Lucky number 4

A dinner to forget

Davis ends up shadowing me for the rest of the day.

The race is over all too soon and I'm saddened that Lando came in third. A mistake in the pit caused him one position and he lost another on the track. I wish I knew how to connect to him so I could tell him to be proud of himself. From what I've gathered over the years, he seems to be pretty harsh on himself. The drivers come in and Ella runs out to note down the drivers' weight. It's important for regulations but it also tells us how much water in weight they lost.

I follow the post-race interviews on the tv. Lando looks tired. He shrugs, when asked about his finishing position, but ends with an open and positive mindset towards the next race. Good boy.

The podium celebration is a lot of fun to see from up close. Max, Charles and Lando spray each other in champagne and smile when photographers line up to take pictures. I'm rushed towards the medical center, and we have to prepare all the medical data before next week. I spent close to three hours on transferring data into excel sheets. I'm tired, hungry and exhausted by the time we finish around 8.

"I have to run to catch my flight" Ella announces checking the time.

"Have a good flight. Let's meet up tomorrow!"

Ella nods exaggerated, "Euh yeah we better." We hug and then she is flying out the door. I'm also packing up my stuff when Davis approaches me.

"Ready for dinner?"

"I'm starving" I reply, nodding my head. It's the right answer because he smiles and leaves me alone to finish up packing.

Royally screwed

MENNO RHODES

Chicks send me your flight details

ELLA LAFABRIE

Arrive in Azerbaijan at 05:35u

KAYA OOMEN

Arrive tomorrow at 18:15u

MENNO RHODES

I arrive 12:20u

@KayaOomen I'll come pick you up then!

KAYA OOMEN

YEEY ur the best!

ELLA LAFABRIE

Have a good flight babes!!

-

I didn't tell the others about my dinner plans with Davis. There is nothing they can do anyway, and it would only stress them out. I take a deep breath before putting on a smile and heading into the restaurant with him. Inside, they take our coats and seat us towards the back of the place. My eyes bulge at the expensive taste. I even recognize a few people from the track. Max, Kelly and a few others are seated at a faraway table. Both say hi as we pass through. This restaurant is definitely above my paycheck. The prices on the menu confirm my suspicion. I'm too hungry for an appetizer, but I'm too broke for the mains.

"Pick whatever you like" Davis mumbles without looking up from the menu. "It's on me."

My heart skips a beat and goes into a tachycardia afterwards.

Not again.

I can't believe I walked into the same trap. First rule: don't owe him anything. "That's not necessary" I try sounding as composed and calm as I can muster.

Davis drops his menu on the table. "It's no problem at all and besides, I invited you here."

I'm seething from behind my menu. Of course he did this on purpose.

We order and I leave it at that. I'll find a way to pay for my dish. The front door opens again and another face I want to punch, walks in.

Dylan Owens nods at the waitress who takes his jacket and searches the place for someone, when he spots me. His eyes immediately trail to Davis who followed my gaze to the front of the restaurant. Dylan's eyes flash with recognition and surprise. He beelines towards our table, seemingly forgotten about his dinner partner.

Is this revenge grandma, for the time I stood you up at church?

"Hey Kaya, Sir" Dylan nods, reaching our table. "Lovely date you two seem to have".

I nearly throw up in my mouth. Davis gives me his toothy smile before he informs Dylan that we're merely two friends catching up. I wouldn't even go that far, but at least the non-dating is clear.

"Ah my mistake" he reacts without missing a beat. "Well then, enjoy your evening."

I watch the snake retrace his steps to the front where he greets a young blond. I recognize her from the track. She is also in the medical team. Gabriella, I believe her name was. He moved on pretty quickly I see.

Davis's voice penetrates through my thoughts. "So, what do you think?"

I blink.

Shit. Was he talking to me?

"Euh, yeah absolutely" I smile, trying to play it off. I twist the water glass in my hands and when I look up, he is smiling at me. Pfiew, good answer.

For the rest of the evening, I steer the conversations to safe topics, like science and science only. By the end of the night, my brain is fried and I'm in much needed sleep. Davis handles the bill like he would from the start, and I try not to worry too much about it. The guy is leaving, and I won't be seeing him for another 4 months. I'll be fine and this dinner will be forgotten.

Davis drops me off at my hotel and to my surprise, doesn't offer to walk me in. He merely wishes me good luck with the remainder of my internship and speeds off with a wave. I'm left outside the hotel confused as hell.

No, 'let me help you with your bags'.

No, goodbye hug.

Weird. I try shake the unease that came across my body and head inside the lobby. Did I miss something? Did he say something during dinner? By the time I enter the elevator, I'm close to having a panic attack. Davis never does anything without reason. He got me cornered and he just left. Last time he got me cornered he took advantage.

It's a night I won't easily forget.

Let me help you with your bag. I'm a gentleman Kaya, are you expecting me not to walk you to your door? You know, I can think of a way you can repay me for dinner. We both know you are a good scientist, would be a shame to let the potential go to waste, no?

The elevator doors open, but the world is blurred. The ringing in my ears intensifies with every step I take to my door. Almost there. My hands tremble with the keycard. The door unlucks and I all but lunge inside before I slip to the floor.

He left, he left, left. Left.

I chant it until I pass out.