The Longest Lap | Charles Leclerc

6

I don't know why it didn't click for me that he would probably be here. Not that it mattered at all, I hadn't spoken to him since that night when he dropped me off and that was fine. My feelings weren't hurt and I personally couldn't have cared less, and I meant that.

I couldn't help but find it comical, everyone going around the table telling us who they were. I felt like I was in college again. Alex, the one who spoke first, was with his girlfriend, Lily. I'd ended up sitting next to her and they both seemed very nice from what I could tell. I laughed internally when Charles let the rest of the table know that he had already met Juliette and me.

A girl was sitting next to Charles, her name was Alexandra and she looked eerily like the girl who had been on his Instagram but that wasn't her. I ended up ordering a glass of wine, I deserved it after the week I'd had. I wasn't normally a day drinker, but I could make exceptions. I couldn't tell what was up with Charles and Alexandra, and truthfully I couldn't be bothered trying to analyze their body language. Well, she seemed more eager to claim him than he did her. If that was even what was going on, whatever.

We ended up chatting about nothing. It was always funny how easy it is to just bullshit when a bigger group of people is talking. To my pleasure, though everyone started breaking off into their conversation, myself included. I had loved getting to talk to Lily, she was probably one of the most enjoyable people I'd met here so far. Not to say I didn't like other people, but we clicked.

Everyone loosened up the more we all were together. I guess they loosened up to me and Juliette because we were the new people in the equation. At some point, I slipped my phone out of my bag and checked my phone. I had the same old notifications but I furrowed my eyebrows when I saw I had a text from Juls that was about twenty minutes old. I looked up across the table at her and she raised an eyebrow. I opened my phone to read the message.

Juliette: Who is she? I feel bean boozled. Lando told me nothing of her

Luisa: Beats me, no love lost

I slipped my phone back into my bag and rejoined the conversation. Lily was a pro golfer, which I had about a gazillion questions about. And she happily answered all of them and even invited me out to the green with her. I told her I'd love to but I wasn't making any promises about how well I'd do.

When our food had arrived everyone dug in and I happily ordered another glass of wine. And then another for good measure. I wasn't drunk, just a tad bit tipsy. Which was fine by me. The guys had gone outside for a few minutes to talk about work. Which I found rather hysterical. But it left us girls to our thoughts. Lily had been telling us about the trip she was taking with Alex in a few days. She was very excited. I had taken a long sip from my drink and almost choked on it when Alexandra said my name. I placed my glass down, "what's up?"

She hesitated for a moment, "you look so familiar."

I laughed a bit, "really?"

She nodded, "Yeah, like I don't know how though."

Lily chimed in now, "Your face is familiar. She's right."

Juliette was grinning ear to ear, "See, I have been telling you for months now."

Lily chuckled a bit, "someone explain."

Juliette answered, "Lu has developed quite the influencer presence. And I've only been telling her for literally ever, and she always denies it."

I chimed in now, "I am not an influencer."

Alexandra nodded, "No yeah! I knew it. Do you model?"

Juliette beat me to it, again, "She was just in Milan doing a shoot!"

I could feel my cheeks heat up, "my god, it's really nothing."

Lily tapped my shoulder lightly, "That's so fun! And don't be embarrassed."

Alexandra spoke again, "Lily is an influencer too, she just so happens to also be a master golfer."

Lily nodded in agreeance, "She's right. My killer swing is just an added bonus."

I laughed, "Fair, understood."

Juliette's gears were going, I could see it in her eyes. What on earth was she thinking about? She opened her mouth, then closed it. She avoided my eyes and I knew she was up to no good. Then she spoke, "Alexa, are you and Charles together?"

I cringed at her words. My eyes darted to Alexandra who didn't seem bothered by the question in the slightest, "sort of, it's complicated. We weren't speaking a week ago. I just have lots of insecurities and well, it's weird. I wouldn't say we are 'together' though. Not to trauma dump. Sorry. But you and Lando?"

I hadn't realized that I'd stopped breathing while she spoke. But when she changed the topic I finally exhaled. Juliette sat forward in her chair, "that's also complicated. I mean it's been like a week. Which seems like a bit rash. But I don't know, just enjoying the time. Seeing where things lead."

Lily laughed, "Surely there are no questions about my romantic endeavors," that forced a laugh out of each of us, "but what about you Luisa? Any bachelors tormenting your brain."

Now, if I was sober I'd probably find this conversation incredibly weird. But the small amount of alcohol running through my veins, and perhaps the warmth I felt from the women I was surrounded by made it fine. I pushed a strand of my hair back, "no men for me. I simply don't have the energy. Or time."

Juliette blew a raspberry and pouted her lips, "No fun."