❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 37

Narrator POV

Charles woke up, his body covered in cold sweat.
He felt a disability as soon as he wanted to move.
Someone was clinging to him, holding a tight grip to his waist.
When he looked down on him, his heartbeat found a regular rhythm again by the sight of Valerie sleeping peacefully on his stomach.

It was just a dream.

He took a look at his phone.
8:54 a.m

»Oh, shoot!«
»Hm?«
He heard Valerie slowly waking up, moving her arm away from his body.

Charles sat up, putting his hand around her waist to keep her as near as possible.
»Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up.«

Valerie also straightened up, leaning against Charles' chest.
»It's alright. I feel like I have slept for years.«, she chuckled yawning.

»Are you feeling better?«, Charles asked with a certain tone of concern in his voice.
He played around with her hair while she answered. »Yeah, I think I do. I'm sorry that I called you away from your boys night.«

Charles forced her to look at him by moving her head with his hand. »Don't ever apologize for needing me, okay? I don't want to imagine what would've happened if you hadn't called me.«
He gently put a kiss on her head and pressed her even tighter against his chest.

»Is everything okay with you?«, Valerie suddenly asked as they stayed in silence for a while, enjoying the moment.
»Yeah. Why wouldn't it?«, Charles replied, trying to hide the shock and fear that were still eating deep at his bones.

»I noticed that you were sleeping restlessly. Like you had trouble finding peace.«
She put her hands on his, fumbling around on his rings.

Charles cleared his throat.
»No, I'm good. I guess it was just the left worry I had last night. It calms me that you're okay.«, he just said while pushing the memory of his nightmare he had that night away.

Valerie nodded while stroking over his hand.
Charles took another look at his phone.

»What is it?«, she asked as she noticed his impatient face expression.

»Uhh, nothing. Just that I should've been at the paddock for testing an hour ago...« He put his phone aside and went with his hand through her hair.

Valerie pulled away, facing him. »You what?«
Charles let out a chuckle.
»Come on, Charles. That's not funny. Your team is relying on you.«
»But I would rather stay with you in bed all day than leaving for some testing Carlos can do for the team.« Charles grabbed her by her waist again, making her fall back on his upper body.

»Too bad my brother can't drive your car.« She turned around to look at him. »Seriously, Charles. You have to go. You can't miss this. It's important.«

»I would miss everything for you.«, he answered with an unusual serious tone in his voice, meeting his gaze in hers.

Valerie got almost lost in his eyes.
But she pulled away before she got all dizzy and stood up.
»I mean it! We can see each other later.« She took a pillow and threw it at him.

»How dare you-« Charles let the pillow fly back to her, staying where he was.

»Come on, now. Get ready, I'll make some breakfast.« Valerie pulled him by his arm, forcing him to get up.

»Alright, alright.«

Charles disappeared into the bathroom while Valerie headed to the kitchen.

As he opened the door, the previous night played in his head again.
How he found Valerie sitting on the floor, barely breathing.
Just the thought of it made his heart ache like it has never before.

***

As he came out of the bathroom, Valerie had prepared a little breakfast for the two of them.

»You should rest today.«, Charles mentioned after he finished his croissant.
Despite the fact that as his social media manager, Valerie should go wherever Charles goes to keep the Tifosi updated.
But Charles wanted her to relax, drown out the events from the last evening.
And he wanted to stay with her for the whole day.
But Valerie was right. He had to go.

»I will.«, she assured him as she took a sip of the fresh pressed orange juice.

Charles looked up from his plate to face her.
»Will you see a doctor to clarify what has happened?«, he asked further, hesitantly.

»Yeah, maybe I should. Maybe my medication needs adjustment.« Valerie thought about it for a moment. »But I'd like to see my doctor for that in Barcelona. He knows about me and my condition since I was a child.«

»I'll go with you.», Charles simply replied as it was the most common thing to do.

Valerie smiled.
»I will call later for an appointment and see how I get it managed between the races.«

Charles burned for another question. The one that was plaguing him since the last night.

»Was there a reason for your attack yesterday? Did something upset you or....?«

He knew what could cause her attacks. He experienced it in the past. And he knew they wouldn't just pop up without a reason.
In the most cases, at least.

Valerie answered with apprehension.
»I uh-«

A ringing interrupted her reply.
»Sorry.« Charles grabbed his phone out of his pocket to see Carlos' name on the display.

»Just go already. We'll talk later.«, Valerie said as she was already clearing the table.

Charles gave her a kiss before he put the phone to his ear.
»Heyyy Carlos. Yeah, I'm already on my way.«

He got his shoes on and headed towards the front door. Before he left, he took one last look at Valerie.
He didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave her alone ever again.
He was too afraid of what could happen.
But he had to.

And the step out of the door with closing it behind him pained him with every breath he took, longing for staying right by her side.