Leah actually thought that Kika might have been stalking her. How else could you explain that the Portuguese, yet again, knocked at her hotel room exactly when Leah was done with her makeup?
She opened the door, letting Kika in.
"You do your makeup after you put on your outfit?" Kika asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes?" Leah replied, a little defensive.
"Crazy behavior, but okay," Kika said with a grin.
Leah rolled her eyes. "I don't judge you."
"Yeah, because there's nothing to judge me for," Kika laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Anyway, are you ready? We gotta go. Charles is spiraling that we're gonna be late."
"Yep." Leah grabbed her purse, and they headed into the hallway, where Pierre was waiting patiently.
"Looking good, Frenchie," Leah teased, her eyes sweeping over his outfit.
Pierre grinned. "You're not bad either."
Leah quickly spun around, showing off her outfit with a playful twirl. It was a routine they'd fallen into with Pierre – an inside joke between them. While her bond with Kika was deep, built over years of knowing each other inside and out, Leah's connection with Pierre had a different energy. It felt like meeting a kid on a playground when you're five, instantly knowing that they'd be your friend forever.
She appreciated how Kika never seemed to mind, always encouraging the friendship between her and Pierre, as if knowing the balance they brought to each other's lives.
They met Charles and Alex at the hotel entrance, where a light debate over the best route to the restaurant was already underway. Leah had been to this particular spot every time she visited Paris – it was her little tradition. Sharing it with Kika and Pierre felt right, even though she did feel like a kid stuck with her parents. Sharing it with Alex and Charles... well, she could tolerate that.
After some back and forth, they decided to stroll along the Seine for the views, since it was still a close way to the restaurant. Of course, Kika couldn't resist doing some TikToks, and Leah found herself drafted (more like forced to be) as the photographer. Pierre stood on the sidelines, providing moral support, while Alex and Charles walked a little behind them, their voices barely audible at first.
Leah's focus shifted to the video she was filming for Kika, trying to get the perfect angle. But then she caught the sharp edge of Alex's voice, rising in frustration.
"I told you already, Charles, the reservation was for 7:30, not 7:00. Now we're rushing for no reason," Alex said, her voice tight with irritation.
Leah's hands stilled on her phone, but she didn't turn around. She didn't want to intrude on their conversation.
"Well, sorry for wanting to be early for once," Charles replied, his voice defensive. "I thought you'd appreciate it."
"Appreciate it?" Alex shot back, incredulous. "You've never been on time for anything, and now suddenly you're the king of punctuality?"
Charles let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I just didn't want us to miss it, okay?"
"We wouldn't have missed it if you had just listened to me," Alex muttered, her steps quickening.
"I am listening, Alex!" Charles snapped. "But I swear, it feels like everything I do lately annoys you."
"That's because you don't think things through," Alex shot back. "You just act and then wonder why I get frustrated."
YOU ARE READING
red xoxo | charles leclerc
Romance"you're not a bad person Leah. you're just in love" "do you think that's what Alex was telling herself, too?" in which Leah knows what's right and wrong, but the wrong looks way too good standing there and leaning on his Ferrari.
