Page 70 of Jump Start

***

3 Months later

The first race of the year started out like any other; up at the crack of dawn, breakfast with the team, and then driver briefings. The feeling of a fresh, new year of racing ahead had to be one of my favourites. Landon was officially the second driver for the team, with Will’s contract being terminated. Unfortunately for him, he would now have to try and secure a seat within another GT team or try a different motorsport completely. Your name was worth nothing once you partook in drugs of any form. I hoped he was able to get back on track, but I was glad that it wouldn’t be within the confines of Echidna Racing.

“How are you feeling?” my beautiful blonde sidekick asked me as she took a sip of her coffee. I wrapped my free arm around her as we walked towards the garage.

“I am feeling good, honey, what about you?” I asked as she smiled, her hazel eyes looking up at me, the sunglasses I bought her for Christmas resting on the top of her head.

“Yeah, fine! Excited to start the new year.” We reached the entrance to the garage and the usual noises of a racetrack were evident and deafening.

“Well, you know the drill, get to work,” Harper commented, patting me on the butt.

I kissed her quickly on the lips before proceeding into the garage.

My new Aston Martin Vantage was waiting for me, a dream car I’d pined after for years. Chris had invested in entirelynew cars for the season and the garage had undergone a major overhaul. Landon was beside himself as a new full-time driver in his BMW M4, adorned with the bright Echidna Racing colours. I walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“You doing okay, mate?” The look on his face suggested otherwise.

“Just trying to process all this.”

I nodded; I knew the feeling. I had been where he currently was.

“I know the feeling, you’ll be right. This is a world-class team we’ve got behind us. You let me know if you need to talk, okay?”

He smiled and shook my hand. I liked Landon, he was always a nice guy. I still couldn’t believe he and Holly were together. When Harps told me, I almost spat my coffee out.

I laughed, thinking back to the conversation.

“What’s so weird about it, though? They work together, and they’re around each other all the time.” Her question was fair. I always thought Landon was going to be single forever. He loved the racing sim too much, he even streamed himself driving it. He seemed like the terminal bachelor type. But who was I to judge?

The first race of the year was taking place at the Phillip Island Grand Prix track, a spectacular stretch of land on the Victorian coast, famous for holding Moto GP and the V8 Supercar Series.

Our little GT3 team was lucky to be included in such a rich and vibrant moment in history.

As I wrangled my helmet over my balaclava, I caught Harper’s eyes as she sat on a stool a few meters away from me.

Smiling, talking to Holly and sipping a coffee, I realised how much my year had changed. She had softened me, opened meup to new ways of thinking, and made me a better man. None of the success I had last year would have felt anywhere near as sweet if it weren’t for her guidance and love.

I knew then and there that I would marry her one day.

I stepped towards my green and purple Vantage with a good feeling about this year. Last year was great, but this one, I felt more focused than ever before. Tony opened the door, and I climbed into the car, waiting to be strapped in. The car smelt brand new, of fresh rubber and paint.

I ran my hands over the race steering wheel, the Aston Martin badge staring me in the face, daring me to drive it. The test days in this car had been nothing short of amazing.

The car growled to life, and I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. The race would be starting soon, and I could finally get back out there and try to win for my team and myself.

***

The starting line always felt so fresh and new at the start of the year, with brand new cars, some new drivers and fresh sponsors. I loved the look of our cars. The purple and bright green Echidna Racing livery was vibrant and exciting to see on screen during replays. I felt so proud to be a part of such a fantastic team.

I opened the door slightly, letting in a small breeze as it was fairly warm in the cockpit. I was hanging my leg out the door for a stretch when someone bumped my leg softly.

I looked out to find Harper standing next to my car, looking as beautiful as ever. Her soft, white dress mixed with a pair ofcowboy boots and a denim jacket. She looked phenomenal.

“Howdy partner,” I said in a terrible Southern American accent.

“I’m never wearing these boots again, you keep giving me shit!” she exclaimed, covering her mouth, feigning shock.