Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

006 : live a little

For the remainder of the evening, Charles and Katrina found themselves engrossed in each other's company. The night was filled with laughter as they exchanged stories. Charles shared some tourist spots that Katrina might want to explore when she had the time, while she recommended a few artists that she thought might catch the Monegasque's interest. They were still deep in conversation about a random band when Sofia and a few of Charles' colleagues announced they were ready to call it a night.

"Are you okay to drive? We can just carpool," he offered.

"And who's going to drive, you?" Katrina joked.

"Yeah."

"Charles, I can smell alcohol from across the yacht. I think it would be safer if I drive tonight." His friends chuckled at her remark.

Katrina realized that winning the argument about who should drive home wouldn't be easy. The two of them went back and forth, each insisting they were the better driver, until one of Charles' more intoxicated friends chimed in.

"When it comes to picking the best driver, the answer is pretty obvious... the one who's not drinking, of course," one of his friends blurted, laughing.

"You heard your friend, the best driver is the one not drinking, and in this situation, that's me."

Charles eventually relented, knowing she was right. While he wasn't as drunk as his friends, he had still consumed a considerable amount of alcohol earlier.

Thank God I brought the SUV tonight, she thought to herself.

From what Katrina gathered, the people in her car were all Charles' workmates who also lived in Monaco. Aside from George, who they'd met earlier, their names were Alex, Daniel, Max, and Pierre. Charles sat in the passenger seat, while Sofia and the others were in the back. The ride back to their neighborhood was lively, with Daniel belting out whatever song was on the radio as the others casually joined in.

"I'm surprised you're not as drunk as the rest of them," she remarked.

"I have a higher tolerance than they do. Plus, I can't drink much tonight. I'm picking up maman from the airport early tomorrow," Charles replied.

"Which of Sofia's aunts is your mom?"

"Pascale, the hairdresser."

"Oh wow, I think I've met her before."

The impromptu concert ended when most of them passed out from the alcohol. Katrina glanced around and saw that the streets were empty, no other cars in sight except for theirs.

She gradually pressed the accelerator, pushing the car past the legal speed limit.

Charles jolted and looked at her and the speedometer in panic.

"Slow down, slow down!" he said rapidly in French.

"Charles, I don't speak French. Say it in English."

"Slow down, you're above the limit!"

"Charles, live a little. I'm not going that fast. I'm barely over the limit," she said with a grin.

"Still, you're driving fast. You have passengers with you. Don't drive recklessly."

"I'm not driving recklessly, Charles... just a little bit fast. Daniel's going to puke any minute now, and car washes are freaking expensive," she teased.

"I'll pay for the car wash, just slow down, mon chéri. No one's rushing home."

"Come on, Charles. Live a little. A little more speed won't hurt," she laughed.