It's Called Leap of Faith - [Daniel Ricciardo]

3. Hold On Tight

Elza's POV

How on earth did I end up here? Someone please remind me to kill Kate and Ines when we get back to our yacht. 

"Does the life jacket feel alright? Not too tight?" Blake asked me as he was adjusting the straps.

"I'm sure it's tight enough to save me if I get thrown into the ocean," I spoke, trying to sounds as calm as possible. Oh yes, so things kinda escalated quickly after Kate opened her big mouth and now, I was standing on the deck of the other yacht with Ines. Kate was already speeding around the ocean with this Michael guy. Very handsome Michael, may I add.

"Where did Daniel go? I think he said he wanted to go next so I think he can also take you for a ride," Blake continued, still checking the straps on the life vest I was wearing. Oh great, that's just amazing. Daniel.

After Kate had asked if we could borrow the jet skis and this Blake guy had told her 'of course', he came and picked us up from our boat and drove us to theirs. I had recognized Daniel immediately when I saw him. Germans weren't exactly strangers when it came to Formula 1. I had seen many races from the TV during the years and so had Ines and Kate. When we arrived to the guys' yacht, Michael was the first one to introduce himself. Well, Blake didn't have to really introduce himself since Daniel did the job right away for him. 

"I'm here!" Yes, there he was. I grimaced to what was happening right now. I hated these kind of situations. Me knowing him was only a small part of it. I was absolutely a disaster when I had to talk with strangers. It didn't really matter if it was a woman or a man. I just couldn't handle myself at all. At work it was different, I could easily turn on this business mode and be very social and chatty but immediately when I was out the office I felt insecure and uncomfortable with strangers. Small talk and all that, it really wasn't me. 

"So someone wants go for a ride?" he walked to me and lifted his sunglasses so I could see his eyes. Brown eyes. "I'm Daniel," he offered me his hand and smiled.

"Elza, nice to meet you," I said quietly and gave him a little smile back. I'm not going to survive from this.

"Let's go, we got some catching up to do. Michael and your friend seem to be on fire," Daniel pointed at the duo who were already quite far away from us.

"Just please don't get me killed," I told him. I'm really not sure if it was safer to ride with a professional Formula 1 driver or with Ines who I knew wouldn't be speeding or doing anything else too crazy. 

"You just hold on tight," he said and winked. Daniel sat down to the jet ski. I had to take some support from his shoulders as I followed him. This is awkward, I thought as I sat behind him. 

"You know you're gonna fall off if you don't hold on to me," Daniel turned his head to look at me, obvious smirk playing on his lips.

"Oh yea, right," I slowly placed my arms around his body and leaned closer to his back.

"Are you ready?" I heard him ask.

"Ready."

Daniel started the engine and slowly began to push the throttle. It was enough for me to tighten my grip around him.

"I'm just going to drive a little further away from the boats," Daniel pointed towards where Michael and Kate were also heading. 

I think I screamed more than I did back when I was 10 years old in a roller coaster. But surprisingly I felt safe, as I was in good hands. Daniel really knew what he was doing. I saw Michael and Kate every now and then passing us. Kate was also screaming. If Daniel was deaf after this, so was Michael. 

• • •

"Oh my god, that was so much fun! What an adrenaline rush," Ines laughed and dried her hair to the towel Blake had given to her. We were sitting in a fancy lounge are on the guys' yacht. Kate and Ines were happily chatting away with Michael and Daniel. Sometimes I really envied them. They always got along with everyone so easily. 

"Did you have fun Elza?" I gasped and came back to this world when I heard my name. 

"I did, thank you," I answered politely to Daniel who was sitting next to me.

"So girls, where are you from and what are you doing in Monaco?" Blake asked as he came back to us with water bottles. It was a hot day and everyone was feeling thirsty. I was feeling thirsty mainly for screaming like a crazy person for the past 30 minutes.

"We're from Munich. It's our annual summer holiday, we do this every year, usually it's summer time when we all have a break from work," Kate started to explain. "This was all Elza's idea, she's really not a fan of big cities," the model blabbered. Ugh, thank you Kate.

"Oh how come?" Michael looked at me curiously. 

"Umm, I don't know. I guess I just enjoy quiet, private places," I didn't really know how to say it so I wouldn't sound like a mean person. It's not like I hated people or anything.

"Well ocean is a really good choice then I'd say," Daniel chuckled and I turned my head to him briefly before looking back to my two friends who were sitting on the other side of the table.

"I think we should return to our boat, we've taken enough of your time already," I raised my eyebrows as I spoke so Kate and Ines would get my hint. I wasn't going to ask the guys what they were doing in Monaco because I'm pretty sure they all lived here. The whole situation was already awkward enough and if this conversation went on any longer it would only get worse. I was already bit surprised that neither Ines or Kate had said anything to Daniel about his career. 

"It's been no bother at all, though if Daniel here loses his hearing, Elza you'll be in real trouble," Blake winked at me and made everyone laugh. I could feel my cheeks getting hot and probably red. I looked at Daniel and I gasped when he suddenly touched my thigh and gave me a squeeze.

"Are you staying on the yacht for the night?" Daniel asked. Stop staring at me. Ines noticed my sudden loss of ability to speak.

"Yes we are, until Friday," thank you Ines. "What about you guys?"

"Well it's kinda open, we haven't got anything really planned out. We all have a short break from work also, so here we are," Michael spoke up and the moment he mentioned word 'work'  I felt like I wanted to jump to the ocean. Maybe we should have said something when we first got to the boat. 

"That's cool. So I guess we'll be seeing each other again, well except if you guys move somewhere else," Kate said and started to get up from the couch. I was stuck between Bake and Daniel but Blake thankfully stood up quickly when Kate and Ines started to make their way down to the bottom deck.

"Can you guys give us a lift back to our boat?" I asked from Daniel as we followed everyone else.

"Of course, you don't have to swim," he said and placed his hand on my back as we walked down the stairs. I think that was what electric shock felt like.