Book 2: Beginning Again -Carlos Sainz

Chapter 8

Marie groaned at the sound of her alarm clock telling her that she needed to get up. She had gotten all of the alcohol out of her system about 5 hours earlier but she was still exhausted, dehydrated, and deathly hungover. She knew she didn't have to be on time for the race, but she definitely had to show that she was there at some point before the podium. She peeked her head out from the covers, assessing her room. Truthfully, Marie had no recollection of the night. The last thing she remembered was doing tequila shots with a kind stranger who felt bad for her when she told her she had just gotten dumped. She hadn't blacked out in... like 3 years, probably because Marie hated this feeling, right here. The feeling of losing control. The pure anxiety and stress of wondering what your body did while your brain was gone. She took a deep breath and looked at her phone. A few texts from Erin, replying to the drunk texts she sent and then... one from an unsaved number. Curious, she opened it.

Good morning, how are you feeling after last night?

Marie's mind raced, desperate to recall that she went home alone. She thought as hard as she could and vaguely remembered standing in her hotel room... with a guy. She started freaking out, full on freaking out.

Hi, sorry I was pretty drunk last night. Who is this?: Marie

Panic and anxiety took over Marie's whole body and she probably would've puked if she hadn't completely emptied the contents of her stomach hours prior. She felt tears rushing to her eyes, unsure of how else to deal with everything. She had never felt so lost in her life. She was now single, a part of the traveling circus that was F1, following her dad around and so desperate for his approval that she would do anything. And now, apparently, blacking out. Her phone dinged from under the covers and she immediately looked.

Wow, you deleted my number? Even after six years? That's cold!

Carlos. She took a deep exhale. It was just Carlos. He just needs something work-related. But wait, if she didn't sleep with anyone, then why was there a man in her hotel room?

Very funny. So what's up? What can I do for you?: Marie

Carlos: Ouch, I was just checking up on you after last night

Did we see each other last night?: Marie

Carlos: ...

Carlos: Yeah, I had to carry you out of that bar after I paid your tab (you're welcome.) Then I got you back upstairs and put you to bed. You're quite funny when you're drunk, you know.

Marie sunk back into her bed, wanting the sheets to swallow her whole. Carlos had to carry her out of the bar? She glanced down at the Ferrari t-shirt and shorts she was currently wearing.

"And he changed me?"

The thought of Carlos seeing her naked made her blush, followed by immediate embarrassment.

"I probably just stripped down naked in front of him and he was probably so uncomfortable. I owe him a massive thank you and apology."

Carlos, I cannot thank you enough for doing that. I'll pay you back for the tab and for taking care of me :Marie

Marie got out of bed, desperate for a shower to help wipe off the lingering tequila smell. An hour later, she almost looked like a fully functioning human being as she headed off to join the race. She kept to herself most of the day, looking up at the race status every few minutes, scanning the sheet for SAI. She also looked for LEC, even though that was just a poorly masked attempt at saying it was her job to watch the race. This was her first weekend actually being in the paddock during the race. She stood towards the back, taking everything in. Maybe it was her being so hungover she barely felt alive, but she liked being in the paddock. The whole team sitting, staring at the monitors, everyone so busy and... passionate about F1. These people truly lived and breathed this team and this sport, she could see it in their eyes. She watched from the sidelines as the race finished, seeing the whole team file out to cheer on Charles and his second place finish. She scanned the leaderboard, seeing Carlos with a P4 finish. The smile was on her face before she could realize it, wiping it away. She peeked out with the rest of the team to watch the festivities, realizing that this sport was so much more than just millionaire 20 year olds playing grown up bumper-karts. She lingered around Carlos' drivers room, waiting to get a word in with him when he arrived back. She was chugging her water bottle when he arrived, smiling at the sight of her.

"Bit thirsty are we? Did you just race for two hours?" he said, running a hand through his very sweaty, messy hair.

"Mmm, yep. Just standing here has been my workout for today," she replied. "Hey, great race today though, P4."

"You actually watched?"

"Yeah, I figured why not. It was actually really cool."

"We might just make an F1 fan out of you yet," he said as he smiled brightly at her, to which she returned.

"Actually, I am here for a reason," Marie said, breaking eye contact out of embarrassment. "I wanted to thank you in person for... last night. How much was my tab? I can venmo you or bring cash? Also, can you maybe fill in my gaps about... what exactly happened?"

Marie cringed at the weakness in her voice. It was a far cry from the usual sharpness that was in her voice when she spoke to this boy.

"Let's talk in here," he said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his driver's room. Marie felt like her arm was no longer attached to her body with how it felt under his strong grip. His touch was gentle, but there was a sense of potential strength in his hands. He released her and she sat on the couch, not sure if she could stand any longer.

"First of all, don't worry about the tab. I was just giving you shit. And as for the events of the evening... like I said I had to physically carry you out of the bar," he said with a small smirk.

Marie had her hand covering her mouth, shocked at how that must've looked. The embarrassment burned through the color on her cheeks, hoping that that was the worst part of the story. "Then when we got to your hotel room you insisted on... ehm, changing your clothes."

Her eyes went wide at his words. "Don't worry though, I didn't see anything too... crazy... just your.. You know," he said, gesturing at her boobs. Marie truly wished in that moment that she could melt into a puddle and slide out the door. But alas, her human form retained as she was forced to listen to how she got naked in front of a guy who had already rejected her once. "Anyway I grabbed some clothes for you and then tucked you into bed. I left you a trash can, water, and some pillows to keep you on your side. I was actually a bit worried, you were really drunk," his voice softened at the end, letting his concern show through. "You said your boyfriend broke up with you? Are you okay?"

"And to top it all off, cherry on the ice cream sundae, I even told him about the breakup. Now I can truly die of embarrassment." Marie thought to herself.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Actually I'm really embarrassed to hear that I did all of that and I feel horrible that you had to take care of me. Please, let me make it up to you in some way, along with paying you back for the bar tab. I'll do anything."

"You can make it up to me by letting me take you out for that drink we were supposed to get six years ago?"
Silence filled the room as his words hung in the air. He lowered his eyes at her, cocking his head to the side in a way he often used to get what he wanted. He knew it was a long shot, they were barely getting along professionally. But the words she spoke last night had been lingering in his brain all day, making him wonder if he had a shot at redemption here. She stood there, locking eyes with him to see if he was joking.

"Fuck," was the last thing Marie thought before she nodded her head, mumbled something like "yeah, sure" and slipped out the door without a further word.