Hey Jr.!

Chapter 34 - Lovers & Rivals

"I think I have developed a crush on Siya" Lando spills out the information calmly.

"Hmmm" Carlos nods looking down "since when?"

"Let's chat later" Lando suggests getting quick nod from Carlos.

The interview starts, abruptly ending their conversation. It is Carlos, Lando and George for this set of drivers. There were a couple of questions towards the intense race that happened. Carlos overtook Lando in the last lap securing himself a P2, the position Lando had been defending for about a good 10 laps.

"Before we end, I have a question, maybe Carlos can answer" one of interviewer stops the drivers as they were getting ready to disperse.

"Yes" Carlos brings the mic to his lips looking for the person who asked the question, while the other drivers sit back on the couch.

"Have you received any congratulatory messages?" The reporter asks with a mischievous tone.

"Me?" Carlos was confused on how to respond to the question "well I mean the team is definitely happy, so we have been going around congratulating too" he answers

"Nothing in special then?" The reporter chuckles with some other reporters joining him.

"What? Am I missing something?" Carlos looked adorably confused.

"I think they're referring to Siya" Lando says to his side picking up the hints.

"Oh.... Congratulatory messages? I don't know what you are expecting me to say" Carlos looked a bit awkward on what exactly the reporter wants.

"I mean she's McLaren's engineer that Lando has eventually getting the directions on his settings from. And to see that you overtook their effort in the last lap, I wanted to see how that dynamic works" the reporter elaborates

"Ohh..." Carlos thinks "Well if I'm getting a message right after the heat of the race then it's much different from getting congratulated by her later on" he chuckles

"Did you get any today?" Reporter continues

"Let me check, looks like you really want to know" he reaches out to the phone in his pocket and opens it "it's your lucky day" Carlos kids around and opens the text

He couldn't help break into laughter looking at the text

"Must be feeling nice to be P2 😒" Siya's message read.

Carlos reads it out, earning laughter from the room "See? It came right after the race, so it's a loaded with a bit of sarcasm. We'll celebrate later together, when she's not McLaren's engineer and just my girlfriend you know. I'm sure she's happy for me."

"It's same like us drivers. We get heated when we are racing but once it ends we are not fighting each other you know." Carlos concludes his answer getting some nods of approval from George and Lando.

The drivers are heading out to the respective garages, once the interview ended.

"Are you free to meet for dinner tomorrow?" Lando asks while on their way

"Ummm sure. I didn't have any plans" Carlos responds when they get close to the McLaren garage.

"Lando!" they hear Siya's voice from inside the garage, they see her approaching them "I need feedback on some bits of the race yeah?" Siya asks already busy in her stride.