: ̗̀➛ part three of the
one for the road series
SNOWFALL / CL16
in which two childhood friends reunite. a formula one driver wants to learn how to snowboard and it just so happens that the daughter of his mum's be...
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✧ ˚ · . CHAPTER THIRTEEN . · ˚✧ forever the name on my lips
🎶 last kiss by taylor swift
val d'isere, winter 2023
For some inexplicable reason, my heart had been pounding painfully in my chest since the moment I slipped into my designated seat beside Arthur. Lorelai's aquamarine eyes were constantly dragging between me and Charles, her fingers wrapped around the cool glass of wine resting on the table in front of her.
I couldn't help but fidget—the single golden band on my right forefinger had been spun countless times, my thumb consistently twisting it around and around. It was driving me insane, but so was sitting here while Charles and Lorenzo were engrossed in conversation about the latter's plans for a motorsport management company.
Everything felt fuzzy and distant, and maybe that was of my own doing, but I couldn't help but feel like everybody around me was doing their own thing, focussing on the future, while I was stuck replaying the past in my mind like a broken record. Arthur was, slowly but surely, starting to trust in the idea of his F2 future. Lorenzo had the management company, Lorelai had her growing café, Charles the next championship to focus on. And Alfie...
"So, I had this amazing idea," Alfie interrupted my thoughts with a smirk, which when he glanced at Charles, turned into a shy smile. "Charles, this might be a lot to ask. But I was wondering if you might want to star in a promotion video for my company? I've had my lawyers draw up a contract—it's Ferrari promotion, because we just bought a couple from an old friend who was cleaning out his garage. Obviously, you're on holiday, so don't feel pressured. We'd pay you, too—"
Charles' green eyes glinted from across the table. Something inside of me shivered at the sight. "Of course, Alf. I have to run the contract past my manager but that's a formality—of course I'll do it. What do you have in mind?"
Alfie's smile was brighter than a thousand suns. This time, my heart twinged. I felt like an outsider—my mind whirling in circles like a hurricane, slowly moving away from the eye, growing weaker and weaker the further out it faded. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, staring into the bottom of my espresso martini, blaming the dark liquid for my sorrowful mood tonight.
"I'm thinking we could all go ice driving? At the track?" Alfie suggested. "One of my buddies is an experienced photo- and videographer. I've got three cars up for grabs, so that's perfect for the six of us."
I frowned, looking up, fingers gliding down the smooth stem of the martini glass. Raising them against my temple, the coolness of the condensation soothed the aching pressure.
