You've known Sepp for the longest time, he was much older than you yeah, but you still considered him one of your best friends, you knew him ever since he was racing in the Austrian Formula Ford championships, before he started teaching people how to race, before he became a team principal, before he got that second job in a PMC. He was like an older brother to you, and a mentor, he knows you better than you know yourself. You even have nicknames for each other, you call him Toto, cause of his middle name, you even told each other everything, even deep secrets.

You had known and supported him through thick and thin. Through his first and second divorce, through the custody battles, through the trauma, through losses and wins, through world championships won and lost.

Throughout the years of knowing him, your feelings grew for him, from more than best friends, to something more. You've always tried your hardest to deny those feelings, telling yourself he's too old for you, or that he is like a brother, but saying that always felt wrong, like it was a foreign lie coming out of your mouth. But eventually, you came to terms with it, accepting that you liked him more than just a best friend. Even if you would never admit it to him.

You were sitting in Toto's kitchen, watching as Toto made himself some breakfast and talked about what he had going on in the day. You had gone to his house to talk to him, tell him about your feelings and ask THAT question.. But then, he brought something up, something unrelated to his work, something that made your heart drop in your chest.

"Oh, und ich habe eine Frau gefunden. Sie ist wirklich süß. Sie heißt Karina und kommt aus Graz." Toto spoke, glancing at you with his usual smile. You stared at the coffee he had made for you, it was already getting cold, you were too nervous to drink it, and now you were just.. scared.

"Ich möchte, dass du sie heute Abend kennenlernst. Du wirst sie lieben." Toto added, smiling at you as he looked back at the food he had prepared for himself, before sliding you a plate. You simply stared at it, silently, forcing yourself to smile for his sake, but deep down all your confidence had just shattered, his words were killing you and he didn't even know it.

"Ich dachte, ich wäre zu alt, um eine andere Frau zu finden, aber als ich sie traf... machte es Klick.." Toto mumbled, smiling as he spoke, seeing the smile on his face as he spoke only broke you more inside.