Loud and Clear (F1 x CL16)

21. Time off

We had just finished all the meetings when we walked out of the motorhome. Tomorrow we would fly back to Monaco, but first we had to celebrate this amazing day. The paddock was silent as it was already evening. A few lights lighted up the paddock as we walked through, on our way back to the car.
Charles' hand was in mine and I finally felt at peace with everything. He was mine, finally. No more being private. I could kiss him whenever I wanted, hold his hand whenever I felt like it... and be with him whenever it suited us.
"So what are we going to do to celebrate our victory?" Charles asked.
"Our victory, huh?" I chuckled. "Well I had something in mind, but that didn't include going out and get drunk." I said and he looked down at me.
"I'm intrigued." He said and I slapped his arm. He was clearly thinking something different.
"I was talking about watching a movie with some dinner on bed, and get to bed early so that we'll get enough sleep before our flight tomorrow." I said and Charles let out a disappointing sigh.
"You know you can sleep on the jet." He said.
"I get that, but I'm exhausted after this race. And you don't want an exhausted lady in your bed tonight." I looked up to him and he gave me a cheesy smile.
"As long as you're in my bed I won't get mad." He kissed my forehead and I felt my face get warm. I really needed to get this blushing under control.
My thoughts went back to Christmas, when he stayed the night. I had wished he wanted more that night, that he caved into his cravings for me, but he took my wellbeing over my needs... and I wasn't mad about it. He cared about me. He showed that at my birthday party.

Monday
It was around 8 in the morning when the jet took off. I had slept like a baby and woke up every goddamn hour. I didn't understand why, but I had woken Charles multiple times and I felt sorry for giving him a bad night. I just felt sick the whole time and couldn't close my eyes without feeling sick. And the feeling hadn't left. I still felt sick and it wasn't getting better now that we were flying. Pierre and Max flew with us. We became quite a tight group this weekend, but Max clearly was a third wheel, or better said a fourth wheel.
"Are you feeling better yet?" Charles asked as he handed over a glass of water and an aspirin.
"Not really. But I don't feel like throwing up anymore." I gave him a tight smile as I swallowed the aspirin and took a sip after it.
"That's already better. What did you eat yesterday?" He asked. We ate at the restaurant in the hotel, and clearly got something that was past its date.
"I think it was the pizza slices. You didn't get them." I said.
He nodded as he sat down beside me. "Could be. Just get some rest soon, okay? We have a long flight ahead." He kissed my head and put a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I will." I smiled up at him and he looked at me worryingly. "I'll be fine, Charles. It's just food poisoning." I rolled my eyes at him.
"That isn't something to joke about, Brigitte. You could get really ill from it, and you need to race next weekend." Concern filled Charles voice and I interlaced my finger with his.
"I'll be fine, Cha. Stop worrying please. You're going to make me even more sick." I kept my gaze on his eyes and he sighed as if he knew he wouldn't win this argument from me.

A few hours later I woke up. I fell asleep, clearly. But didn't remember doing so. I laid on a small bed that was in the jet, and right now it was my best friend because it laid so comfortably.
I sat up and looked around. The boys were all sitting together and playing... cards? I got up and walked over to them. "What are you guys doing?" I asked and I rested a hand on Pierre's shoulder since he was sitting next to where I stood.
"Playing cards." Max said as he placed a card on the table.
"How are you feeling, Brie?" Pierre asked and I sighed.
"Better, just a little stomachache right now. But no nausea at least." I gave him a quick smile and moved to the other side to take a seat next to Charles. Before I could sit he gets his hands on my legs and pulls me towards him, I take that as an invitation and sit down on his lap. He puts one arm around me and the other holds up his cards.
"This is really unpractical." I said as Charles was now the one who had to lay a card on the table. "How are you going to pull a card now?" I asked and he looked up at me.
"I have you for that now." He said with a wink and I rolled my eyes. "This one." He pointed to the card he wanted with his thumb. I got it out and laid it on the table.
"I also want that kind of service." Pierre said.
I stuck my tongue out. "Get a girlfriend first, P." He laid a card on the table and Max was next.
"Well I have a girlfriend, but she wouldn't even consider sitting at my lap and help me with a card game." Max joked and he got the finger from me.
"Well I wouldn't want to do this," I point at the cards, "but I actually sit quite nice here." I said and Charles' hand squeezed my hip.
"You're one lucky bastard, mate." Pierre said and Charles chuckled.
"I sure am." He said before placing a kiss on my cheek.