The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 26

After this victory we only experienced moments of joy. The whole team was obviously super happy and proud of Charles, but so were the other drivers. Now is the time for us to return to Monaco and enjoy the winter holidays. We're going to spend some time together and I really need that.

***

After long hours of travel we are finally home. We decided to give ourselves two or three quiet days at home to recover from the jet lag. And then his mom decided to organize a meal at her house to celebrate Charles's title. I admit that I'm a little stressed because I've never met Charles' family before, but he only reassures me about that by telling me that they're all very nice. Although I don't doubt it, it stresses me out.

Tonight we decided to stay peacefully at the apartment and order sushi. Charles is a sushi fan and I've never eaten it. Obviously when he heard this news which he said was disastrous (lol what a drama queen) we had to order sushi. I expected it to be very dry and not good and in the end I'm surprised, it's pretty good. Charles is so happy that I like that he is already planning cooking workshops so that we can do ours. He is really too cute. He then suggests that we watch a movie, but I tell him that I prefer to do something that I dream of doing but that I have never done before.

Charles: What do you want to do?
Emma: I was wondering if you would be ok with letting me play the F1 game with your seat?
Charles: Yes, of course, come on.

We go to Charles' office/video game room. I've been there before but just in a hurry, I never stayed in it and I never really cared about all that was in it. Charles gets on the seat to show me a game. He explains to me each button, each setting that I can make. He lets me sit in the seat and adjusts it for my height. I am 40 centimeters shorter than him so you have to move the pedals forward a lot. I obviously choose to take Charles as a pilot and I choose to do the Monza Grand Prix under the advice of the gentleman. I wanted to do Monaco but he told me it was far too complicated for a first race. He takes a chair and sits next to me to guide me and help me. He really gives me lots of advice and I manage to improve quite quickly, I'm quite proud.
We spend the whole evening playing this game, and around 11 p.m., we are exhausted and we decide to go to bed.

***

Emma: Charles did you take the cake?
Charles: Yes I have it.
Emma: Do you have the car keys?
Charles: Yes.
Emma: We didn't forget something, are you sure?
Charles: No let's go stop stressing.

It's time to meet Charles' family and as you can tell I'm very, very stressed. I'm going to see Charles' mother, Pascale, his little brother, Arthur, and his big brother, Lorenzo. After a car journey of about 5 minutes, one is in front of the front door. I feel my heart beating at 10,000 an hour. What am I going to do if she doesn't like me? Could he leave me if his family doesn't like me?

Pascale: Hello lovers. How are you?
Charles: Hello mum, I'm fine and you?
Pascale: It's going well, my son is world champion so everything is fine.

Charles enters and takes his mother in his arms. I follow him and kiss him.

Emma: We brought you this to thank you for inviting us to dinner, especially for inviting me.
Pascale: Oh thank you very much Emma! On the other hand, you have to call me home! You're part of the family like you're Charles' girlfriend.

I smile and hand him the cake we brought. I take off my shoes and put my coat where Charles tells me then we go to the living room where his two brothers are waiting for us. I give them a kiss and sit next to Charles on the sofa. Charles and his brothers talk a bit about his F1 season, what it felt like to become champion. As Arthur is in Formula 2 they just use very technical terms that I don't quite understand. Pascale comes to interrupt the discussion by announcing that the meal is ready. She prepared a potato gratin with fish. In general I am not a fan of fish but I tell myself that here I will force myself and that it will pass. Anyway, I'm too shy to say I don't like it. Pascale serves everyone and I taste the dish. It's the first time in my life that I've liked a fish. Usually one has the impression of having the taste of the sea in the mouth and there not. It's crispy and it tastes good.

Emma: It's really very good what you *she looks at me with a small smile* .. Uh you cooked. Usually I'm not a fan of fish but this is delicious.
Pascale: Thank you very much.

During the meal we talk a little about everything and nothing. Charles' season, Arthur's, but also life, since Pascale asks me a lot of questions to try to get to know me. Once the meal is over I get up to help her clean up and go to the kitchen with her.

Pascale: Thank you for your help, it's really kind.
Emma: It's normal.
Pascale: Tell me, Charles told me that before you got together you were a fan of him, is that true?

I smile with embarrassment, not knowing where to put myself, I don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of her son.

Emma: Yes it is. But I'm not with him at all for his money or whatever. I mean it's not that I'm a profiteer or a raving fan or whatever.
Pascale: Don't worry, I can see that. I see that between my son and you there is a lot of love. And I find it even beautiful that you managed to love him even before knowing him personally. It really interests you. I see you are sincere.
Emma: So you don't find that weird?
Pascale: Not at all. Isn't it a girlfriend's goal to be her boyfriend's number one fan?
Emma: Ahah that's true yes. Even before knowing Charles I saw that he was different from the others. He seemed so funny and kind. But also loyal and strong. And I'm not going to lie, he's also the most handsome driver.

No sooner have I finished my sentence than Charles enters the kitchen. He had been listening to our conversation all this time. When he makes a comment about our conversation I tap him on the shoulder and tell him he didn't have to listen. He is obviously being clever by repeating what I said as a compliment to him. He really has an inflated ego.

We go back to the table and talk a little more with his brothers before returning home. It was an incredible afternoon with his family and I admit that I am reassured to see that it went well.

*****

Hi, I hope you like the story, if you have any "remarks / feedback" to give me (stuff you don't like or we on the contrary would like to see more) tell me in the comments and I'll try to adapt it 🥰