Valerie

Part 12

DANIEL

We've just reached Valerie's hotel room after dinner.

She swipes her card and opens the door before turning to me. "You in a rush to get back?"

I shake my head. "Nope. What did you have in mind?" I follow her into the room, watching as she kicks her shoes off and then plops down on the bed.

"Stay with me?" she says it so quietly that I almost miss it.

"Are you ok?" I ask, moving quickly to kneel down in front of her.

She smiles, one hand on my cheek. I resist leaning into it, her hands are so soft.

"I'm fine, Danny." she lets out a little sigh. "Just don't want to be alone tonight."

I nod. "Okay, how about I go grab some clothes and I'll be right back? You pick something for us to watch."

She smiles that smile. The smile that makes my heart skip a beat.

I move quickly, racing down the hall to the elevator to grab my clothes.

When the elevator doors finally open on my floor I bolt down the hallway, and into my room.

I grab my backpack, stuffing everything into the bag before I zip it shut and run back to the elevator.

I knock on the door, taking a deep breath.

She opens the door and frowns. "That was quick. Did you get everything you needed?"

I nod. "Yip, it was all in reach. I'm not a girl, I don't need a million things for one night."

Valerie rolls her eyes. "Whatever, you forget you stayed with us for a few days, I've seen the amount of shit you lug around with you."

I laugh. "That's different." I drop the bag into the armchair. "What are we watching?"

"Friends." she smiles, plopping onto the bed, and curling her legs up under her. It's only now that I notice she's changed into her pyjamas.

"Let me change and then we can chill." I grab the backpack and move over to the bathroom.

When I come out she's moved the laptop further down the bed, she's propped herself up on pillows, the covers over her legs.

I drop the backpack back into the armchair and move over to the other side of the bed, lifting the covers and climbing in. I shift the pillows until I'm comfortable. Once I stop moving Valerie hits play on the laptop and then moves closer, resting her head on my shoulder. I smile to myself, immediately allowing my head to rest on top of hers.

"Thank you," she whispers when the episode we've just watched ends.

I glance down at her. "For what?"

She sighs. "I don't really know. For being you. When I met you that night at the club I never thought that this would be the friendship that we'd have. Everything just evaporates when I'm around you."

I risk it, leaning down and placing a very gentle kiss on the top of her head. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Val. I've never connected with anyone the way I have with you."

I feel her nod slowly. "I know what you mean."

It's quiet again, the silence is broken every few minutes by our laughter.

The episode ends and I glance down, Val has shifted down on the pillow, her hand resting on my chest, she's breathing deeply, her eyes shut peacefully.

I slowly reach over, close the laptop, and move it off of the bed. I shift down and pull her closer to me, careful not to wake her. I kiss the top of her head again. "Sweet dreams, honey," I whisper into the darkness, closing my eyes, a small smile on my lips.

I turn over and realize the bed next to me is empty, my eyes immediately fly open, searching around the room, Valerie is sitting at the small table in the room, her legs pulled up under her, her air pods in her ears, she's bopping lightly to the music while she does something on her laptop. I smile when I see she is wearing my Enchante sweatshirt.

I stretch and then sit up, the movement catching her attention, she turns her head quickly to look over at me, pulling her airpods out of her ears.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" she whispers.

I shake my head. "Not at all. How long have you been up?"

"About an hour." she shrugs, checking the time on her laptop. "I thought I'd let you sleep in, it's nine."

I grin at her. "Thanks. What are your plans for today?"

"Track." she smiles. "I gotta be there at twelve, I was just going over the schedule for the week."

"No breakfast with Papa Toto then?"

She shakes her head. "I think he's already at the track."

I lean back against the headboard, smiling at her.

"What?" she laughs, raising an eyebrow at me.

"That sweatshirt looks good on you." I grin, winking quickly.

"Oh, shit. Sorry, Danny, I hope you don't mind. I was getting cold and I just grabbed the first thing I could find." she says quickly.

I hold my hands up. "Val, it's good. Relax. What do you think? Is it comfy?"

"So comfy." She grins. "It's like a warm hug."

I feel my mouth widen into an even bigger smile. "I'm glad to hear that. You keep that one. I've got plenty."

"Oh, no, I couldn't. I'll just buy some from your store." she turns around and starts typing on her laptop.

I jump over the bed, quickly, but gently shutting the laptop. "Uh, no. I think not. If you don't keep this one, at least let me give you some. I carry some around for fans sometimes. I should have some in my car, or in my driver's room."

"Danny, really, it's not that big of a deal." she laughs.

I frown, looking her in the eye. "It is to me."

Her eyes go wide and then she lets out a light laugh. "Okay, okay. But, can I have to code to get access to your vans? They're gorgeous."

"I'll get my assistant to send you a pair." I smile.

She sighs. "No. Please. Let me buy those. You can't just give them to me."

I smile, already devising a plan to give her a code that is linked to a discount. "Okay, I'll get the code and give it to you tonight."

She grins widely, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you."

I sit back down on the bed. "How did you sleep last night?"

She smiles, looking down. "I actually slept pretty well. I... Uh... I didn't have any nightmares. In fact, I had a good dream."

"That's great, Val. I am so glad. Do you want to tell me about the dream?"

She blushes, dipping her head down, her long hair falling over her shoulders, covering her face. She shakes her head and then meets my eyes briefly. "I don't think so."

With the blush on her cheeks, everything in me makes me want to push until she tells me, but instead, I say, "Cool, cool. How about we get washed up and then grab breakfast before we head to the track?"

She nods. "Sounds good, Danny."

The Portuguese and Spanish GPs pass quickly, I finish P9 in Portugal, and P6 in Spain.

I'm going to the MTC for a few days before I go back to Monaco, and I've managed to convince Valerie to spend the weekend with me at my apartment, all my friends are in town for the Monaco GP the weekend after, and I want them to meet her.