【 Chasing the stars ➺ Charles LeClerc】

༺SEVEN༻

»»———-༺♥༻———-««

The clock struck 7:30, and the evening's plans were still a mystery to me. To stave off hunger, I nibbled on a small snack, just in case dinner wasn't on the agenda.

Despite the countless dates we'd shared before our breakup, I couldn't shake off my nerves. With Mom and Dad out for the night, I was grateful for the solitude. It spared me the task of explaining why I was stepping out with Charles again, after all the pain he'd caused.

A knock on the door startled me and I put down the wine I had poured for myself to ease my nerves, I walked over to the door and looked at myself in the mirror to make sure I looked good, even though he has seen me in much worse states.

As I swung the door open, I was greeted by a lavish bouquet of pink lilies, my absolute favorites. Behind the floral surprise stood Charles, looking dapper in black tailored pants and a crisp white shirt, the top buttons casually undone. I accepted the flowers with a radiant smile, unable to hide my delight.

"They're beautiful," I exclaimed, inviting him in as I sought a vase for the flowers.

"Not as beautiful as you," he responded, standing in the hallway. His compliment broadened my smile even further, but thankfully, he couldn't see the impact his words still had on me, with my back turned towards him.

"Where are we off to?" I inquired, returning to the hallway where he patiently waited.

"It's a surprise," he revealed, eliciting a playful groan from me. With a gentle hand guiding me at the small of my back, he ushered me towards his car. He held the door open for me, closing it gently once I was comfortably seated, before making his way to the driver's side.

"Thank you, for the flowers," I expressed, as we began our journey. The car hummed softly as we glided through the streets, the city lights twinkling in the distance.

"You're welcome," he replied, his eyes focused on the road. "I remembered they were your favorite."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the soft strains of a familiar song playing on the radio. "Remember when we danced to this the first time we met?" I asked, a hint of nostalgia in my voice.

He chuckled, "How could I forget? You stepped on my toes at least a dozen times."

"Hey! You're not exactly Fred Astaire yourself, and I might have been a bit tipsy," I teased, feigning offense while a grin spread across my face.

He laughed, the sound filling the car. "Alright, alright. We were both terrible dancers that night."

As the car neared the harbor, the thought struck me like a lightning bolt - we were heading towards his yacht.

"We're going on your yacht?" I asked, surprise lacing my voice as I swiveled to face him. A soft chuckle escaped his lips before he gave a playful turn, confirming with a nod.

As the car eased into Monaco's harbor, my heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The setting sun warmed the scene, casting a golden glow over the bobbing luxury boats. I was here with him, my ex, the one who had betrayed my trust. But I still felt a strange happiness, but I was trying to hold onto my anger, to shield myself. Yet, the beauty of our old haunts and his sincere apologies were slowly chipping away at my resolve.