What the *** is a kilometer?

~4~

POV Lizzy:

Dominic and I are on our way to the Hungarian GP, where we will announce the new partnership for the season. I am nervous but also irritated by Dominic's behavior. Since we got into the cab to the airport, he has been complaining about everything. I don't know if we can survive the weekend in the same room without arguing.

On the plane, I put in my earbuds and fell asleep. The past few days have been very stressful, and I have had many Zoom meetings with James. Dominic wakes me up when we land. I rub my eyes for a moment and stretch before getting up. I grab my handbag from the luggage hold above my head and walk out of the airplane. It's great that we were able to travel on a Williams plane; this saved a lot of time checking in and out. After descending the stairs from the airport, I scan the area and spot a car approaching. The car honks as it arrives, Logan and Alex step out of the car and I greet them with a hug. As I release Logan, I notice a hint of jealousy in Dominic's expression. He briefly shakes hands with the boys, but his grip on Logan's hand seems a bit too tight. We load the suitcases into the car and hop in. I whispered to Dominic in the back seat, 'Why did you do that?' He replied innocently, 'Did I do what?' I repeated my question, but he continued to deny any wrongdoing. Frustrated, I gave up and looked out the window for the rest of the ride to the hotel, which was silent

.

Upon arriving at the hotel room, I was relieved to see that we were given a room with two twin beds. I placed my suitcase on the bed closest to the door and began unpacking without saying a word. He then commented on my angry expression, to which I replied with frustration, asking him to think before he speaks. Dominic noticed my silence and asked if something was wrong. I glared at him but remained silent. He realized his mistake and apologized, acknowledging his behavior was unacceptable. "There is no point in talking to you, today you apologize and tomorrow there will be another problem." I am relieved that today is media day for the drivers, and our collaboration has been announced. I silently prepare to join Logan and Alex on the track. 'Are you going with me or staying here?' I ask Dominic as he lies on his bed, scrolling through his phone. 'Go by yourself,' he says, irritated. 'Fine,' I reply shortly. I grab my bag and head towards the lobby.

 POV Dominic:

Throughout the weekend, I noticed Lizzy constantly hanging around Logan, who reciprocated with small gestures like pats on the shoulder. Her frequent adjustments to his clothing were annoying. Currently, in the team garage, all drivers are preparing to enter their cars for the race. The From Liz With Love logo has been placed on both cars. I hear Logan sayssss to her, 'I will try to keep the car on the track this time.' She giggles, something I haven't seen her do in ages. She wishes the boys luck and gives them a hug. I dislike it when she does that. Why should she touch other boys when she is in a relationship with me? Since that moment, my thoughts have been working overtime. I can't concentrate on the race. I feel a surge of anger flowing through my body, and I make a fist.

Lizzy is totally absorbed in the race, and I'm getting pretty bored. I don't even remember why I insisted on coming here. 'Lizzy, can I talk to you for a minute?' Her answer is short and cold. 'Do we have to now?' 'Yes, we have to now!' I raised my voice, and immediately people in the garage turned around, throwing me angry looks. I grabbed Lizzy's arm and pulled her outside. We stood behind the garage stalls and could still see the race on a big screen. "Lizzy!" "What is it? Why do you always want to talk when I'm busy?" Lizzy also raised her voice. "I never have time to talk to you because you're always busy!" You have been talking to Logan all weekend. "So that's what it is about, are you jealous of him, Dominic? "Your attention is divided between him and your work." I am here for work! I did not come here for a day out. Her hands start to tremble, something that always happens to her when she gets angry. "If you can't stand me working so closely with people, you should have stayed home, Dominic!" People walking by looked at us startled. Lizzy kept screaming, and I tried to intervene, but it failed. I grabbed her and covered her mouth to quiet her down. Suddenly, I felt her teeth sink into my hand, and she bit down hard. "You're completely insane!" I yelled at her. "Me? Look at yourself." I raised my hand in anger and slapped her as she tries to protect her face with her hands. I was shocked by my own actions. She ran away in tears and I lost her in the crowd.

POV Logan:

 Near the end of the race, the team decides to give my car a DNF since we won't be earning any points anyway. Upon entering the garage, I realize that Lizzy and her boyfriend are missing. I inquire with a crew member if they have seen her. "After an argument, he forcefully pulled her by the arm, and they stood yelling at each other for a while. I am not sure of their current location." I raise my eyebrow, walk out of the garage without changing clothes, the media immediately follows me. However, I ask them to stand back for a moment because I am looking for Lizzy. "I saw someone run into your motorhome. Why are you looking for her? Doesn't she have a boyfriend or are you two together?" One of the people from the press asked me these questions, but I found them pointless and annoying. I stopped walking and turned to face them. "Please leave me alone. I'm not going to respond to this bullshit, so if you guys would be so kind and give me a break, that would be great!" My reaction is blunt. I had the feeling all weekend that something was going to happen, and my gut was once again right. I run towards the motorhome and search the rooms. I find Lizzy huddled in the corner of one of the offices. I gently walk inside and close the door behind me. I sit down next to her on the floor. 'Lizzy.' She looks up, her eyes red and full of tears. Her cheeks are wet, and a tuft of hair hangs in her face. 'Lizzy, what happened? Do you want to talk about it?' I speak softly. I observe her posture, and she appears upset. When I try to put an arm around her, she pulls away. 'Calm down, I won't hurt you.' 'Promise?' Her voice sounds almost pleading. "Promise, do you want to talk about it?" I put my arm around her shoulders and she rests her head against my shoulder.

Lizzy starts talking after a while. We sit in silence on the floor for a while. "Dominic hit me," she sobs. "What are you talking about? You can't be serious!" I feel anger rising inside me. It's not right to treat someone that way, especially if they're your partner. 'Lizzy, you need to stop this,' I blurt out before thinking. But who am I to judge her relationship? 'I want to, but I can't,' she replies. She sobs harder, tears rolling down her cheeks. I wipe them away and hold her tightly. "Thank you," she whispers. "For what?" "For giving me what I need right now: a hug and someone willing to listen. We may not have known each other very long, but I've felt comfortable around you since day one." I smile at her.

Lizzy explains why she is hesitant to leave her relationship, despite feeling unhappy for months. She is concerned about leaving Dominic alone during a difficult time, but she also feels inhibited in her personal and professional growth.. As I listen to her, it becomes clear that her relationship is toxic, and she should not feel obligated to stay just because her boyfriend is alone. It is important for her to prioritize her own well-being. "Lizzy, what if I can show you that things can be different? Will you leave this relationship then? Give me your number, and I will demonstrate what a healthy relationship looks like. Do you trust me?" She hands me her phone, and I enter my number. After a few rings, I hang up so that I can save her number later when I'm changed. "I won't let you down, Liz." I give her another hug and help her up. "Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?" I see panic in her eyes. She seems really scared of Dominic. "You could sleep in my spare bed or Alex's." I suggest. "Or you could ask for another room. That might be better. But then you would still need to access your stuff. You know what? I'll help you figure it out later. Maybe you should just go talk to him." Despite acting as if it's normal, it's clear she's afraid of leaving him alone for too long. She wipes her cheeks and smiles at me. 'Thanks Logan, I'll be fine.' I nod as she walks out of the office.