Chasing Jupiter ✔️

Thirty Six

I couldn't stop staring at the ring on my left hand as we drove to the next spot of our mystery trip. I didn't even recognize where we were until the engine stops. Looking up I saw none other than my reserved sign. "Come on princess, everyone is waiting."

He squeezes my hand getting out of the car. Once I get out, I scramble straight to Archer squeezing his hand in mine tightly. Taking in my surroundings I see at least a hundred people surrounding us, the crowd being quite overwhelming. There are cars everywhere, a DJ station set up and a big welcome home sign. "You did all of this for me?" Archer nodded giving me a dazzling smile. "I love you so much my soon to be husband." I plant a sloppy kiss on Archers cheek.

"Well my soon to be wife, I have one more surprise for you." He walks around me covering my eyes. "Keep your eyes closed princess." I couldn't help the involuntary shiver. Grabbing my hands, he drags me toward the crowd my eyes squeezed tightly shut. Once he stops me he whispers for me to open them. As look around all the cars around me fire to life, revving their engines causing huge clouds of colored smoke around us. "Welcome home princess." A huge smile overtakes my face at the gesture. Everyone I cared about was here. Pushing her way through the cloud of smoke Laci waddles over to me embracing me in a hug.

After pulling away I quickly drop to my knees kissing her stomach. "Hi baby, auntie missed you so so much!" I could feel the baby kick when I talked to it, causing another huge smile. "So when are you going to tell me if I have a nice or a nephew Lace?"

"Well we had a gender reveal planned, but I wanted to wait for you to come home. I couldn't find out this babies gender without my best friend by my side." As if on cue my skyline revs to life, I can see Archer in the driver's seat. He reverses from the spot and begins doing a burn out. A huge cloud of pink smoke erupts from the tires. "Oh my god!" Laci and I shout at the same time. I quickly jump to my feet doing a little happy dance. "We're having a girl!" We scream embracing each other. I pull away and Mac kisses Laci. I turn to see my car parked back in it's spot and Archer jogging towards us.
"How does it feel guys? Now knowing that you'll be having a god daughter!" Archer and I both stare at Laci shell shocked. "God daughter. Do you really mean that?" Laci and Mac both nod smiling, pulling us into a group hug.

Celebrating our god daughter.

"Okay I lied, there was two surprises." Archer whispers in my ear. Confusion racks my brain. What more could he give me tonight. I wrap my arms around his neck pleading him with my eyes to tell me. "Damn girl that's some rock on your hand. Definitely better than the one I gave you."  A familiar voice  hits my ears, I whip around to see Andrew and William.

I rush into Andrew's arms squealing, he picks me up spinning me in a circle. "What the actual hell are you doing here! I thought you were in Florida still!" I smack his arm pulling away. "Well you see, Will and I were talking and we both decided we didn't want to be in Florida anymore. Given recent events that place has left a sour taste in our mouths. So we were in the area house shopping when Archer called reminding us both that you promised us a race. Because I still don't believe it. So we planned the whole thing behind your back." The sneaky bastards. "So what do you say princess?" Archer holds up my keys. "Let's show you boys how we do it in Washington." I grab the keys from Archers hand, marching to my car with a sudden burst of confidence.

I'm not sure where the confidence came from. But it sure felt good to feel even a little bit like myself again.

*****

Pulling up to the freshly painted red line I roll my window down looking at my competitors. "Now don't you go easy on me just because I've been out of the game for a bit boys." I shout over the revving engines. There were four of us racing tonight. Sean and Devin, were to my left, and a new guy who I've never seen before was to my right. Sean and Devin were regular racers up here, swearing up and down they would beat me someday. "I wouldn't dream of it J!" Sean shouts to me revving his engine loudly. I glance over at him smiling. "It's good to have you home J!"

Its good to be back.

We all shut our engines down waiting for the call to start them for the race. Even though Laci was pregnant, that didn't stop her from waddling in front of our cars. "We want a clean race tonight guys!" She yells. Mac steps up behind her before speaking. "I wouldn't normally have to say this but since we have a new guy here I just want to say. No dirty driving or you will be banned from coming back!" He pauses looking at the racer to my right. "Tonight's race will be down the mountain, as per usual! Once you get down to the bottom there will be a barricade, that's your cue to turn back around and get your asses back up here as quickly as possible." He kisses Laci's cheek walking to the side lines. "Start em' up!"

The three racers beside me start their cars. I don't, tonight I'm going for theatrics, something I do best. I've been out of the game for awhile and I need to remind the boys who the queen of the mountain is.

"Ready!" Laci points to all of us, I roar the engine to life revving it a few times.

"Steady" Laci holds the Tshirt flag up, I flip on my dash cam.

"Go!" Laci drops to her knees swinging the flag down with her as we take off.

"Let do this."

*****

Drifting across the finish line I smile jumping out of the car. Throwing my hands into the air I let out a loud whoop. "That's my girl!" Archer picks me up spinning me around. "You did amazing princess! I'm so proud of you." I wrap my arms around his neck jumping so he lifts me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. "I couldn't have done with without you." I kiss him softly. "You could have, it just wouldn't be as entertaining." I let go of his shoulders sitting up straight, throwing my hands in the air I let out a loud scream of excitement.

Looking around at the crowd I jump down from Archers arms. Andrew and William have matching looks of shock on their faces. I shrug at them as if to say I told you so. "So what are we waiting for? We have a party to start!" I boom over the crowd, causing a loud cheer. The crowd runs to the field behind us leaving just Archer and myself. "Can you believe that not long ago we started off hating each other?" I mutter leaning into his arms. "I was so angry back then." Archer laughs. "I wouldn't change our story for the world though. We've been through more than most couples go through in a life time. And as much hell as we went through it only made us stronger." He never brakes eye contact with me, truly meaning every word he says. "I love you." We say in unison, meeting each other in the middle for a kiss.

Who would have thought that in such a short period of time that Archer and I would fall in love. Even when the universe did so much to keep us apart we still found each other. I've always been a big believer that if something is worth fighting for you never stop fighting. And I finally found my reason to fight. My reason to live life, other than behind the wheel. We may have been fine the way things were before, but now that we were together I don't think either of us would go back to before.

"Well princess I believe you have a fire to start." Looking back at the waiting crowd I smile at him.

"Together?" I ask.

"Together." He grabs my hand.