Illicit Affairs

Chapter 42

With the press conference over with, we sent a clear and powerful message: look out for Legacy next year, because we are coming in hot.

However, we still had the rest of this season to get through. A season where both Ryan and Chase were in top form. It would be a dream for them to finish strong and carry that momentum into Legacy. We had the talent. We had the drive. And now, we had the unity. That kind of chemistry, the right people, in the right places, all pushing toward the same goal. That's rare in this sport. But we had it.

Things couldn't have felt more right.

I had moved into Ryan's house and sold my condo. It wasn't even a question. We had the discussion and I jumped on it. It just made sense. It took a few weeks to get there as I had been slammed by building a race team. His place had already felt like home, like where I was meant to be. The transition was seamless. I formed an unshakable bond with Sturgill, his loyal old soul of a dog, who quickly became my shadow and emotional support during the rollercoaster race weekends. He was the bestest boy, and I meant it when I said I loved both of them.

With Ryan and me, our days had fallen into a rhythm that felt like second nature. Early mornings over strong coffee, schedules scribbled on whiteboards, Me continuing to build Legacy, him trying to end his Penske run on a high note. There were race strategy talks over dinner, late-night debriefs at the kitchen counter and me just enjoying being a WAG. There was nothing I loved more than being a presence in his pit box and being his biggest cheerleader. There were still some hard days, but even on the worst ones, I had Ryan's arms around me at night, grounding me. We were building something real. Something steady. Something that, for the first time in a long time, felt like forever.

Chase and Erin were also going strong. What started as years of deep-rooted friendship had bloomed into a relationship that was solid, grounded, and quietly supportive. They weren't flashy, but they were strong, and in this world, that mattered more than anything.

Ryan caught fire during the summer stretch. He went on an absolute tear. Two wins, two near-wins that came down to the final laps, and a string of top-five finishes that made everyone sit up and pay attention. He was leading in points through July and August, with a confidence that reminded everyone why he was the defending champion and one of the biggest talents in the garage.

By the time the playoffs rolled around, both he and Chase looked poised for deep runs. Hendrick Motorsports, to their credit, kept their promise not to treat Chase like an afterthought- barely. There were still moments when the politics of the team bled through. Favoritism, priority shifts, pit strategies that raised eyebrows, but he tried his damndest not to complain. He put his head down, trusted his crew chief, and delivered results.

In a strange twist, Alex announced that he would be leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the year. It was so ironic since I tried everything to get him out of there. His reason for leaving? Me. Even more ironic. As it turned out, Alex had very high principles and he had taken exception to how my grandfather treated Jimmie and me by hiding my paternity. He also clashed with Jeff due to the favoritism shown to William and Kyle.

Perhaps the strangest twist is that Alex...a die hard Chevy guy, ended up signing with Penske to take over the number 12 Ford that Ryan was vacating. I actually do wish him the best. Our truce withstood even after my exit from Hendrick. No animosity or hard feelings towards he or Lindsey, who he is still with. I now see that their betrayal towards Ryan and me was a blessing in disguise.

As the playoff rounds trickled down and the pressure built, Ryan raced with a level of composure I'd never seen from him before. He was focused. Steady. But there was fire in him too. The kind that came from knowing he finally had a future he believed in. Legacy was waiting on the other side. And he was determined to walk into it with his head held high.

Ryan made it to the Championship 4. Chase didn't, but not for lack of effort. It came down to the two of them at Martinsville. Both needing the win so only one would advance. Ryan got the win, Chase finished second. It was a gut punch, to him, the kind that left him silent on the plane ride home. But Chase? He handled it with grace. I guess the fact that if he had to lose to anyone, at least it was Ryan. That made it a whole hell of a lot easier to handle. He patted his crew on the back, told them he was proud of them. Although he would not be with them next year, he wished them all the best with whichever driver would be taking his place.

On the final race weekend, we stood on pit road, Ryan, Chase, Erin and me, watching the sunset bleed over the track at Phoenix. Ryan finished second in the championship, coming heartbreakingly close, yet losing by just a couple of car lengths to his teammate Joey Logano. But there was no bitterness in the air. Just resolve, gratitude, hope and a new beginning for us all.

Because Legacy Motorsports was no longer just an idea. It was real. It was happening in mere months. And we were ready.

The End

A/N: I'm sobbing right now because this is the last chapter, but stay tuned because there will be an epilogue coming out soon. I'm sorry it was so short but I wanted it to be as positive as possible. No big drama. No scary crashes, just peace, big dreams on the horizon and a chance to revisit these characters again, possibly one day down the road.

This story journey took me a little over a year to complete and I loved every second of it. Mia is, as of now, my favorite character ever. It was such a joy to bring her to life, give her a voice and watch her grow. She's going to do even greater things. She will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you to everyone who came on this journey with me. I am so grateful for your support.

If you liked this story, feel free to check out my other works with many of the same characters as well as a new original story.

Much love and happy reading,

XOXO 💋 Layla