continue to explore deeper into the world of writing. Tragically beautiful love stories are what she enjoys writing most, but who knows what the future will hold.
Lindsay is also an avid reader, Netflix binger, and never goes far without coffee first. She wishes fall lasted all year long, and peanut M&M’s are her writing fuel. She is from the Buckeye state of Ohio but is privileged to have lived all over the world with her military husband, their three crazies, and eight-year-old puppy.
To find out more about Lindsay and upcoming projects find her here!
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