This Love

11

..."ugh you guys are crazy" I say and snatch the blindfold from Lexi's hand tying it over my glasses clad face. There's a nervous fluttering in my stomach not having any idea what awaits me when I get to take the blindfold off...

——

Jill and Lexi guide me out of the taxi, I hear some people talking and loud cheering confusing me even more. "We're almost there" I nod and they each take one of my hands I feel us walking and the noise gets louder. "You're going to love this Cal" Lexi tells me while squeezing my hand, I bite my lip nervously hoping that I don't trip. My friends let go of me and I feel hands on either side of my shoulders pulling me to a stop and rotating me, "okay you can take it off". I take a deep breath before undoing my blindfold, the fabric slips away revealing the Renault garage, I gasp bringing my hand up to my mouth. "SURPRISE!" My friends yell with grins on their faces, "how?" I ask "Nico helped us get it done" Lexi explains.

I'm about to talk but sudden movement from the pit lane makes me stop, I watch a black and yellow car come to a stop in front of the garage. The pit crew reverses the car into the empty spot I'm standing next to. "No way" I say under my breath, "yes way" Jill says into my ear. The driver climbs out of the car lifting his helmet over his head, revealing dark hair and those same gorgeous eyes from the first time I saw him. "Daniel" I say quietly, he spins hearing his name, when he realizes it's me his face lights up with a grin. The driver rushes over and lifts me into his arms, my own winding around his neck, "how are you here?" He asks when he lowers me back to the ground, "ask Nico, he was a helping hand" I reply making him laugh. "Five minutes Dan" a team member yells, the Australian peers over his shoulder for a second before turning back to me, he opens his mouth, "go, I'll be here when you finish" he smiles and kisses my head gently before walking back over to his car.

A smile comes to my face at the gesture, "brooooo I'm melting that was the most amazing thing I've ever seen" Lexi exclaims while hugging me tightly. "DID I MISS IT?" The yell makes us pull away from each other, Nico Hulkenberg, the other Renault driver runs over, "yeah man, but we got it on video" Jill replies with a grin handing her phone over. He spends a few seconds watching her phone screen before looking up, "wow what a great couple" he says with a smile, I shake my head in disagreement. "We aren't, we can't, this can't be a thing" Jill sighs throwing an arm across my shoulders, "did you not feel a thing during that whole moment with him" Lexi asks, "of course I did, but do you see this, where we are, it's so different from my lifestyle, how could this ever work" she takes my hands in hers, "you simply have to TRY Cal, when it's something as special and magical as what you two already have after knowing each other for a week it's worth the uncertainty" I bite my lip looking into her eyes. "She's right you know" Nico chimes in before climbing into his race car, my gaze moves to the screen mounted in the garage where they're showing Daniel racing and I can't help but smile.

What feels like minutes, but is actually a few hours later I nervously wait for Daniel to drive in from the track after a minor crash. "He's fine Cal, I think his car is more beat up than he is" Jill tells me with a comforting hand in my shoulder, "I don't know why I'm so shaken up by it, what's happening to me? I'm around hockey injuries and fights all the time" Lexi comes over, "it's different because you have an attachment to this guy, those players on the Colts are basically just colleagues" I bring my hands up rubbing my eyes with a groan, "why does that actually make sense" I mumble.

The rev of an engine makes me look up to see Daniel's car in front of the garage, the pit crew starts disassembling the broken part while he climbs out with the steering wheel in his hand. "Oh thank god" I add watching him drop the wheel on a nearby counter before unlatching his helmet to take it off, the frustration on his face is clear as he puts his helmet down next to the wheel. "Go to him" Lexi whispers before shoving me towards the Australian, I surge forward stumbling which makes Daniel look my way as I steady myself. I give him a shy smile as I fidget with my fingers, "I'm surprised that you're still here" I tilt my head, "why wouldn't I be?" He shrugs while taking off his racing gloves, "I didn't finish, nothing to stick around for" I walk up to him reaching out for a second before pulling my hand back second guessing how to comfort him after that incomplete race.

"I'd be a pretty big moron if I left just because of that" I reassure him, "plus I wanted to make sure that you were okay after the crash" he chuckles, "I don't think you would ever be a moron Callie" I shrug, "you never know, I might have a lapse in judgement and do something moronic" he shakes his head while dropping his gloves on the nearest surface and then steps closer to me. "Nah not possible" I laugh and he smiles, "there's my favourite smile" I exclaim, Daniel moves his hand to my hip pulling me closer. I blush again as his fingers move along the exposed skin below my newly cut shirt sending a shiver down my spine, "how did you do that?" he asks me, "do what?" I reply placing my hand on his arm gently, "make the result not seem so horrible" I shrug, "magic? sorcery? having to take care of cocky teenagers who hate to lose while at my job?" he laughs throwing his head back, I smile, happy that I could make him feel better. "Come on Dan we gotta go wrap this up" the PR person for Renault says making me look away from the Australian who is holding me, he nods at the person and then lets me go. "Stay nearby, i'll be back before you know it" I nod at Daniel's statement watching him follow the PR person out of the garage.

——

Lexi and Jill pull me out of the garage to the pit lane where we take a walk along the road. "So what's going to happen when we get back to Canada?" I lean my head on Lexi's shoulder with a sigh, "we go to work, reminisce about this vacation a few years down the line" I reply with a smile, "I guess that's all there is to it eh?" Jill adds. My eyes move to the various garages as we walk, watching team members packing everything up for the next Grand Prix. "Callie" I turn to Lexi, "pictures?" I nod and Jill pulls me to the middle of the pit lane, the two of us pose together for a few shots and then Jill gets out of the frame. "Okay arms up and look like you're having fun" I roll my eyes but do as requested throwing my arms up in the air with a big grin on my face. Suddenly arms come around me from behind, I gasp bring my hands down in surprise, I peer over my shoulder tilting my head up to see Daniel grinning, "look at the camera Cal" he says, I keep my hands on his arms but turn to the camera smiling as my friends take pictures with huge smiles on their faces.

When they give us a thumbs up Dan lets go of me, "love the hat by the way" it's then when I realize that I never saw what hat Jill put on my head. I take it off of my head smiling at the bright yellow and black of Renault, Daniel's number embroidered on the side. "It's my favourite one" I reply making him smile down at me, "when do you leave?" he asks, "tomorrow" I say, he tugs me close by my waist, "this past week and a half has been really fun Callie" I nod in agreement pushing my hair behind my ear, "I would love to keep in touch" I look into his eyes seeing the happiness in them, "I would really like that" I say with a smile. Daniel grins while taking his phone out of his pocket, "I think we can upgrade to phone numbers instead of Instagram" I laugh and he hands me his phone, I quickly type in my contact info giving his phone back once I'm done. The Australian quickly types something into his phone and I feel my pocket vibrate, "now you have my number too" I smile. "Good luck in Barrie" he tells me, I close the distance between us with a hug pulling him down to my height, he laughs wrapping his arms around me again, "I hope you win your next race Danny" he tightens his grasp around me and kisses my temple gently, "I'll try my best Cal" he replies and we pull away from each other. "Safe travels" I mumble before going to join my friends who are watching us from afar.