Below Deck || C. Leclerc

xxii

Charles leaned up on his elbow as he looked at Liliana next to him. She was still asleep, her hair sprawled out over the pillows, her hand curled into the soft sheets of the hotel bed. His alarm wasn't ringing yet, but he wanted to cherish this moment of calm and ease in the morning, no rushing to get out and get to the track. While it was a race day, he didn't feel the pressure at all now. He was glad Liliana decided to join him, and the way she surprised him last night still caused a smile to show up on his face. Charles' brows furrowed together as he thought of how he never saw her in the back of his pit box, and it made him feel a little guilty, but she had been so sweet about it.

"Turn that frown upside down, Charles."

Her soft voice drew his attention back to him, and it made him smile again, his hand reaching out to caress her sleepy face. Her eyes were still a bit droopy, a yawn escaping her before she crawled back in his embrace, making him lay back when her head rested on his chest again. Liliana felt his fingers moving through her hair, gently massaging her scalp. Her hand moved over his chest, feeling the taut skin under her palm, his heart beating steadily.

"What's on your mind?" Liliana spoke up again.

"Nothing and everything," Charles chuckled.

"Are you worried about the race?" she continued.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "My spot on the grid is not so great today," he added. "And that Red Bull looks mighty fast," Charles said, bringing his other hand up to rub the spot between his eyes.

"You never know what might happen," Liliana said, raising her head and putting her chin on his chest to look up at him now.

"You're right," Charles gave her a small smile. "And I have my lucky charm here," he grinned then, turning the two of them around.

Liliana returned the smile, her arms draping around his neck as he pressed his lips tenderly to hers.

"We need to get ready, we will have some breakfast at the circuit," Charles said, kissing her a couple of times more before he attempted to get out of bed.

Liliana nodded, following his example as she got out of bed and reached for her suitcase to get some clothing out of it. Slipping into a dress and some low heeled sandals, she was quick to get some light makeup on and brush her hair.

Charles joined her in the bathroom to brush his teeth and move a handful of gel through his raven hair. "So, we will probably be seen together in the paddock," Charles started as he reached for the car keys of his rental Ferrari. "Pictures will be taken, speculations will be made. It spreads like a fire," he warned her. "Are you prepared for that?" he asked.

Liliana nodded, gnawing at her bottom lip. "The price I pay to be with Charles Leclerc," she said, causing him to laugh a little.

"I mean, you're the person every girl wants to be," he said in a cocky way, making her shove him out of the hotel room when he opened the door.

They laughed when they were both walking onto the hallway. Andrea was joining Arthur and Lorenzo to ride to the circuit, as Charles' Ferrari didn't really fit more than two people. Their hotel was a resort in the Belgian nature, and it was absolutely beautiful. Liliana wasn't sure if she was ready to leave their peaceful bubble and go out into the craziness of the race day, but she was here for Charles, and she didn't want to wander from his side one second.

Liliana looked out of the window as Charles drove onto the road, a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes against the sun. She dealt with a lot of craziness and hectic situations during the summer charter season on the Mediterranean, she could handle this, too. The silence between them was comfortable, and soon Charles was guided into another direction where he could park his car close to the paddock. Fans were waiting alongside the road, waving their flags, holding out their phones for pictures and having papers they wanted the drivers to sign. Charles stopped for a couple of minutes, but he was aware that he needed to be in the Ferrari hospitality soon, and he apologized that he had to leave. Liliana watched it happen, watched him interact with his fans, and it made her smile at how kind he was. Charles parked his car next to Carlos', who was apparently already in. She swung her bag over her shoulder as she got out, joining Charles in the short walk to the paddock. The photographers hadn't noticed her a lot yesterday, but today they would. Liliana pushed her sunglasses over her eyes as well, following him through the gates of the paddock.