the connection ~ Kimi Antonelli

Chapter 15

Two months had passed since my return from my adventures, and now Silverstone week had arrived, filling the air with anticipation and excitement. The doorbell chimed, signaling their arrival. I swung open the door to find Ollie and Kimi standing side by side, their faces illuminated by the soft, golden glow of the setting sun. My heart raced at the sight of them, and I eagerly pulled them into tight embraces. Kimi's hug was warm and comforting, and Ollie's was filled with his trademark exuberance.

"Come in, you two," I said, ushering them inside the cozy apartment. Ollie handed me a souvenir of a crochet bee he saw at the airport, a thoughtful gift that made my heart swell with gratitude. "How was the flight?"

Ollie, with his boundless energy and an impish glint in his eyes, draped his arm around my shoulder. "Fine, Kimi's getting nervous about his F2 debut but Arthur, Jack and I have taken him under our wings. And he's got the best teammate there is." Ollie laughed, and Kimi rolled his eyes a little with a smile.

"Careful of Arthur, that one knows how to make trouble." I said to Kimi with a smile, my stomach doing backflips as our eyes connected, but Ollie continued to talk, ceasing our connection.

"Don't say that, bee," Ollie nudged my stomach, then turned to Kimi. "Arthur is fine; he and Y/n just have these little friendly fights sometimes."

"I will keep it in mind." Kimi nodded at both of us with that smile that made my legs go weak.

"Oh, hey, Y/n, speaking of, my birthday is in two days, and we're planning something." Ollie tells me, and I turn to Kimi, who nods in confirmation before looking back up to Ollie.

My curiosity piqued, and I leaned in closer, eager for details. "Oh, really? What's the plan?"

A sly smile crossed Ollie's face, and he leaned in, "Some guys like Arthur, Jack, Fred, Mum, Dad, Thomas and Amelie... and, um, Flo."

My eyes widen, and so does Kimi, as I've informed Kimi a little bit about their situation.

Before I could press him for more information, Ollie excused himself, promising to catch up later.

"I'm going to go invite her now, actually. I'll talk later. Oh, and Kimi, I'll be back in about three hours, then we can head back to the team." Ollie said before leaving abruptly. Kimi and I were left in the living room, a sense of closeness and connection hanging in the air.

I turned to Kimi with a bright smile, his warm brown eyes holding a familiar affection. "It's great to see you again," I said, feeling my heart light up.

Kimi's response was soft and earnest. "The pleasure is all mine, bella."

Without a word, he took a step closer, his arms encircling my waist in a tender embrace. I rested my head against his chest, inhaling the comforting scent of his presence, savoring the warmth of our connection. Our hug spoke volumes, expressing the deep bond we shared. It kind of scared me how close I felt with him, how I felt like I knew him forever.

When we finally pulled away, our laughter filled the room, a shared understanding of our unspoken connection. My mother, Camila, had observed the scene with an amused twinkle in her eye.

"Who is this handsome friend, Y/n?" she inquired playfully, her eyes dancing with mirth.

My laughter continued as I introduced Kimi to my mother. "Mom, this is Kimi. Kimi, meet my lovely mum, Camila." She knew who Kimi was, of course; the two of us have a very healthy relationship compared to mine and my father's.

Kimi extended his hand with charm and politeness. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Vazquez. Y/n speaks very highly of you."

Camila, ever the gracious host, welcomed Kimi with a warm smile. "The pleasure is mine, Kimi. Call me Camila, though, please. No need to be so formal." She smiled at him before turning to me. "I don't know what your plans are, but if you have time, could you do something for me?"

Kimi and I exchanged curious glances. "Of course, what can we do for you?" I asked.

Camila explained, "The local market is happening today, the one that happens just once a month, and they have the most exquisite special honey. Would you two be willing to go and get a jar for me? I've been wanting to try it and Terri has been talking about it." Teri would probably be getting a visit from Ollie in a few minutes, as well as the rest of his family.

Kimi and I readily agreed, and we soon found ourselves strolling to the market. Our conversation was easy, filled with laughter and silly banter. The atmosphere was light, and we cherished the simple pleasure of each other's company.

As we neared the market, I spotted a flower stall adorned with an array of beautiful blooms. "Oh, look at those flowers! I've always loved those orange orchids," I exclaimed, my eyes sparkling with delight.

Kimi's smile was tender and genuine. Without hesitation, he gently took my hand, his fingers interlocking with mine. "Then those are the ones you'll have."

His words stirred something deep within me, and my smile broadened. Fingers entwined, we walked toward the flower stall, ready to choose a bouquet of enchanting orchids.

"Are you sure, you don't have to." I told him once we reached the stall, but he shakes his head.

"As sure as ever. Now, what would you like, eh, for the color?" Kimi replied, his Italian accent making me feel at ease for some reason, as it felt familiar.

The market bustled with life, the vibrant colors of the stalls and the joyful voices of the vendors creating a lively atmosphere. As we picked out the orchids, our hands brushed against each other's, sending electric pulses of connection through me.

Once we had made our purchase, we strolled through the market, our shoulders brushing occasionally. Every touch, no matter how fleeting, sent a shiver of warmth through me. Our laughter and shared stories only strengthened the bond between us, drawing us closer with each moment.

It was as though time itself had slowed down, allowing us to savor the closeness and affection we felt for each other. My heart swelled with a deep, unspoken longing, a desire to express the emotions that had been building between us for so long.

In the midst of the bustling market, I found myself standing beside Kimi, the beauty of the moment stealing my breath away. Our gazes locked, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to disappear. The connection between us was palpable, a magnetic force drawing us closer.

"Should we head back? We've been out for about two hours." I spoke, and he nodded. "Actually, mind if we get a punnet of strawberries before we leave?"

Kimi agrees with a laugh as I drag him toward a stand and purchase a large punnet of strawberries.

"You really like them or something, that's about fifty of the strawberries." he laughs at me once I open them and start to chomp down on one, offering him one which he takes gladly.

"They're my favorite fruit." I stated, and he raises his eyebrows, thinking for a second before nodding and taking another strawberry from the punnet I held in my hand.

Once we got home, the two of us just sat in each other's company, laughing and talking. My legs draped across his as the same strawberry punnet lay on my stomach.

The two of us went quiet for a bit, looking at each other with lazy smiles spread across our faces as we calmed down from laughing about one of the pranks I played on Arthur, suddenly the air becoming heavy and my heart beating faster. It was clear we wanted to do something, anything but we hesitated, caught in the unspoken tension, as the memory of Ollie's presence lingered in the room. We exchanged glances that held both longing and restraint, emotions bubbling beneath the surface.

However, a knock at the door signaled Ollie's return. The moment was interrupted, and the magnetic pull between us was put on hold.

Ollie's cheerful voice broke the spell, "I'm back, Y/n! Hey, Kimi!"

With the arrival of Ollie, the tension faded, replaced by the friendly camaraderie that had always defined our friendship. We couldn't let our emotions run wild, not in that moment.

So, we exchanged warm smiles and turned our attention to the upcoming celebration for Ollie's birthday, the unresolved tension hanging in the background, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.