Running From The Flames

Finales

The final qualifier of the season had come to an end in Abu Dhabi.

With only one race to go for 2023 the championship points were so close between the fourth and ninth positions that Pierre could finish anywhere among them. His third row starting position on the grid had put him in a good spot to get some last minute points and move up, but we would have to wait and see what tomorrow would bring.

The last six months had been a whirlwind and our passports were full of stamps from travelling wherever Pierre's races took us. Whenever there were a few weeks between races we would either head to the family home we had purchased in Rouen or visit my parents in Manchester.

We still kept the house in London but it was rarely used, in fact, Charles had stayed in it more nights than we had since moving to France.

Addie loved our home in Rouen and it was only a few minutes drive down the road to Pierre's parents. Moving there had been one of the best decisions, giving me a fresh start and even more family for Addie who had instantly been adopted into Pierre's family. She loved having cousins her age to play with whenever we visited and no one would have guessed they weren't related by blood with the bond they shared.

"Daddy!" Addie squealed as she saw Pierre's car pull up into the box.

"Patience," I reminded her as she tugged on my hand and tried to pull me across the garage towards him. "They need to put the car away first."

She shifted on her feet impatiently as it was wheeled inside but the moment she saw his steering console placed on the hood she tore her hand free and darted through the pitcrew. She was pretty much a part of the car's cool down routine now and the crew all knew to watch out for her as they removed the wheels and she jumped up and down at the front wing waiting for Pierre.

Her arms were already reaching for him before his feet touched the ground and she didn't care that he was hot and sweaty in his race suit, she still flung her arms around his neck. "Did you go fast, daddy?"

"Very fast, ma fifille." He put her down when he reached me and unzipped the race suit with a relieved breath as cool air rushed in before giving me a quick kiss. "Have you seen my parents yet?"

"No but mum texted me an hour ago when they touched down so they can't be too far away." I shook my head and looked at my watch. "I could do with them hurrying up since Granny has my dress and your suit. At this rate we will have nothing to wear."

"She'd probably prefer that, for me," Pierre joked and I wrinkled my nose.

"You can't even joke about that because it's true."

Since it was the end of the season all of our family was coming to the race in support of Pierre but before all that could take place we would be going to the driver's dinner. It was an event that brought all the drivers and principles together to mingle with the rich and potential sponsors to ensure more cash flow for the following year.

Essentially, the guys were artwork put on display. And since it would be in the presence of the uber rich, I wasn't going to be arriving in an off-the-rack dress. Unless Granny was running fashionably late.

"You should go shower," I said as I nudged Pierre towards the hallway. "I need to quickly finish this report without you distracting me."

"I haven't even done anything," he objected.

My eyes trailed over his body from head to toe then slowly back up his body. The skin tight fireproof shirt showed every dip and crevice of his toned muscles and I bit my lip. "You don't have to, I just look at you and forget what I was doing. It's very inconvenient."