Bad Reputation

31.

I spend the night alone in my room. Couldn't stop thinking about Francesca though.

She was acting weird, I was prepared for that, I knew she wouldn't be too excited to see me.

Even though we were pretty okay with each other now. She was honest with me, said she couldn't be with me because of my past.

Didn't trust me enough to be in a relationship with me.

And I understood that.

But she was more quiet than usual, maybe because it was her first day. Maybe she was a little nervous?

I walked in the paddock and saw Kelcey standing there, waiting for me.

It was pretty cute actually.

"You don't have to wait for me Kelcey" I chuckled as I walked to her. "Oh, okay" she laughed as well.

"Are you okay though?" I asked, she looked less nervous than yesterday. Still pretty red though.

"Yes, I slept so good" she smiled. "You? Are you ready for today?"

"Yeah I am"

It were only the practice sessions though, wasn't really that important.

"Can you check in on Francesca from time to time?" I asked Kelcey. "She's acting a little weird"

"Sure" she nodded. "I will watch the practice sessions with her in the paddock club"

"Thanks" I mumbled. "I am gonna get ready for the sessions"

I didn't wait for her to answer, she didn't really need to answer though.

I got changed into my racing suit, prepared myself to sit in a hot car, this was definitely the most brutal race on the calendar, and walked to the garage.

Got a few pats on my back before I jumped in my car.

———————————

After the practice sessions, I walked with Kelcey to the media pen.

"How was Francesca doing?" I asked Kelcey, I hated that I had to ask her how Francesca was doing.
Wish I could ask her myself.

But I bet she would rather talk to Kelcey than to me.

"I think something is wrong with her" Kelcey said. "She's wearing a jacket"

Normally it wouldn't be weird for someone to wear a jacket or long sleeves.
But who wears a jacket in Singapore?

We were taking ice baths here.

I looked at Kelcey, I guess we were both thinking the same thing.

I wish I was wrong about it.

Couldn't really concentrate on the journalists and their questions so I wrapped it up pretty quickly.

We walked back to the hospitality and I went straight to the paddock club.

It was definitely more busy in the paddock club today, but I knew Frankie could handle it perfectly. She was used to it.

And Kelcey was right, she was wearing a jacket.

"Another Coke?" She smiled as soon as she saw me. I nodded. "You know me"

Normally I wouldn't drink this many Cokes, but I just wanted to see her.

"Can you please take off your jacket? I am getting hot only by looking at you" I leaned on the bar and so did she. "As long as you don't get hard, I'm fine by that" she chuckled.

I chuckled and shook my head. I was gonna ignore that comment.

"Are you free tonight?" I asked, which made her chuckle again. "Are you gonna ask me every day?"

"Yes"

"What do you wanna do?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe go to the pool in our hotel?"

She sighed, looked around for a while.

"Please?" I asked, begged, I would do anything to spend some time with her. Especially now, especially when I thought something was wrong.

"Okay fine, but let's go a little late, I don't want to bump into other people"

A bit weird, but maybe she didn't want to be seen with me.
Whatever, I would take everything at this point.

"Okay, I will come to your room at 8pm?"

"Or 9?" She suggested.

"Yeah sure 9pm is fine too"

She smiled at that. We talked for a little while longer but I needed to get out of this racing suit, it was way too hot.

We said our goodbyes and I returned to my driver's room.

I smiled as I sat down on my couch. It was a little win, she agreed to spend some time with me.
Even though she wanted no one to know about it.

It didn't matter.