Falling for the Leclerc's

8. Karma

Grace's pov

"It's Charles."

My heart freezes when I hear his name. I start looking around the room anxiously because it feels like he is somewhere in here, watching us. The phone call is like a slap to my face, like a wake up call, making me come to my senses. It forces to think about my actions. I felt terrible after that night, so have I really learned nothing?

This is definitely bad karma for what I've been doing behind his back.

"Grace, what do I do?!" Arthur asks all panicked putting his hand through his hair.

Does Charles know? Did he see us tonight? Does he suspect anything?

"Answer it." I say.

Arthur accepts the call and puts his phone to his ear. I stay quiet, holding my breath.

"Hello?" he finally says but his voice is low.

I try to hear what Charles is saying on the other line but it's difficult.

"Yeah I left early, I wasn't feeling so well."
Arthur says while looking at me. I pray that the call will be over soon.

"No I'm fine, don't worry. We'll talk tomorrow. "
They both say their goodbyes and Arthur hangs up.

I release the breath I was holding. Out of nowhere I got the urge to cry. My eyes begin to burn as a few tears escape my already red eyes. I turn around, not wanting Arthur to see me like this.

"Hey, hey it's alright." he says and comes near me, wrapping his arms around me and gently stroking my back, trying to make me feel better. "I got you."

I let him hold me while I silently cry in his chest. He whispers nice things to my ear, but it doesn't feel like I deserve them one bit. At some point he takes my hands which I was holding on my face and looks at me.

"Grace, what's wrong?"

So many things were wrong. Me not being able to stay away from Arthur is wrong. This...whatever this was between us is wrong. Me still having feelings for Charles is wrong. But I couldn't tell him that.

"I'm such a bad person!" I say not being able to look at him in the eye.

"Grace...you are the most amazing person I've ever met." He says and cups my face with his hands forcing me to look at him. I do look at him, and it seems like he meant everything he said. His words do make me feel a bit more calm but they don't manage to stop me from feeling like shit.

"I shouldn't be here." I say trying to get away from him.

"But I want you here." he hugs me and starts stroking my hair. "I want you to come with me."

"Wait, what?" I ask confused.

The race season starts soon, as in a week. He wasn't seriously asking me to...

"I want you to come with me to my races, be there with me, cheer for me."

His eyes burn bright and they're filled with hope, making it so hard for me to decline his offer.

"Arthur...."

"And when we get back to the hotel I want you to be there in my room, waiting for me." He says, stroking my cheek gently.

"Arthur, we can't . It's too risky."

He knows that and I know that too and yet...

"I know it is, but these past few days have been incredible for me. I've never felt these strong feelings that I have for you about anyone else." he states while looking deeply into my eyes.

Feelings...he feels some type of way towards me or he is staring to and that can not happen. It won't end well for me, for him or for anyone else whose feelings are included.

I should get up and leave, say goodbye for good this time before it's too late, before I fall too deep. My feelings are all over the place and I'm confused. I'm still trying to get over my feelings for Charles but it's hard if I won't stay away from his brother and it would be harder if I had to face him in public as well.

"And I know that this is wrong alright, I know that I can never compete with my brother but if knowing that at the end of the day you'll be in my arms i'd like to try."

I immediately melt at Arthur's words. I had never meant for this to happen. Getting between Arthur and Charles, not when I care for the both of them so much, but it somehow happened. It somehow did and I can't undo it. I wish I could go back in time, before any of this happened and made different decisions, but I can't.

Arthur looks at me with pleading eyes and one more time making it very hard for me to refuse his offer.

I've been to races before when me and Charles were dating. I know what it's like. There is no way of being there unnoticed. And if the paparazzi catches me with Arthur... I don't even want to think of the rumours that will be spread around the paddock. It would destroy all of our careers in the process.

"Please just think about it. You don't have to give me an answer yet."

"What time are you leaving?" I ask, not ready for him to go just yet.

"Tomorrow at 5pm."

Was I really about to drop my entire life here and accompany Arthur at his races because he asked me to? I've always wanted to travel the world but not right now. Right now I just wanted to put my focus on modeling as a full time job and focus on myself and looking at it, it's not working out so well for me.

And being at the races would mean confronting Charles at some point. I don't think I'm ready to see him yet. I'm scared to, not because of me and Arthur but because of what I might feel. I can't deny that I'm still in love with him. I never fell out of love. Besides, he was my first everything. A part of me will always love him.

Just looking at him at the club ignited a fire inside of me. I'd be lying to myself if I said that If I end up leaving with Arthur, it'd be only to support him.

A part of me wants to go to the races just to be able to see Charles, see how he's doing and whether he's happy or even moved on...Is that so crazy of me to think? However I can't help but feel that way.

"I'll come with you."

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