Something Gained

Chapter Six

The race concluded with a good result from Lando in 4th, and Daniel in 7th.

It didn't take a genius to work out that they weren't going to be happy, Daniel more so.

I could hear the radio messages sitting in the garage, and I could see Michael's reaction. It's a good result for the team for the most part.

I got myself ready as this was the most tiring time of my day, the media would be crazy. It's the first race, first opportunity to truly see where each team stands and shows up a lot on what needs improving. The questions that would be firing the teams way, and specifically the drivers could be brutal.

I waited for Daniel and Lando to come through after being weighed and doing their usual checks.

The events from last night were well and truly far from the most important thing on my mind right now.

The boys got back to the garage to claps and well done's from the team. But I was straight to work, the sooner we got them through the media, the better.

The minute I left the track, I knew we were now in a two week break from racing. It had been a whirlwind already of pre season testing and the first race. But it was far from a holiday.

I was heading to England on Tuesday, back home, back at the MTC, and doing all the behind scenes bits. But until then, I still had one more day in Bahrain and that was a day of rest and I could not wait to get into bed.

"You guys okay?" I asked, the silence in the car was a little heavy. Lando I was used to, he normally went silent for a while after the chaos of a Sunday.

"Mhm" was the response and that was it, I didn't take it personally.

Across from me, Daniel was sat. I looked up and saw he was looking at me. But his eyes didn't seem to have the same sparkle they usually did, still, he gave me a smile which I returned before looking out the window until we were back at the hotel.

I made it to my room after saying bye to everyone. Unaware of their plans, but it wasn't something that I was participating in.
But even after showering, changing, making a hot drink and trying to sit and relax on the balcony of my room, I wasn't relaxed.

Daniel

When I finally walked into my room, I fell onto the bed, still clothed.

My head was not in the game today, I wasn't focused on the driving and it showed.

The only thing I was focused on was Alex.

Everything was Alex. How nice it was to talk to her outside of our roles. How being near her felt so calm, felt so right.

How I wanted to kiss her. That's all I wanted to do, and it took everything in me to not do it. I wanted to be around her, to talk and talk and learn everything I could about her.

Never in my life had I had this problem. Girls weren't a problem for me. They left the scene as quickly as they came onto it. I didn't think about them, I didn't involve myself with them, as harsh and playboy that was. That's who I was.

But Alex, I didn't know what it was, but from the first time I saw her, there was just something that I could let go off, and boy did it frustrate me.

I rolled off my bed and got changed, I had already showered in my driver room earlier, I threw on some shorts and a t shirt and was about to sit down infront of the tv to provide me with a distraction when there was a knock at the door.

"Hi, can I come in?" Alex asked the moment I swung the door open to reveal her standing there.

"Erm yeah of course" I said, pulling the door back so she could walk in. Bewildered by her being here, she probably wanted to talk about something about work.

I watched her walk through my room as I let the door close. Her long dark hair was up in a bun, she was wearing an oversized T shirt and carrying a cup of tea.

She turned when she got to the centre of the room and just looked at me. Her eyes were like the ocean, deep and blue, I got lost in them everytime I made eye contact with her.

"So..."

"If your view is better than mine, they'll be trouble" she spoke simply, turning on her heel and heading for the balcony.

"Make yourself at home" I chuckled as she opened the door, even her movements were graceful.

Alex

"Care to join me?" I sat down on one of the chairs outside, enjoying the fresh air.

Daniel laughed, grabbed a bottle on his way and sat down across from me.

"I know Michael is your man, but I just wanted to check how you were" I looked over at him, not bothering to beat around the bush here.

That was my concern, his wellbeing first and foremost. But god he made it so damn hard to focus. Tanned, dark haired, tall, tattoos, dark beard, literally if my type was in one package. Daniel Ricciardo was it.

Not that I ever admitted to having a type. Not that I would normally allow myself to behave this way.

I never did this, this wasn't me. Work and personal were separate things. I was surrounded by attractive men every single day with my job, it was hard to escape. But none of them ever bothered me.

Because I had a skill, there was an art to separating things. I was professional.

But Daniel, I didn't know what it was, but he got to me.

"I'm good, obviously I'm disappointed it wasn't better and I dropped back but it is what it is, we can work out the kinks and go again in Italy" I nodded along sipping my tea, working overtime to focus on what he was actually saying.

I did care what he was saying, obviously.

"Mhm. I get it" I nodded, as he watched me. "But it will get better. One race in a new team with a new car doesn't just magically happen"

"No, but it would be nice if it did" he said, a small chuckle that almost sounded forced came from him, before we settled in a brief silence.

"Italy next, where you going to take me to explore when we're there" I asked, following for the conversation we had yesterday evening.

"Hmm there's so many places, I'll have a look and see what we can fit in" he almost seemed a bit more upbeat then. "If you do want to do something?" He then added the question

"Why not? I need more adventure. All work and no play makes life dull" I smiled, catching his eye for a second before sipping my drink again.

"Exactly!" He agreed

"You're half Italian aren't you? Isn't this like a half home race" I laughed and so did he

"I am but no, I'm definitely from down under. But I'll sort something out for us" he said.

For us? I liked the sound of us. As much as I tried to push that thought away as soon as it popped up in my mind.