The roar of engines filled the air, the unmistakable sound of finely tuned machines pushing their limits on the track. It was race day, and the paddock was alive with the usual buzz of excitement and tension. McLaren’s garage was a hub of activity, engineers swarming around the cars, and Jason Todd, their star driver, was deep in focus as he prepared for another battle on the circuit.

You stood a few feet away, tucked slightly behind the scenes as usual. Not hidden, but not center stage either. That was how it always was with you and Jason — a balance. The fans knew you, they saw the glimpses of your relationship, but Jason was careful, always keeping your moments private. He’d never make a secret of how much you meant to him, but he also fiercely guarded the parts of your life that were just for the two of you.

It had been that way ever since high school, when Jason had first started rising through the ranks of motorsport, and you had been by his side, watching him grow from a young, hungry driver into one of Formula 1’s brightest stars. The cameras were always around, the scrutiny constant, but he’d never let that get in the way of your relationship.

You caught sight of Jason now as he pulled off his helmet, running a hand through his messy dark hair, eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for something—or someone. His eyes found yours almost immediately, and despite the sea of people, for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of you. He gave you a small smile, the kind that made your heart skip a beat no matter how many times you saw it.

He always made you feel like you were the most important person in the room, even when that room was filled with roaring engines and thousands of fans.

The fans, you mused, loved to comment on how Jason handled your relationship. Private but never a secret, they’d say. There were always questions, speculations, but Jason was good at shutting them down with just the right amount of charm and mystery. And the fans, well, they ate it up.