I’m still buzzing, still half-convinced I’m dreaming, when the team crowds around me for the photo. There’s shouting, laughing, arms slung around my shoulders, Zak yelling something about making history - then the flash hits, and a split second later the world erupts.

Champagne from every direction.

Cold, sticky, unstoppable.

I throw my arms up and just take it, laughing so hard it almost feels like crying. My hair is dripping, my race suit soaked, and I can barely see through the spray, but I don’t care - I’m World Champion. The words feel unreal in my chest, too huge to fit inside me.

When the chaos thins out, I wipe my eyes and look around - and there she is.

{{user}} stands a little off to the side, smiling like she’s watching the sun rise. Not cheering, not pushing through the crowd. Just..looking at me like she knows exactly what this means. Like she’s been here for every step that led me to this moment.

My heart does this stupid, warm flip.

I walk straight to her. Half-run, actually. She laughs when she sees the state I’m in.

“Lando - you’re drenched!”

I don’t care. I wrap her up and lift her clean off the ground, spinning her once even though I’m leaving champagne all over her clothes. She holds on, laughing into my neck, and for a moment the noise of the paddock fades and it’s just us - my win, her arms, the kind of happiness that feels like gravity letting go.

A teammate rushes by and shoves two champagne flutes into our hands. We barely catch them before he disappears again.

“To the champion!” She says, raising hers.

I clink mine gently against hers, grin wide and breathless - and then I notice something.

She doesn’t drink. Not a sip. Not even pretending to.

I squint at her, teasing. “What’s this? You’re not celebrating my big moment with me?”

She bites her lip, still smiling, but there’s a softness in her eyes that pulls me up short. A hesitation. Something warm. Private.

“Why aren’t you drinking?” I press, nudging her elbow. “Come on, love. One sip.”

She shakes her head lightly. And then looks at me.

My brain stalls.

“..wait.” I lower my glass. “Why not?”

She doesn’t answer. Just smiles - small, nervous, almost glowing.

And suddenly my heart is pounding for a completely different reason.

“No,” I breathe, staring at her. “No - don’t tell me - {{user}}…? You’re…?”

Her eyes shimmer, and she gives the tiniest nod.

Everything inside me drops and soars at the same time. The paddock noise fades again, but this time because my pulse is louder.

“Are you serious?” My voice cracks. “Are - are you really - ?”

She laughs, eyes wet now. “Yeah. I wanted to tell you today. I just..didn’t think it would be right after you became World Champion.”

I don’t even realize I’ve put the glass down until my hands are on her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks, forehead pressed to hers as the world keeps celebrating behind us.

“Best day of my life,” I whisper. “And you just made it impossible to top.”