Barcelona Sun

moments

*Carlos*

I got out of the car and took off my helmet. My gaze immediately slid back to Elli and Matteo. And while Elli was involved in a conversation with my dad, Matteo immediately looked at me. I waved at him and he immediately waved back.

I took off my gloves and then walked over to them. The debriefing would be able to wait for a moment. First I wanted to enjoy, at least for a moment, this happiness that the two of them brought me.

I wrapped my arms around Elli from behind and kissed her neck "Hey bellezza.", I whispered. She turned her face a little in my direction. I could see the love in her gaze. I knew it would take a little while, but she would love me again. I knew she would.

I stroked the chain down her neck to the heart pendant.

My other hand slid to her jaw, I pulled her face to me. My gaze locked on her lips. Her gaze slid up to my eyes before I turned her to face me.

I was only aware of the camera clicking in the background. To me it was something completely normal, but I immediately felt Elli tense up. I knew she did care much more about the whole thing. Maybe it was good that she was currently living with Fernando. At least then I knew the reporters couldn't get to her so easily.

It hadn't been that way in the house I was still living in. I had had reporters at my front door a few times and I was sure it would be the same with a new girlfriend of mine. She wasn't my first girlfriend, after all, and the press could be pretty caustic. Sometimes they just got way too close to those I loved.

But Fernando's house was much safer. She was in good hands there until I found something suitable for us.

Still, I stroked her hair gently, then pulled her face up to me and kissed her. I kissed her as if there was nothing else in the world. And as much as she tensed at first, she let herself fall into the kiss. Her fingers grabbed my shirt and I would have just loved to be alone with her right now.

I hadn't had her to myself for far too long.

"Carlos?", I interrupted the kiss as Matteo tugged on my sleeve.

"What's it, big guy?", I asked as my hands slid from Elli's face to her hips and I just pulled her against me.

"Can we look at the car now?" he asked and I remembered my promise.

"Of course.", I let go of Elli and lifted her son on my arm before taking her hand again and pulling her with me and Matteo to the car.

"What do you think? Would you like to sit in it?", I asked looking at Matteo whose eyes immediately started to shine as he nodded "Ok, well then.", I carefully put him in my seat.

He could barely reach up to the steering wheel, but looked at me with excitement.

"I'm Lightning McQueen.", he said and then tried to reach for the steering wheel.

One of my mechanics came over to us "Maybe we should get this young man a booster seat, huh? So our future driver can test drive his car properly?" he nodded to me before going off to get a narrow box that we could sit Matteo on so he could get to the steering wheel.

I pulled Elli closer to me again by her hand and put her arm around my back while I lifted Matteo back up so Enea could put the crate on my seat. I put Matteo on the crate and he finally got his little hands on the steering wheel.

Oh my god, my heart melted. The way those little hands gripped the steering wheel and he sat there with shiny eyes making car noises.

"Hey mate.", Charles gently poked me in the side while my gaze had still been firmly fixed on Matteo.