Although I find him charming, I don’t feel anything more than a friendly connection with James.
He seems like a laid-back guy with a great sense of humour, and he goes around introducing himself to the rest of the team. James has a carefree persona, making everyone at ease. He doesn’t really say too much about himself.
Still, I learn that he’s a professional footballer, and even though some Americans call him a traitor for ditching American football, he says he would make the same choice in a heartbeat.
I’m looking at him, trying to place why he seems so familiar, but my mind comes up blank.
Maybe I’ve seen him on TV when he’s played a game or read an article about him when catching up on the latest news in the sports world.
He’s talking with Steve about the latest developments in the league when the paddock gets more hectic. More mediahave arrived, and the teams are getting their garages ready for another action-packed weekend of racing.
James takes off, telling me he’ll see me around, which leaves me puzzled, seeing as he’s a football player and this doesn’t really seem like the usual place for him, but I decide that he’s probably an F1 fan and likes to see the race whenever he can.
If he’s a football star, he probably receives all the VIP treatment whenever he comes around.
When we’re all done with setting up our spot, Molly and I decide that we’ll go into Milan city centre and do some sightseeing and shopping before our weekend in the media zone begins.
Maybe I’ll finally get the opportunity to ask her more about her evening with Peter.
She’s been very quiet about it all, not telling me anything.
We find a cute Italian restaurant with a variety of pasta and pizza on the menu.
We settle into our table, and a waiter comes over to take our orders before we’re left alone.
“Okay, Molly, time is up. What happened the evening with Peter?” I ask her, and she rolls her eyes, letting out a sigh.
“Honestly, Jessica, there is nothing to tell. He is a charming man who knows how to woo all the ladies, and I decided that even thoughan adventure with an F1 driver may seem appealing at times, I’m not cut out for that kind of thing.” I think over her answer. Peter is a charming man when he wants to be.
Molly is a lovely girl, and she likes to keep to herself at times, working away in the editor’s bus.
“So, no connection there?” I ask her as the waiter comes with our food.
“I honestly don’t know. He’s a notorious flirt, you know that just as well as me, so it’s hard to know if he’s interested or just being flirty, you know.”
When we’re all talked out on the topic of Peter Centimo, Molly sees her opportunity to grill me right back. Can’t really blame her. I was the one asking the guy questions first.
“Now, it’s your turn, Jessica. How come Luke Hastings doesn’t swing by as often as he used to?” I may have thought we were being discreet, but I’ve realized that working in a media team means everyone will catch every little detail and change.
They’ve also been a part of this longer than I, meaning that they know how much time the drivers usually spend in their zone during a regular season.
Luke approaching us as often as he did has raised somesuspicion, especially from Steve and Molly, but it’s been all fun teasing.
At least until we ended things, now his absence from our spot leaves me feeling devastated all over again.
I didn’t realize how much I would miss his small visits, the tiny touches and smiles he sent my way, until it was gone.
“We had something special, or at least it was to me, but then he ended it,” I tell her, and she gives me a look full of sympathy. I’d never tell Molly about my relationship with Luke if I didn’t trust her. She’s also from this wild world of media and understands how overwhelming it can be.
“I’m sorry, Jessica. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and honestly, I’ve just waited for the two of you to make this public. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” I twirl the pasta around my plate, contemplating for what feels like the millionth time how something so incredible could end that way.
“Yeah, me too,” I tell her before we agree to stop dwelling on sad thoughts about F1 drivers and their inability to commit.
???
The next day, the atmosphere of the race weekend has arrived.
Everyone is in full swing, and it feels good to be back in the thick of things.
