lemon and mint | Charles Leclerc

~ quarantotto ~

USA, November 2019

As Pia entered the paddock in Austin, she was asked to take some pictures with the fans. It was a bit unusual since she entered by herself without any driver by her side. She was here to surprise her fiancé.

"Could you please give this to Charles?" One fan asked the petite Italian and handed her a bracelet.

"Yeah, sure. I'll make sure he wears it," Pia smiled at the fan before taking a photo with her.

As she walked through the paddock, she caught a glimpse of the big screens around. They were showing her fiancé standing close to his Ferrari in the typical red race suit. She couldn't help but notice how weary he was. It was in his eyes. His eyes always disclosed so much about him. Or maybe it was his beautiful messy hair. It was too messy, meaning he didn't style it this morning, meaning he slept in.

She knew all these little details about him. She knew his rituals and his bad habits. She knew how he liked his pasta and how he struggled with parking his car. She knew his favourite cartoon and to go karaoke song. She knew he bit his nails when he was nervous and hummed along to the songs he pretended to hate.

A fond smile played on her lips as she observed him on the screen. While millions watched her fiancé just like she did right now, but they watched Charles Leclerc - the talented and remarkable Formula One driver, she was watching Charles, her Charlie, her fiancé. To her, he was not just a racing sensation but the man she knew inside and out, the man she loved dearly and deeply.

The mechanics and team members were busy preparing the car for the upcoming race, and Charles was engaged in a conversation with his race engineer. Pia took a moment to observe him, the familiar sight of his red race suit and the signature Ferrari logo on his helmet.

Quietly, she approached Charles from behind, careful not to give away her presence. She knew how focused he could get during race weekends, and she didn't want to startle him. But she couldn't resist the opportunity to surprise him.

With a mischievous grin on her face, Pia gently tapped him on the shoulder. Charles turned around a mix of surprise and delight washing over his face as he locked eyes with her. His weariness seemed to disappear in an instant.

"Surprise," the Italian smiled at him affectionately. Charles, still in disbelief, wrapped his arms around Pia and held her close.

"What? How?" He was confused.

"Daniel called in and said the weather is amazing, and my boyfriend could use some cheering up, so here I am," she explained. It was so nonchalant of her. She was like I heard you could use some cheering up when it was also her who needed it. It was she who missed Charles a lot.

The mechanics and team members around them couldn't help but smile at the heartwarming scene before them. It was a refreshing break from the intensity of race preparations, and they were happy to see Charles so genuinely happy.

Pia and Charles spent a few precious moments together, sharing an embrace and stealing a few sweet kisses. The world of Formula One might know Charles Leclerc as a racing sensation, but at that moment, he was simply Charles, the man in love with Pia.

---

"Are you sure you don't want to fly back home with me?" the Dutchman asked his close friend as they stood together in front of his car. Charles was right alongside her, holding her hand firmly. He was a model fiancé.

"Nah, we are good," the Monegasque answered before Pia had the chance.

"Thank you, Max, but no. We will spend a couple of days in the States," she explained to her friend with a smile on her face. She knew Max would probably do the same under normal circumstances, but he had pregnant Joanna at home, so it was rather expected he would rush to see her.