Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Abu Dhabi, Pre-Race

FREEDOM FROM THE SLING! - @JessicaBond57

@JessicaBond57 Did you just... set it on fire??? - @JamesWebb

@JessicaBond57 @JamesWebb Someone tell Max to get his crazy girlfriend - @NotNotLiamLawson🔒

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ABU DHABI
22ND RACE WEEKEND OF THE SEASON
NOVEMBER

The paddock is busy and hot. Abu Dhabi, even as December creeps up on us, doesn't want to let go of the sun or its heat.

Over near the FIA building, I'm placing down the gifts that I pray won't backfire on me. Lucy, the social media person running Secret Santa for most of the year, looks excited at the size of the large box, wrapped in blue, icy-themed paper. My mum did a good job wrapping the helmet up, nobody will know what's inside. I place a padded brown envelope on top; containing the photos I have not seen but I trust that Max has selected the right ones.

Looking to the bouncing blonde, who seems excited at what might be inside the wrapping, I clear my throat, wincing as my left arm complains at how I stupidly carried the helmet here myself.

"Do you, er... Do you want me to say what's inside now, or...?"

"No need!" She smiles at me with pearly white teeth, her green eyes lighting up in joy. "We like the surprise too!"

I nod, but I'm so fucking scared this will go wrong. Rather than hang around and make things awkward, I head off, in search of someone. Anyone. Maybe Liam. No, Logan. Logan will get it. He's been panicking about his gift for Sebastian.

I find the American signing a cap for someone; he turns around once he realises I'm waiting patiently. We both share a look. So his Secret Santa gift is being opened today as well. Oh boy. Wordlessly, the two of us wander through the bustling paddock, to the far end, where our teams are located.

"When is Seb opening it?" I ask, to start the conversation I know he's scared of having. He wrings his hands, eyes darting around as I pull him down to the side, between our teams' units.

"Now. Or he already has. I don't know. She—uh, she said it's mine, then Mick's."

"Well, I can tell you he's probably opened it already, then. I've just had to give mine over to her for Mick." Logan's face goes two shades paler. I place a hand on his arm. "Dude, it'll be fine. Remember, Seb loves all the environment stuff, I'm sure you could adopt a feral cat that has rabies and he'll thank you."

The awkward laugh lets me know I've relieved some of his tension. The thing is, I'm pretty sure I'm not even wrong. I've never seen Sebastian hate a single animal. I'm sure someone could adopt him a spider, and he'd be cool with it.

"So you had Mick? What did you get him?"

I suck air through gritted teeth, not sure how to explain it. Then I remind myself: this is Logan. He'll get it. He's an odd one out. Like me. "So..."

The words die. I'm not sure if I should say it. My brain is split in two. A reminder of just how heavy the present is is weighing on me again.

Fuck it.

"I didn't want to buy him some shit thing, and despite being friends and all, I honestly don't know him super well... so I got him a helmet... that's half his, half his dad's." Logan raises his eyebrows briefly, surprise and curiosity flickering across his eyes. "And I had Max get some photos of his dad and him at the tracks when he was younger. I know, it sounds so fucking dumb now but—"

"That's pretty fucking cool. Do you have a photo of the helmet?"

Now it's my turn to be surprised. I didn't think it would be seen that way. I nod, mouth slightly agape, as I get my phone out of my pocket and search for the photo my dad sent me before Mum packed and wrapped it up. I show it to Logan; The helmet isn't cut vertically in half between the designs, it's diagonal. The back half is as close to his father's championship-winning helmet from 2004. The front half matches his default Jaguar design. All the branding that has to be on there is on there as best as possible, without ruining the look of it.

"That's fucking rad." Is all Logan says. It's all he has to say. I lock my phone, putting it away and try to focus on holding onto his compliment. If he thinks it's good, then it bloody well is good.

"I wanted to get him something he could find a use for, or at least show off to his dad, or just like, you know?"

Logan's nodding, about to speak, when my shoulder and neck explode in pain. The worst of it lasts a matter of seconds, and as I turn, right hand clutching at my shoulder, I see Mick's electric blue eyes lit up in fear. Regret is embedded into his fine features. The pain was him. Given how his arms are still out, I'm pretty sure he forgot completely about—

Fuck. As I look at him, I'm realising there are tear streaks down his face. My pain becomes irrelevant. I straighten my back, hand still on my shoulder.

"I'm really sorry if—" I'm cut off by another hug, with his arms around my waist instead.

"Es tut mir wirklich leid!" He's speaking so fast that I barely process that it's an apology. When Mick lets go, he's rubbing his eyes, a sad smile on his lips.

I feel bad. Did I fuck up? No wait, I can't have, he was hugging me?

"Thank you." He rushes the words out, but they're emphatic. I feel a smile breaking out on my face.

"You should thank Max too. He got the photos."

"Going now—"

Logan and I are left standing there as Mick runs off. We share a baffled expression. Logan laughs in disbelief as I try to understand just what might be going through Mick's head.

"Did that—... Did he—?" I jab a thumb in the direction he ran off in. Logan laughs again, shaking his head.

"You wouldn't think he's older than me, would you?"