Chapter 21
Molly
I close my computer for the night, finally done with work.
Long hours at computer screens really give me the worst headaches, and I massage my temples, trying to release some of the tension.
Hopefully, some water and food will help.
I’m meeting up with Peter and going back to our hotel room.
Yes, it’s ours.
He may not have made me his girlfriend officially just yet, but I still feel like he’s mine and I’m his.
We spend all our nights together before tackling our days in the paddock and meeting up afterward.
Two races down in Asia, and luckily, Peter was able to score a fair number of points in the Chinese GP where he finished P4.
His championship lead is safe for now.
I make my way out of the trailer and breathe in the cold air as I close my eyes.
This headache is really brewing.
I roam around in my purse for some Advil when Peter pulls up in his car.
“Fuck,” I mutter when I pull out the package, only to find it empty.
“What’s up, baby?” Peter asks as he steps up, gathering my face in his hands.
“Just a headache, and I didn’t have any Advil,” I tell him.
“We’ll swing by the pharmacy,” he says, and I start chuckling.
“You do know you can buy that at most food stores?” I ask him.
Sometimes his wealth shows, like now.
“I do, but that’s not the case here in China. Now. Come on.”
Here I thought I was the one who knew where to get pain killers. I just learned something new.
We get in the car before Peter pulls up the directions to the closest pharmacy.
“How are the plans for the team coming along?” I ask him.
Peter and my dad have been meeting regularly to discuss how to get rid of some of the suits.
The team is looking better for each day, but my father would like to change some of the people in leading positions as their vision for the team doesn’t align with his own.
In order to do so, they’ve been working on a plan. They can’t just fire a bunch of people.
That would create instability and chaos.
Which is why my father has been researching potential candidates to replace them and drawing up contracts, making them ready to step in on short notice.
He’s not just doing this with Peter, but with the rest of the board, who have put their trust in my father ever since this season started, a lot better than the last.
Audi was ready for a change, and my father provided that.
He’s committed to continuing the momentum.
“We’re almost ready to start making some changes. Arthur can be ruthless when he wants to be,” Peter says, making me smile.
I love their relationship.
“Yeah, so you better not hurt me, casanova,” I tease him.
Peter grabs my hand, kissing my knuckles. “Not planning on it, sweetheart.”
He parks the car in the parking lot before we make a quick stop at the pharmacy. Then we head inside the supermarket.
Headaches call for some comfort snacks.
I start filling my basket with chips and candy, with Peter following along, looking at all the different shelves.
“Have you ever been to a supermarket?” I ask him, and he pinches my butt.
“Of course I have,” he says a little defensively, but I’m not convinced.
“Okay, then. Can you go and grab some tampons for me?” I ask him.
“Of course,” he gives me a quick kiss before he’s on his way.
I was half-joking when asking, but I sigh as he wanders off, looking a little lost as to where to go.
This man.
He’d probably do anything I’d ask of him.
My headache may be related to getting my period as I tend to get severe headaches in the days before.
I grab some ice cream before I set out to find him.
Peter is looking at all the hygiene stuff, his arms full of more than just tampons.
He’s got that, but he’s also got a heated pad, some wipes, and a sketching book.
“What’s all this for?” I ask him.
“I’ve read that a heating pad can help with cramps. Do you get cramps?”
Gosh.
I know Peter’s a man of affectionate gestures. He’s been doing them for months now. They still make me feel special, every single time.
I kiss him, pouring my love for this man into it.
We may not have said the big words just yet, but I’m closer each day.
“I do get some cramps. Thank you.”
“Your sketchbook is almost full, so I figured you’d need a new one.”
Yeah, the sketchbook is becoming rather full.
Of drawings of him.
～
I stir, waking up from a nap as Peter runs his hand down my cheek.
“How are you feeling?”
My headache only got worse when we got to the hotel, and as expected, I did get my period, and the cramps followed suit.
At least, the heating pad has relieved some of the pain.
“A little better,” I say before I sit up in bed.
Peter’s already been out for a run, the maniac.
I guess that’s just part of his routine.
He’s told me that he’d never really been a runner, aside from what’s required for his training, but over the winter break he started taking his physical shape more seriously and found running calming for his mind as well.
I’ve never been the most athletic person, preferring to stay inside and cozy up with my sketches.
“Want to stay in bed today?”
“Yeah, but there won’t be any sexual activities. I’ve got my period,” I tell him, which makes Peter roll his eyes.
Then he gives me a very sloppy kiss on the cheek.
“As if that has stopped us before. We’re not going to fuck, baby but that has nothing to do with period blood, but rather the fact that you’re not feeling good.”
The blush spreads on my cheeks, and Peter winks at me.
Gosh.
Will the effect of this man and his words ever dim? I surely hope not.
～
“My dad is asking if we would like to eat dinner with my parents today,” I tell Peter, who’s just gotten out of the shower whilst I’m still in bed.
Fucking hell.
Watching him in only a pair of boxers as he dries his hair with the towel, his muscles flexing by the movement, awakens my body again, even if we just had sex before he went to shower.
“I’m in. Your mom is probably wondering when I’ll pop the question,” he says, disappearing inside the bathroom again.
“Need to be my boyfriend first,” I mutter, wondering if he’ll ever ask.
We’ve made it to Singapore, and luckily, when my period ended, so did my headaches.
I’m finally feeling more like myself again.
It’s been six weeks since that night in Texas when his dad showed up.
Six perfect weeks.
But he’s still not asked me to be his girlfriend.
At first, it was this fun, teasing thing about him having to prove his worth. But we’re over that.
And now, I wonder if he’ll ever ask.
Maybe he doesn’t think he has to ask.
In my mind, we’re together in every way.
What if he prefers to keep it casual anyway?
My doubts have been creeping in, but I don’t want to push him either.
Maybe he just needs a bit more time.
He’s never had a girlfriend.
This is all new to him, which means I’ll have to be patient.
～
“How is the weather in Singapore? Do I need to pack a little bit of everything?”
Unlike Peter and me, Jessica decided to head back to the States in between the race in China and the one coming up here in Singapore.
There are some perks to having my dad work here and my mom tag along as well. This way, we can all just stay together and avoid the added travel.
We’ve been exploring the sights together, and my phone storage is quickly filling up with pictures of temples and beautiful nature.
“Mostly gloomy and grey, but it does get a little windy, so a scarf and a coat are good,” I tell her.
“Okay. How is the infamous world championship leader?” Jessica asks me, looking around in her room, probably afraid of Luke overhearing her talking about Peter.
I think she’s being a bit dramatic, but I can understand her worries.
They are rivals after all.
And Peter did pull some stunts last year. But Luke is also a very nice guy, and I’m sure they would get along just fine.
“You know, maybe we should plan a double date. That way, you could stop being anxious about Luke finding out you’ve met us several times.”
I’ve told her to just tell him.
“That’s not a bad idea. That way, he won’t be able to get out of it and yeah, he’ll probably punish me a little, but I don’t mind.”
I’ve heard all about Luke’s so-called punishments. Mostly involving some spanking followed by a good sex session.
Luke is crazy about Jessica and practically incapable of being mad at her.
“We’ll figure something out.”
～
“Seriously, Peter. I just had coffee like an hour ago, I don’t want another,” I say, but Peter seems determined as he holds my hand in his and drags me toward the coffee stand in the paddock.
He orders a cup of coffee with two pumps of vanilla—his new favourite as he says—before he brings his hands around my body while we wait.
“It’s good to finally have a bit colder weather,” Peter says.
The weather in the East is colder than the blazing heat we had during the first weeks in the Middle East, followed by Texas.
It’s been mostly weeks of sunshine and heat, which has been wonderful, but I do agree that a break is nice.
It can be a bit intense with the warmth; I can only imagine how hot it gets in an F1 car.
Ever since we got to Asia, it’s been rainy and gloomy.
Peter is handed his coffee, and when he sends it over to me, I groan out loud.
“Peter! I told you, I don’t want coffee.”
“Baby, can you just look at the cup?”
I scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion, but does as he says, accepting the cup as I turn it over.
Right there, written in black ink are the words.
Molly May, may I be your boyfriend? – Your Casanova
I snort because this man is ridiculous.
But I kind of love it.
He starts chuckling as well, and I lay my hands around his neck, pulling his lips down to mine.
“Casanova. You may be my boyfriend.”
“Perfect. I know you didn’t want coffee, baby, but I couldn’t wait any longer to make you mine.”
My heart softens since he obviously wanted to do this in a place that means something in our relationship.
Our coffee run-ins were the first interactions that really stirred up my feelings for this man, and he seems to think the same.
For a man who hasn’t had much practice in doing romantic things for a woman, he sure knows how to make me happy.