Lifeline (Sebastian Vettel)

Chapter 15: The Man in the Window

Tully stared vacantly at the headrest of the seat in front of her, biting her lip idly as she listened to Kayla, the blonde air hostess, as she asked a constant stream of questions to which Seb was very patiently answering.

She did not know how he could be bothered dealing with this every day of his life.

"Do you get to see your family very much?" Kayla cooed, leaning into Tully's peripheral vision.

Tully sighed, she's trying to figure out if you have a girlfriend, she thought, in a vain attempt to mentally inform Seb.

"I go to them a few times throughout the year, or they travel out to see me. Many driver's take their partner's with them."

As he said the last sentence, he reached over and picked up Tully's hand, lacing their fingers together before resting them in his lap. It felt like an electric current had shot all the way up Tully's arm. Never mind that! He needs you to play along. Channel your inner Olivia.

"It gets so boring following him around, you have no idea." Tully gushed melodramatically as a surprised-looking Kayla finally noticed her, "I just spend the entire time shopping though, so, we make it work."

Tully plucked her hand out of Seb's and cupped his jaw instead, turning to him and smiling, "Don't we?"

Seb looked like he desperately wanted to smirk but made it through, instead resorting to a strained nod.

"That sounds wonderful! Well, I'd better get back to work and leave you two in peace." Kayla said, a vague hint of bitterness edging her voice. And with that she was gone.

"Ugh." Tully grizzled, resting her head back against her seat and closing her eyes, "If she was leaning in any closer she'd have been sitting on my lap."

Seb chuckled, "Not bad acting, maybe next time talk about how good looking you think I am. Stuff like that."

"Sorry, I'll do better." Tully replied sarcastically.

"It's okay, it was only your first time."

"Did Heikki used to have to pretend to be your girlfriend too?" Tully snickered.

"Oh, you know, when duty called..." Seb replied airily, "You fit the role slightly better, though."

Tully glanced over and grinned at him, shaking her head.

Seb chuckled to himself before they slipped into silence. He closed his eyes, relaxing finally now that he knew Kayla or any of the other hostesses wouldn't be back. That allowed him to focus on more interesting things, like how the side of his face was still tingling from where Tully had held it.

---

Later that evening, they finally found themselves stepping back onto Swiss soil as they made it through the arrivals area and out into the cold to find a car.

"Why couldn't Hayley come and pick us up?" Tully asked as her teeth chattered.

"Yeah... I can barely get her to speak to me right now so favours are really off the cards." Seb replied with a sigh. Sadly enough, he was dreading the rest of the night. He'd be home within an hour and who knew what kind of shit-storm awaited him there. Text messages between them over the last few days had been short and few. He couldn't even remember what had caused this round of fighting.

They continued walking until they reached the taxi-rank.

"I just want to be home now." Tully whined, rubbing her arms vigorously, "Warm bath, warm food, warm bed."