Chapter 11 – Richard
My birthday turned out to be everything that I’d hoped it would be.
Singapore had been beautiful, and it was great spending that time with David.
But the days had passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to leave.
We planned to meet in Monaco. David had told Vincent that he wanted to recharge for a week, and with how busy the next two months were going to be, Vincent had agreed.
I’m not sure how, but Vincent believed me when I told him that I decided to go to Monaco to do some apartment hunting, as I wanted one bought by the end of the season.
I booked a hotel, spent a shit ton of money on it, but snuck into David’s place every night.
I have no idea how much he paid for the bed, but it was worth every single penny.
Especially when, after one night, I ended up with a slight red mark around my wrists.
David had been mortified, but I loved it, and David caught me more than once, touching the marks.
They faded too quickly, and David refused to do it again, no matter how much I begged, and God, did I beg.
That week felt like, for the first time ever, we were a real couple.
Spending our days together, obviously there were no outward displays of affection, we couldn’t risk being spotted.
As it was, a few photos appeared of us together, but most of the headlines seemed to think we were having private meetings regarding David’s future on the team. Nothing romantic was ever mentioned.
Vincent called me on more than one occasion when the pictures hit the press, asking questions.
I said David had been showing me around, and that I was also trying to talk him into staying with the team.
Vincent seemed to believe me and encouraged me to spend more time with him if it got him to stay.
David had laughed so hard when I told him that little nugget of information.
But, like all holidays, the time was over too quickly, and I am back in England, trying to figure out how I can get to some of the upcoming races, to see David.
Having decided not to go to Qatar and Abu Dubai, it meant that it could be three months until we were together in person again.
I knew that F2 had fewer races, but I’d forgotten how few they had.
The last race was in Azerbaijan, and now, they didn’t race again until Qatar.
I managed to get to Singapore because of my birthday, but for the next four races, I cannot think of a valid reason why I would be there.
It’s the only time I wish Vincent knew about me and David; he would have let me go then.
A knock on my office door brings me back to the present, and I look up to see Vincent coming into my office, and he looks tired.
“Lars keeping you up?” I say, giving him a smile. “You look like shit.”
“I wish this was Lars,” Vincent says, returning my smile.
“Drink?” Vincent nods.
Getting up from my chair, I go over to a cupboard in the corner of my office, and open the door, pull out the crystal glasses, and the bottle of whiskey I keep in there.
I pour both of us a generous measure. Vincent makes his way over to the couch and sits down, resting his head onto the back pillow.
“You’re not driving?” Kicking his foot lightly to get his attention.
“I’m going to be here for a few more hours, yet,” Vincent replies, taking the glass that I offered him. “But I’ll probably call for a driver. What about you?”
Looking at my watch I realise that it’s later in the afternoon than I thought, at least it’s almost a responsible time to get a drink.
“I’ll probably crash here. I have an early meeting with Otis, anyway.”
“You’re getting to be like me, well, the old me,” Vincent replies, taking a sip of his whiskey.
“Old you?”
“Yeah, the old me. The one before Lars. When all I did was work. It’s not healthy.”
The laughter erupts out of me before I have a chance to stop it. “You’re joking, right? You’re still just as bad. You just get laid more often as Lars comes to get you and take you home.”
“I don’t work at home anymore,” Vincent starts, trying to defend himself.
“Bullshit.” I know Vincent. “How often do you wake in the middle of the night and go into your office?”
Vincent doesn’t reply, just smiles over the rim of his glass as he takes a sip, and I know that I’m right. He works in the middle of the night while Lars is sleeping.
“Anyway, you’re going to be busy over the next few months, you need rest, too. I’m guessing you will head back here after the Vegas race in November?” I ask him, as I take a seat in one of the chairs opposite him.
“Actually, I was thinking I might stay in the US for a while. See some family. We won’t have a chance after the next race as we have to move straight to Mexico.”
“Having an American company own F1 has its perks for you. How many US races are there this year?”
“Three, but Vegas is the one closest to Idaho.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot, you have a place in the potato state.”
“Oh, how I wish I never told you that little piece of information,” Vincent replies.
“I’m only teasing, I think it sounds like a good idea. One day you’re going to have to show me your place. Not sure how I haven’t been invited to visit. It’s not like we haven’t been friends long, only thirty years.”
“Probably because we were both working to distract ourselves from our private lives.”
“Probably,” I agree. Vincent bought himself and Lars a place in Idaho after they came out. He wanted to get some privacy and he was just too well known in Texas. “Anyway, will you stay in the states to watch the Qatar race?” I ask.
“Yeah, I think so. Afterwards, Lars and I will head back here, then at the beginning of December, get ready for the Abu Dhabi race. Will Otis be ready for those races?”
“Yeah, I think he was a little disappointed that I wasn’t going to be there with him, but he can’t rely on me forever.”
“The team will have his back, and David will be there too, but…” Vincent stops to take a sip of his whiskey. “Why not come to Vegas, and then to Idaho with us?”
I almost fist pump the air. I’ve been sitting here, trying to figure out how to get myself to any of the races between now and Qatar, and Vincent goes and resolves it all for me.
“Bring Otis too, it will be good for him to spend some extra time with the team, and he can travel with them from Vegas.”
“Travelling with the team will be good for him,” I say, as I pull my mobile out of my pocket. “Excuse me,” I start, “I have been waiting on an email.” And pretend to read on my mobile while I open my chat thread with David.
R: Guess who’s coming to Vegas!!
I want to watch the screen to see when David replies, but I can already feel Vincent’s eyes staring at me. Wanting to know who I’m texting. But just as I’m slipping it into my pocket, I feel the phone vibrating in my hand.
D: You’re fucking kidding! Oh, the plans I can now make. There better be a bed I can tie you to. Bring your tie.”
I can feel the smile stretching on my face as I read his words. He knows how to be romantic with me, but to be honest, my tie would have been the first thing I packed. Just in case.
“Who’s making you smile like that?”
Shit.
“No one. Just an email,” I lie.
“My turn to call bullshit. But it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you smile like that. Whoever it is, they’re special, aren’t they? I only ever used to smile like that when I got a message from Lars.”
Maybe I should keep trying to lie but what’s the point? I can admit that there is someone special without giving the game away.
“It is someone special.”
“I look forward to meeting them,” Vincent says but doesn’t probe any more.
“You will soon, but we’re taking it slow for now. We’re both busy men.”
“Anyway, I did come here for a reason. I was wondering if you were free tomorrow? I think I found a physio, and I have a meeting with them tomorrow.”
“Why do you need me to be there?”
“Because this person is going to be joining our team, and you’re the best judge of character. You’ll know if they fit in with us or not,” Vincent states.
“What time is the meeting?”
“Ten thirty.”
“I can be there,” I confirm. It’s been a long time since we’ve introduced someone new to the team, and we’re very close knit. Well, we have to be with all the travelling that we do together, but for Lars’s sake, I hope they’re good.
The following morning, I’m knocking on Vincent’s door ten minutes before his interview. When he calls me in, he’s sitting behind his desk, thankfully looking less tired than he was yesterday.
“Lars let you get some sleep last night then?” I say over my shoulder to him, as I make my way over to one of the chairs opposite the couch in his office.
“You know, you are far too invested in my sex life,” Vincent smirks out.
“Just looking out for my best friend. You’re not as young as you used to be.”
“Dick, fuck off.” But I see the smile on his face. “At least I have a sex life. Do I need to give you some tips for your special someone?”
“Oh, hell no. My sex life is none of your concern.”
“Well, you never seem tired, so you must be doing something wrong. Lars and I would be at it half the night.”
“Please, stop. There are some things I don’t need to know, and, if you must know, he works away.” Which isn’t really a lie. “So, we don’t see each other often, but when we do, he makes sure I feel him for days.” If Vincent wants to overshare then so can I.
“You feel him. Oh. Okay, yeah, we need to stop now,” Vincent adds. Looks like knowing that I bottom was a little too much information for him.
“I just want to say that you started this.”
Before Vincent can reply to this statement, the phone on his desk rings. Picking it up, all Vincent states is ‘send him in’.
“He’s here.”