Sometimes victory smells like expensive champagne and burnt rubber, and happiness looks like a blue-haired woman standing atop the world.
I watch from the sidelines as Blair pops the champagne bottle, the golden spray catching the Australian sunlight like liquid fireworks. The moment the yellow flag lifted after that horrific crash, she absolutely owned the circuit, her purple beast devouring every corner, every straight, every millisecond of doubt. Lap after perfect lap, she built her lead until crossing the finish line was just a formality.
My chest feels like it might actually burst. The pride swelling inside me is almost painful in its intensity, making it hard to breathe as I watch her celebrate on the podium. Her silver eyes are alight with a joy so pure and unfiltered that it transforms her entire being. Gone is the calculating competitor, the nervous rookie, the woman who demanded I hate her rival. This Blair, laughing as she drenches her fellow podium finishers with champagne, is radiant in a way I've never witnessed before.
I can't stop clapping, my hands stinging from the force of my enthusiasm. She did it. She actually did it. First race, first win. The commentators are already calling it one of the most impressive rookie debuts in F1 history.
"Nick?"
The voice behind me cuts through the roar of the crowd. I turn, still riding the high of Blair's victory, and find myself staring at a familiar face I haven't seen in years.
"Oh shit, Tessa! Hey!" The words tumble out before I can think better of them.
Tessa Keller stands before me in a crisp McLaren team polo, her brown hair pulled back in a neat braid. Those wire-rimmed glasses still sit perched on her nose, just like they did all those years ago when she'd watch her younger sister race against Melissa. She's grown into herself, the awkward teenager now a poised woman who somehow still fidgets with her glasses when our eyes meet.
"I can't believe you're here," I say, genuinely surprised. "How are you?"
"I'm good!" Tessa adjusts her glasses nervously, a habit I remember from when we were younger. "I, um, I work for McLaren now. Junior Engineer." She gestures vaguely at her polo shirt as if I might need the visual aid to understand which team employs her.
"That's amazing," I say, meaning it. Tessa was always brilliant, even as a teenager hanging around the karting circuit. "Though tough break today with Lana's crash."
Tessa winces slightly. "Yeah, not our finest moment. But your girlfriend..." She trails off, her eyes drifting to the podium where Blair is still celebrating. "That was incredible driving."
"Thanks," I say, feeling that ridiculous secondhand pride swell again. "I had nothing to do with it, but thanks."
Tessa laughs a soft sound that somehow carries over the crowd noise. "You always did that, took no credit for supporting the people around you."
Something about the observation catches me off guard. I'm not used to being seen quite so clearly.
"So," she continues, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "I heard Melissa's doing well in Formula E? Second in the championship?"
"Yeah, she's finally found her groove." I smile, genuinely happy for my sister despite her complicated history with Blair. "The electric series suits her driving style better."
Tessa nods, her eyes briefly meeting mine before darting away. "I always thought she'd do well there. More technical, less about raw aggression."
"How about your sister?" I ask, genuinely curious. "Is Britney still racing?"
Tessa's face lights up with pride. "Oh! Britney actually moved to IndyCar this season. She's with Penske now."
"That's awesome!" I say with excitement.
"They're treating her really well. The oval racing is a whole different monster, but she's adapting fast."
"That's great." There's something comfortable about talking with Tessa, like slipping into a conversation we paused years ago rather than starting a new one.
Tessa adjusts her glasses again, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. "And you're a streamer now. That's great, too. I've been watching for a few years now."
My eyes widen in surprise. "Wait, seriously? You watch my streams?"
"Yeah, I was watching last night, actually," Tessa says, a hint of nervousness in her voice as she fidgets with the McLaren lanyard hanging around her neck. "You were racing Melbourne circuit."
My mouth drops open slightly. "You actually saw that?"
"I try to catch most of your streams when I can," she admits, the blush on her cheeks deepening. "Some of those commenters, though..." She winces, pushing her glasses up her nose. "They can be pretty brutal. But your mod seems really nice, the one who kept banning people?"
"Nickismyhusbando?" I ask, suddenly feeling oddly exposed like Tessa has been peering through a window into my private life without me knowing. "Yeah, she's... wait. How long have you been watching my streams?"
Tessa looks down at her shoes. "Um, maybe since you started? Not every single one, of course. The time difference makes it hard sometimes, but I catch the VODs when I miss them live."
My brain struggles to process this information. Brilliant Tessa Keller has been quietly watching me fail at video games for years? The thought makes my stomach do a strange little flip.
"She seems really protective of you," Tessa continues. "Your mod, I mean. Almost like she knows you personally."
"That's the weird thing," I confess, lowering my voice slightly even though we're surrounded by the roar of the crowd. "She's actually my only consistent moderator, but I've never met her. Don't even know her real name."
Tessa's eyebrows shoot up. "Really? But she acts like she knows you so well."
"I know, right? Sometimes, she says things that make me wonder if we've met somewhere, but..." I shrug, feeling strangely self-conscious. "I guess that's the internet for you. People think they know you from watching you online."
The crowd around us suddenly erupts into louder cheers as Blair raises her trophy higher, her electric blue hair catching the sunlight as she beams with victory. I turn instinctively toward the podium, my heart swelling again at the sight of her triumph.
"She's amazing," Tessa says quietly beside me, following my gaze to Blair. "You must be really proud."
"Beyond proud," I agree, unable to keep the emotion from my voice. "This is everything she's worked for."
Tessa hesitates, her fingers fidgeting with her lanyard again. "I hope she treats you well," she says softly, her eyes meeting mine with unexpected intensity.
The comment catches me off guard, like a sudden shift in the track that sends you sliding. Something in Tessa's tone, concern wrapped in careful neutrality, makes my chest tighten.
"She does," I answer automatically, the practiced response rolling off my tongue.
Tessa studies my face for a moment too long, like she's reading telemetry data that doesn't quite match the driver's report.
"That's good," she says, though her voice lacks conviction. "It's just... I remember how you were with Melissa, always in her corner even when she didn't appreciate it. Always making yourself smaller to fit into her world."
I shift my weight uncomfortably. "Blair's different," I say, though part of me wonders who I'm trying to convince. "Our relationship is... it works for us."
The crowd roars again as the podium ceremony concludes. Blair is making her way down the steps now, immediately swarmed by team personnel and media. Her silver eyes scan the crowd, and for a moment, I think she's looking for me.
"I should probably…" I gesture vaguely toward the celebration.
"Of course," Tessa says quickly, stepping back. "I didn't mean to overstep. It's just..." She takes a breath, adjusting her glasses one more time. "You were always kind to me back when we were kids. When most people only saw Britney's awkward sister, you actually talked to me. Remembered my name."
Something warm unfurls in my chest at her words. "I always liked talking with you. You were more like an older sister to me than Melissa was."
Tessa's eyes soften at my words, and for a brief moment, I see that teenage girl from the karting days peeking through her professional exterior. Before she can respond, I catch a flash of electric blue in my peripheral vision.
"I should go congratulate her," I say, reluctantly stepping back. "But it was really good seeing you, Tessa. We should catch up properly some time."
"I'd like that," she says with a smile that reaches her eyes. She pulls a business card from her pocket and presses it into my palm. "My number's on there. Maybe we could grab coffee during one of the race weekends?"
"Definitely," I promise, tucking the card into my pocket as I turn toward where I last spotted Blair.
"Later, Nick," Tessa calls after me.
I wave goodbye to Tessa as I spot Blair surrounded by team personnel and media, her electric blue hair like a beacon in the sea of purple uniforms. She's radiant, animated, gesturing excitedly as she recounts some details of the race. Even from this distance, I can see the pure joy emanating from her.
Blair's gaze suddenly locks with mine across the crowd. Her silver eyes light up with recognition, and without missing a beat, she excuses herself from the interview and strides purposefully toward me.
Before I can even congratulate her, Blair grabs my face between her hands and pulls me into a kiss so fierce it takes my breath away. Her lips taste like victory champagne, sweet and intoxicating. The world around us dissolves into background noise as she claims my lips.
"You did it!" I gasp when she finally releases me, my head spinning from both the intensity of the kiss and the champagne lingering on her lips.
Blair's silver eyes gleam with triumph. "I fucking did it," she agrees, her voice husky with emotion. "First race, first win. Just like I promised you."
"I'm so unbelievably proud of you," I say, my voice cracking with emotion as I clutch her shoulders. "The way you handled that car, how you stayed calm after the crash, it was masterful. I knew you could do it, but seeing it happen..." I shake my head, unable to find words big enough to contain what I'm feeling.
Blair's smile widens, but her eyes flick past me, scanning the crowd behind us. "Thanks, baby. Did you see how I took that last corner? The team said nobody's carried that much speed through there all weekend." She adjusts my collar absently, smoothing the purple fabric against my chest.
"I saw everything. I didn't take my eyes off you for a second." I reach for her hand, but she's already waving at someone over my shoulder.
"Victoria! There you are!" Blair calls out, her attention shifting completely as she spots the team owner. She gives my cheek a quick pat before stepping away from me.
I turn to follow her, but a wall of photographers immediately closes the gap, shutting me out of the conversation. Through gaps in the crowd, I catch glimpses of Blair animatedly discussing the race with Victoria Zenith, their heads bent together in technical communion.
I stand there, frozen in place, as Blair disappears deeper into her world of triumph and technical talk. Something cold and sharp twists in my gut as I watch her shine brighter than ever, surrounded by people who speak her language of downforce and brake balance.
A sudden, terrifying thought crashes over me. What if this is just the beginning of her leaving me behind? She's ascending to heights I can't follow into a stratosphere where boyfriends like me don't belong. The distance between us could widen with each championship point, each victory, each new powerful person who wants a piece of her brilliance.
There's no way she would leave me behind, is there?