Red Hot! (Sebastian Vettel)

56. Their First Year (1)

Barcelona, February 2024

"Libby are you ready?" Seb called out as he zipped his team jacket up and pulled his beanie onto his head.  

"Just a minute," she replied from the bathroom, where she'd been for the last twenty minutes.  Seb smiled to himself.   He found it adorable that Libby was nervous about their first public appearance together.  She was one of the most confident, self assured people he knew.  It wasn't very often that he saw this vulnerable side of her.  

"You'll be fine, you know a lot of people. You can catch up with Amber, Joel, Mike, Lance, Scott.  And you know Britta and Antti.   You'll love the Red Bull lot too.  They're a great bunch."

Libby walked out of the bathroom, dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark grey hoodie she'd pinched out of Seb's suitcase. 

Seb walked over to her.  He removed his Red Bull beanie and placed it on Libby's head, pulling it down over her braids.   Libby smiled at him, remembering that day at Silverstone nearly two years before when he'd put his Aston Martin beanie on her. 

"It suits you better," Seb said.   He went to his suitcase and pulled out his plain grey beanie and put it on.  

"Seb, I'm scared," she blurted out.  He pulled her into a hug. 

"There's no need to be. You'll be fine."

"But after we arrive it's going to be common knowledge.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not ashamed of us, it's just...you know what the press are like. It won't take long for them to find out I'm the daughter of Drew McDevitt."

"You're right, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. You're a strong woman Libby.  We will handle them together.  I can't wait for everyone to find out you're mine.   I'm so proud to call you my girlfriend. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Now come on.  Get your coat on.  We were supposed to be meeting Britta and Antti in the lobby five minutes ago.  Britta will never believe that it was your fault we're late. She'll blame me!"

"That's because you're always late darling."  Seb shrugged his shoulders and grinned. 

"Me? Late? I don't know what you're talking about."  Libby laughed and grabbed hold of her padded coat. She slipped it on, and together they left their room and headed downstairs to meet Britta and Antti. 

***

Libby gripped Seb's hand tightly as they entered the paddock. They'd already been spotted by the gaggle of photographers that had gathered near the gates, and were now heading towards the Red Bull motorhome.

"Libby! Seb!" came a familiar voice. They turned and saw Scott jogging up to them. "Hey, how are you? It's so good to see you. And it's great to see you finally got your act together Seb!"

Libby hugged Scott warmly. She'd spoken to him on FaceTime over the winter but hadn't seen him in person since Nashville.

After hugging his sister he shook hands with Seb. "You look after her!"

"I will Scott. You have my word."

Spotting a group of greenclad people out the corner of her eye, Libby glanced to her left. She recognised her old boss as he passed them.

"Mike!" she called out. He stopped and turned, a broad smile appearing on his face as he recognised her.

"Libby! What a wonderful surprise." He frowned, pointing at her beanie. "You're working for Red Bull?"