Everything Changed- Carlos Sainz

2. Tell me your secrets, ask me your questions

It was two days later that he was walking down the beach again, the weather was still cold but the wind had at least dropped, and the same little black and white spaniel had come bounding up to him.

Carlos picked the ball up and tossed it down the beach, the dog immediately taking off and running flat out down the sand in pursuit of the ball. Carlos watched for a moment, then his eyes started to scour the beach for the owner.

It took him a moment to spot her, sitting cross legged on the stones further down towards the water. The grey of her coat almost blended in and she was partly hidden by the slope of the beach. The dog returned with the ball and he threw it again, making his way down the beach towards her.

She looked up in confusion as he sat down beside her. "You're still here?" She raised an eyebrow. "Nice coat."

"Someone told me I needed a better one if I was going to survive Scottish winter." He joked. "Turns out she was very wise."

"It helps the weather isn't so bad today." She pointed out, picking up a stone and tossing it towards the water. She watched as it splashed into the water, keeping her gaze trained on the ships in the horizon.

"I actually managed to play a few holes of golf yesterday." He nodded.

"Your trip wasn't entirely wasted then." She nodded. "I'm pleased."

"I don't think it would've been a waste even if I couldn't play." Carlos shrugged.

It was the truth, it may not have been quite what he had planned, but it had given him some quiet and space to process the news about his seat. By the time he got home he'd be ready to do something about it.

"That's true. You'd never have tried Angie's hot chocolate if you'd not come." She pointed out.

"Exactly." He agreed with a smile. "What are you up to today?"

"I uh... I'm just taking Blue for his walk and then I've got to get home." She shrugged. "How about you?"

"Back to Madrid this afternoon." He told her, pausing to throw the ball for Blue again.

"Giving up on the great Scottish weather?" She asked, still staring ahead at the horizon. She watched the dog splashing around in the shoreline as he tried to retrieve the ball from the breaking waves.

Carlos shook his head. "I have some stuff I have to sort out. I was quite enjoying it here."

She turned to look at him as he said it and he suddenly noticed the tear streaks of mascara under her eyes.

"Sounds ominous." She raised an eyebrow. "You going to tell me you're here hiding from an irate girlfriend or something and you've just realised you've been an idiot and need to apologise?"

He shook his head. "No, it's a work thing." He was relieved when she didn't question it. He could hardly tell her the truth. He was still waiting for Fred to let him know when the announcement was going to be made public.

"Ah." She sighed. "Well, I hope it all works out for you."

"What about you?" Carlos asked.

"What about me?" She asked, looking at him blankly.

"Tell me something about you?" He asked. "All I know is you're from here and you like hot chocolate."

"That's two more things than I know about you." She pointed out.

"You know I'm from Madrid." He smiled.

"Okay, one more thing." She rolled her eyes at him. "You get my point."