Keep Me In | DR3 | BOOK 1

80 - I Never Left

Daniel smiled, his cheeks lifting his glistening eyes, "You really still love me, Alexa?"

I returned the smile, even though my voice shook. "I couldn't even bring myself to think about letting you go, Daniel. I just hope I'm not too late."

"You're not," he shook his head. "You're not too late."

--

- September 4, 2021 📍 London, England -

"Happy birthday!"

I wasn't partial to having all eyes on me, by any means. Maybe first thing in the morning, before a coffee. Or after a workout, red-faced and drenched in sweat. However in a tight dress, with my hair and makeup done, I couldn't help but appreciate an ounce of slight admiration.

But with the entire restaurant turned, eyes scanning me up and down as I made my way to the table with the hooting and hollering guests, I couldn't help but wish the people I held closest to me had any desire to be a little more subtle.

I nodded politely in thanks as strangers repeated the sentiment my brother and Noah had belted in tandem across the quiet and distinguished Italian restaurant. It was a Saturday night at one of Londons finest dining restaurants. Our reservation had been booked weeks in advance by Carlee to celebrate my turning 27.

Thankfully, our fellow patrons seemed to find it all endearing. However, that wasn't enough to keep me from giving Rory a good flick on the ear as I took my seat at the head of the table. Molly and I wiggled put fingers together, both laughing at his discomfort.

"What they said," Carlee rolled her eyes as she gestured to Rory before embracing me.

"You guys all look amazing," I smiled, blowing Julia across from me a kiss before tucking my dress beneath me as I sat. "Thanks for coming tonight."

"Not like we had a choice, am I right?" Noah responded jokingly, nudging Ben in the bicep as the two winked at each other. Bens girlfriend kept a close eye on her partner as he looked at Noah in denial. I smiled at her reassuringly, reminding her that that's how we all acted in the office. Nothing taken to heart.

The seven of us ordered our food as the waiter came by, pouring those of us that were drinking a glass of champagne that had been ordered before I sat down.

"Dad ordered it, all the way from Zandvoort," Rory scoffed. I chuckled as well, eyeing up the bottle.

"He still does that every year?" Julia asked knowingly with a grin. Rory nodded, crossing his arms across his chest with a shrug. "You lot really know how to take a bad memory and make it all something to laugh about, don't you?"

"How do you know it's from your dad?" Ben questioned innocently. "There isn't a card or anything."

Those of us at the table that knew shared a look, which unfortunately only really left out Ben and his girlfriend.

"Alexa," Julia called from the living room of our shared hotel room. "Come out here for a sec!"

I had just finished taking a nap. A pre-celebratory nap to recover from my most recent win in Monza. We don't normally go out after every race, mostly because of how spent I usually was after a busy weekend of trying to out-score Russell. But today in Monza, winning a feature race for the first time since summer break, sufficiently ending my two-race streak of finishing behind George - well, Julia insisted it was cause for celebration.