Dear Happy (Formula 1 - Daniel Ricciardo)

NINE

The world was going crazy.

We'd landed in Australia on 9th March. The same day that Italy went into lockdown, marking the start of Europe as the new epicentre of the pandemic. Of course, the news had been full of the coronavirus pandemic now for several months, cases increasing steadily first in China and then popping up in other nations around the globe. But the season opener of the Formula 1 world championship had still been planned to start in Melbourne. However, it would now be 'behind closed doors'.

With this in mind I'd tried my best to keep the build-up as normal as possible for George, while also doing my best to protect him from coming into contact with anyone outside the paddock bubble.

"So... are you meeting up with Dan this eve?" George asked as I drove the pair of us back to the hotel after the media day at the track. It had been strange without any fans but had been nice to see the familiar faces of the paddock.

"I don't know," I shrugged.

Ever since we'd kissed, nothing had really changed. We'd messaged back and forth a little, but with the busyness of the season opener neither of us had much time to spare. I'd barely even caught up with the new time zone.

"I think he might want to see you," George nodded down to my phone in the centre console that had just lit up as it received a message. George was now very much aware of everything going on. For starters as soon as Daniel had left the flat, George had started his interrogation. Plus, as with most parts of our lives, there was little I could hide from him, especially when it could affect him.

And that was why I was now being more hesitant. Anything that was to happen between me and Daniel was automatically going to become complicated due to the situation we were in. He was a direct competitor of George, and George would always come first. Then there was the long distance aspect to it. Sure we both travelled as part of the F1 circus, but his primary residence was in Monaco, and I tried to stay close to George in London if I could. And then, there was the winter break; where Daniel always headed to the Southern hemisphere. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself... maybe I was over thinking all of this... but it was all so very complicated.

Pulling into a parking space in the underground carpark, I turned off the ignition and picked up my phone as I climbed out of the car.

"So are you going to reply to him?" George pressed, climbing out of the passenger side.

"It's complicated," I sighed, grabbing our backpacks from the boot and following him towards the hotel lift that would take us to our rooms.

"No Nina, it's very simple." I raised an eyebrow at my brother as the lift doors closed behind us and it started to rise. "You either like Daniel or you don't. And if you do, you'll kick yourself if you leave him hanging."

"Hmm I'll think about it," I mused, deep down I knew that my brother was right and that what internal battle I was having with myself right now couldn't be resolved by ignoring Daniel. George nodded in response and left the conversation there, following me into our shared suit as soon as we reached our floor.

It wasn't until and hour or two later that I finally made up my mind on what I wanted to do.

George and I had chatted about the upcoming race over dinner, before I'd given him a light sports massage to loosen him up before Friday's free practice sessions. This had given me a bit of quite, time to reflect and think.

Although what was there to think about? George had reassured me that whatever I decided to do he was content. Why was I being so cautious? We'd only kissed once... and we hadn't even talked about it.