THREE - Daniel Ricciardo

Chapter 15 - Loves Lost

AMY

It was now May 6th. The day was here where we had to leave for Miami. Although I didn't want to go, Rachel didn't want to miss out on our opportunity to visit the city we have always dreamt of going to. The other guys also pleaded, often receiving texts from Lando and George begging me to come. I also received messages from Max telling me to call Daniel and to talk things through, but I didn't know if that's what I truly wanted.

Imola wasn't kind to Daniel, placing 18th on the grid, a whole last place. Although I thought about bad things happening to him, I knew he'd be distraught with the outcome of the race. I watched the interviews with the drivers afterwards. Everyone could notice how heartbroken he was with the result, the sombre mood lingering to the air as he walked from interview to interview. He had been texting me and occasionally trying to call. I ignored them all.

"You're going to have to talk to him." Rachel remarked as we sat down on the plane.

"I know Rach." I huffed as I fixed the seatbelt across my lap.

"I am not, and I repeat, I am not spending this weekend with you two being awkward around each other." Rachel scolded and faced me. "I'm serious." Her tone cut sharp.

"Rach, I know." I said softly and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "But I am not spending the next 20 hours sat next to you being lectured."

"Well, I just thought I'd let you know how we all feel." Rachel referred to herself and the boys. I understood that the situation we had found ourselves in was one most unpleasant but I was not going to fake an act around Daniel. I knew something had happened between him and Heidi, I didn't know for certain but I had a very strong feeling about it. If nothing at all had happened, I would be receiving texts such as:

"Nothing happened, I swear."

Instead, I was receiving:

"Please can I talk to you?"

Our flight from Sydney was at 9:15am meaning we would arrive in Miami at 12:30pm, bang in the middle of first practice.

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"Don't you scrub up well?" Max entered the room and eyed myself. I was dressed nicely as we had dinner plans with the guys. Daniel would surely be invited so the burning anxiety in the pit of my stomach burned deep.

"Thanks, Max." I smiled and made sure everything was in my handbag. "How was practice today?"

"Could've been better but it's all about qualifying tomorrow." Max's optimism brightly shined. Even though he was a hot headed mess on the race track, he was quite mature and focused off track. "How are you feeling about tonight?" Max asked and perched on the edge of the sofa in our hotel room.

"Well, I've had a nap so I feel better." I chuckled, trying to change the conversation but Max's expression was not impressed. "I'm okay, Max. Sure, I'm gutted about everything but what am I meant to do? It's not like Daniel is my boyfriend, we never even spoke about being exclusive or anything."

"Did you want to be, you know, exclusive?" Max looked over at me as I applied some finishing touches to my lipgloss.

"Of course. I really hoped it had worked out that way." I answered with honesty and placed the makeup bag into my handbag.

"Then make it work out that way!" Max put his hands up, frustration running through his body at our stubborn behaviour. "For all you know, nothing happened between them."

"Do you know that for certain, Max?" I spoke with sass and crossed my arms over my chest. "Because if you can tell me that you know, 100%, that Daniel didn't do anything in the slightest bit flirty with Heidi, I'll let it go. In fact, I'll run over to Daniel's room now and tell him that I love him!" I raised my voice, not realising the words which just came out of my mouth.