After the Hate Has Gone (Sebastian Vettel)

12. Building Bridges

"Daniel bloody Ricciardo!"exclaimed Sophie, nearly choking on her drink. "I don't know whether to be proud of you for pulling that hunk of a man or disappointed that it wasn't Seb."

Lottie looked at her friend and raised a finger to her lips, warning her to keep her volume down. "Sorry, but Daniel Ricciardo. If I didn't love Joel so much I definitely would. Surprised you went there though."

"Why? As you said, he's a hunk. Not bad in the bedroom department either."

"But Lottie , you can deny this all you want, but I know you fancy Seb. You always have."

"Sophie, I'm not getting into that. So ok, I am physically attracted to him. I can't deny that, you're right. But the fact remains that we do not like each other. We rub each other up the wrong way. There's no way on earth I'm going there with him. And if he wanted me, he would have said, wouldn't he?"

"Have you given him the chance?" Lottie remembered how he'd wanted to talk after the launch but she'd knocked him back. She sighed.

"Sophie. I'm going to tell you something now. Please keep quiet til the end. And this goes no further ok?"
"OK, my lips are sealed," Sophie said.

"Back at Red Bull, something happened. Seb and I kissed. He let me believe he was splitting with Celestine. That he wanted to be with me. I trusted him. Then I had to learn online that he was engaged to her. That's why I quit. That's why I went to America. "

"He never told you himself?"

"Nope, not a word."

"Oh my God, what a rat! Makes sense now, your reluctance to admit you like him."

"I can't help being attracted to him, but that is why I won't act on it."

"People do change Lottie ."

"We're not meant for each other Soph. Anyway, he won't want me now he knows I slept with Daniel."

"Wait a minute! He what??"

"He saw me coming out of Daniel's suite the morning after."

"This gets better and better. More drama than an Eastender's Christmas special." Lottie had to laugh in spite of herself. Sophie was right. "OK, so what about Daniel? Are you seeing him again?"

"No. But he said I know where to find him if I want a repeat performance."

"Damn, you lucky lady."

"Don't let Joel hear you say that. "

"Haha, he knows I love him. I can look as long as I don't touch. Anyway, come on girl, we better go board. Time for Portugal baby!" They stood up and picked up their hand luggage. Time to go. Time to face Sebastian again.

                                         ***

Seb pulled his cap onto his head. He put his sunglasses on. The time off between races had helped to clear his mind. His anger had faded. Lottie was entitled to sleep with whoever she wanted. She was a free agent. The jealousy was still there.

All he could think of was her with Ricciardo. Speaking of the devil, Daniel fell into step besides him.

"Seb, can we talk?"

"What about Daniel?"

"Lottie."

"What about her? I'm not really interested in hearing about what you got up to with her. "

"Hey, I don't kiss and tell anyway. You like her don't you?"

"No," he lied.

"Oh, that's a shame. I was gonna apologise for moving in on her but if you don't like her then no need. I'll have to see if she wants a repeat." Seb stopped and stared fiercely at Daniel.