Connected (F1 Story)

Chapter Twenty Five: Japan

V v v sorry for the long wait. Next chapter is ready to go. Will edit in morning x

"Why is Danny not called Danny on your phone?" Feliphino (Felipe Massa's son) asked, putting his sticky fingers all over my iPhone screen. I was too tired to even remotely care after two hours of sleep the previous night and a turbulent plane journey. Which had been delayed. "Is it because he was grumpy on the aeroplane and wouldn't talk to anyone and just slept..."

Daniel had been slightly hungover, yes. And he had been slightly peeved that Paul had sat between us, so 'Danny' and I couldn't sleep on each other. Paul was a useless cushion.

"Well, I have lots of numbers of my phone, so 'Daniel Ricciardo' is a lot easier to find," I settled. With over 1500 contacts, there was at least eight different Daniels. Granted only one was my Daniel, but both names stood out.

Besides, Ricciardo would be my last name soon!

"Can I pretty please change it to Danny?" Damnit, this six year old was impossible to say no to. He'd even eaten my packet of Oreos in the taxi here.

"Go on, then," I whispered, handing him the phone. He changed it, having no problem with the keyboard and flashed me a grin. I hoped that I wouldn't get him confused with Kvyat who I had saved as just Dany. Risky business!

"When Danny gets back, are we going swimming?"

"Danny might be a bit tired still. But I can take you now?" I tidied his Lego away and quite fancied a splash around in the pool. The Japanese had good swimming pools.

"Will you actually?!"

"Of course!" Wow, I was too kind.

"Can we go get my swimming trunks, please?" His grin got bigger as mini Massa gave me an enormous hug. Felipe and Daniel were training, I was looking after Felipe's son while Anna was still in Monaco for the time being. She would fly out for the weekend, seeing as it was only Tuesday in Tokyo and she'd been bogged down with meetings about her clothing range. Tough.

"And we can go and get Sam too?" I suggested. Sam needed dragging out from his room before he ventured into the minibar. Unsurprisingly, he wasn't sharing with Joe this time round.

"Yes, he looked upset on the plane..."

"He was a bit." I grabbed my swimming costume and wondered if it would be best to get changed now. "Hang on...I'm going to go put my swimsuit on quickly. Can you make sure you have everything?"

"Sure Sassy," he sang as I skipped off into the bathroom where my Ted Baker freebie from Lizzie was already waiting. Apparently it didn't fit her now, which was a terrible shame.

Although in return I had to paint her toenails. Twice.

I returned a few minutes later, armed with a hair band. The pool kept towels and everything else down there. I just had time to write Daniel a quick note before Felipinho burst with excitement.

"Swimming!" He giggled, tugging my hand.

"Come on," I replied and slipped the room card into my purse. Note to self, I had put the key card in my purse. Purse, purse, purse!

---

Sam and I were teaching Felipinho how to swim while Paul and Lizzie seemed determined to empty the pool of water. Lizzie was 'coaching' Paul on his 'diving'.

"That's it, well done!" Sam called, high fiving the little one. Felipinho splashed us as a thank you for helping him swim the whole length of the pool.