Race & Rally // Charles Leclerc

21.00

Thomas had decided to host, due to the fact that he had the perfect plan for his proposal to David. He lived in a French styled chateau that was placed along the Florida coast. Everything about it was so perfect that I had gasped in awe when we had first arrived.

Charles and I are sharing the guest bedroom with a small balcony that overlooks the back gardens. It's mesmerising.

"The view is almost as beautiful as you Summers," Charles whispers into my ear on the balcony after he had slid his arms around my waist from behind.

I run my hands along his arms and let my head fall back into the crook of his neck. "Don't flatter me Charles, I might get too cocky for even you to handle," I joke, glancing up at him.

"That would be impossible," he smirks, before closing the gap between us, both of us smiling into the kiss.

At one point Thomas sent David out to do some shopping so he could explain his plan to Charles and I.

"Ok so, what I'm thinking is, we're opening our presents on Christmas morning. Before David opens his, I'm going to pretend I need to find my camera to capture this moment, seeing it's our first Christmas together," he explains, all of us huddled around the kitchen island.

"This is so cute already," I mention, unable to contain myself with excitement.

"I know right? Ok so, this is when you two come into the plan. While I'm gone, you both are going to convince him to open his present even though I'm not there. Do you think that's possible?" he asks worriedly.

"Don't worry, I've known David for so long and I know for a fact that he's so impatient when it comes to surprises. So we won't have any problems there," I grin in response, an element of relief evident on Thomas' face.

"Ok, that's brilliant, thanks Aria. When he opens it, there will be a slip of paper telling him to go to the place where I first told him that I loved him. That's going to be in the middle of the rose garden, and hopefully if he remembers, he'll go and find me there with the ring," he concludes, the nerves clearly getting to him already. "What do you think?"

"It's perfect Thomas," I state, my heart aching with happiness.

"Exactly, it couldn't be more romantic and personal even if you tried," agreed Charles.

-

And now, here we are. Both Charles and I are staring at David with his present in his hand, each of us waiting for Thomas to come back with his camera.

It's been an achingly long ten minutes and I was convinced that David would've opened it by now.

"Just open it David. I'm sure Thomas won't mind," I state, becoming more nervous by the minute.

"Are you sure? He kind of seemed like he wanted to capture this exact moment," says David, fidgeting with the present as he's clearly becoming impatient.

"Yeah I think you should go for it. I'm pretty sure Thomas meant he wanted to capture everything in general," adds Charles, and I discreetly mouth a quick thank you to him.

Charles frowns at me worriedly, both of us wondering if we had given Thomas enough time.

"Ugh, I can't wait any longer!" sighs David, as he begins to tear open the present only to find a piece of paper inside the box.

For a split second, my body relaxes with relief that he has finally opened it, but is soon filled with nerves once more as I remember what the paper said.