Chapter 26 – David
It was never my intention to tell the team about Richard and I, but after the way Nicky blindsided me with the question about the photo, I knew that I had to tell them.
I was sure that everyone on the team had seen it, read the rumours, and they deserved to get the truth from me. Not from an article.
When Jeff sat with me, we talked about why Richard and I had kept our relationship secret for so long.
It was easy to explain the first time we were together, because to us it wasn’t anything serious.
We were both having some fun. We thought that we had ended when we both knew it was starting to become more, little did we realise that it had already grown into something that couldn’t be forgotten.
But after we got back together, that had been harder to explain.
Lars and Vincent had come out, and the team had accepted it, and so had the world.
My relationship with Richard would have been the same, and yet we decided to hide.
I could use the excuse that my driving was more important.
But my relationship becoming common knowledge wouldn’t have affected my driving.
Richard doesn’t deserve to be someone’s secret. I know that now. So, this meant that I needed to come out. We needed to come out, and that started with the team, and God, they had taken it better than I expected.
“David,” someone yells, and I take a step back from Richard. His face is alight with pure joy. “David,” comes the voice again, “put him down for two seconds.” Which generates a round of laughter.
“What?” I say over to the direction of the voice.
“If you’re not driving next year, does that mean you’re leaving the team?”
“I don’t want to,” I confirm. “I love you guys, not like that, but you know,” I say.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“There isn’t one,” I say.
“Actually, that isn’t quite true,” Vincent says, and when I look over to him, he has a mischievous look on his face, as he moves to the front of the room.
“As you all know, Otis covered for Lars in Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, and we can all agree that he did a phenomenal job. So, he will be replacing David next year, as second driver. This, of course, means that we need to find a replacement for Otis.”
“You want me to find a replacement for Otis?” I ask, not sure how I feel about that. Feels like kicking me while I’m down.
“No,” Vincent confirms. “Normally, this would fall to Richard, but Richard came to see me recently and explained that he had enjoyed the time he spent with Otis to get him ready for the move to F1 and wanted to see if there was a way to explore the possibility of switching roles.”
I know that Rich spoke to me about changing roles within the team, but I hadn’t realised that he had actually spoken to Vincent about it. But then again, I hadn’t really been interested in anything other than my own misery recently.
“Due to how close Richard is with Otis and Lars, it has been agreed that Richard will train to be a race engineer. Eventually, Richard will be my nomination to replace me on the days that I cannot get to a race. We’re still going to keep him as the head of driver training, but he’s not going to be as involved, and this is where David comes in,” Vincent adds.
“Where do I come in?” I ask.
“Yes, I would like you to become Richard’s deputy, probably not the right word, but it’s the closest thing I can think of. You will work with Richard on driver selection, and then cover for Richard on the days that he needs to be at the race.”
“Oh.” I know that this would be a great opportunity for me, but it feels like Vincent is putting distance between me and Richard, and that is something I don’t want. If Richard joins the race team, and I’m in the UK with the training team, then we’re never going to see each other.
“Dave, there’s more, just listen,” Rich whispers over to me. He must have guessed that I wasn’t too happy about what Vincent was suggesting.
“Your work with Richard would only be one part of the position. I’m hoping that you will heal fully, and that, in a year’s time, we can get you behind the wheel of a car again.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if that’s going to be a full-time driver, but I want you as my test driver.
I want you to work with the engineers and designers, to give us the best cars possible. ”
“Does that mean I would be working out of HQ?” I ask, because it seems whatever job Vincent is offering means me working away from Rich.
“No,” Rich says. “I told Vincent no matter how much I wanted to move positions, if you couldn’t come to race days, then I wouldn’t move.”
“This is a whole new strategy for the team, and it’s going to be a lot of trial and error. My main priority is just to get you fit again,” Vincent adds. “And staying with this team.”
“My husband won’t be going anywhere,” Rich adds, and I hear a murmur ripple through the group. I still think us being married is a little bit of a shock.
“Now, I have a little bit of good news for you. With everything that’s been going on, I have decided to close down early for Christmas. So, at the end of this week, we are finished until the New Year, and you’re still going to get paid.”
The room erupts with cheers at getting a few extra days off. The team has worked so hard this year, and they deserve to have some extra time with their families.
“But I don’t think I need to remind anyone that what has been said in the room is confidential. An announcement, regarding David, will be made in the new year. If anyone thinks about leaking the story before then, I wouldn’t. Now, let’s get back to work.”
Vincent had no need to say this to the team.
I don’t think, for one minute, that the team would leak anything to the papers.
The one thing that Vincent prides himself on is how close the team members are.
There is no infighting. There is not one person whose face is offended by what was said, as they all started leaving the conference room, they all seem to be muttering that it’s nice to have an early finish for Christmas.
“Are you ready to go home? You look tired,” Rich says next to me.
“Yeah.” Suddenly feeling tired. Everything that happened today is finally catching up with me.
“The reporters are still camped outside,” Vincent tells us.
“Can’t you send Jasper out to sort them out?” I say, loud enough for Jasper to hear, who I
have spotted, hovering in the background.
“Hey,” Jasper replies.
“Charmaine would kill me,” Vincent adds, giving Jasper a smile. “She’s still trying to sort the whole vulture comment out.”
Jasper doesn’t make any attempt to leave, which gives me an idea, but I’m not sure how it’s going to go down. It will cause more speculation, but only for something the papers already know.
“Can Jasper take me home?” I ask Richard and Vincent.
“I’m not sure about that,” Vincent replies. “If they see you together it could start more rumours.”
“But they already know that we dated, and they know we’re not involved with each other because he’s standing behind us in the leaked photo.”
“But it will still cause the papers to talk,” Vincent states.
“Have you made a statement about my involvement with Jasper?” I ask.
“We have kept quiet on everything,” Vincent confirms.
“In that case, let Jasper take me home, and I will make a statement confirming that Jasper and I dated a long time ago. That I had no idea he was joining the team, and that we’re now friends.
And that I will make a further announcement regarding my personal life when I’ve healed more from my crash. ”
“It’s not ideal, Vin,” Richard starts. “But this might help to get the press off our back until January. They’re not going to leave us alone until they have something. And when this place closes down at the end of the week, they’re going to come to one of our houses.”
“Yeah, I had thought of that myself too,” Vincent adds. “Lars and I have decided to go back to Idaho with Lars’s family. Celebrate Christmas there.”
“That seems like a good idea,” Richard adds, before turning to me. “I hadn’t mentioned it, but I was thinking that maybe we could go to your place in Monaco.“
“That’s why you were in Monaco,” Vincent suddenly announces. “You were getting laid. I should’ve guessed then.”
“Vin, really? But yes, and oh, it was great. Dave got this bed with rings on it….”
“No, do not finish that sentence,” Vincent says, holding a hand up, causing us all to burst out laughing.
“Sorry, Vin,” Rich says.
“No, you’re not,” Vincent replies. “But I think that going to Monaco is a great idea. Get away from this place for a while. So, back to the topic of going home, it’s not ideal, but I think you’re right. It might help.”
“You okay taking me back to Richard’s?” I ask over to Jasper. We had all agreed, but never once asked Jasper if he thought it was okay. This is going to result with his name, and face, splashed all over the papers.
“Of course,” Jasper confirms, but there is something in his voice that gives me the impression that he isn’t one hundred percent happy. I need to find out what’s going on. I have a feeling that it’s linked to our history coming out. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
Jasper and I head out to the car park together first, and it’s agreed that Richard will follow us in ten minutes.
It’s also agreed that we will go different ways, just in case the press tries to follow us.
If it looks like we’re being followed, then Jasper said we could head back to his place until we figure out a way to get to Monaco without being seen.
Once we’re settled into the car and on our way, I look over to Jasper, who seems to be concentrating on the road far too much.
“Okay, spill. What’s going on?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” Because I know Jasper as well as he knows me. Regardless of the years we spent apart.
“Kimber has told me I need to step back for a while. That my press exposure is too much of a risk.”