There's Twice as Many Stars as Usual| L.S

41

Logan

I wake up about an hour later to the sound of Charlotte throwing up in the bathroom. I quickly head over to her to hold her hair back.

"Never let me drink again," she says, her voice weak as she lurches over the toilet again. This isn't the first time I've had to do this; the first was when we had a sleepover as children and she developed a stomach bug. But I'm not complaining.

"You know I won't be able to," I say, rubbing her back and grabbing a hair tie from her bag. I pull her hair back into a messy bun so I can grab Advil, Liquid I.V., a towel, and a change of clothes since we have to board a jet in a few hours.

I mix the Liquid I.V. into one of my water bottles and place it next to her, then grab two Advil.

"Thank you," she groans, taking the Advil and sipping the water slowly.

I start to run the shower for her. "Whenever you can, get into the shower and alternate between warm and cold. It'll help a lot," I say, refilling my water bottle as she finishes the first one.

She nods, still looking pale and miserable. I help her to her feet, guiding her to the shower. She steps in, the steam and alternating temperatures gradually helping her feel better. I keep an eye on her, ready to help if she needs it.

While she's in the shower, I tidy up the room, packing our things for the flight. I make sure everything is ready to go so we can leave as soon as she's feeling a bit more stable. After a few minutes, I hear the water stop, and she steps out, looking slightly better.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, handing her a towel.

"Better, but still awful," she replies, wrapping the towel around herself.

I hand her the change of clothes. "Get dressed. I'll make sure you have more water and a light snack before we head to the airport."

She nods and starts to dress while I pour another bottle of water and grab some crackers. She sits on the edge of the bed, nibbling on a cracker and sipping water.

"Thank you for taking care of me," she says, her voice still weak but grateful.

"Always," I reply, giving her a reassuring smile.

She finishes the sleeve of crackers and drifts back to sleep for about an hour. I join her, and we both wake up to my alarm at 2:30.

We grab our bags and head to the tarmac, meeting a few of the other drivers to board one of the private jets. We sit next to each other with Mick across from us. Charlotte and Mick engage in conversation, but it doesn't take long for her to slowly slip into sleep.

"How bad was she this morning?" Mick asks me quietly.

"Throwing up at 12:30 bad," I say with a small sigh.

"Thank you for being there for her, Logan," he says, his expression sincere.

"It's no problem. I've known her long enough to know how to handle it," I reply, glancing at Charlotte's sleeping form. "She's lucky to have you and the rest of the team looking out for her, too."

Mick nods, understanding. "We're all in this together. She's like family to us."

As the flight progresses, the other drivers settle into their seats, some chatting, others catching up on sleep. I make sure Charlotte is comfortable, adjusting the blanket over her and checking if she needs anything before she fully dozes off. Mick and I continue talking in hushed tones, our conversation shifting to the upcoming races After a while, I decide to close my eyes for a bit, knowing we still have a few hours until we land. The quiet hum of the plane and the soft murmurs of conversation create a calming atmosphere, making it easy to drift off.

When I wake again, the sky outside the window is a bright blue, indicating we're getting closer to our destination. I gently shake Charlotte awake, and she stirs, blinking sleepily.

"Hey, we're almost there," I whisper.

She nods groggily, sitting up and stretching. Mick smiles at her, and she returns the gesture, still looking a bit tired but much better than before.

As we prepare for landing, I make sure we have everything packed up and ready to go. Once we touch down, we gather our belongings and disembark the plane. The fresh air and sunlight feel invigorating after the flight, and Charlotte seems to perk up as we head towards our transport.

I had invited Mick to stay in the guest room of my apartment, so when we reach the parking structure, he follows us to my car. We load our bags into the trunk and head to my apartment building.

Once inside, we take the elevator up and make our way to my unit. I unlock the door, and we step into the familiar comfort of my home. I show Mick to the guest room, making sure he's comfortable.

"Make yourself at home, Mick," I say, giving him a quick tour. "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thanks, Logan," he replies, smiling. "This place is great."

Charlotte, looking much more awake now, heads to the kitchen to grab some water. I follow her, checking in to see how she's feeling.

"You doing okay?" I ask, watching as she sips from a glass.

"Yeah, much better now," she replies with a small smile. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"Anytime," I say, giving her a reassuring smile. "Why don't you rest for a bit? We've got some time before we need to head out again."

She nods, heading to the living room and settling onto the couch. Mick joins us after getting settled in his room, and we spend the next hour or so just relaxing and catching up

After a while, Mick stretches and stands up. "Thanks again for letting me stay, Logan. I think I'll take a quick nap before we head out."

"No problem, Mick," I reply. "Make yourself at home."

Mick heads to the guest room, and I turn my attention to Charlotte, who is lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine. She looks up and smiles at me, her eyes still showing traces of exhaustion but also gratitude.

I sit down beside her, and she leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder. "I'm really sorry about last night," she murmurs. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"Hey, it's alright," I say, rubbing her back gently. "Everyone has those nights. I'm just glad you're feeling better now."

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other's presence. The events of the previous night seem like a distant memory now, replaced by the calm and familiarity of home.

After a bit, I suggest, "How about we order some food? We should eat something substantial before we head out again."

"That sounds perfect," Charlotte agrees. "I'm starving."

We browse through a few menus and decide on a local Italian place that delivers quickly. I place the order, and while we wait, we continue to chat about plans for the week and upcoming races. It's nice to have these quiet moments amidst the chaos of our schedules.

The food arrives, and the three of us sit down at the dining table to eat. Mick joins us, looking refreshed from his nap. We dig into the pasta and salads, the meal doing wonders to revive our energy.

"So, any special plans for the rest of the day?" Mick asks between bites.

"Just taking it easy," I reply. "Maybe a bit of sightseeing later, but nothing too strenuous. We need to be in top shape for the next race."

"Sounds like a good plan," Mick agrees. "I wouldn't mind exploring a bit myself."

After we finish eating, we clean up and decide to go for a walk around the neighborhood. The weather is perfect, and the fresh air feels invigorating. We stroll through a nearby park, chatting and laughing, enjoying the rare downtime.

As the sun begins to set, we head back to the apartment, feeling relaxed and recharged. We spend the evening watching a movie, with Charlotte curled up beside me and Mick stretched out in an armchair. It's a peaceful end to a hectic day, and I'm grateful for these moments of tranquility

As the movie ends, we all head to bed, knowing that tomorrow brings new challenges and adventures. But for now, we're content to simply be together, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.