The Fire Inside (Sebastian Vettel)

24. Long Hot Summer

Emily lay back on the sand, the hot sun beating down on her. Summer break was finally here and she and Kara had flown to Greece for a fortnight's holiday. Joel and Harry had gone to Ibiza instead for one of their fellow mechanic's stag week, so it was just the two of them.

Emily felt relieved that she'd get a break from all the drama and stress of Formula 1. Hungary had been weird. Seb had seemed different. He'd been very quiet, and not his usual self at all. He'd barely spoken to her, and when he had his answers had been short and straight to the point.

She'd met up with Charles for lunch on the Wednesday afternoon. It had been pleasant until Charles had made it clear that he would like to be more than just friends. She had told him that she was only looking to be friends but he'd just smiled and asked for a chance to change her mind.

Emily knew she didn't want that but she was just too nice to dash his hopes, so had reluctantly agreed. He was such a nice guy. Why didn't she fancy him? She found herself agreeing to see him again in Belgium.

"Emily?" Kara said.

"Yeah?"

"While it's just us can I ask you something?"

"Sure, fire away."

"Seb. What's going on? You two seem so awkward with each other lately."

"I don't really know what to say to that. Things are complicated. I really liked him Kara but he hurt me by kissing Francesca."

"I think he just made a drunken mistake. I think he really likes you. The way he was stroking your hair when I walked in."

"He wants me, he's told me that. He's also told me he's not looking for a relationship. He said he can never love again. To be honest, I was happy with that to begin with. After Chris I didn't want anything serious, but I was lying to myself. Kara, I'm afraid of getting too close to him. I'm not saying I love him . But I think it would be very easy to. I can't go there. We are from different worlds. It's just best that it goes no further."

"What the hell are you doing with Charles then?" Emily sighed.

"I don't know. He's just so nice. I tried telling him I just want to be friends. I don't want him, but I do really like him as a friend."

"You need to be ruthless Ems. And if you ask me, take a risk with Seb. You could have something great."

"He just wants sex Kara."

"I don't believe that. "

"He's done nothing to show me he wants more."

"If he did show you, would you be open to changing your mind?"

"I think if he really tried I wouldn't be able to resist him,
Emily admitted.

Kara shuffled over so they were close. She held her phone up.

"Come on girl, selfie time." They both posed for the camera. Kara posted it on Instagram and tagged Harry and Joel.

KaraR94: wish you were here guys. See you soon. 😘

***

Seb collapsed onto his back lawn, two little girls piled on top of him. He had spent the last three weeks with them. They'd had a week in Majorca, then the last two weeks at home. It had been great to spend time with them.

The worst thing about being a driver was the amount of time he spent away from them. They'd helped keep his mind off of Emily for the most part.

Today Carla was coming to collect them. He was going to miss the little scamps.

"Who would like an ice cream?" he asked, hugging them tightly.

"Me Daddy, please Daddy!"shrieked Klara.

"Can we have chocolate sauce on it please Daddy?"begged Leah.

"Come on, let's go and have a look what we have left." The girls ran on in front of him. He followed them into the kitchen and began to hunt through the freezer.

"Oh look, I have a strawberry one here. Shame there's no one that likes strawberry ice cream."

"Me Daddy, me, me!"cried Klara, excitedly.

"You like it Klara? No, I don't believe you."

"Please," she begged, bouncing up and down. He laughed and took the wrapper off, handing it to his youngest daughter. He pulled another ice cream out of the freezer. He took the wrapper off and got the chocolate sauce out of the cupboard and squirted some on. He handed it to Leah.

The girls headed back outside. Seb pushed a glass under the water dispenser in the fridge door and filled it with ice cold water. He drank a big mouthful. He could feel his t-shirt sticking to him. There had been a heatwave for the past two weeks.

He heard the front door knock. He padded through the hallway and opened the door.

"Hey Carla," he said. "Come on in. They're just eating ice creams in the garden."

"Hey Seb, have they been good?"

"Angels, but then again, they always are." Seb and his ex wife walked through the house and out into the back garden. They sat at the table underneath a sun parasol.

"I don't want to sound rude Seb, but you look like shit. Something's wrong. " He laughed. That was the Carla he knew. Blunt as ever.

"You don't wanna know my problems Carla."

"Try me. It sometimes helps to talk. A problem shared is a problem halved." He shook his head.

"Seb, you can talk to me. I know we've had our ups and downs. Just because we're no longer together doesn't mean I don't care. We were best friends before we were anything else. I'll always be here for you. I truly regret how I treated you. I should have been honest from the beginning. Just know that I'm here for you if you want to talk."

He sat in silence and watched the girls chase each other around the garden.

"Carla, there's this girl. At first I thought I was just physically attracted to her. We've had a few kisses, then I stuffed up. And I realised too late that I've fallen for her. She doesn't want me though. Not like I want her. She's placed me firmly in the Friendzone."

Carla moved to the seat next to him and put her arm around him.

"You have it bad for this..."

"Emily."

"For Emily. How do you know she doesn't want you? Has she told you that?"

"Not in so many words. But I hurt her. I kissed someone else because I was jealous. Because I thought she was with Charles Leclerc. She wasn't but now she's meeting up with him and he wants her and Charles always gets what he wants. She kissed me after Silverstone, but she was drunk, and she doesn't even remember it. It's tearing me apart Carla, but I have no fight left."

She pulled back and looked at him sternly.

"Now listen to me Sebastian Vettel. Don't be offended by what I say, I mean it in the best possible way. What the hell has happened to you? Where is the Seb I have known and loved? You are a shadow of him. Where is your fire? Where is that guy who went and got what he wanted? If you want her, fight for her. Fuck Charles fucking Leclerc. Fight Seb, if she doesn't want you still then at least you know you gave it everything. Don't roll over and give in. That's being a coward. Maybe she will realise that you are everything she wants. Maybe you have everything to gain if you just risk it."

"Maybe that Seb doesn't exist any more."

"Bullshit. He's in there. Fight Seb. You love her?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Then go win her heart. She won't be able to resist the Vettel charm."
Seb grinned at Carla. "Start by having a haircut, and a shave. You look like a tramp."

He burst out laughing. Carla had stirred something inside him. He felt the fire ignite. Emily wasn't going to know what hit her. He was coming for her. If Charles wanted a fight, he'd get one. There was no way on earth Charles was getting Emily. She was his. He was going back to win. On track, and to win Emily's heart. Sebastian Vettel was a winner. He always had been. He got what he wanted. And he wanted her.