Right On Track

Chapter 76

"Are you sure everything is fine?"
"Yes."Kiara sighed."You asked me that like three times already."
"Just making sure."Carlos said from his end of the video call.
Kiara frowned,shaking her head.She had been packing to leave for Abu Dhabi when Carlos had randomly called her.She had an idea of what it was partly for,but she chose not to hang up on the poor guy.After all,she knew he was probably just losing his mind over many things.
"Is your family coming to the next race?"She asked,since that was usually the case with a lot of drivers during the season finale.
"Yes,"He replied."Why?"
"No reason."She said.
"You're scared."He chuckled.
"No."She shook her head."Why would I be scared?"
"I mean,you were scared the last time you saw my mother."
"She caught me off guard."Kiara shrugged,referring to how she had seen his mother a little while ago at the Mexican Grand Prix.
"But this time you'll see my dad too."He said.
"I've seen your dad a few times before."Kiara said.She had already known Carlos Sainz Sr for a while.She was more scared of Carlos' mother than his father.
"But you've seen him as a fellow racer back then."Carlos said."Now,you're seeing him as my father."
"Why do you do this to me?"
He laughed.
She paused and looked at the screen,Carlos doing the same.They looked at each other for a bit,not saying anything.And that's when Kiara noticed it.
He put a hand on the back of his neck after dragging it through his hair,pursing his lips now and again.She hadn't thought much of it at first.But then she realized that something was wrong.He did those things when something was bothering him.
"Everything okay?"Kiara asked.
"Yeah,why?"He straightened up,adjusting the camera of his phone again.
"Tell me what's wrong."She said.
"You want to know what is wrong?"He said.
"Yes."
"Fine..."He said."I miss that cute little-"
"Don't finish that sentence!"She snapped."Now,for real,tell me."
He shrugged."Nothing is wrong cariño."
"Liar."
He arched a brow."The one thing that's wrong is probably the fact that you're actually doing a good job of not showing how much you miss me."
"No."She frowned,also knowing that he was changed the topic.
"Admit it,you miss me."
"Nope."
"Just say the four words,cariño."He urged.
She playfully rolled her eyes."In your dreams."
"Come on,all you have to say is the simple 'I need you,Carlos'."
She shook her head."And all you have to admit before I do that is 'I need you,Kiara'."
"Hey-"
"Anyway,"She said."I have a flight to catch."
She wanted to say it.She wanted to call him over.But her pride got in the way.This morning in the breakfast area,she had seen Esteban.It hadn't been to pleasant either.She had tried to ignore the side-glances.But she couldn't help but give him one too as he swiped the last pancake before she could.She had frowned as he also nearly spilled his coffee on her.And sure...It was just "accidental",as he had said.She hadn't let it slide,though.Because when she was walking past his table to leave the breakfast area,she had "accidentally" bumped into his chair and made him spill the coffee he was about to take a sip of.
"Already leaving Vegas?"He frowned.
"Yes."She replied.
"Why?"
"Because I have things to do."She said.
"Better than hanging out with Lando,Ivy and I tonight?"
"Actually,no."Kiara told him."But unfortunately,this photoshoot and the sponsor meetings can't wait."
"I already told Ivy and Lando that you would join us."Carlos said."We were going to go to the club a few streets away."
"A club?"She arched a brow."Why do I have a feeling that you actually had something planned...?"
"For you in the back of the car,yes-"
"Stop that!"She snapped."I'm going to hang up on you!"
"You wouldn't."He dared.
"Oh,yes.I would."She said.
And she did.She hung up on him and tossed the phone aside,going back to packing her suitcase.

"This thing is taking forever."Max quietly sighed as the camera clicking came to a halt.
"We literally just started."Kiara told him,getting ready with their pose for the next shot.
"Honestly,I think Heineken is purposely trying to torture me."He said,looking down at the beer bottle in his hand.
"Max,focus."Said someone from behind the cameras.
"Yeah,Max."Kiara taunted as one of the ladies walked over and readjusted the way Kiara's button-up shirt looked.
"Hey,listen here-"
"First one in three,two,one."Said a camera man.
Kiara put on the smile they asked her to,crossing her legs and leaning back in the deck chair she was in.
Max,on the other hand,just sighed and looked around,his gaze travelling to the rest of the yacht they were on.
The camera men didnt seem to mind it,though.They probably thought of it to be some random pose.
When the shoot finally came to an end,Kiara got up from the deck chair and set aside the Heineken bottle she was holding.She met up with some of the camera crew as they showed her the results.Then,she went back to one of the rooms inside the yacht to change.
While doing so,her phone buzzed in her handbag,which she had left on a desk in one of the rooms.
She went over and picked up the phone,seeing that Pierre was calling.
"Hello?"She said when answering the phone.
"Hey,Ki."Pierre said."How's is it going?"
"Just finished a photoshoot."She replied."You?"
"Nothing much."He answered."So,you're in Abu Dhabi already,right?"
"Yeah."She said,trying to ignore the fact that he was the reason Esteban had been acting out.
"I'm here too."He said."Do you know which of the other drivers are here too?"
"Yuki,Max, and Ivy."She told him."And I think Alora and George as well.
'Oh,okay."He said,then asked."Do you think that Alora or Ivy are free tonight?"
"Huh?"Kiara laughed."I'm confused."
"Was just a question."He told her.
"Fine,whatever."Kiara chuckled."No,Ivy is going somewhere with Lando.My sister,as always being more photogenic than me,has a photoshoot later."
"Okay."Pierre said."Anyway,I'll just have to tell Kika to come back early from the fashion show she was going to."
"For what?"Kiara arched a brow in confusion.
"Nothing."He quickly replied.
"Okay...?"
"Anyway,"He added."Are you free tonight?"
She thought about it for a second,then replied."Yeah,I should be."
"No plans with Carlos before the race weekend starts?"
"Nope."Kiara said."We made a bet.I'll tell you about it another time."
"Tell me over dinner tonight."He said.
"Dinner?"
"Kika will be there."
"So,you want me to third wheel?"Kiara asked.
"No."He replied."Besides,another friend is coming."
"Who?"She asked.
"Someone."He said,then quickly added."I'll text you the rest."
"Pierre-"
He hung up.
"What the hell?"Kiara said under her breath,frowning down at her phone screen.
Random.That was very random.
But at least Kika would be there.
Kiara sighed,shaking her head as she put her phone aside.

A/N:

Hey,guys.Sorry for being so inactive recently.I've been a little busy and didn't have enough time to focus fully on this story.But I'll try to keep up now that I'm back :)