Love, Monaco

00.09

Wednesday morning comes and I get a text from Charles as I'm about to sit down to eat some breakfast with Émie and Wren. I pull out my phone while biting my lip, the text bubble with Charles' name on my lock screen makes my eyes light up. Once I've unlocked the device I open the text,

Charles
What are you doing in an hour?

Della
Nothing...why?

Charles
Are you up for some karting at Brignoles?

You look up from your phone, Wren is watching you with a smile making you blush. "How's Charles?" She asks before taking a bite of her food, "he asked me to go karting with him" I reply making Émie rush over to me from where she was standing, "that's a two hour drive" I nod. "Well, do you want to?" Wren asks me, I hang my head shrugging, "what's making you hesitate?" Émie adds, I sigh and lift my head, "what if he's too good to be true? What if he's everything I want in my life? Either way we leave in two days and he's going to realize that he can do better than me" I reply sadly. "Della, this guy is twice the man your douchebag of an ex was, you deserve the world and Charles sees that" I look at my friends teary eyed, "I don't want to get my hopes up" they pull me into a tight hug, "we know Del, but it's been a year and a half, it's time to get out there again and find some happiness in the thing that terrifies you the most" I rest my chin on Émie's shoulder, "I think that I need to tell Charles about him" Wren kisses my head softly, "that race car driver cares about you an awful lot Del" I nod and pull away from them, "you're right, and I hate that I've become scared of relationships because of the past, I just graduated from university for gods sake I need to take control of my love life" I exclaim with determination in my voice. I walk to my room looking back down at my phone as I do so.

Della
Yes, karting sounds great

Charles
You really made me sweat there Della, I thought you were going to say no

Della
That's all a part of my master plan Mr Leclerc

Charles
Please never call me that, or I might just take back to invitation

Della
Deal!

Charles
I'll come get you, just tell me which apartment

Della
You know the building, apartment #4 :)

☕️☕️☕️

I'm sitting in the passenger seat of Charles' Ferrari an hour later, my hands moving along the smooth leather seat. "Wow this car is gorgeous" I mumble while smiling, "yeah it's pretty nice" he replies with his eyes on the road, "it's nice, he says casually" you exclaim with a snort, "what I've gotten used to it Del" I giggle while looking over at the brunette. "I just never thought I would sit in a Ferrari in my lifetime, so this is a big deal for me" I explain. I gasp and take out my phone, "what? What's happening?" Charles exclaims, concern in his voice, "I need to document this moment, my brother wouldn't let me live it down if I didn't take pictures" this makes him laugh as I angle my phone to take a selfie while moving my head to get the Ferrari logo on the headrest in the photo. "You're adorable" he says quietly but doesn't look my way, I feel my face heat up at the statement so I look down at my phone hoping that my hair hides my ruby red cheeks.

Once we've parked at the track two hours later, I smile as I step out of the car. "Why does it feel like I was here yesterday?" I ask Charles when I walk over to him, "that's what this place does Della" he replies as the two of us walk to the entrance. I'm grinning when race suits, helmets and gloves are handed to us minutes later, Charles chuckles at my excitement making me look over confused. "Hard to believe that you had fears getting into a kart last time" he explains, "a kind Monte Carlo native helped me face that fear" I reply with a shrug, he smiles and I skip out to the pits where I slide on my suit and gloves in record time. When the Ferrari driver joins me dressed in his own getup we lower two karts to the ground. I'm smiling as I grab my helmet pulling it on before sitting in one of the karts, my hands landing on the wheel as I wait for Charles to sit in the kart next to mine. "Ready?" he asks, "you bet" I reply and he lowers his visor before speeding off, I gasp shocked that he gave no countdown. I growl under my breath and step on the gas closing my visor as I go try to catch Charles.

☕️☕️☕️

A couple of hours later i'm back in the passenger seat of Charles' Ferrari, I'm still grinning because of our afternoon of karting. "Have I thanked you for this yet?" I ask him, he smiles looking at me for a second, "you have several times Del" he replies his gaze going back to the road. I put my window down resting my arms on the edge, my sunglasses over my eyes while I lean out of the window slightly feeling the warm wind going through my hair. I close my eyes with a smile on my face feeling calm as we drive back to Monte Carlo.

As we enter the city, I'm biting my lip nervously as I go over what I'm thinking of suggesting. Charles must notice how deep in thought I am because he speaks up, "Della" I blink and look at him to see concern on his face, "you're being really quiet" he adds. I smile to reassure him, "I'm just thinking" he lifts an eyebrow curiously, "about what?". I rest my arm against the passenger window supporting my head as I look away from him, "would you maybe want to come up with me?" I ask shyly. When Charles takes my hand gently I tilt my head to look at him, he's smiling his fingers lacing through mine, "if that's what you want" I nod while biting my lip again. He keeps my hand in his as he finds a spot for his car near mine and my friends' rented apartment.