Something Gained

Chapter Twelve

I got into Daniels car and my phone rang. Lando's name flashed up on the screen. I smiled and answered it.
"Hey Lands, you okay?"
"Well I called to ask you that, but I'm good. How you doing Lex?"
"I'm good just chilling out, what are you up to?"
"Well this and that, I just saw pictures of you and Daniel" my breathing stopped and I started panicking. I didn't want him to find out like this. Lando was my friend
"Oh really, what kind of pictures" I was also very aware of Daniel sitting next to me looking very confused at what was happening but that didn't help matters.
"Well it's speculation obviously, but there's pictures of you two at the airport looking cosy, I don't think you look all that cosy to be honest but"
"Oh I see, yeah well we got the same flight back to LA and Michael drove me back to my apartment"
"Ah that's good I just wanted to let you know before you saw it because these kinds of things are spun in horrible ways, tell him I said hello if you see him again, and just text me if you need anything"
"I will do, thank you Lands, see you soon"
"See you soon, bye Alex"

I ended the phone call and looked at Daniel, he looked very confused and starting backing out of the parking space.
"There's pictures of us, Lando's seen them, at the airport" I said as I slipped my phone back into my bag
"Well, this is what happens, I'm sure it'll be fine" he replied so calmly
"What happens if they're following us, we just kissed on the beach out in the open in public" I said. I knew Daniel kept his private life quite private so I was very confused as to why this didn't phase him
"It could be an issue, but I'm not going to worry about it until there's something to worry about"
"I need to speak to Zak, I don't want to lose my job"
"Hey, you're not going to lose your job, I told you, don't worry okay" he put his hand on mine which was sitting on my lap and I looked at him and calmness just washed over me. I nodded and looked forward as we drove through the streets.

Time flew by in LA, I started to feel more myself. Daniel forced me out the house a few times, sometimes to just go food shopping or have some lunch but he was nice and friendly. We kissed a couple of times and found ourselves laying in bed together watching movies at my house or in his. I saw him practically everyday when he wasn't training or working. I just felt at peace and I had definitely recharged and relaxed and I felt like I had my head back in the game.
Today was Sunday and was the day we flew back to England. Back to McLaren. I couldn't wait to see Lando, we kept texting as he was worried but he knew I was okay. Daniel and I had the same flight, which he made sure of, and we were leaving soon. Michael as well. We had to get back to work and get prepped for Italy.

I shut my suitcase, I'd packed more as I wouldn't be coming back after Italy, I would be going to Monaco with Lando. I had my work tops in a suit bag to keep them pressed and clean. I had my keys, my phones, my identification otherwise I was going no where, my work bag, and then my flight stuff. I was all set. I left my apartment and look the lift down the ground floor, I waved goodbye to Lewis, my concierge. He looked after my place while I was gone and walked out the building to be greeted by two Australian men leaning against the car.

"Good afternoon" Michael said going to open the boot of the car.
"Hello hello" I replied, chirpier than I've been this whole time. Getting back to work really settled me down
"Someone's happy" Daniel come over and gave me a hug and took my bags while I hung my work stuff up in the back of the car. Soon enough we were on the road to the airport, and once again Daniel and Michael were singing and dancing away as they normally did.
"So I heard you're off to Monaco after we leave Italy" Daniel asked
"Yeah, Lando invited me. I'm starting to think no one trusts me on my own" I laughed
"That's funny because that's we are going as well" Michael said. I leaned forward in the car so I was practically between both seats
"Sorry?"
"Yeah Daniel has a place out there as well, in Monaco" he shrugged
"Is there anywhere you don't have a house?" I asked
"Yeah England" he laughed. And I sat back in my seat shaking my head and chuckling.
"No one wants to live there" I sighed.

Daniel

The flight back was interesting, I sat inbetween Michael and Alex, just so I could be as close as possible to her. Michael was fasto next to me. I managed to get Alex comfortable watching a film with me, we were underneath the blanket and stayed that way practically the whole flight watching movie after movie. I could barely concentrate on what we were watching, just on her. Her head was buried in my neck and I could just smell her the entire time. It was intoxicating. She started softly snoring, I brushed her hair away and confirmed she was asleep. She cuddled more into me and I settled down.

"Dan, wake up" I must of fallen asleep as well as Michael was nudging me awake. "We're landing soon" he smirked at me and looked towards Alex. We were completely cuddled up and she looked so comfortable I didn't want to wake her but I knew I had to. Michael started packing his things away and brushed Alex's hair with my hand and she stirred awake.
"Wakey wakey sleepy head" I whispered into her ear. She stretched and looked up at me. She looked so adorable I couldn't help myself. I kissed her forehead and she smiled before sitting up.

We made our way off the plane and through the airport, as we got outside we waited while Michael went off to get the car.
"Are you cold?" I noticed her shivering. She was only wearing a T shirt and jeans and England was a lot colder than LA. She shook her head, and I sighed handing her my hoodie.
"I'm fine honestly" she still sounded so sleepy.
"Come on just take it. Can't having you getting sick. You'll make me sick and I'm not about that life, I've got a job to do" I said with a wink. I knew it would get her to listen and she did. She grabbed the hoodie with a sigh and slipped it on, it was a lot bigger on her than on me and she looked great in my clothes. Michael pulled up in the car and I grabbed our bags and put them in the car. I went to get in the car and she was in the front with Michael.
"Oh I see, I've been demoted" Michael laughed
"That's how it is Danny Ric, Michael is more fun than you" at this point Michael was in stitches. I held my heart and got in the back of the car.
"Did you just call me Danny Ric?" I asked from behind her
"Yep, problem?"
"Not at all" Danny Ric is what my friends used to call me when we were kids doing karting. Not that it was important. But it made me smile, something from home.
"I've got a briefing with Zak at 9am tomorrow. I need to prep you guys for some media bits tomorrow. Do you want to have dinner?" She asked from the front of the car. I would love to do dinner, just me and her. But that won't happen.
"Yeah sure" I looked at Michael in the mirror and he winked at me
"I'm sure Jon's back as well, so are you coming Michael?" She asked turning to Michael.
"I'm always down for food" he nodded along to the music. He kept looking at me in the mirror and smiling. Michael was the only one that knew everything. He's been my best friend since we were kids and I couldn't have anyone else working with me. And I couldn't not tell him about Alex, so he knew it all and how much I liked her.

Alex

Finally we got back to the hotel, I felt knackered but I was now back in England and back to work. I had to get these things done with the boys and I couldn't wait to see Lando again. But I needed to talk to him as well. I loved him dearly, and he was a great friend and I worked with him as well. Even if there was nothing now. Even though I wanted there to be. He needed to know about what had happened. But I couldn't worry about that now. I needed to focus on work. I was certainly happy to be back. Not that my time away wasn't good, especially spending time with Daniel. It was just a mess in my head with the anniversary and then thinking about what had happened. But this was a fresh start.
I headed straight up to my room and dropped off all my things, I had a shower to get rid of the travelling and got changed into some comfy clothes. Perks of my job, I could wear what I liked when I was working over dinner and I could literally work while eating. I pulled on my tracksuit bottoms, and my cropped tracksuit jumper, pulled on my trainers and got my notes together and left the room.