Chapter 6 #5
He pulled out one of his T-shirts and a pair of tracksuit pants. She changed and found her spot on the floor as he got on the sim. The door rang for room service, and she went to answer. Tipping generously in the hope that nothing would be said.
Erik enjoyed having her there. He knew this was her last race weekend with them for a while.
It would be strange not to have this comfort with him.
She went out to the balcony for a cigarette.
He could hear her talking to her brother.
It didn’t even distract him from his laps.
She came back in and fed him while he was driving, asking the occasional question about what he was trying out.
None of this annoyed him – for now. Eventually, she got into bed.
Erik had two more laps to go. He aimed for fastest laps so he could join her.
???
Another 4 am alarm. Ingrid was going to have to get used to this. Instead of throwing a pillow at him this time, she kissed him awake.
“That’s less violent than a pillow being thrown at me.” He smiled. “Morning.”
“Morning,” she said. “Happy race day.”
“Such a rookie.” He grinned. “It’s cute.” He kissed her. “And sexy coming from you.”
“Hmm, talk more about the sexy part,” Ingrid replied, kissing his neck.
“How about this?” He put his hand between her thighs. “Your sexy neck, and this spot on your shoulder that I love to kiss. Or how you take control of situations, like last night. Incredibly sexy. Or how I get so hard just thinking about touching you.”
Ingrid no longer minded 4 am when it led to this.
He was on top of her by this point. Her hands were running along his muscular thighs and ass, pulling him in deeper.
It would probably be their last opportunity to do this for a while.
They were staring into each other’s matching blue eyes, as connected as they could be.
He kissed her gently as they met the finish line together.
“I wish we had time to do it again.”
“Quickie?”
She laughed. “Erik, it’s never quick with us.”
“I know, we need to work on that for in between sessions.”
“I still can’t believe Antoine knows. He’s right, though. We need to be more careful.”
“So, are you giving in on the whole I need to be single thing?”
“We have some time apart after this race. I’d like you to think about it at least.”
“Already thought about it. No. Especially not after that.” He leaned up and kissed her. “Ok, I have to go shower. You know you could join me?”
“We’d never leave that shower. You just go, and I might sleep for another five minutes or so.”
Ingrid remembered that she wasn’t in her room.
She tried to doze off, but she couldn’t.
She’d have to sneak back downstairs in her clothes from the day before.
At least it was early, and most personnel didn’t leave as early as Erik.
She sat up as he came out of the shower. He really was a gorgeous specimen.
“Come here.” She kissed him.
“Don’t start, otherwise I won’t be able to stop, especially with your hair looking all tousled like that.”
“Ok, behaving myself.”
She got up and started getting dressed.
“Don’t you want to take my clothes?”
“And risk getting caught? No, thank you.”
She kissed him on the way out and said she’d see him at the track.
???
Ingrid met Antoine for breakfast, and they went through their scenario game. He was clearly still worried about Mark.
“You have to let it go. Imagine it was another driver and not a friend of yours. What would you do?”
“I would let it go and race my race, report the guy to the stewards when I needed to.”
“Ok, so handle it like that. On track, he is just another driver.”
“Ingie, I just have a bad feeling about him.”
“I know you do, but what can you do about it?”
“I could talk to him.”
“Would he listen to you right now?”
Antoine paused and thought about it while he had some more coffee. Mark always had to get his way on track. Everything was ‘unfair’ if it didn’t go his way. Their friendship was solid off track, though.
“Probably not.”
“Would it make you feel better if you said something to him?”
“Yes.”
“Then, ok, you do what you think will make you feel safest on track and keep you calm and confident. My advice? Mark is not going to listen to anyone. I got a reckless energy off of him the other day when he drove me back to the hotel. You might be the person who is able to get through to him, but I’m not sure. ”
“I think I should do it.”
“Ok, I’m advising against it, but if you do it, have someone by your side.”
Antoine, Daniela, and Ingrid left for the circuit together.
Antoine walked ahead to do fan photos and some social media.
Daniela and Ingrid went to the hospitality suite.
Ingrid only saw Erik briefly at a distance.
Of all the moments Antoine could pick to confront Mark about his reckless driving, it was just before the drivers’ parade with cameras around.
Mark punched him in the face, and Erik, defending Antoine, pushed Mark back. It was a mess as Ingrid had predicted.
Ingrid:
“Is Antoine ok?”
Erik:
“Being sent to medical for a check. We’ve all been called to the stewards.”
Ingrid:
“Fuck, I warned him.”
“Is Antoine ok?” Daniela asked.
“Erik says he’s gone to medical for a check-up, but that they’ve all been called to the stewards.”
Daniela and Ingrid went to find the medical room and Antoine. No fracture, but there would be a nasty bruise.
“I’m sorry, Ingrid, you warned me, and I didn’t listen to you.”
He hung his head.
“She warned you not to do it, and you still didn’t listen to her?” Daniela shouted.
“It’s ok, I know you meant well. Dani, it’s ok. We didn’t really know what the outcome would be.”
Erik:
“Is he ok?”
Ingrid:
“No fracture, just a bit bloody and will have a nasty bruise. Can I see you?”
Erik:
“Locked up”
Ingrid:
“Will you still race?”
Erik:
“Sounds like Mark won’t”
“What is social media saying?” Daniela asked.
“They got a recording of the fight. You’re a bit of a hero, Antoine.”
“Ok, I’d better get to the stewards now. Get this all over with.”
An immediate race ban for Mark. Another win for Erik.
A P4 for Antoine. The result was better than the crash-out Antoine had been worried about.
Daniela was relieved. Ingrid didn’t admit it to Daniela, but she had been worried about the race.
Turns out, what she had needed to be worried about was the pre-race.