GREENE | CS55

14 - Saved You a Seat

"O-oh!" Pierce stammered breathily, forcing a smile to mask the expression of shock she could feel her face fighting to contort to. Trying to work up the courage to say something. Anything! It was just Carlos asking her to hang out. Why was she freezing up? It couldn't be because Lando was right there, analyzing their every move. Refusing to move his furrowed-brow gaze from her stuttering, wordless presence.

Alright, maybe it had something to do with that. "Carlos, I..."

On one hand, Pierce really wanted to hang out with Carlos tonight. Of course she wanted to hang out with Carlos tonight! If he didn't ask her then, she would have texted him when she got back to her hotel, nestled in the bustling Melbourne city center. It was just what came naturally to her, part of the weekend routine. She wanted to know what he thought of the season finale of Love is Blind! She had to vent about Sydney's latest drama to ears that she knew couldn't care less!

She wanted to share the bliss she felt after winning points today... with Carlos.

On the other hand, Carlos wasn't just asking her to hang out with him tonight. She heard the whispers from Romain in his drivers room earlier; that Daniel had invited a bunch of them out in their drivers group chat. Pierce held on to a whisp of hope that Carlos wasn't included in those plans, hoping that instead he'd be free tonight for her.

But she couldn't ask that of him every single weekend. To pick between her and his friends. His friends that also happened to be her fellow drivers. People that she'd driven such an unreasonable social wedge bordering her from them the past two years, the concept of interacting beyond the track felt entirely lost.

It was the same song and dance that was quite quickly growing old in Pierces eyes. Carlos' as well.

Especially since Barcelona, all things the two of them had spoken about considered.

Pierce took a deep breath in, squaring out her shoulders. Carlos was right. This is stupid. As fun as running around pretending they were spies was, it was ridiculous and couldn't happen every single time they hung out. Friends shouldn't have to do that, Pierce knew that much. Keeping this all between them was stupid.

Keeping this all in was making it out to be something way more than it actually was.

"I'll come, yeah. I've got nothing else to do tonight. Thanks, Carlos." She jeered at Carlos, who's jaw nearly dropped in pleasant surprise. Pierce's heart kicked like a drum as she released a laugh. "Send me all the details?"

He blinked at Lando, smiling as he gave Pierce a proud look. Lando spun on his heel, hiding his bewildered expression, although he didn't have to. It was clear Carlos and Pierce weren't paying attention to anything going on but each other.

Behind the smile encroaching across her own lips, Pierce had bit her tongue. Pinching herself, just to make sure this was really happening. That she'd actually agreed to go out with the other drivers tonight.

Seeing how happy it made Carlos that she was coming. Knowing she felt the same way, it ignited the warmth in her stomach, her core, vibrating everywhere around her like a hive of wasps on the hunt for the freshest flowers.

With a laugh, Carlos ran his hand through his hair. "Great! Yes! Yes, I'll do that. I'll text you."

And he did— almost immediately. Pierce had just entered into the passenger seat of the car (that Holden had been patiently idling) when her phone buzzed. Glancing down at it, there was the text. Dinner and a round of drinks at a bar after. Reservation times and addresses included. Simple enough, Pierce thought to herself with a nod in affirmation, a smile gracing the edges of her lips. One that Holden, beside her, was mirroring with widened eyes. She raised a hand, swatting jokingly at Holden. "Not a word out of you, alright? You wanted me to make friends."