The Strength Within (Sebastian Vettel)

14. Setback

Emily knocked on Seb's drivers' room door. She was expecting to get her head bitten off. He'd just had to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix. His rear right tyre had blown after he'd run over debris from Yuki Tsunoda's crash a lap earlier, sending his car into a spin which ended in a collision with a barrier. He'd stormed through the garage without talking to anyone after getting out of the medical car that had given him a lift back . Emily didn't blame him for being angry, the FIA had been late sending out the safety car.

"What?" snapped Seb from the other side of the door.

"It's me. I just wanted to check on you but if you want to be alone I'll go." The door opened and his hand shot out and dragged her in the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

She found herself pinned to the wall and Seb leaning in to kiss her. She kissed him back for a few seconds but then pulled back.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

He sighed.

"Not by far. Physically yes, but I'm pissed off. They should have sent the safety car out and cleared the debris. Now I'm out, and I've lost the championship lead."

She put her arms around him and pulled him close.

"I don't know what to say."

"There's not a lot you can say," he said, wryly. She felt his hands move down to her hips, and his lips pressing to her neck. A spark of desire shot through her. She shivered.

He lifted his head and looked at her. She could see he was aroused too.

"I want you." he said. "Sometimes it's so hard doing the right thing."
He reluctantly let go of her and began pacing up and down the room.

"You'll wear the floor out," Emily joked.

"I'm just so fucking frustrated Emily. This was the last thing I needed. They'll all be starting now. The critics will be saying Vettel's washed, Vettel's bottling it again."

"It's a setback for sure, but it's one race Seb. You still have as much chance as anyone. Do not do this. Do not let them get to you. You are a fighter. You do not quit."

He kicked his water bottle across the room in temper.

"Come here," Emily said, holding her arms open. He shook his head furiously.

"No. I can't, because if I do I won't be able to stop. I just want to fuck the hell out of you. I need to release my anger and I won't do that to you. You deserve the best of me, not the the worst of me."

Emily smiled.

"I love you Sebastian Vettel, both parts of you. You think of me even when you are suffering."

"I will always put you before me. Emily, I love you. And soon we will be back together where we belong."

"When the time is right. I just want you to know I appreciate your patience. I know it's hard for you to understand my reticence. "

"I can't imagine what you went through losing Jacob Emily. I've never lost a child."

Emily bit her bottom lip.

"Listen, this isn't about me. This is about you, and what I can do to make you feel better."

"I just need to sulk for a while," he laughed. "I'll be ok. You go, I know you have stuff to do. I've got to face the media pen soon anyway."

He walked over and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. She smiled and left the room. Seb cursed and kicked the wall. He laughed weakly, if he kicked anything else people would think he was turning into Max Verstappen. He sat down and took a deep breath. Emily was right. He was a fighter. And that's what he was going to do. This was his year and they weren't taking it from him without the fight of his life.

***

Seb and Emily sat out on the balcony of his hotel room in Miami. It had been a searing hot day and it was still extremely hot even though the sun was starting to go down.

Seb was relaxing, thinking through his plans for the race the following day. He was starting from second on the grid. Max was on pole. He was confident he could win. He liked the track and the car had great race pace this season. He looked at Emily. She was peeling a banana while looking out at the nearby ocean.

She was so beautiful. She was wearing a hot pink sundress. His girl in pink. She took a bite out of the banana and looked at him.
He felt a spark of desire watching her slip the banana in between her lips.

He looked away. He wasn't going to be left sexually frustrated once again.

"How's Joel doing?" he asked.

"He's doing good. He's looking forward to Demi getting back on Tuesday. He's finally going to ask her out."

"About time."

"So, I expect you're looking forward to getting back to Europe? You must miss your girls."

"Yeah I do," he agreed, smiling fondly as he thought of Leah and Klara. "I facetime them most days but it's not the same."

"I imagine it's not. Do they watch you race? On the TV I mean."

"No. Carla doesn't want them to until they're older. I can understand that. This is a dangerous sport."

"Yeah, I think I'd be the same."

"Emily. Can I ask you something? I don't want to upset you, so just tell me to mind my own business if you want to." She nodded at him to go on. "Would you ever want another child?"

Emily tensed up. It was a subject she had thought about a lot, even more since getting involved with Seb.

"Truth is I just don't know. I'd love to be a mum but I don't know if I could go through that again. I mean, what if it happened again?"

"Do they know what actually happened? Why it happened?"

"They had no answers. It was just one of those things."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag the memories up. I just....you just....I think you'd make a great mother." She smiled at him.

"It's not something I have to think about for a while yet. I'm not even thirty until August so I have plenty of child bearing years ahead of me."

"Yeah I guess so," he said. "Oh, I forgot to say. My mother and father are coming to the next race. They can't make Germany as are going on a cruise. Fabian will be at Germany though."

"Oh Seb, that's great. I remember briefly meeting your dad and Fabian."

"I always feel more relaxed and confident when they're there."

"Well, speaking of relaxed, I think you'd better get some rest soon. Big day tomorrow."

"I will soon. Just give me another hour with you." He reached out and picked up her hand.

"Will you go on another date with me in Spielberg?"he asked her.

"I'd love to. What do you have in mind?"

"That would be telling. To be honest, I don't know yet. Leave it with me. I'll get back to you on that."

"I'll look forward to it."

Seb squeezed her hand. He was falling more and more in love with this girl every day. He hoped soon she would give him her full trust. Then everything would be perfect.