Racing For Love

Chapter Fifty One

I wake up late morning - thank God for blackout curtains as I stir feeling pretty rested despite only getting about five hours sleep. I check my phone and there are several messages from James - it turns out that Jono has been messaging him all week, and they came up with the plan with the rainbow shoes together. Jono wanted to make sure that he wasn't going to say anything wrong, and at least he had this foresight, rather than making a statement that could be scrutinised for it's inaccuracies.

Since it's Friday, and free practice day, we head to the grid to see our cars whizz around the track. It's another circuit which should suit our cars, so it's surprising when Jono struggles with pace. He is very active over his radio, and the race engineers can be heard changing various setting, before pulling him back into the pits several times. Lorenzo completes runs on the different tyre choices and with some different fuel loads - his set up is looking pretty good in comparison. I'm suddenly glad I haven't arranged to meet up with Jono this evening - it looks like it'll be a late one for him analysing today's data and working out how to improve from his disappointing P12 and P11 finishes today.

Matt and I send James the video from the thermal baths during the afternoon, hoping to cheer him up ahead of the race weekend. As we get back to the hotel, and i'm heading for my room, my phone rings.

"James! Hey!"

"It's Max. You need to sleep with Jono."

"What?"

"James showed me the spa video - that body!"

"Haha," I laugh at his comments, "its the most thirst trappy thirst trap of all, right?"

"Its going to send everyone into a frenzy - the gays are already all over him after those trainers yesterday. He's going to be our new mascot!" Max continues, and I hear James in the background and he passes the phone over. We chat about his recovery - things are going well, and the bruising is starting to yellow after the copious amounts of arnica cream he's been applying. His jaw is still held up with a large band, but he is able to talk a little more freely now as the swelling has started to reduce. He tells me about how he's been talking to Jono and that there's another plan for Sunday's race, though he won't tell me what it is. Curiosity piqued, I think I must get it out of Jono tomorrow.

"Did you see the other video from the thermal baths?" I ask.

"No - what other video?" Matt must have forgotten to send it, so I email it over now and wait for Max and James to load it up. I hear a howl of laughter accompanying the muffled splashing of the water from the recording.

"What's this then? Bloody hell Annie!"

"Pretty funny, right? Matt and Jono tricked me into it."

"I'm not looking at you! Have you seen Jono? That guy wants you! Even a blind man could spot that from a mile off!"

I watch the video again - instead of focussing on me, I look at Jono's face - I see the lustful look cross his face as I step out of the water. His eyes dark with want before he looks away and then apologises. Whist Max blabbers on, I rewatch the video multiple times, my eyes trained on Jono. It's like I can finally see what he feels, I can see the look in his eyes when he's not trying to be polite, or kind, or resisting anything further between us.

I wanted him before, but now my skin tingles at the prospect of his touch. Nerves and excitement fill me as I think about what dinner with him tomorrow might mean. I watch the video again, thinking that surely I can tell him how I feel, and there might be some reciprocation, because based on that look alone, there must be something there.

***

Jono's problems continue into quali day. FP3 looked better, with a P6 finish, though he was running various scenarios to get data for the race so we didn't read to much into it. By the time the afternoon quali session comes round, I'm hoping desperately that he manages a front row finish.

Jono goes out onto the track, but he is struggling with his tyre temperature - the track is notoriously hot, but today is cooler than expected as the day is overcast. A lap right at the end of Q1 sees him get into the next session, but only just. He's back in the pits analysing data before the start of Q2. He doesn't go straight out as the session starts, but after 5 minutes, heads out onto track. It looks like the tyres are still struggling as he has a lock up and aborts his first flying lap.

Looking at the time, he should be able to manage one more before the end of the session, but he will have to watch out for traffic - with this particular circuit improving throughout quali, most drivers have left trying to get a fastest lap until the end of the session. Jono aggressively drives through the track but at the penultimate corner misses the racing line and the sharp hairpin, sliding off the track and across onto the surrounding concrete.

He's out in Q2, unable to get a decent lap on track and only qualifying P15. The car has sustained damage to the front suspension and he is unable to make it back to the pit lane. There is clear disappointment on Jono's side of the garage, in complete contrast to Lorenzo who is currently P2 and expected to stay there or better it.

The fortunes of the cars couldn't be more different, and it's horrible watching Jono struggle after such positivity at his last race. We stay for the delayed Q3 and as suspected, Lorenzo makes it to P1 - the garage erupts as he crosses the finish line to take the fastest quali lap as the last person to cross the line - he left it right until the last minute, and the anticipation had us all holding our breaths.

With the bulk of our work done, and wanting to avoid the frustration from Jono's garage as they repair his car ahead of the race tomorrow, Matt and I spend the rest of the day working out of the hotel's workspace area. It has stunning views across the city and I struggle to focus so I find myself watching the buzz of the city around us.

I'm also distracted trying to avoid the nerves i'm starting to feel at the prospect of dinner with Jono this evening. After the nightmare he's had today, I want to be there for him, to offer him support, just has he has done to me, but I worry that he won't be able to enjoy this evening with the prospect of race day looming. I send him a quick message, giving him the out if he wants it:

Annie: Hey, are you still on for later? I understand if you're too busy prepping for tomorrow. x

Jono: As long as i'm back early, and you don't tempt me with wine, we're good. I'll meet you in the lobby? x

Annie: Of course. I'll see you around 7pm. x

Jono replies in the form of a thumbs up, so we're all good. The nerves have returned, and I need to remind myself i'm just going out with my friend, nothing more. It's absolutely not the right time for me to tell Jono how I feel about him after today's poor performance, even if I feel like I can barely contain it any more.