Rêveries

Chapter 30.

We spent Charles' birthday hungover on a plane back to Austin. We met up with our parents and tried to hide our hangovers the best we could. During the dinner, we all pretended as if we hadn't done anything huge for our birthdays, except for the dancing classes in the barn and the go-karting. They loved to hear about that. I gave Charles his birthday gifts even though I was a bit pissed at him and didn't really want to give it to him anymore. I'd gotten him a ring, since he'd talked about getting one but never got down to doing it. I also got him a wrist watch like I had gotten Arthur, they looked different of course, but it was easier to get them something similar.

Our parents stayed for the week to watch the race. The week therefore consisted of me sneaking around them to see Evie late in the night so we could do something fun together. After the race, they told us we were going to celebrate Christmas in Sweden this year. I didn't like the idea of celebrating in Sweden, there's something special about celebrating in Monaco, but at least Charles, Arthur and Lorenzo were all going to be there.

Evie flew home with Pascale and I and we took the train to Paris for the concert, taking the time to see autumn in Paris. It was lovely, except for the two days that were rainy, windy and cold. But it was beautiful despite the weather being horrible.

The boys all came home as well before we all went to Brazil for the next race. Max and Evie decided to throw a Halloween party or something and you had to be dressed up to be let in through the door, which I'm sure was a rule that Evie came up with. I loved the idea of dressing, while Charles and Arthur weren't equally as excited. They weren't appalled at the idea.

I did make the boys dress up as thieves while I dressed up as a cop. Charles pointed out that it should be him that's the cop and Arthur and me being the thieves because he's always been the one running after us. I shut him down by saying that they're the two men and therefore I should be the cop.

Lucie came by with Alice for trick or treating. She was dressed as a Reletubbie and I wanted to take her with me to the party. Or better, ditch the party and stay here alone with Alice. She was adorable. After trick or treating, Lucie took Alice back to her sister and she showed up at the party. She was nice, like usual and she made it even harder and harder to stay away, because a part of me really wanted to be her friend, but another part of me didn't want to be that friend that secretly crushes on your boyfriend.

I flew with Charles to Brazil, enjoying the heat over there. I always underestimate how much I'll miss the heat, dresses and skirts when the winter comes. For the whole week I basically laid by the pool in a bikini, soaking up the sun. I went to the practices, quali and the race, of course, but other than that I wasn't seen in the paddock at all. After the race weekend in Brazil, the stupid couple decided to make an outing and get caught by paparazzi. Evie blamed me, which she told me I had given her permission to do, and Max basically chased me through the hotel for setting them up. It was absolutely terrifying and for a while I thought he might've drowned me if he got the chance.

Arthur had come over just before Max did, grilling me about knowing about Pierre and Evie without telling him. He showed me the article and then told me that Max had found out and came in yelling at Evie before he came to me. So when Max stood outside my door, looking at me like he'd want to kill me on the spot, I knew why. I pushed past him and just ran because I don't speak Dutch and I didn't feel like getting yelled at in a language I didn't understand. So I let him chase me around the hotel, yelling at me until he got tired of it. He'd realize I wasn't the one to blame in due time but if he wanted to blame me there and then, he was free to.

Charles did really well towards the end of the season. He didn't finish in the US but he got points for every race after that, finishing in P7 for every race. It was great seeing him proud of his points. Brazil was no exception and when he came up to me as soon as he got out of the car, hugging me with a smile, I felt my heart swell in my chest and I wanted to rip it out and throw it on the track to watch it get ripped apart faster than this.