Racing For Love

Chapter Thirty One

I wake to a cup of coffee wafting under my nose - and look to see Kate's face staring down at me holding two mugs and offering me one.

"Morning Annie. Bloody hell, I am never drinking with you again!" She takes a seat on the edge of the bed as I come round. "Thanks for the glass of water - I downed it at 3am! When did I pass out?"

I try to remember before I pick up my phone quickly and look at my caller list. Sure enough, the last name I see is Jono's with an embarrassing (6) next to his name. "Oh no" I manage before trying to bury my head back under the duvet.

"What's happened? Is it Lorenzo?" Kate asks and I have to admit that I spoke to Jono yesterday evening, though my memory is hazy on what we'd discussed.
"Uh-oh" Kate utters - understatement of the century.
"Pretty sure he told me about Lorenzo and Isa though" I tell her. Kate was already going to speak to Jono later but now she's going to try to find out what it was exactly that I said to him when I called the whole 6 times. My stomach tenses each time I think about it...I'm never drinking with Kate again.

***

I'm working from home this morning as the security guys finish wiring up the new system - I'm happy that I get to endure my hangover from the comfort of my own sofa, but I also feel anxious about what may or may not have happened with Jono last night. My memory remains blurry as I try and remember what he said to me and the knowledge that Kate is going to speak to him later is nearly too much.

Matt and James send through several videos that need editing and I distract myself by working through them systematically. I relax into it - loving what I'm creating. Today it's mostly prep videos and shots of France with the drivers hidden behind landmarks - we make a game of trying to find them...I'm hoping that they go down well, anxiously checking the concept notes Kate signed off on to make sure I'm sticking to what we had agreed.

I make my way into the office in time to watch quali - seeing Lorenzo and Jono leading the field again. There were problems with the mid-field, windy conditions caused several drivers to spin at turn 6, Dion Dupont catching his tyre against the wall and instead of qualifying second, was now back of the pack. It's a front row for Bianchi at the Circuit Paul Ricard for race day, but as the drivers get out of their cars, there is a visible tension between them - I don't know what has happened but I panic that it might have involved whatever I said to Jono last night.

Kate speaks to Jono once he completed the media commitments after quali, and I can't contain my nerves when she calls me into her office. "So, I spoke to Jono. Don't worry - he's not going to say anything." I feel like there's a chance I can erase this chapter, this mistake from my life, and relief floods through me. "Annie, what do you think about Jono?" she asks questioningly - this deviation from talking about Lorenzo confusing me.

"We're good friends. He knows my Uncle well. Why did you ask?" my ears turning pink in embarrassment as I try to recall our conversation during the night, and the closeness between us after the robbery.

"No reason" she says, a smile covering her face. "You're close though? He told me that he stayed with you after what happened at your house? I was telling him off for being late to media day but he explained why" - her tone serious, but a smirk still visible.

"Yeah. I didn't know who else to call, but I totally forgot that he was supposed to be in France. I'm sorry if I got him in trouble?" I feel a panic again about getting Jono involved in my dramas, yet again.

"Don't worry Annie. It's all good." Kate says before dismissing me. I'm just off to see Joe before she says "Check your phone! See you Annie!" I look down and see a message from Jono:

"Kate told me you don't remember our conversation last night. It's all good - better in fact. You told me a couple of useful things - we'll talk about it soon. Enjoy the race tomorrow. x"

I look up to see Kate smiling - her and Jono must have planned this I think as I wave goodbye and set off to see Joe. It doesn't matter what I said to Jono now, only that he's talking to me again and he seems happy...for now. Whilst i'm still wondering in the back of my mind what I said, I have to let it go - I can't cope with the anxiety trying to figure it out. I reason that I'll ask him when I next see him, which will be in Austria next week. My stomach tenses at the thought.

***

The best part about European races is that I can watch the whole thing comfortably with Joe. I arrive at the start of the programming and we settle down to watch the pre-race driver chats from the pit lane. The commentator stops a tense looking Jono and asks him how feels ahead of today's race.

"Jono Campbell. There's 50 points between you and your teammate - will you be pushing for another win today?"

I know the team strategy, so i'm surprised when I hear Jono reply "I'll be pushing today as much as I can. The track is good for our cars, and I'm looking forward to racing today." He walks off and towards his garage to prepare for the race, and I feel nervous as to what will happen today. We've had close calls with the cars this season already and as we wait for lights out, I chew my lip distractedly.

The race gets underway, but Lorenzo doesn't have a good start and by the second lap, he is barely hanging in at P2. Conversely, Jono had a really strong start and is leading the pack comfortably ahead, getting fastest lap and leaving Lorenzo and Pablo Hernandez fighting for P2. A mistake at lap 10 by Gareth James means he looses a tyre and a virtual safety car is deployed as he makes his way off the track. As racing resumes, Jono extends his lead, but Lorenzo causes a collision between Pablo with both cars having to pit with damage. Both cars get back on the track but after investigation, Lorenzo is hit with a 5-second penalty and by the end of the race, despite pushing hard to keep in the points, he finishes P11. Leaving the podium to Jono in P1, Dion Dupont in P2 and Lars Blom in P3.

Watching the cool down room, Jono seems relaxed - chatting to Lars and watching replays of Lorenzo and Pablo's crash - Lars commenting on the reckless nature of Lorenzo, whilst Jono pretends to zip his lips together, an action making it very clear that he's towing the company line by not commenting, but by not saying anything, but there's plenty of speculation about his opinion. Today's result also puts Jono back in contention for champion as he now sits 26 points away from Lorenzo who is leading.

A text comes through from Lorenzo: I need you to cheer me up after today's result. When will you be coming to Austria? ;-)

With things being so busy, I haven't actually spoken to Lorenzo to tell him this is over. I start to feel a little guilty, before I remember that he's the one who should be feeling guilty. I can't believe he's still trying to pursue me when he has a pending engagement between him and Isa Federici, and what is clearly going to be a very public relationship.

I'm travelling to Austria tomorrow, the fury I feel bubbling up as I formulate a plan for how to deal with Lorenzo.