Racing For Love

Chapter Thirty Three

I wake up with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. I know I need to talk to Jono and clear the air between us. I find Jono at the team's breakfast area, engrossed in a conversation with Matt and James. I take a deep breath and approach the table as Jono looks up - for a moment, his eyes meet mine and I'm sure I can sense a flicker of embarrassment pass across his face.

"Morning!" I say brightly, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside me.

"Hey Annie. Grab a seat," Matt says, gesturing to an empty chair next to him.

I take a seat, my gaze focused on Jono. I can feel the tension lingering between us, but I'm determined to address it head-on.

"Jono, can we talk? I'm going to get a coffee - do you want to join me?" I ask, my voice steady but laced with vulnerability.

Jono glances at me, his expression guarded. "Sure, Annie. Let's go."

I take a moment to gather my thoughts before speaking - I keep my tone low incase anyone overhears. "Last night, when I kissed you...and then you pulled away...I misread the situation and I'm sorry. Have I fucked up our friendship?"

Jono's face softens, and he lets out a sigh. "Annie, of course you've not fucked up our friendship. It's just... complicated." he turns towards the coffee machine, busily getting everything in place and avoiding my eye.

"How so?" I ask, intrigued by his response - I could leave it but I keep pushing him, because I don't want any more doubts.

"Things with Charlotte and I are difficult, and I don't want you to get mixed up in any of it. Our friendship is important to me and I don't want to risk it by doing something that could potentially complicate things further," Jono explains, his eyes filled with sincerity.

I'm relieved that I've not totally ruined things between us, but his words are confirmation to me that he wants nothing more than friendship and I can't help but feel a little disappointed by that knowledge.

"I get it," I reply, my voice a mix of understanding and disappointment. "I don't want to complicate things either. Our friendship means the world to me, Jono, and I don't want anything to jeopardise that again."

A faint smile tugs at the corners of Jono's lips, and his eyes meet mine, reflecting a shared understanding. Jono presents me with the coffee he's been making and we walk back to the table. As we sit there, the weight of the unspoken tension between us lifts.

I sip at my coffee as Jono's phone buzzes across the table - I notice his face drop as he answers it, and he stands to move away before I hear him greet Charlotte. We all watch as he exits the hotel, a look of frustration on his face. When i'm halfway through a plate of poached eggs and toast, the lobby of the hotel suddenly fills - a mixture of press and fans clamouring to take photos and get items signed. We're not the only team staying here, and I look through the crowd to see who they are interested in, my eyes focussing on the familiar face of Jono - his arm now draped across Charlotte's shoulder as he signs hats, takes selfies and chats with fans.

"Apparently, someone gave the media a tip off that Charlotte was coming..." I hear James behind me and turn to see him surveying the same scene as me. "And that someone was definitely Charlotte."

It doesn't surprise me that she's manufactured this attention - after my conversation with Jono yesterday, I know that Charlotte is pushing everything at this brand launch, and it makes sense now why she's turned up.

I check my emails and see that we've been given a new "assignment" ahead of today which appears to have come from Andrea Bianchi - he's never given us direct instructions before, but I guess he's seen the opportunities for engagement ahead of an actual engagement. If seeing Jono and Lorenzo wasn't bad enough, we now have to do a "couples quiz" with the drivers and their respective girlfriends, building on the successful Australian quiz format to try and include Isa and Charlotte. I refuse to host this one though, there's no way that I could do it, but James has already offered, knowing me better than myself.