Just Him ❤

41. Re-bonding.

Sat in traffic on Melbourne's busy streets, Chloe stared out of the window, unblinking, lost in her own thoughts. She had never really spoken to Charlie but she knew all the drivers regularly used to talk to him. She just knew him as a big influence on driver safety and as a race director. He would always be the man she'd seen controlling the lights at the start of each race. She knew he was a massive loss to the sport. The news had shocked everyone, it had been an awful, sad end to an otherwise good day. At this moment, she was glad to have Seb back, to be able to start repairing their, not quite four weeks old, relationship. The Maserarti Levante she was seated in moved forward and they reached a set of traffic lights. Her eyes flickered down to the radio, No Ordinary Love on again. That song seemed to haunt her where ever she went. Antti sat in the back texting his new girlfriend, he looked up as he heard the music too. His mind was taken back to the day, not that long ago, that he'd seen her dancing to this in the gym. He felt butterflies in his stomach and then felt guilty. He shouldn't be feeling things like that for Seb's girlfriend when he had a new girlfriend himself. She yawned and relaxed back in to the seat, turning her head to look at Seb, she took in his beautiful face as he stared ahead also seeming to be lost in thought. Every time she looked at him she felt as though she was hit hard with her feelings for him, the fact that she was so attracted to him slapped her in the face. She was starting to think she was obsessed with him. He realised she was looking at him and glanced back at her as the lights went green and he drove the car away from them, he placed his hand in her lap. At times like this he was glad the car was an automatic. It was gone 6pm when they'd left the circuit and he knew Chloe was tired, she'd looked physically and emotionally drained after the press conference but had patiently waited for him to be ready to leave. What was normally a ten minute car ride was taking far longer due to an accident somewhere, he couldn't wait to get back into their room. He wondered if she'd still want to talk. Finally they seemed to be moving more, he glanced back at her, it was no surprise to see she'd dozed off.

                               ~*~

Parking the car in the hotel's underground car park, he switched off the engine. Antti quickly jumped out taking his bag with him, telling Seb he'd see him early in the morning, he'd been keen to give them some space. He also wanted to call his girlfriend. Seb undid his seatbelt and turned to face Chloe, she was still fast asleep.
"Chloe." He placed his hand on her arm. "Liebe." He gave her arm a gentle little shake. She opened her eyes and gave him a sleepy smile when she saw him. "We're back, let's head up to the room." He spoke softly. She just nodded and undid her seatbelt before getting out of the car. She stood and watched as Seb got his rucksack and her bag out of the boot. Once he'd locked the car he took hold of her hand and led her from the car park and up some stairs to the lobby, carrying her bag as well as his own. They got into the lift and she pressed the button for their floor.

"What a day." She sighed as the doors closed and the lift started to move.

"I'll run you a bath, you can have a long soak." He replied.

"I'd love that, thank you." She turned and stepped forward, leaning her forehead against his chest. She felt him put his free arm around her. He kissed the top of head and heard her give a big shaky sigh.

"Don't cry babe." He felt like doing that himself.

"I'm sorry, I'm trying not to." She mumbled, her face now buried against his chest, unable to stop a few tears from escaping.

                                ~*~

Getting back in to their room, Seb went straight to the bathroom to fill the bath for her. She stood in the kitchen area, eyeing the mini bar. She shook her head, alcohol wouldn't help. She went over to the tv, grabbing the remote she turned it on. The news was on, Charlie's death was in the headlines. They were showing bits of the press conference, Seb's beautiful face appeared on the screen, his face solemn and his eyes showing his sadness. She kept it on until they moved on to Lewis, then turned it off and threw the remote on to the sofa. Part of her wished she could call Michael, to talk today's tragic event over with him too, to let him know how low she was feeling right now. She knew that was impossible, Michael had told her there would still be no contact, he didn't want anyone finding out if they were in touch and then have them haunting her for details. He couldn't risk it, she'd never be left alone. Seb came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, sweeping her hair from one side of her neck he pressed his lips to her bare skin.
"The bath is ready for you. Go and get in, take some time out." He allowed himself to inhale the scent of the Dolce & Gabbana fragrance she wore, his favourite.