‘You can’t drive like that ever again.’ Dexter says to his driver who’d just come in from a run, probably running off his frustrations.
Monday morning debrief and Sebastian knows what he is going to get from his lead Engineer. He expected it but doesn’t mean he has to like it, and this time he brought reinforcements, not Gino the Team principal, but their two other best friends, Nathan and Jackson. This is some bullshit, and he is going to have to sit, shut up and listen. He gets it.
‘Mind if I shower first before the ass whooping?’
‘Sure. We’ll be here.’
Sebastian took his time in the cold shower and getting dressed before heading back to the dining room of this too big suite, for dinner with his friends. He has been out of sync the last few weeks, he made the podium in all races but first and third places respectively in the last four weekend. His driving was atrocious, he can admit that to himself, he wasn’t as focused as he ought to be and he knows why; he told a woman he loves her, said it impetuously in the rain, kissed her, made love to her and woke up the next morning and said it again. He was sure of it, felt it deep down inside, he is wild about Wylder Rockson, had been from the moment he hadn’t even met her.
After that magical weekend away, there was a shift in their situation it had evolved into something deeper, heavier, special and they both felt it. He was ready to dive in headfirst, but she wasn’t ready. Maybe she was… who knows. That weekend was a decider in how they move forward together, but it must’ve been a lot for her because she is back to doing that thing she does and this is the point where he would normally move on, but not this time, and he doesn’t want to. She has gone beyond skin deep for him and it hurts like a motherfucker.
‘Okay, let me have it.’ Sebastian joins his friends at the dining table.
‘Eat something.’ Nathan pushes an empty plate towards his friend so he can help himself to the pizzas they have between them.
Sebastian humoured his friends and ate a slice of pizza before Jackson leads with the opener.
‘What happened out there?’
‘I don’t know, I’m having a bad couple weeks I guess.’ Sebastian answers.
‘A bad couple of weeks if the car is bad, I get it. You’re off sync, in here.’ Dex taps his finger to the side of his head, he isn’t angry at his friend, he is more concerned. ‘What happened when you went away?’
‘I told you it was great.’
‘That’s not the whole story.’ Dexter presses and the others fall silent looking at Sebastian.
‘Shit.’ Nathan says.
It dawned on the other two almost immediately. They are in sync like that as friends.
‘I did.’ Sebastian answers their unasked questions.
‘Did she say it back?’
‘She did.’
‘Then what happened?’
‘I don’t know, I think it’s the aftermath when life gets in her head, it’s become too much. Too heavy.
‘Hold on, did you buy her any gifts?’ Jackson asks.
‘Why particularly?’
‘Sebastian, did you buy her a diamond ring or a ring with diamonds?’ Dexter asks the question as it dawned on him how whipped his best friend is for this woman.
‘What the fuck does that even mean?’
‘This fool is watching sex and the city with his girl.’ Nathan answers.
‘Elaborate.’ Sebastian says.
‘Yes, Sex and the City and Samantha’s boss. There is a scene when her boyfriend Smith gives her a ring, and she asks him if it’s a ring with diamonds or a diamond ring and it maps out the tenets of a relationship perfectly. Presenting a woman a ring with diamonds essentially suggests you have a special friendship you know, it may or may not evolve but its special. Now if you give her a diamond ring, it’s much more than a friendship, like you know, an engagement.’
‘No, I didn’t buy her a ring with diamonds or a diamond ring.’ Sebastian tsks.
‘Did you give the impression that you were thinking about a diamond ring?’
‘How the fuck did you make that leap?’
‘Okay let me ask you this.’ Jackson sought to bring some order into what is sure to drive their friend up the wall. ‘Did you get all Sebastian Fox Rose-Jones on her?’
‘I can only ever be myself.’ Sebastian answers deadpan.
‘Yeah. He gave her the impression of a diamond ring.’ Nathan concludes.
‘I didn’t. All I said was I love her.’
‘How did you say it?’ Dexter asks.
‘How else do you say it?’
‘How did you say it?’ Jackson presses.
Sebastian hesitates, ‘I said it how one would normally say it.’
‘That’s a lie and you know it.’
‘Fine. I said it the night before when we kissed in the rain-
‘WHAT!? You kissed in the rain.’ Jackson is on his feet.
‘And I told her I’m in love with her again the next morning.’
‘OH FUCK OFF!’ The other three chorus.
Sebastian throws up his hands in defeat.
‘You might as well have sent out save the dates. You kissed a girl in the rain! You know how romantic that shit is in the movies? Did you see Spiderman when Peter Parker kisses Mary Jane? Did you watch Bridgerton Season one when Hastings kisses Daphne in the rain? Did you watch the Notebook?’
‘You’re a rain kiss aficionado now?’ Sebastian wants to punch Dexter.
‘I’m just saying the kiss in the rain thing, it’s diamond ring territory but telling her you love her and that you’re in love with her coupled with that kiss in the rain? You’re in danger boy.’
Hell if he didn’t know it.
‘So what are you gonna do?’ Nathan asks.
Sebastian shrugs.
‘This is what you’re going to do,’ Dexter takes a sip of his beer, ‘you’re going away for the summer, you have the entire summer break off, no practise, no talk of racing, nothing. Let your hair down and enjoy the summer. Bobbie’s arranged everything she’ll send you the details.’
‘Why?’ Sebastian asks Dexter, he is more than his lead Engineer now, he is his friend, his best friend.
‘Because it’s not just here Bash,’ Dexter taps his finger to the side of his head again, ‘it’s here too,’ he touches his hand to his heart. ‘You love her, and if she said it back to you, then she loves you too. I’m convinced she does, from the night you met her… the two of you together, I get it. You’re stilted. You can’t drive when you’re stilted. Take the summer, enjoy the break and I’ll see you in four weeks, first Monday back.’
‘Okay.’
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