Apex | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 21

I don't have a chapter written after this yet so unless I suddenly get a surge tomorrow, I'm expecting the next update would be later this week :)

Enjoy!

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February 20, 2025 - Monaco

"So, how many times have you seen this guy?" Gabby asked as she leaned against the doorframe of my bedroom while I unpacked my clothes into the closet connected inside

"Four times."

"Just this week?"

"I only met him six days ago, so yes." She was silent as I put away the last of my shirts, closing the door of the closet behind me and shoving my suitcase underneath the bed. When I turned to her, she had a calculating look on her face as she watched me. "What?"

"I feel like the universe is telling you something. It was already a sign to see him four times but to live in the same building?" Gabby said and I gave her a look, passing by her as I headed for the kitchen. I officially moved in yesterday and Gabby and I checked out of the hotel last night as well, thinking it wouldn't be worth the money to stay another night when I already had a bed in my apartment. We spent last night unpacking things in the living room and bedroom while today was dedicated to my closet, bathroom, and kitchen. I heard her follow me as I grabbed a box filled with some plates that I bought the other day.

"Monaco's a small country."

"Yet I don't see the guys I've slept with more than once." She replied, raising an eyebrow at me. I was about to open my mouth to speak when she interrupted me. "Except for that guy who I went on a real date with but he's obviously not getting a second one."

"Dry conversation or too full of himself?"

"The latter." She scowled and I shook my head at her before putting away the plates inside one of the cabinets. "I would've needed alcohol in my system every time he opened his mouth to speak." I snickered, knowing that she had an irritated look on her face. I wonder who'll manage to be patient enough to keep up with my best friend's standards. The day that person arrives, I'm going to throw a party. "Anyway, back to your guy."

"He's not my guy, Gabby." I said, slapping her with a dish towel to which she stuck her tongue out at me.

"The hot guy who the universe wants you to be with, then." She said back and I couldn't help a laugh escape my lips at her foolishness. "What's his name again?"

"Charles."

She sighed, fingers massaging her temples as if she was so done with me. "You've seen him four times yet you still don't know his last name."

"It doesn't come up. Besides, he always irritates me to no end by calling me Nova." I said and I watched as she tried to rack her brain as to the reason for the nickname. "Trust me, I don't know why he calls me that either."

"To each his own." She waved off before grabbing her phone and typing on it. As she went into stalker mode, I opened another box which housed the glasses and mugs I bought. I was only planning to buy regular glasses but Gabby insisted I get some fit for alcoholic drinks as well. When we went out for groceries earlier, I made sure to only buy two bottles of red wine and no hard drinks at all. "Can you describe him for me?"

"He has brown hair." I started as I turned around after finishing with the glasses, leaning my back against the kitchen counter. "Green eyes and thick brown eyebrows."

"Are you sure you weren't hallucinating? What if you saw an image of King Charles when he was younger?"

"Gabby." I glared and she shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, he's a bit taller than me. Same height with those black boots I wore during Valentine's Day." I saw her scrolling on her phone, bottom lip between her teeth as she most likely googled the guy. "He was wearing a bandana the two times I saw him and workout clothes with the other two."