The day went by quickly. I enjoyed working. Sometimes I was a bit uncomfortable, but I could handle it. I was really happy about that.
During my break I walked around the grandstands, around the track. It's great to see so many fans, a lot of them fan of Fabio. That's truly amazing. I came across a merchandise booth and bought some things as a surprise to Fabio.
Most fans are male and the looks I got, made me uncomfortable. For some reason a lot of men need to drink a lot of beer while sitting on the grandstand. But I managed and I was kind of proud.
I watched Q2 from one of the grandstands and I loved it. I managed to take a few pictures of Fabio pushing for the best time on my phone. And one of him waving at the crowd where I was. I send him that one, without any explanation.
After Q2 I had two last appointments. One with Pecco and one with Fabio. Pecco made pole and was really happy. He got in right after the interviews.
He was the most happy about the fact that he and Jack were one and two together. His shoulder felt good and he was confident for tomorrow.
Fabio was happy but not content. He thought he could do better and wanted to give the fans more than a fourth place.
His arm and shoulder muscles are all really tense, so I take my time to relax them and relax him.
He eyes are closed and it's quiet in the room. But it's not an awkward silence. Maybe he'll fall asleep like this.
"Julie?", Fabio asks after a while.
"Yeah?", I look at his face, but his eyes are still closed. A little frown comes on his face.
"Would you be disappointed if I won't win tomorrow?"
My hands stop their work. I look at his face in surprise. He slowly opens his eyes, blinking.
"No, of course not. Why would you think that?", I look a bit confused.
"I want to impress you, but I feel like I'm disappointing you"
"You aren't. Your riding the smoothest of all, you have a great pace and you are fast. You give more than 100%", I tell him.
"Yeah I know. I just wanted to get pole today"
"Yeah, but you did the best you could. And plus, Pecco took pole so I can't complain", I tease smiling.
He smiles, "I knew you were a Pecco girl"
"I can be a Quartararo girl if you want..", Fabio doesn't answer me, he leans on his elbow and pushes his lips on mine. A passionate short kiss, leaving me breathless.
"Come, let's go" he says, standing up and putting his shirt back on.
"I'll finish this tonight then", I clean up the room before getting my things from the desk.
"The kissing?", Fabio asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Maybe that too"
The rest of the afternoon and evening went by relaxed. Tom and Fabio played some videogames while I slept on the couch next to them, we ate some healthy dinner and had fun.
Tom would take the couch that night, but I told him he could take his bed if Fabio would be okay sharing his bed. Fabio looked at me surprised but was completely fine with it.
Tom put my things in Fabio's room and we got ready for bed. I feel a bit awkward being so close again.
At the same time, it feels all natural.
"You know.. you said something earlier today", Fabio starts, sitting down. His eyes are on me, while I stand still next to the bed.
"Oh! About finishing your massage? I can do that now", I tell him, going around the bed to his side.
"No, no. That's fine", he says stopping me. "About how you could be a Quartararo girl.."
I look at him confused. Where is he going with this, "yeah?"
"Do you think, you can be the Quartararo girl some day?", He asks, "as in my girlfriend?"
"Wait.. your what?", I sit down at the end of the bed. His girlfriend? He doesn't want a relationship, he told me.
"My girlfriend?", He asks, looking at me hopeful. "I'm not talking about right now. But when you're ready? And when I am ready?"
"I.. I.. wait, I'm confused. I thought you didn't want a relationship?", I ask, not answering his question.
"I would like to try it with you, if you want.."
"I think I would want that, yeah"
A smile breaks on Fabio's face, "really?", He reaches and takes one of my hands in his. I nod smiling.
We sit like this for a while, both gazing into each others eyes, deep in our own thoughts.
Eventually we both lay down underneath the covers, both on our sides with my back against his front. We fall asleep like that and I wake up like that the next morning. Race day. An important day for Fabio.
It's only 7 and he's still sound asleep. I quietly get out of bed and take my running clothes with me. I change in the bathroom and write a short note before heading out.
Don't worry, I haven't left. I just headed out for a run. It's still early and you both were sound asleep. Be back soon. Julie
I leave the note on the kitchen table and head out. It's still quiet around the paddock and it's the perfect running time, the sun coming out and it's still cool outside.
If you told me a few months ago that I would be running almost every day, I would've thought that you were crazy. But I really enjoy it to be honest. It clears my head.
"Julie!", I hear someone yell behind me. I see Pecco and Marco standing there.
"Hey!"
"You're early", Pecco says, walking close. "Slept okay?"
"Yeah, I did. You?", I look at him and Marco.
"Si. Hey, can you come to the Ducati hospitality after the race? Around four?", Pecco asks while Marco nods.
The Ducati hospitality, why?
"Ehm.. yeah, yeah, sure. I'll be there", I curious why I need to come.
"Hey, good luck on your race today! Both of you, try your best!", I say before continuing my run.
When I arrive back at the motorhome, Fabio is sitting on the couch. "Bonjour, Ma Chérie", he walks over to me and kisses me on my cheek.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?"
"Really good actually. How about you? You were out early this morning", he pulls me against him, hugging me and kissing the top of my head.
"I better go shower, I'm sweaty and I stink", stepping back from Fabio's embrace. I get my things and go to bathroom. I shower in just a few minutes and put my clothes on. The merchandise clothes are a dark blue tanktop with red and blue letters El Diablo and small red letters Fabio Quartararo underneath and dark blue shorts with red letters El Diablo on my butt. All very formfitting and hugging my body. I would be way too uncomfortable to wear this in public. So I put a loose jeans and a zipped hoodie on top. The hoodie is actually Fabio's, but I don't think he would mind. I pull my wet hair up in a high ponytail with a scrunchie, also merchandise.
I walk out, curious how long it will take before Fabio notices.
"Tom's picking up some breakfast", Fabio tells me, looking at him phone. He's busy texting someone and doesn't look up.
"Okay. And what's happening after breakfast?", I sit down in one of the chairs close to the couch. Scrolling through Instagram, I see some pictures of Fabio from yesterday. He looks so sexy on that bike.
"Warm-up, watching races and then it's time for my race. Nothing special", Fabio says, looking up briefly, before looking back down.
After a few seconds he looks up a little confused, "wait.. isn't that my hoodie?"
"I don't know? Is it?", I ask innocent.
"Yeah, it is. Are you wearing my clothes now as well?", Fabio looks at me smiling.
"You can have it back..", I stand up and open it, turning around, taking it off and walking towards his bedroom.
"Wait", he follows me quickly. "What's this?"
"What?", I ask innocent, slowly turning around. He looks a little speechless. "I bought some new clothes yesterday, you like it?"
"I.. I.. yeah.. I l-love it", he stutters.
"I hoped you would. I thought a little good luck is never a bad thing. But this is not all. I'm a little nervous to show you. So can you please close your eyes for me?", I want to show him the shorts as well, but they are very short and tight. So I'm a little self-conscious.
"You don't have to, if you don't feel comfortable", he takes my hand and squeezes reassuring.
"I want to, just close your eyes for a few seconds", Fabio does as I ask, closing his eyes. I get out of my jeans and turn around. "Okay open"
Fabio whistles lowly, "wow.. this looks so good on you", he takes my hand and turns me back around. His lips press on mine, for a slow and passionate kiss.
"This is the best surprise I've had. You're wearing this the entire day?", He asks as soon as we break apart.
I nod, "yeah beneath the hoodie and jeans. This is for your eyes only"
He turns me around again, "this looks way better on your ass than mine", he says referring to the same logo on the same place on his leather suit. "So damn sexy"