22. End of season

LARA'S POV

For bad luck or good, today the season ended, which wasn't the easiest partly because I lost part of it. On the other hand, my relationship with Cameron is only getting better. I loved this man and I know if we break up, it wouldn't be a good time, but I know it's too likely we'll break up, so I'm calm about that. 

In the last couple of months, Cameron helped me start to get over my fear of street cars, and even though at first it was sitting in the car, and I would have an anxiety attack, now I could be more or less calm sitting in the car for an hour, which surprised my family at first. 

At the moment Cameron and I were in bed doing nothing, but soon we would have to get up to go to the track and do a couple of laps around the track before the race. 

"I don't feel like getting out of this bed at all. I want to spend the day in it to be with you." He whispered in my ear, and I laughed, "Honey, you know you couldn't keep me in it all day but think it's the last race of the season. When it's over we won't have to get up to specifically go to the circuit." 

"But we'll have to train anyway." he assured "Not that long. I will be able to fly home from Manchester to be with you." He said and that made me move away from him a little to see him "Why do you have to go to Manchester?" I asked, "The car is tested in a circuit we have there, and for the improvements of the car I have to go there." 

"I also have to go to Manchester for that, and I have a flat there." I said, with a smile forming on my face "See? In the end we won't have to be apart for as long as now." I said giving him a kiss on the lips. 

"And thank goodness, because I would go crazy." He assured "You wouldn't." I replied, rolling my eyes, "Sure I would, but I want to talk to you about something serious." I leaned on my elbow so I could see his face since his head was on his chest, and when I see his face, I know he's serious, but there's a glow he gets when something excites him, which makes me curious. 

"Now?" I asked and he nodded "If that's what you want, yes." He replied, "Well, say it." I said, "Let's see, we've been together for ten months and we're practically live together. I was thinking if you would like it if we moved together." 

"What are you talking about?" I asked a little confused "Would you like to live with me, honey?" he finally asked "I'd love the idea, but I don't want to get rid of my house. Nor will I leave the village for a long time." 

"And we won't have to. We can make our main house yours. In the end you know I love living there and it's the best place we can be without being bothered by journalists. Clearly, we will keep your house there since I know you love it." He assured and my smile increased in size. 

"But it hasn't been a while since you bought yours." I said "I'll leave it to Eli and where your sister will end up living. It's a way to lure her here, because Eli won't want to go to town for the world. She loves living there." 

"Sounds like a great idea to me, but what will you do with your London house?" I asked and he smiled "I'll sell it, because I don't see my mother or me go back to that house. Then I have the apartment in Manchester." 

"Do you have a flat in Manchester? For that?" I asked, surprised. "Coincidentally, the team's headquarters are also there, and we train at one of their circuits, so we can take advantage of the apartment to live there for as long as we need to be in Manchester. So, you won't have to spend money on hotels." 

"It's not something that really mattered too much to me, but it seems like a great idea to me." I assured "So we will live together?" he asked, and I nodded "Of course, were you doubting?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "No, but I wanted to make sure. Better, let's get up before I feel like getting out of bed less." 

"Okay, but I want you to know I wouldn't leave here either." I said smiling at him "Then let's go." I kissed him and got up to go to the shower. Cameron wasted no time in following me. An hour later we were walking out the hotel room door. When we got to the garage, Cameron handed me the car keys, but not before touching my ass, to which I ended up laughing, and we got in the car. 

The streets of Abu Dhabi were wide and there weren't too many cars, at least where we were going. Less than half an hour later, we arrived at the circuit and as soon as we arrived, we headed to our boxes. We kissed and then we each went into our boxes. 

I spent an hour between mechanics and strategists looking at our chances during the race. "The circuit will lower the temperature, Lara; hard tires aren't the best option." Said Rebbe looking at the data on the screens in front of her "And I know, but I'll be able to keep it longer and with that, I'll be able to put better tires for the last few laps." 

"It's two stops Lara, do you think you can keep the tires to do a lap?" she asked surprised, and I smiled "I want to try it." I assured "You run the risk of losing a lot of positions." 

"It doesn't matter to me now. We already have the constructors' and drivers' titles, why do we want more?" I asked, "I know, but it doesn't hurt to win another race. You could become one of the drivers with the most race wins in your career." 

"I can get it for next year. I'm not going to retire." I assured, frowning, "But for the year you could continue expanding it." He insisted and I denied, because it's not what I wanted "I'm going to enjoy this race and if I win it great and if not too." 

"We don't recommend that." She said with a sigh, "E non me importa unha merda o que me recomandas neste momento. (And I don't give a shit what you recommend right now)" I said frustrated they insisted I shouldn't put those tires "Lara…" Bianca said next to me "Guys, let Lara do what she wants." 

At that moment, both Bianca and I looked up to find Serena, who had come to the last race, like most of the people at the championship season finale. 

"But…" Another of the strategists began to protest "Lara's right, we already have everything, and we don't need more this year. Let Lara enjoy the last race of the year." 

They all nodded and ended up leaving, leaving the three of us alone in the room. A week ago, I had decided to stay in the team, because the changes Serena had promised me, were taking place, and even though I sometimes had problems with the strategy team because they always thought about winning, I wanted them to stay since I'm completely sure it would be difficult to find someone like them. 

"Thank you, Serena" I thanked her, because even though I know Rebe wasn't doing it with bad intention, the rest of the strategists didn't like I contradicted them "It's nothing, at some point you will have to enjoy the races." 

"And I already do it normally." I assured "But better one you can do whatever you want." She said with a big smile on her face "Thank you." I thanked again "I should thank you for staying in the team." 

"I like the team, and if I had to leave, I would be sorry, really." I assured, because it's true "Well, I'm glad you decided to stay. Now get in that car and have a good time. " 

"I will, thank you Serena." I said, "Good luck out there Lara." She answered this. Serena left and I started to get ready to get into the car. Before I get into this, Cameron appears, kisses me, wishes me luck, and then leaves me with Bianca. 

"Are you ready?" asked my sister "You know I am." I replied "Well, you know, have fun, take care and show everyone out there who Lara Gallego is." She said proudly and I couldn't help the big smile on my face "I will, I love you, Bianca." 

"I love you too Lara." I kissed her on the forehead and got in the car. As soon as I sat down, I put the seat belt on, and Bianca tightened it on me. I did a couple of laps around the circuit and when I was satisfied with these, I headed to the back of the grid to have the mechanics take me to my position one last time this season. 

Once I got to my position, I got out of the car and Eric, who was retiring, Amelia, Cam and Bianca were talking until it was time to get back in the car. Bianca gave me a thumbs up and I did the same. 

I spent the race trying to pass Amelia, Cameron and Eric, but from the choice I had, it was clear I'm not going to be able to, at least in the first few laps. Once their tires fell, I passed Eric and Amelia. Cameron had gained a bit of distance with me and just when I was about to overtake him, the team called me to the pits. 

I had to wait a few laps to recover the positions I was in, and this time I managed to overtake Cameron. We were fifteen laps from the end, I see how Eric passes Cameron and despite the fact I wasn't going as fast as the car could go, I wasn't going to do anything to stop Eric overtake me, in the end everything I had achieved in my career, it had been thanks to him, and what better way to thank him than by giving him the victory of the last race in which he will be? 

"Lara, Eric is fast approaching you and he'll get past you." I heard Rebbe say on the radio, "I know, but thanks for the info." I confirmed " Is there something weird with the car for you to have this speed?" she asked, and I denied even though I knew she couldn't see me "The car is great, don't worry." 

"Okay, if you notice something strange..." Rebe replied "I'll let you know, don't worry." With that they shut up and in a couple of laps, Eric overtakes me. At the bottom of the stretch, I can see Cam slowly closing in, so I drop a little further behind Eric and prepare to defend Eric one last time. 

In the last couple of laps, I fight Cam for position, and I have to say I liked fighting him. I knew Cam was one of the best overtaking drivers, but I was too stubborn, and when I had a goal in mind, I would do whatever it took to achieve it, and in this case, it was to hold my position and Eric's. 

When we finished the race, on the lap before we went into the pits, I got on the right side behind Eric while Amelia got on the other side until we got to the pit entrance where Amelia was replaced by Cameron, and once on the main straight, all three of us spun. 

A few minutes later, we put the car in their paces, and once we get out of the car, it doesn't take long for Eric to come over to me, hug me and pick me up, going around a couple of times. 

"Thank you." Eric said, and even though I had a vague idea why he was saying it, I decided to go crazy, "Why?" I asked, frowning. "I know you let me win." He assured and denied "I didn't, you won the race on your own merits." 

"Yes, of course, and that's why you fell further behind when I overtook you." He said, rolling his eyes, "Because I had no speed." I responded with a shrug, "I know you let me win, Lara. You can't fool me." 

" Well, I'm not doing it." I replied, shrugging, "If it was someone else, I'd be jealous." As soon as we heard Cameron's voice, we turned in his direction and I can see the big smile on his face, approaching where we were. 

"I assure you if he was not gay, I would be with him without hesitation." I said with a big smile on my face "A couple of hours ago you agreed to live with me and now you tell me this? Do I have to take it as a sign?" he asked ironically "Maybe." 

Eric stopped hugging me and I went to Cameron, who wasted no time in putting his arms around my waist and I kissing him. A few seconds later we separated, and I was leaning against him looking at Eric. 

"So, you're going to live with your man?" Eric asked, a big smile on his face. "Clearly, you were doubting it?" I asked, "Are you going to leave where you live now?" he asked, surprised I would say "Not even dead." I assured him "Then it's him who's going to live with you." 

"And I with him in Manchester." Cameron gave me a kiss on the forehead and left despite being called to him while Eric and I went to where the interviewer was. "I'm happy for you, Lara, it was time for you to be happy." 

"I was before." I assured "But at least now you don't get anxiety attacks so often." He answered and I nodded, because that part is true "I still have them, especially when I get into a car." 

"But from what Bianca said, you're in the ignition and the door is closed. That's progress." He said with a big smile on his face "I know, and I'm happy, really." I replied, "I can see it." With that, Eric began his interview, and I went to weigh in. When I finished, I went to where Cameron is waiting to be interviewed. 

"You let Eric win." Cameron said after a few minutes in silence "Why is everyone insisting I did it?" I huffed and rolled my eyes. "Because you had plenty of speed to pass him." 

"It had no power." I assured and he laughed "You know what would end up happening to you if you had problems with the power delivery." He said, "Or I'm so good at defending myself you wouldn't pass me." I said. 

"I know you are honey, but not enough to hold the position." He nodded and I rolled my eyes "If I did it means yeah." I confirmed, even though I know it wasn't true, "No matter how much you insist, I know you left him, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone that I know." 

I laughed and they called me to do the interview, in which they asked me why I lost the first position and which I answered as I had told Cameron and Eric. When I finished my interview, Cameron was next, and after he finished his, we went to the podium where we celebrated with champagne. 

This time, the dinner was larger than usual since my mother and grandmother, Cam's mother, Bianca and Eli, Eric and Hector, and Amelia were there. Dinner was entertaining, and between all of them, they insisted I let Eric win, but I still didn't admit it, even though Bianca knows I had. 

After we finished dinner, we each went back to our hotel and Eric promised he would come visit us at home since he wanted to check on people leaving doors open at home, to which Bianca and I rolled our eyes, because at seeming is the only thing everyone wants to know. 

A couple of minutes later, Cameron and I were walking toward the hotel in silence, but he had his arm around my shoulders. "Do you want to go for a walk before we go to sleep?" he asked "Sure, where to?" 

"To a place, I have a surprise for you." He said and I frowned "Surprise?" I asked with a raised eyebrow "Yes, surprise and I'm not going to tell you what it's about," he replied with a big smile on his face "Okay." I said rolling my eyes. 

We changed the direction we were going and went in silence, but this time, with Cameron playing with the fingers of my hand, which told me he's nervous about something. After walking for half an hour, we arrived at a beach and in which, the distance was quite illuminated for the time it was. Once we were close to that point, I could see candles across the sand and what looked to me like petals on the ground, which makes me wonder what this man has in store. 

Cameron started to get between the candles and by the time we were surrounded by them, I could see they were set in the shape of a heart, just like the petals, but a smaller one. 

"Cam, what's all this?" I asked looking at what I had in front of me "The surprise I told you about." He replied, "How long did it take you to prepare this?" I asked again, focusing my gaze on him "Nothing, I couldn't leave you without wondering where I was." 

"Well, I love it." I assured him, "This is not the surprise itself honey." He said and I frowned "Oh, no?" I questioned "No, it's part of the surprise." He insisted "What's the surprise then?" 

It is at that moment he released my hand and put it in his pocket, letting me see he's nervous and playing with his fingers in his pocket. "Why are you so nervous?" I asked and he focused his gaze on mine again "Because I am." 

"You don't have to be, you're with me Cam." I assured him "I know, but as I told you months ago, your mere presence makes me nervous." I laughed and waited for him to calm down a bit and say whatever it's making him nervous, because I'm totally sure something was on his mind. 

"Lara honey. I know we've been together for ten months, but these months with you were some of the bests of my life and it may seem soon, but I can't imagine my life without you by my side." That's when he took his hand out of his pocket and dropped to one knee, causing my hands to go to my mouth and tears to start streaming down my face. 

"Lara, I love you with everything I have, and you would make me the happiest man in the universe if you agreed to marry me. Lara, do you want to marry me?" he asked, and my smile widened on my face "Of course honey." I replied. 

The smile on his face grew. He put the ring on me, got up from the ground, wiped away the tears that had managed to escape from my eyes and then, gave me a kiss which I accepted. I still couldn't believe he asked me to marry him. 

It's at that moment I hear screams from a distance, so I separate myself and see how everyone we had dinner with today was about fifty meters from where we were. "Did they know?" I asked. 

"I needed them if I wanted to set this up." He stated, "You don't know how much I love you Cam." I said sincerely "I love you too Lara and you just made me the happiest man in the universe." We kissed again, but this time we had to separate before because they all arrived and basically being thrown to the ground by the speed at which Bianca and Eric were coming, who apparently couldn't contain the happiness inside, especially my sister, but I'm happy, and no one could change.