Right On Track

Chapter 88

"Carlos?"Kiara's eyes widened.
"I couldn't stay away any longer,cariño."He said,his smile so bright that her heart warmed.
"You couldn't wait half a week more?"She asked,throwing her arms up as she still stood in the water.
"Of course not."He said.
She gave him a big smile and playfully rolled her eyes.Then,a second later she was walking through the water and into his open arms.
He latched onto her tightly,burying his face against her neck.
"I missed you."He sighed.
She breathed in his scent,suddenly feeling a wave of comfort."I know."
A moment later,she added to that."You texted me every day."
He chuckled."And yet you still replied every one of those days."
She slightly pulled back to look up at his face.He met her gaze,his eyes shining with excitement.
With a sigh of relief,she said."Well,I missed you too."
"Obviously,mi amor."He winked."Who wouldn't miss a face like mine?"
She laughed a little,playfully hitting his arm."Please,you were the one begging the most."
"Really?"He said."Want to bet?"
"Oh,no."She pointed a finger."We are not doing that again,please."
He let out a laugh,putting a hand on her back as they started off towards everyone else.
As they walked up the shore,Kiara noticed that Charles was there too.He was probably the one to plot and plan with Alora.
But something else felt off...She looked at Carlos' face.Something was up...He was holding something back.
They carried on walking and Kiara jokingly shot Alora and Charles a glare.Yesterday,they had actually been discussing something quietly.Kiara now knew what that was.
"Carlos."Elijah ran over and was soon holding onto his hand."Come look at my sandcastle."
"Lead the way,niño."Carlos said,then followed Elijah off to his lot of sandcastles nearby.

"See you guys later."Charles said,waving a hand back as he stepped out of Kiara's apartment.
"G'bye."Alora winked as she walked out,her tote bag over her shoulder.
Elijah ran out from one of the bedrooms of Kiara's apartment,exclaiming."Wait!I can't find my toy bag."
He started to run around the lounge,frantically checking every corner or gap.Kiara snickered and looked at Carlos to see his reaction.Carlos only smiled weakly.He didn't even meet Kiara's gaze.She chose not to overthink on that.
After a minute passed by,Alora sighed.Charles walked back into the apartment and said."It's okay,Kiara will bring it tomorrow.In the meantime,we can play on my simulator."
With a look of defeat on his face,Elijah nodded and picked up his little backpack for the night.He followed Charles out of the apartment after saying goodbye to Carlos,who still looked as though he needed to say something.
"See you,Ki."Alora waved.Not long after,she was gone.
Kiara closed the door of the apartment.She turned to look at Carlos,thereafter.
"Finally."She said with a sigh of relief.
"Hmm."He nodded in agreement,his hands in thr pockets of his jeans as he looked down at the floor.
She looked up at him for a second and stepped closer.Then,just as he was about to say something she went ahead and wrapped her arms around him.
She hugged him tightly,breathing in his scent and burying her head in his chest.She didn't show it much earlier...But she had missed him a lot.
Carlos lifted his hands and hugged her back.He held onto her as though he didn't want to let go at all,both quiet as they held onto each other.
After a few moments on silence,Carlos murmured."Kiara Wolff just voluntarily hugged me."
"Shut up,idiot."She scoffed.He only laughed,pressing a kiss to her forehead.
She slightly pulled back,looking over his shoulder.She wanted to talk to him.They both seemed like they wanted to,actually.And he seemed like he really needed to point something out.
So,she grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze,then led him along towards the balcony.
She opened the door and stepped outside onto the balcony with Carlos.He took in the view,glancing towards the sea,the yachts and the city lights.
Kiara moved forward and leaned her back against the balcony railing.With a shrug,she looked up at the stars in the night sky,saying."Without race weekends,I'm going crazy."
He chuckled and stepped closer,leaning forward on the railing and glancing down at the street below."Same here,cariño."
"You know..."She sighed."It all felt different...More fun,I guess?I thought we would have way more time together during the breaks,but it's a little different to what I thought."
He nodded in agreement."I actually can't wait for next season because of that,actually."
She gave him a tight smile,studying his expression.He seemed calm,yet as though he needed to admit  something.She didn't want to push him if he was uncomfortable...But she was also getting on edge by not hearing what he had to say.
Kiara turned to face him and stopped leaning against the railing."Carlos?"
"Yes?"
"What's wrong?"She asked
"What?"He frowned."Nothing."
"Don't lie to me,"She shook her head."I know when you lie.I know when you really want to say something.So..."
"It's nothing,okay?"He said,not meeting her gaze."I'm just tired."
She couldn't see the look in his eyes properly since the balcony lights weren't even on.But she could sense the look,see the tension he seemed to hold.
"Carlos,"She said,placing a hand on his arm and feeling the muscle tense  beneath his jacket."Talk to me."
"I..."He sighed."I can't say it right now...Not right now."
"Hey,"She told him,turning him so that he faced her properly.She took one of his hands in her own and gave a reassuring squeeze."Speak to me,Carlos."
He gazed down at her blankly.All forms of the joy he previously had was gone.Not a trace of it at all.
He swallowed,shutting his eyes for a second."I'm sorry."
She arched a brow."What?"
"I'm...I'm sorry,Kiara."He said."I never thought..."
"What are you talking about?"She narrowed her eyes,seeing that he couldn't even meet her gaze anymore.
He pursed his lips,rather looking towards the sea."In Madrid...Something happened.And I realized something."
"Carlos,you're worrying me."She said,the slight panic rising within her.She knew that he was about to say something big.
"I'm sorry,Kiara."He said again,his tone almost trembling.
She waited for a second,questions running all through her mind.Then,she asked."What are you talking about?"
He finally looked at her,his face filled with something like guilt.Slowly,yet hesitantly,he pulled his hand out of hers."Kiara..."
She stood there,unable to process what was happening.
Then,he said."I'm breaking up with you."