“Okay, now it’s time for the award for Best Restoration,” Tony Franklin says into his microphone as the crowd simmers down.
Elliot squeezes my hand. “No matter what happens, you should be proud.”
“I am,” I say confidently, even though on the inside, I’m squirming. I dart my eyes to the other side of the room to find Vinnie staring at me, a cocky smirk on his lips because the fucker thinks he’s about to win.
Six weeks ago, the idea of him winning sent me into a tailspin. I thought I’d never be able to live it down, that his views about me back then would be validated.
But with Elliot standing by my side and all of the praise I’ve received today, I know whether I win an award or not doesn’t negate my talent and hard work. In fact, I think I’ve already won in so many other aspects of my life.
I have incredible family and friends. I’ve never wavered from my dreams despite animosity, setbacks, and other people’s limited beliefs.
And there’s a man standing beside me who supports everything I want in my life.
“The vote was close,” Tony continues. “But I am honored to announce the winner of this year’s Best Restoration is…” Silence descends over the crowd and I’m pretty sure I’m not breathing as I wait for him to continue. “Dilynne Clark and the Porsche 356!”
“Hell yes!” Laney shouts from behind me before she holds up a sign that she told me she’d bring. The words,“My best friend is a bigger badass than yours!”are painted in glittery red paint. Ellis made sure to point out that there was a bad word on the sign, but I thought it couldn’t be more fitting.
“Dilynne,” Elliot says as I blink myself out of my trance. “You won, baby!”
I look up at him. “Holy shit.”
He pulls me to him, kissing me roughly before releasing me and leading me over to the left-hand side of the stage where we have to walk past Vinnie so I can climb the stairs.
But I don’t even look in his direction. My smile transforms from small to huge as I climb the steps and accept my award from Tony, leaving my past behind me and walking right toward my future.
“Congratulations, my dear. You earned this one,” he says to me, handing me the plaque and an envelope. I glance down at the envelope and then back up at him, confused.
With a laugh, he explains, “It’s the cash prize!”
I clutch it a little tighter. “I literally have no words right now.”
“She’s speechless, folks!” Tony tells the crowd, which prompts their laughter. “You sure you don’t have anything to say?”
I finally snap out of my shock as words come to me. “Actually, yeah, I do.” Taking the microphone from him, I stare out at the crowd of thousands of people. “All I wanted this year was to take home this award. To me, winning was going to serve as confirmation that I belonged here.” I glance over at my friends, my family, and then Elliot off to the left of the stage as he stares up at me, pride etched into every line on his face. “And I couldn’t have done this without my family and friends. You know who you are.” I find their sets of eyes in the crowd, lingering longer on Elliot before returning to my speech.
“But the journey to get here turned out to be far more valuable. This just serves as a reminder that hard work pays off, and everyone should go after their passions, even if that means being the underdog. It’s no secret that the automotive industry doesn’t lend a warm welcome to women, but we deserve to be here just as much as the men. So, this is for all the little girls whose dreams are out of the ordinary. Don’t give up, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.” I make sure to look right into Vinnie’s eyes as I say that last sentence and then hand the mic back to Tony.
“Well said, Dilynne,” he says as applause rings out. My feet carry me across the stage and over to the stairs where Elliot is waiting for me with his hand outstretched.
“You’re fucking amazing,” he says, pulling me into him and kissing me again. “My fiancée is a badass.”
“I did it, Elliot.”
“Yes, you fucking did, Dilynne.”
An obnoxious laugh pulls my attention behind Elliot. “And how’s it feel to get a pity win?” Vinnie says, interrupting our moment and reminding me of what a sore loser my ex is.
“Excuse me?”
“You really think they gave that to you because you earned it?” He shakes his head. “Let’s agree on what’s really going on here.”
Elliot releases me from his arms and gets right in Vinnie’s face. “And what is it exactly that you’re alluding to?”
“You and I both know she only won because she’s a woman,” he grates out, inciting my anger.
I rush over to him, but Elliot steps in front of me, putting himself between me and my ex. “Funny, ‘cause when I was with you, you told me I would never amount to anything in this industrybecauseI’m a woman.”
“You know damn well that you wouldn’t be here without me,” Vinnie continues just as Elliot latches onto the front of his shirt, yanking him closer.