The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

18. Downtime

Leah could hear music blasting out across the landing. She pulled herself up in bed and stretched. That would be Joel. Only he would be listening to Queen at this time on a Wednesday morning. It was just gone ten o'clock.  She'd overslept, which was unusual for her. 

Her father was out at the office in London, and Vicky was probably out seeing to her horses. Joel had been away for work, he was a sport photographer, and she hadn't seen him since she'd been back from Imola.

She jumped out of bed and padded across her bedroom. Opening the door, she made her way to Joel's room. She hammered on the door.

The music stopped and the door flung open. She came face to face with her favourite person in the world.

"Leah!" he exclaimed, lifting her off of her feet and spinning her around. "It's so good to see you!"   She hugged her stepbrother tightly. He was one of the only men she felt truly comfortable around.

She'd had a connection with him from the day she'd first met him two years earlier at her father's and Vicky's engagement party.

"How was it in America?" she asked him when he finally relinquished his hold on her. He'd been out in the States photographing an Indy Car race at Long Beach, deputising for their usual photographer,  then stayed on a few extra weeks, snapping various races in other series.

"It was great. Actually, I have some news. Fancy going out for lunch so I can tell you all about it?"

"Yes, absolutely. There's something I want to talk to you about too. Also, I want to go shopping. I need some new clothes."

"Who are you and what have you done with Leah?" he asked. "It's not like you to want to go clothes shopping."

"Well maybe I just feel like it." She grinned at her stepbrother. He grinned back. He was very attractive, with longish blonde hair and hazel eyes, but Leah had never looked at him in that way, nor he her. They'd just become best friends and that's all they'd ever be.

"Go and get ready. I'll meet you downstairs. I'll drive."

Leah headed back to her room where she had a shower in her en-suite and dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a white ribbed vest. She pulled on a black zip up hoodie. Then she pulled her hair up into a high ponytail. She would have to get it cut soon, it hadn't been this long in a while.

She grabbed hold of her backpack and headed down the stairs to meet Joel. He was in the kitchen, just finishing his cup of coffee.

"You ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

"Early lunch first or shopping? "

"Lunch. I'm starving!" As if on cue her stomach gave a loud rumble.

They went outside and jumped into Joel's black Audi R8. "Oxford? Or do you want to go over to Milton Keynes?"

"Milton Keynes I think. Not so many people darting about on their bicycles."

The drive took about an hour. Joel parked on the top of a multi-storey car park and they caught the lift down to the shopping centre.

"What do you fancy then?" he asked her.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I know I should be eating healthy but I'd kill for a Big Mac right now."

"Go on. Be a devil. You know you want to."

"What the hell. Let's do it." They made their way to McDonald's. Joe began tapping away on the order screen, selecting what he wanted.

"You say you want a Big Mac?"