The Teammate

10 - A Wedding Then A Funeral

June 2023

Arabella had been to a few weddings before. Over the years she had many family and friends who had tied the knot, even some that had gone black tie with expensive-looking centerpieces and mouth-watering food. However, the wedding of a Formula One driver wouldn't compare to anything she had experienced before. Not only was she a plus one to Max, but the wedding had almost 500 people in attendance and Arabella had only met a handful. Drivers and their significant others along the grid.

"Don't be nervous." Max said pressing his lips to her temple as they rode through the city. She had spent the first half of the trip nervously picking at the hem of her slate-colored gown. It was cold in the air-conditioned car with the thin straps and her bare back against the luxury leather seats. The bodice of the dress was modest enough to contrast the thigh-high slit that cut through the matte fabric of the skirt revealing her toned leg and a pair of silver strappy heels.

"I'm not nervous." She admitted, dropping the hem she smoothed out the fabric of her skirt. "My mind's just cloudy." Thankfully her dirty blond hair was pinned up with only a few strands falling around her face otherwise she would have been running her hands through it all night.

"It's going to be okay." He said sliding his hand across her bare thigh. "Today will be a good distraction." Arabella nodded looking out the passenger window towards the Greek countryside as it blurred by.

They pulled up to the stunning outdoor venue on the coast overlooking the ocean. Max introduced her to a few important people as well as some of the more famous ones that made Arabella's jaw drop before shaking her hand. There were people from all over in attendance, most of them worked for a Formula One team or knew someone who did. The rest of them were personal friends and family of the bride and groom. By the time they took their seats, there were more names swirling in her head than there were places to store them.

As they rose for the entrance of the bride, Arabella watched as Theodora Drakos took her first few steps down the aisle. She looked stunningly beautiful in white lace paired marvelously with a look of pure happiness as her eyes landed on her groom standing at the other end of the aisle. That was when Arabella turned and looked past everyone looking at the bride and looked at the groom.

Pierre Gasly was a handsome man who looked excellent in a suit. However, the most attractive thing about him at that moment was the way he looked at his bride walking down the aisle toward him. He was hopelessly in love with her, so much so that tears started to well in his eyes.

The love that was present there, being shared between Pierre and Theodora seemed to warm the air around them. It warmed Arabella's heart and her entire body. It was all a blur, watching Theo meet her groom at the end of the aisle and accepting to spend the rest of her life with him. At some point, Max slid his hand into hers and leaned into her slightly their shoulders touching.

"I love you." Her tone was barely above a whisper.

"What was that?" Max asked turning towards her.

"I love you." She repeated, this time her voice high enough so he could hear. He smiled, pressing his lips to her temple, and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, bringing her in closer. 

Pierre and Theodora were completely mad for each other. If it hadn't been obvious during the ceremony in the way they looked at each other, or their personally written vows, it became more obvious during their wedding reception. They spent every second of their wedding reception touching each other in some way. If they were talking to guests, it was either by holding hands or Pierre would fold a piece of fabric from her dress between his fingers. If they were eating their shoulders were touching, even if they were engaged in conversations with the bridal party on either side. It was heartwarming to watch.