Toto and I enjoyed our days together before we had to head to the track. We had spent the morning, after we told each other about how we felt, soaking up the sun at the pool. We had cocktails and cantaloupe and sun oil, so we enjoyed ourselves.
It became Thursday all too soon, and so we were on our way to the track. It was wet and humid and it ruined my hair. I was wearing my white Mercedes shirt and some high-waisted jeans with my Puma sneakers. I forgot my coat in our rush to the car because Toto couldn't stop hovering around me, stealing kisses every three seconds. I almost forgot our phones and schedule because of him...
"Here, you can have my sweater." Toto smiled, handing me the huge half-zip he had tied across his back and chest. "I would love to see you wear that, just that." He nosed the side of my neck when we left the car.
I smacked him with the arm of the sweater. "Not here, idiot. We talked about professionalism at the track, and here you are, being all" I moved my arms dramatically. "Huggable and fuckable." I said and Toto let out this full belly laugh that caught the attention of some formula one personnel. I swatted his arm and gave him a stern look and walked towards our motor home. I helped set up Toto's communication station, laid out his notes, and sat down next to his spot to test out his headphones.
"Here you are." A familiar warm voice could be heard through my headphones. I turned around and Lewis stood in the door opening, his smile lighting up the room. "How are you?" He asked and chose the seat beside me.
"I am great, bummed about the weather, to be honest," I said. "How are you? Exited for this weekend?"
Lewis chuckled. "Not really, I have no idea what to do with that car. It's awful, but I try to make the best of things." He shrugged his shoulders. "I have some interviews, and then I'll be off to work out, care to join me? I was planning on going for a grid run."
"It will fall into place, Lewis. It may take a while, but it will work out." I smiled and touched his forearm. "I would love to join you for that grid run, I don't have to be with Toto today since he is working in the motor home today."
"Great, let's say one o'clock?" He asked and I agreed. Lewis said goodbye and left for his first interview with Sky. I walked to Toto's office in the motor home and knocked on his door.
"Hey Romée, what are you up to?" Toto had his glasses on his nose and was typing away on his laptop.
"I just set up your communication system in the meeting room. And if it's okay with you, I am joining Lewis on a run at one in the afternoon." I said and he looked up from his screen. "Something wrong?"
He took off his glasses and rolled his chair back. "Of course that's okay, you don't have to ask me that. But I do appreciate it, makes me believe I have a say in it." He chuckled
"You do have a say in it if you need me for something." I said, plucking at my nails
Toto smiled "Well, I hate that we agreed on keeping things professional at work." He said and rubbed his hands over his thighs.
"Why? Why is that?" I stuttered
"Because-" Toto leaned back into his chair. "I would have told you to come sit on my lap, tell you what a good girl you are for telling me your plans and asking me if it's okay." He chuckled at the dumbstruck look on my face. "But I won't, because that is inappropriate behavior."
"Yes." That is the only thing I could say.
"Have fun on your run, thank you for setting up my seat at the meeting." He said and waved me off.
That motherfucker, is totally playing me. He wanted to keep things professional and look at him now, regretting that decision. Well, he isn't the only one regretting that... I made my way to the paddock, watching George begin his grid walk with his engineers. I waved and walked into the garage, in search of some clothes to work out in. I found some shorts and a shirt that was way too large. But being such a creative woman, girl please, I tied the bottom of the shirt into a knot. It was around twelve thirty when I walked out of the motor home and entered the garage. I walked towards the pit wall and waved at George who had just returned.
"Where is your owner?" A certain Australian man yelled at me. "You look like a lost puppy."
"Funny Danny, very funny." I smiled at Daniel and hugged him. "What are you up to?" I asked him when he sat down next to me.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I am done for the day but I am waiting for Max to be done, so we can get lunch. Care to join us?"
"That sounds great, but I am going for a grid run with Lewis."
"That sucks, the weather is ass today, take Hammy with you and join us for lunch." Daniel held my hand and gave me the saddest pair of eyes.
"Stop that, that is emotional blackmail!" I laughed and pushed him away. "Join us for a run, and we might get lunch after."
"Hell no, I avoid track walks as it is, I am not joining you all on a track run!" Max joined in on our conversation and I laughed at his exaggerated response.
"Well there is no need, you two would slow me down anyway." I said and hopped off the chair, hugged Daniel and Max goodbye, and told them to send me a photo of the food while I searched for Lewis in the garage. But then I collided with a wall, or just Toto's chest.
"You should watch where you are going, scha-." He coughed and corrected himself. "Romée."
I rolled my eyes and forgot how it triggers Toto, slowly looking up to see his face. His face was unreadable for others but his jaw was locked, his left brow was slightly raised and if I listened carefully, I could hear his teeth grind. For the first time today, I am very happy we decided to keep things professional.
"Sorry boss, I am such a klutz." I chuckled and walked away, gladly seeing Lewis entering the garage. Lewis greeted Toto and we walked away with our arms locked. I didn't dare to look back.
"Okay, you ready? Or do you need to warm up? Or a head start?" Lewis joked and I pushed him before taking off. "That is cheating Miss Pierce! At least a 5-second penalty." He called after me and I just laughed
When Lewis caught up with me, we talked a bit about our karaoke experience and his expectations for the weekend. The track is almost five kilometers so it was a nice stroll, I was glad it stopped raining before we went on a run.
"I think a p10 will be manageable, right?" I asked him and he shook his head.
"The car is so far behind, and the purposing is awful." He sighed. "George is managing the car a bit better, with different setups and all."
"We just have to keep working on the car, everybody knows it's not your fault. And even then, you can not control the way people think about you." I said and Lewis chuckled
"I think the team knows that, but the fans don't. Or maybe some do, but George is doing so much better in the car."
"You should not compare yourself with George. As you said, his car settings are different. They drive with different strategies. You still rise, Lewis." I huffed, because I was out of breath, "I don't normally talk during running." I apologized and Lewis had to stop running because he was laughing so hard.
"Thank you, Romée. I definitely feel better now." He said while we entered the pit lane again. "Would you like to have lunch with me?"
"I would love to, I am going to change." I smiled, heading towards the motor home and telling Toto that I would be having lunch with Lewis
"Great, oh, and Romée?" Lewis asked and I stopped walking.
"Yes?"
"Tell Toto I said hey." Lewis winked and I simply stared at him, not knowing if I should freak the fuck out or just smile.
I decided not to do anything and definitely not go and see Toto. I walked towards the motor home and got changed, the weather was still the same so I took Toto's half zip with me again. Lewis was waiting for me at the door and held out his arm for me to take. We walked towards hospitality and picked out a table. We ordered some drinks and looked over the menu. I thanked the waiter for my drinks and cheered with Lewis his glass
"So..-" Lewis took off his sunglasses. "How long have you and Toto been together?" He asked and I choked on my drink.
"How long have I what now? We are not dating." I could feel the heat of embarrassment cover my face and tried to act somehow normal which only made Lewis giggle.
"Romée, you don't have to be embarrassed, it's not weird to like him." He smiled and held my hand. "He is charming, I guess." Lewis said and I burst out in nervous laughter. "No in all seriousness, he is a good man."
"How did you find out?" That is the only thing I wanted to ask right now.
"Do you want the real answer?" He asked and I nodded in fear. "I saw your clothes in Toto's bedroom in the hotel when I was looking for you."
If it was possible, I turned three more shades of red and slapped my hand against my head. "Great." I mumbled and Lewis just laughed.
"Don't stress about it." Lewis said and I looked up to him.
"But it's weird. And as I said to Toto, I don't want people to think that I am dating him because it's him." I said. "I am dating him for him because I love him." I slapped that hand in front of my mouth really fast. "I just mean that I work very hard and I don't want people to think that I am using him or something." I quickly took another sip of my drink
"I understand, but as you said, you can not control the way people think about you. You are not doing anything wrong, you can not choose who you love."
I took a deep breath and nodded. We changed the subject, thank god, and ate our food. After an hour or so we were on our way back to the garage and when I saw Toto sitting behind his monitor, Lewis hugged me and said his goodbyes. I walked to Toto and tapped him on the back, he tensed and turned around.
"Jesus, Romée. Don't scare me like that." He huffed and I rolled my eyes. "Stop that." He growled and I held up my finger.
"Nope! We are at work, I can roll my eyes." I dramatically rolled my eyes ten times before hurting them. Toto shook his head and got up from the seat.
"Then it is a good thing for me that we are done for today and we can head to our hotel." Toto said and gently dragged me to the car.
———
Practice one wasn't really good for the boys. Russell came in tenth in the first practice and eleventh at the sprint qualifying. Lewis came in eighteenth at the first practice and thirteenth at the sprint qualifying. The team went through all the data and prepared themselves for the sprint race on Saturday.
———
The second practice on Saturday on the other hand, resulted in a fourth place for Lewis and a first place for George! Not to get our hopes up, but it was looking good. Remember when I said to not get our hopes up? I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. Lewis finished the sprint in fourteenth place and George in the eleventh.
———
Race day. Toto was in a bad mood and has been for the last few days. He tried not to have it affect him when we were at the hotel, but it is his team, his life. And since Lewis finished thirteenth in the race, his mood was still highly affected. But George finished fourth, which is a good thing! But Toto was tired and wanted to leave Italy fast.
We were on the plane two hours after the race ended, and I couldn't help but think that our days together got really affected by this. But I have to stay professional too, and I know that. We have another week of no racing now and will be racing again in Miami on the sixth of May. So we had to be there on the fourth or fifth, I have to take a look at the schedule when we land in Monaco. Toto was asleep next to me, a deep frown on his forehead. His head was already leaning towards my shoulder so I decided to pull his head on my shoulder. Toto sighed and got a little more comfortable. The frown is no longer there.