Quiet Moments c.l.

Race Hangover

I sat in my lonely hotel room coming down from my race high.

The trophy was sat on the little tv table. I had to sneak it in here in my backpack.

I'm only going to give myself a few more races and then I would show my face.

Everyone will know.

I sighed and focused my attention back to the movie that was playing on my tv.

My thoughts were pulled from Road House by my phone ringing.

"Dammit during a fight scene." I stood up and went to get my phone from my backpack.

I grabbed it and looked at the caller I.D. 

Mama Pascale

Her name lit up my phone in the dark room.

It was a FaceTime call too. My appearance was almost a jump scare.

I have been huddled up in here since I got back from the race. The curtains drawn and all the lights off.

I had on one of Charles's old hoodies, cheesy I know but it's always been my favorite hoodie. I had on my ratty pajama pants that were checkered print.

My hair was in a ratty ass bun and my glasses were perched on my nose. My eyes were swollen from small crying sessions here and there.

Ignoring my looks, I answered the call.

"Hi Mama P!" I waved covering up my sadness with a smile.

"Hi amour!" She smiled brightly. Her smile always made me feel better.

"How are you doing today?" She asked me. Beat down and lonely.

"I'm good. Just a bit tired is all. Think I might be coming down with something." I hated lying to her.

"You know you can't lie to me A.J." She smiled. My heart stopped. There's no way she would know. How could she know.

Before I could speak she continued.

"I know you are tired and all you are coming down with is a race hangover as the you and the boys called it. Also congratulations." Her smile stayed present. Her voice never changed.

She knows.

"What are you talking about?" My nervous laughter started to break. She knew the truth.

She gave me a look of boredom. "I wasn't born yesterday A.J. I know you are the 'faceless driver' for Ferrari." She put air quotes around faceless driver and rolled her eyes with a laugh.

My heart wanted to break. How.

"Don't look like someone killed one of the boys amour. You're secret is safe with me." She laughed and I let a breath go as I relaxed a bit.

"How did you know?" I was honestly just curious at this point. How the hell.

"Well since you won first today, which I am so proud of you I cried when I realized it was you, they cut your radio on over the tv of you celebrating. And you said the thing you always would say throttle-"

"That shit out." I mentally slapped myself as she laughed.

"Don't worry no one would know unless they knew. I had been watching your driver the whole race. It didn't set right with me then when you said that and I saw the patch on your arm I knew it was you. Also by the way that patch is perfect." She held her hand to her heart.

I can't believe I said that over the radio. I didn't even think twice but I mean just as long as she heard it and knew what it was no one else would.

"You better be glad Charles can't hear the radio and pray that Arthur and Enzo weren't listening." Her laughter was so loud through my phone but such an amazing sound.

She made me feel like everything would be okay.

"I didn't even think about that." I laughed with her.

"Well anyways, I'm so proud of you and you know they are too. And when the boys figure it out they will be over the moon. Especially Charles." She whispered the last part, but I still heard it.

"Thank you! I'm so glad you know honestly. It makes me feel better." I smiled to the older woman through my phone screen.

Her smile widened and she nodded.

"If Charles asks anything please don't tell him."

"Well about that." Her eyes darted away from mine. Oh fuck me.

"What happened."

"He's already called asking when the last time I spoke to you was and where you were. He swore that he heard your laughter on the podium." My jaw dropped.

"Don't worry sug. I told him that I had just spoken to you and you were still in France. I don't him he was probably just exhausted after the race and was hearing stuff." She saved my ass big time.

"You're a life saver."

"I know I know but A.J. he misses you and so do Arthur and Enzo. We all do. You know that you can do no wrong in his eyes. Just promise me that soon you will talk to him. Don't let this drag out." She was very serious and I knew when it was time to listen.

"Yes ma'am. I will talk to him soon. I miss them too more than life."

"Okay call me if you need anything. I'm so proud of you and I love you so much please stay safe and we will talk soon." She blew my a kiss through the phone.

"Will do. I love you more!" I returned her kiss and we hung up. I love talking to her.

She's my bestie.

I layed my phone down and dropped my head to the table in exhaustion.

The amount of love I have coursing through my veins for him is more than words can explain.