Right On Track

Chapter 77

Kiara checked her watch,swearing under her breath as she realized that she was late for the dinner.
She looked at herself one last time in the mirror,touching up her lip gloss and making sure that her unbound hair looked fine.
Leaving the bedroom of the hotel room,she heard her phone ring.When she got to it,the person put down.It was Carlos who had left a missed call.She sighed,putting the phone in the pocket of her leather jacket before grabbing her purse from nearby.
There was a knock at the door as Kiara approached it,making her pause before leaving.
She arched a brow,then opened the door.
"Oh."
"Oh."Kiara's eyes widened a little.
"You're going out?"Carlos lifted an eyebrow as he looked her over,hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"Uh...yeah."She nodded."Weren't you only supposed to fly down tomorrow?"
"Change of plans."He said,his gaze dipping down longingly for a moment.
"So...What brings you here?"She asked,motioning around her hotel room.
"I needed to-"He was about to say something,but stopped himself.
"Needed to?"
"Nothing,it's fine"He nodded."It can wait."
"Are you sure?"She asked.She could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to talk.
"Yes."He smiled."Now,you're probably late.So..."
"You know me."She shrugged with a smile."I'm not exactly good with time management."
He chuckled as she stepped out of her hotel room and closed the door,then asked."Who's the dinner with?"
She started to walk down the hallway with him,replying."Pierre and Kika?"
"Only?"Carlos said,running a hand through his hair."Come on,I know you wouldn't like to third wheel with them especially."
"Oh,I wouldn't."She quickly said,causing him to laugh."But apparently one of Pierre's friends are coming along.So,I won't exactly be alone in the awkwardness."
"Who is this friend?"Carlos asked,glancing down at her.
"I don't know."She shrugged.
He narrowed his eyes."Okay..."
Kiara checked her watch."Anyway,I'm late again.So,see you around?"
"Text me when you're back safely."He said.
She arched a brow at him,then smiled and started to walk off.

"Oh,thank God you're here."Kika sighed in relief as she walked up to Kiara and grabbed her hand.
Kiara chuckled."Sorry for being late.I-"
"It's fine."She said,leading Kiara to the table."At least you're here now."
Kika led her towards a table on the terrace of the restaurant,a table for four near the railing nearby.
Pierre noticed them and said."About time,Ki."
Kiara stopped at the table with a shrug.She looked around,not seeing the other friend.
Kika sat down across from Pierre.When Kiara sat down,the chair across from her was empty.
"He's running late too."Pierre told her as he noted her expression.
"Okay."Kiara nodded."But who is this guy?"
"It's-"
"Hey,sorry I'm late."Someone said from behind Kiara.
She turned around."Esteban?"
"Kiara?"He frowned.
"And I'm Ms.Hungry."Kika said."So,can you please sit down so we can order!"
"I'm out."Esteban said,then turned to walk.
Pierre shot Kika a look and she stood up with a knowing expression,following Esteban to get him back.
Kiara snapped her attention back to Pierre.So that was his plan?
"What?"He whispered."I don't like it when my teammate and my friend hate each other."
"That can't be the only reason."Kiara crossed her arms.
"Well..."He sighed."Truth is,he's made it clear that he won't make it easy for you on track now.In fact,that's not good for our team because he'll be putting the car at risk like crazy."
"You don't need to worry."She rolled her eyes."It's not like he can even get to where I am.Plus,there's only one race left."
"Yes,but we can't have him going insane now,can we?"Pierre said."We have someone willing to be another investor and they're coming to the race."
"Which means you guys will be pushing to be in front?"
"Which also means that he's going to do something idiotoc if we actually catch up to you."
Kiara glared at him."I want to punch you."
"There's no harm in making up."
"There is,Pierre."She clicked her tongue."There's three ways this could go...He gets the wrong idea,he thinks I'm using him again or he actually sees the sincerity.There's no in-between!"
"Kiara,just-"
"Hey,guys."Kika said,walking back to the table.She gave them both a look that said she got Esteban to come back.
Kiara looked behind Kika at the French driver,his frown directed at her and Pierre.
Kika sat down across Pierre,leaving Esteban to sit down across Kiara at the square table.
"So,guys-"
"I need the restroom."Kiara said as Pierre was about to start.
"No."Pierre said and leveled a glare at her.
She crossed her arms and almost rolled her eyes at him.
"So,"Pierre continued."This is the last race of the season.It's been a nice year,and I just want to say that I'm-"
"In need of food."Kika finished off the sentence on her own,calling over a waitress.
"Seriously,mon cherié?"Pierre sighed,pinching the bridge of his nose.
The waitress came over and Pierre stopped talking,Kiara a little grateful.He was just making the situation weird instead of helping.
Each of them placed their order,Esteban barely looking Kiara's way.
As Pierre was giving his order,she looked over Esteban's shoulder and noticed two women and a guy watching them.
"Gosh,everywhere we go."Kika sighed as the people continued to stare.
"I take it they know who we are."Kiara shrugged,used to it by now.Normally,she found fans wherever she went.It got a bit much sometimes.But other than that,she was just used to it.And she didn't mind it as much as before,actually.Ever since she started dating Carlos,well from the time they were fake dating,she seemed to gain more positivity.And on the brighter side,people started to realize that she wasn't there for 'racing benefits.'
As the waitress left,Kika lifted a brow and said."They're staring into my soul like they've got some beef with me."
"Who?"Pierre asked.
"Fans."Esteban told him.
"Just ignore them."Kiara told her.
The table went silent after a few moments.Kiara didn't know what to say.How the hell was she supposed to just get Esteban to relax and forget it all?
Pierre drummed his fingers on the table and leaned back in his chair.He glanced between Esteban and Kiara.
After some time,Kika stood up and pulled out her phone,saying to Pierre."Come with me."
"Where?"He arched a brow,standing up.
"Pictures!"She snapped."I mean,look at this view."
She grabbed his hand and they started to walk off towards the far end of the terrace.
Which meant that they were leaving Kiara alone.
She shook her head at them as they looked back at the table.Kika just shrugged and Pierre motioned to Esteban.Soon,they were already gone to the edge of the terrace.
Kiara slowly looked back at the man sitting in front of her.
Esteban,thankfully,just looked down at his phone and didn't say anything.
She almost loosed a sigh of relief and was about to pull out her own phone.But something made her stop.
She thought about what Pierre had said about the race.She couldn't risk anything like that.Especially since she had to get second back from Alora.
Kiara held back a sigh,then looked at Esteban and said."I didn't mean it the way you're thinking..."
"Hmm."He just hummed,still looking down at his phone.
"No,seriously."She said.
"Okay."He muttered,not looking up at her.
She sighed,knowing that he also had no interest in talking."Please,can we just forget about-"
"Forget?"He snapped,finally looking up at her."Kiara,you've done more than something to just forget."
"I know,but..."
"You used me."He said firmly."Multiple times,you've made a point to flirt.You've danced with me and hung out with me all to just make that other guy jealous.Hell,you even kissed me to do it."
"I'm sorry."She murmured,as hard as she always found it to say those words.
"Well,I don't forgive you."
"Esteban,listen to me-"
"I just thought you were two minded about it all.That maybe one day you'd actually give me a chance because you kept mentioning me to Carlos."He said."Only to hear from my drunken teammate that I was just being used by you to play around with your boyfriend."
Kiara leaned back in her chair,putting the guilty look on her face.She looked up at him through lowered lashes."I'm sorry.I really am."
"I'm sure you are."He said sarcastically.
"I do feel guilty."She said."I felt like shit after I literally kissed you just to make Carlos jealous."
"Then,why still use me later on?"
"I don't know."She pinched the bridge of her nose."But I'm willing to put this all behind us if you are."
He looked at her for a few moments,seeming to consider something.Moments of silence passed by.Kiara just gave him an apologetic look as Kika and Pierre started to come back.
"Oh,finally."Kika said as the waitress also came over and gave them their food.
Kiare just pulled out her phone as she heard it buzz.She saw the nnotifications from Carlos and clicked on it.

Carlos: Everything fine,querida?

Kiara: Yep.

C: They don't have your favorite food,do they?

K: Yep.

C: Sucks to suck.

K: 🖕

C: Tonight?Sure,what time?

K: Ew! You're going to make me lose my appetite.

C: Good.Because you just left unexpectedly earlier.

K: Wait.Was that supposed to be the part where you accept defeat? Is that why you came to my hotel room?!?!

C: No,you wish.

K: Aww,poor little Carlito is missing me.

C: No.

K: Just remember,there's no harm in accepting defeat.

C: Remind to punish you when you finally give in.

K: Jeez,I'm so scared. 😐

C: I'll remember this.

K: Okay <3 Now,my pasta is more important.Goodbye.

"Oh,my-"
"Shh!"Kiara snapped at Kika as she got a sneak peek at the chat.
"What?"Pierre asked.
"Nothing."Kiara told him,trying to wipe the smile off her face.

Carlos Sainz

Carlos sighed as she stopped texting.He set his phone aside and sat on the edge of the couch,fidgeting with his fingers.
He started to wonder what time she would come back.Past midnight or after?He would even wait for that.In fact,he already proved how long he would wait if it was for her.
But this time was different.He didn't know whether she would even let him into her hotel room when she got back.All because of that stupid bet.
She probably knew that she would be tipsy or something when she got back,which was a reason for her not to let him in because she knew that she might give in-
Carlos immediately paused after that thought.
She could give in if tipsy enough?
"Stop it,dumbass."He told himself,pushing away the thought.It was just straight up wrong to even consider that.
He dragged a hand through his hair,feeling a sensation as he pictured the moment where he would finally get to lay his hands on her again.Kiara was obviously feeling similar.He saw it in her eyes earlier on.
Carlos' phone began to ring and he picked it up,seeing that it was Lando.
"Carlos?"
"Yes?"Carlos said.
"I have an idea."Lando said."One better than your usual ones that cause trouble."
"Spill it,Norris."He told him.
"A vacation."Lando said,as if it was some brilliant idea."Trust me,it works all the time."
"Lando,my friend."Carlos said."Do you hear yourself?"
"Loud and clear,buddy."He said."Now,listen to me.The vacations always work.You know that already."
"She will know."Carlos said."It will be no use."
"Please,you have to just think about it."He sighed.
"Whatever,"Carlos said."You're making me tired.Goodbye."
With that,Carlos hung up on him.
Though,as he was looking at the screen,he suddenly had tons of notifications flooding in in seconds,people mostly tagging him in multiple posts.
He frowned,wondering what the hell was going on.Then,he clicked on one of the posts he was tagged in.