Running From The Flames

Monaco

It was nearly two hours later that the race began. I had used the free time while Pierre prepared further with his team to go to the food court set up in the middle of the paddock. Most of the media were hanging around the starting grid in the hopes to capture a quote or two from the drivers as they prepped so it was relatively peaceful to grab a bite to eat for Addie and I.

"Brianna Vowles, look who's all grown up." I looked up from wiping the mess off Addie's face to find the owner of the deep german accent and grinned at the recently retired driver, Sebastian Vettel. "I remember when you used to run around the paddock stealing everyone's merch."

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree apparently, she's getting a good collection," I said with a nod towards Addie and he offered her a high five, commenting on how much she had grown as well. I hadn't seen him since the 2022 Aston Martin pre-season dinner and Addie hadn't even turned one. "I thought you would be spending your retirement out fishing or whatever pensioners do now."

"Ouch, you wound me," he joked as he clutched his chest with a laugh. "It's hard to cut away completely, and it's Monaco. What about you? You haven't been to one of these in years."

"I just graduated so this is my present to myself, and it's Monaco."

"Came for the race, stayed for the driver, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're as bad as those vultures. You aren't a columnist for a gossip mag are you?"

"Hell no. You grew up in the grid, it was alway going to happen. Ask Hamilton, and then tell him I said 'I told you so'." The 30 minute alert for the race beeped and Sebastian looked around the empty courtyard. "Better get back to the pit, it's bad luck to start a race without seeing your girl. Never know when it will be the last."

"Well that's depressing," I murmured with a frown, not having dwelled on the reality of racing. It was by no means a safe sport.

"It's the truth." He shrugged and got up from the seat he had taken at our table. "We go into the races without regrets or the what if would eat us alive if something happened. It's harsh but that's just how it is."

I rose from the table and took Addie's hand as his words echoed in my brain. "It was good to see you Sebastian, and thank you."

"For what?"

"Reminding me of something I had forgotten."

He was left confused but I had clarity and I needed to get to the grid before the race started.

The pit had changed completely from when I had left and now the garage was lined with chairs so the crew could sit and watch the action until they were needed when the driver boxed. That was where I left Addie, promising I would be back quick. There was a quiet calm all along the lane but that stopped when I stepped out to the wall and saw the masses all on the grid doing last minute prep to the car.

"Pierre!" I called out but he couldn't hear me with his earplugs in, almost meditating alone while chaos surrounded him. Elbows were nudged and the call went down the crew until one tapped Pierre on the arm and pointed to where I was standing against the fence, fingers curled around the warm chain that stopped me from reaching him.

He jogged across the asphalt with a smile until he was close enough that I could hear him over the noise of the crowd. "Mon ange, I was looking for you." He bit his glove and tore it from his hand.

"I'm here," I said as he reached through the chain to cradle my face in his palm and I leaned into the touch, savouring it after Vettel's words. "I don't want to regret anything, Pierre."

"I know, that's why we are taking this slow."

I shook my head and his lips pursed in confusion until I clarified, "I would regret wasting time that is not promised to us. I don't want to regret that."