This Love

15

We get to Montreal an hour and a half later, the flight feeling way shorter than it was. Dan takes my hand as we get into the airport not wanting to get separated from me in the crowd. When we go to get my suitcase at the luggage carousel he takes my bag for me. "You don't need to" I tell him reaching for my suitcase, "I want to Cal" I huff but let him roll my bag as we leave the airport. He slides his sunglasses over his eyes as we step outside, he leads me to a car that dons an F1 logo, I watch him knock on the window before the trunk gets opened. Dan slides my bag into the trunk before closing it and walking over to me, "ready?" I nod and he once again opens the back door for me. "So where are we staying?" A few seconds of silence pass and my eyes widen realizing what I assumed, "I didn't mean we I meant you I don't matter in this situation I'll just book a room where you're staying" I babble to try and reverse the mistake. Dan watches me with a smile, "you're so adorable Cal" I blush while biting my lip, "to answer your question, WE'RE staying at the nearest hotel, which before you ask I don't remember the name of" I smile up at him and he pulls me to his side for the rest of the drive.

The car stops at one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, I get out and stare up in awe. "Pretty nice right?" I turn to Daniel who has my suitcase already, "I've only ever dreamed of staying at a place like this when I make the big bucks for some pro hockey team" I reply, "well I guess you don't have to wait that long" he says before taking my hand dragging me into the hotel. The lobby is just as amazing as the exterior but I tone down my look of awe as we make our way to the elevator. "They treat you guys pretty great in F1" I say as we stand in the elevator, "yeah but this kinda stuff is all material, the experience is worth more than all of it" he tells me, I nod in understanding, "I get that" he brings his arm around me pulling me closer as the elevator opens on the right floor.

When I walk into the hotel room my eyes widen but I keep my mouth shut tightly not wanting to freak out again over the luxury. Dan looks at me confused, "you're trying to keep your excitement down aren't you?" I nod still not opening my mouth, "I won't judge Cal, I was the same at the beginning" he tells me while smiling. My gaze locks with his to see if he's being serious, come on let it out, I don't want you to pass out" I slowly open my mouth before breaking into a run, "this place is amaaaazing!" I yell as I run a lap around the room, I hear Dan laughing but I ignore it as I stop at the floor to ceiling windows taking in the view of Montreal. "What a beautiful view" I say with a smile, "yeah it's pretty amazing" Dan replies, I keep my eyes on the city not realizing that he meant a different kind of view from where he's standing.

Once I've taken in every detail I turn to Dan, "so where am I sleeping?" I ask only seeing the one bed in the room. "Here's the thing Cal, I asked for two beds but I guess they forgot so this is what we've got to work with" I shrug nonchalantly hoping that he doesn't see through my relaxed demeanour as I panic internally at the thought of sleeping in the same bed as the handsome man in front of me. "It's all good Dan, don't sweat it, not your fault in the first place" he swipes his hand across his forehead jokingly making me laugh, "not gonna lie I was worried it would be a dealbreaker" I wave off his worry even though my stomach flips with nerves of what tonight will bring.

——

Later that evening I get back to the hotel room after taking a leisurely walk to waste time while Dan had a practice at the track. The dark haired driver smiles when I walk into the room, "where did you go?" He asks, "took a nice long walk, didn't really want to be stuck in this room for that long" I explain as I skip off my shoes by the door. "Fair enough miss just likes hockey" I stick my tongue out at him, he chuckles, "seems that you've changed my allegiance Mr Ricciardo, so none of that teasing is necessary" I tell him before going over to my suitcase to grab my pjs. I nearly choke when I see that the only sleepwear Jill and Lexi packed is the silky tank and shorts set that I bought myself for when I'm feeling particularly good about myself. "You okay Cal?" Dan asks telling me that he must've heard the choke, "yeah I'm perfect" I reply scrunching up the silky material as best as I can while scampering into the bathroom to change.

Minutes later I'm staring at myself in the bathroom mirror. I can't help but think that the silk pjs I'm wearing used to have more fabric, unless that was just in my head. My cheeks puff up as I prepare to go back into the other room in the silky set that doesn't leave much to the imagination. "Okay I can do this, it's just Dan right?" I mumble to myself  as I straighten up gathering my dirty clothes before opening the door into the other space. My steps are silent on the carpet as I try to keep my blush to a minimum, "hey Cal..." I look over at Dan shyly to see that his eyes are wide as they go from my feet up my body landing on my red face. "What's up" I squeak moving the pile of clothes I'm holding over my chest, he blinks a few times looking down before clearing his throat, "I have another practice session tomorrow, do you want to tag along?" He asks barely looking at me, "sure, that'll probably more exciting than sitting in this room all day" I reply as I go back to my suitcase gently dropping my dirty clothes into it, not taking any chances with bending over in my minimal amount of clothing. He nods before getting up to walk to the bathroom, I take the opportunity to bury myself under the covers, my head the only thing visible. A few minutes later Dan walks out of the bathroom and it's my turn to stare with him only in some boxer briefs, he walks over to the bed not noticing my expression as he slides under the covers next to me. I blink a few times to clear the inappropriate thoughts from my head, "night Cal" Dan says with one last smile directed at me, "night Danny" I reply smiling as well. I rotate onto my side and away from him as he turns off the lights in the room, getting comfy as I my eyes start to shut.