Amore Mio - Daniel Ricciardo

07

"Fuck!" Noemi yelled throwing her helmet to the ground in a fit of rage after finishing the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. She sat down at the bench in her garage with her head in her hands, now was not a good time to be preforming worse. P7 was way lower than anyone on her team had expected, and no one was happy about it. She lost her grip and even made contact with Piastri. Nothing went her way.

She moved from the bench to her driver room, closing the door behind her she began changing out of her fireproof. Her hair was tied back too tight, she had a splitting headache, her neck was sore from the force of the car, she was exhausted, everything was going wrong. Noemi loosened her hair slightly making sure it still looked presentable.

Someone knocked on the back door. Now was not the time.
"It's Daniel," he spoke from the other side of the door.

"Not right now Danny, please." She sighed, rubbing her temples and sitting down.

"I just want one second."

"I'm not in the mood to discuss our secret relationship right now."

"I know, but please give me just one minute." Daniel's words had bended into more of a beg than statement, it made Noemi fold and walk over to the door.

"One minute." She said holding the door open for the Aussie to come inside. Closing and locking the door behind him.
All he did was pull her into a tight hug. He knew this exact feeling, and no one had been there for him like this during it. He knew he needed to be here for her.

"That's all I wanted," He spoke softly, "I knew you needed it."

Noemi looked up at him, tears filling her eyes. The thoughtful and tender interaction took her away from the stress of her occupation and into the arms of her fellow driver, "Grazie." Her voice shook as tears were now falling down her face, she was so grateful she couldn't even think of the correct English words to say.

"You're lucky I know what that means." He joked, his laugh staying soft with his words, "You're welcome."

— — — — — —

A few nights ago:

"An Italian restaurant?" Noemi asked Daniel smiling up at him.

"I thought we could both stay in touch with our heritage." He giggled.

"Oh shut up, you barely even speak Italian."

"You're right, maybe one day I'll take you to the farm in Australia, I'll show you some real Aussie food." Daniel smiled down at the ground grabbing Noemi's hand as they walked into the restaurant.

"I'd like that a lot." She intertwined her fingers with his, not worrying about pictures being taken anymore. It was obvious Daniel's love language was physical touch, he always seemed to be reaching for her whenever they were together. They were sat at a table farther back in the restaurant per Daniel's request, less of a chance someone who knew who they were could see them.

"So what part of Italy did you grow up in?" Daniel asked taking a sip of his wine.

"Monza, pretty close to where we race." She paused, "You're from Perth right?"

"Yes I am, how'd you know?"

"I've watched an episode or two of Drive to Survive." Noemi gave Daniel a sly smile as she took a sip of her wine.

— — — — —

"What happened out there Noemi?" An interviewer asked.

"I just lost my grip, things started going wrong, just a bad race." She responded without any emotion in her voice, drained from the day just trying to get through her last few interviews.

Adalynn her PR rep approached her, "Hey, you can you be done." Adalynn smiled at her genuinely, and was the only person besides Daniel who had shown care for her wellbeing that day.

"Thank you," Noemi responded. Adalynn nodded as a your welcome.

"Sorry everyone Noemi won't be answering anymore questions." Adalynn spoke to the crowd surrounding them.

— — —

When Noemi got back to her hotel she saw a text from Daniel: "What's your room #?"

Noemi: Why?
Daniel: I'm coming, I don't want you to be alone.
Noemi: Fourth floor 306
Daniel: Thank you <3

The heart on his text brought a smile to her face. She decided to get into the shower before Daniel made his way over, she let her hair down and massaged her scalp her head sensitive from the tight slicked back pony tails and buns she had been wearing all weekend. The warm water and shampoo washed away all the hair gel and spray that was stuck in her hair, and she washed away the day off her body. She got out and heard a knock on her door.

She grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her, heading out to open the door her hair and skin still soaking wet.

Daniel was standing on the other end of the door.

"I am so sorry I'm not decent, I didn't want to leave you waiting outside."

"It's alright, I can wait while you finish up." He said sincerely.

"Come in, you can wait out here while I'm finishing up in the bathroom."

Daniel sat down on the bed as Noemi went back into the bathroom. He studied her clothes hanging in the wardrobe, the dress she had worn on their date the other night draped over a chair, her makeup on the floor next to the mirror, her straightening iron next to the makeup.
As Noemi walked out of the bathroom her chest length hair had already began to dry and curl up into her loose ringlets.

"Your hair is beautiful," Daniel said looking at Noemi in her sleep shorts and loose T-shirt.

"Thank you, I don't like it that much though." Noemi said as she walked over to the mirror examining her curls, she sighed and looked back over to Daniel, "Curly hair suits you though." She giggled, "I like when it gets all messy when you have helmet hair."

"So you like my hair messy?" He asked with an amused expression on his face.

"Maybe." Noemi giggled again, and laid down in bed motioning Daniel to come beside her.

"I can't stay all night," He said.

"That's alright." Noemi responded. She inched closer to Daniel hoping he would wrap her in his arms as he did earlier that day, and not even a second later he did just that. Daniel held her tighter until he noticed her fall asleep. After an hour or so he decided to silently leave, turning off the lights behind him leaving Noemi asleep, dreaming of an Australian Formula 1 driver she hoped to call her own.
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1113 Words <3