Chapter 26 – David #2
Shit. I knew it was going to be something, but I didn’t think it was going to be this. It might not be conventional, but I know Jasper loved working for Kimber. It was the one place that he was able to be a dominant.
“Jasper, I’m so sorry,” I start. “I would’ve…”
“This isn’t your fault,” Jasper replies.
“Of course it is. The press was interested in me, and so they went digging.”
“True, but there was the risk that they would have gone digging on me anyway,” Jasper adds, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.
“Will you be able to go back once the dust has settled?”
“I’m not sure. Kimber thinks not. She has already had clients cancel on me. Thankfully, being one of the best, they haven’t cancelled the bookings altogether.”
“Oh, Jasper.”
“Dave, it’s okay. I was taking a small step back, anyway, just keeping some of my regulars.
It’s just a bigger step, that’s all. I don’t mind too much.
Just sucks that I’m going to miss Christmas.
I think, for the first time ever, I’m going to be on my own.
Kimber decided that it would be best to visit the parents this year.
Tell them face to face not to talk to the press. They might actually listen to her.”
“Do you think they will listen?” I ask, thinking back to the few times I met Jasper’s parents. They were polite, but I wouldn’t say friendly.
“No idea. But Kimber wants to try,” Jasper tells me. “So, I think I’m going to get takeout, if I can, and just watch some movies.”
“Like hell you are,” I tell him. There is no way that I’m going to allow Jasper to spend Christmas on his own, due to something that I was responsible for. “You are spending it with me and Rich, and I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
“Dave, it’s okay. It’ll be nice to have some time alone.”
“At Christmas? No. There is no way that I’m going to allow you to be on your own,” I reiterate. “You are going to spend Christmas with us.”
“I’m not invading your first Christmas with Richard,” Jasper tries to argue.
“And I will have other Christmases with him.”
“But…”
“Jasper, I’m not taking no for an answer. Regardless of what you said, this is down to me and Richard. So, yeah, you are coming with us. Plus, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a few weeks in Monaco.”
“Okay, that does sound nice,” Jasper admits.
“Good.”
When I told Rich that Jasper was coming to Monaco for Christmas, he had been a little surprised, and maybe even a little disappointed, until I told him that he would otherwise be spending it on his own. Then he agreed with me completely, and called Vincent to say what was happening.
I have no idea how Vincent was able to do it, but he organised a private flight for us, with extra security, so there wasn’t any risk of photos being leaked to the press. A private car was waiting for us, and took us straight to my place.
I still couldn’t walk around much, so I took the opportunity to rest, and Jasper helped me train in my personal gym. My knee felt like it was getting stronger, and Jasper agreed, but still said that it was best not to push it. But this meant that Jasper and Rich needed to do all the shopping.
We thought, or should I say, hoped, being away from the UK, that the press would get bored, that they would move onto the next big story.
We were wrong. I released my statement as planned, confirming that Jasper and I dated, and that we were just friends.
Nothing more. I wanted that to be the end of everything.
I had, in all intents and purposes, come out.
But it wasn’t enough. They wanted to know who the man in the photo was, and then, if it wasn’t my relationship status, it was what I was doing next year.
It was starting to feel like there was no end in sight, and then, to top it off, the press caught on that Jasper and Richard were in Monaco.
They were photographed together. I had waited for the stories of them being together, but they never came.
Richard had spent all of his career telling the world that he was straight, and that seemed to be sticking.
No, the press had decided that the reason that Richard and Jasper were in Monaco was because they were finding my replacement, and that the matter had become urgent due to the start of the new season being around the corner.
That my crash happening so late in the season had meant that Vincent hadn’t been able to tie down Otis.
Even with all the issues with the press, Christmas and New Year’s had ended up being amazing.
The three of us had drank, well, Rich and Jasper drank.
I was still on some painkillers and decided that it was probably best not to mix them with alcohol.
But we laughed and just relaxed. Richard was able to cook the most delicious Christmas day meal.
When we were together in my place, we were able to forget about everything and just be ourselves.
But now it was time to get back to reality.
We had been back in the UK for over a week, and we were all at HQ.
The first race of the season was taking place in just over a month.
The buzz amongst the team was electrifying, but for me, it was bittersweet.
I watched Lars and Otis as they started to get ready for the race.
But it all signalled the beginning of the end of my career.
Vincent had arranged for a press conference on Friday.
We couldn’t delay it anymore. The truth needed to come out.
Vincent said we could try and do it so that we just mentioned my injury, and try to forget the rest, but we both knew that wasn’t going to happen. That photo was still circulating and so the announcement had to be made.
“You, okay?” Jasper asks, coming up beside me. I was standing watching Lars and Otis doing reaction training.
“I miss it,” I admit, pointing to Lars.
“Of course you do. But this is temporary. Your knee is healing as we hoped. You will get in a car again.”
“But I will never be a racer again. Never have the thrill of overtaking someone to get that top spot,” I say.
“You will find something that gives you just as much joy. You just need to allow yourself the chance to look. Personally, I think you will be an excellent mentor for people like Otis, or the next generation of drivers.”
“Maybe,” I say, because honestly, I have no idea what to do. All the options Vincent gave me just didn’t feel like me.
“Have you discussed how you’re feeling with your therapist?” Jasper bluntly asks, but he’s never been one to beat around the bush.
“I, um, haven’t booked an appointment yet. Talking to Jeff helped.” I wanted to lie, but Jasper would have seen right through me.
“Dave. Seriously, does Rich know? Actually don’t answer that, because I’m guessing no. Just because it helped doesn’t mean you’re cured. Your life has, or is, dramatically changing. Mental health is just as important as physical health.”
God, I hate Jasper at times.
“But I haven’t had a nightmare,” I counter.
“Maybe because you have been away from it all since Christmas. Look, normally I wouldn’t do this, but l love you, so if you don’t book an appointment by tomorrow, I’m telling Rich.”
“You wouldn’t.” But I know he would. “Fine, I will call them once I’m done.” Jasper gives me a smile before looking over to Lars and Otis. “What are you doing here, anyway, other than making my life miserable?”
“I just finished some of my PR training with Charmaine, and she asked me to come find you. She asked if you could pop in and see her. I think she wants to go over the announcement on Friday.”
“How is the training going?” And I can’t help but smile, over Christmas, Jasper had complained about it.
“You’re enjoying my pain too much.” But Jasper is smiling too. “But it’s okay. Charmaine told me that, whenever possible, I’m just to stay away from the press, or if they’re in my face, I just need to say no comment.”
“Is that something you’ll be able to do?” Because that’s something I can’t see Jasper doing.
“Nope,” Jasper confirms. “I’m always going to defend myself, and friends, but I might be able to stop calling them vultures, well, to their face anyway.”
“I like you calling them vultures,” I tell him.
“Me too.” Jasper grins, before we burst out laughing, and I’m still chuckling to myself a few minutes later, feeling lighter than I have in hours.