Wrong number

17) realisation

*real life*

A few days later, Charles gets invited by his mum to go see his family. He kept thinking about the sudden change of his relationship with Max. He wasn't really used to calling him a friend. He took his car and drove to his childhood home. He parked himself in the lines for once and went inside.

He was welcomed with a big hug from Pascale and his brothers came to check him. He got past the hall and they all went to the living room. They all sat down and his mum started asking Charles about what he did the first part of the summer break. He told them about how he spent a week in Italy with Pierre and that they did a party. Charles talked about Max and how they became friends that weekend but didn't go into details about how and especifically what they did on that balcony. But he did want to tell them about his sexuality because he thought about Max, it was just in case though. Nothing would never happen between these two. But still, just in case.

"Hey it's not related to Max (why would it be) but did I tell you I was bi? I like both girls and boys." His mum and brothers hugged him and told him they supported him. "But are you sure it's not related to Max?" Arthur asked with a grin, after all he knew the gossip. Charles looked shocked and offended. But would it be that bad with Max? No he was already a good friend, why wouldn't he be a good boyfriend? "Arthur! Tu ne peux pas dire ça, tout de même!" You can't say that His mum scolded him. His brothers laughed, because obviously Arthur would say things like that.

Charles wanted to be petty, so he also asked something about Arthur's previous teammates. "So you're telling me you were never at least bi curious for some old Prema mates?" He smirked. Arthur looked panicked for a second then responded. "N-no. J'ai pas euh souvenir de ça n-non." I dont have memories n-no He said thinking about all the guys he met at Prema. Paul, maybe? Or Ollie. They were quite nice and he needed to admit he kinda found them pretty. He also remembered once or twice drunk having kissed one of them. Ok he was definitely bi curious.

"Arthur?" Charles asked looking at his little brother still in his thoughts. "Yeah?" "You alright frérot?" Bro Lorenzo asked. Arthur slowly nodded his head. As he thought 'the stats say it, one person out of 20 is gay. One of them had to be'

They changed subject and Pascale proposed to start making dinner all together. Which meant her, Lorenzo and Arthur cooking and Charles getting the ingredients out of the cupboard or fridge. Charles would also get the pan or pot for them, just not the cooking part.
It wasn't really his fault if no one really trusted him to make food. But neither did he, honestly. He was struggling to make pasta, so it was inevitable for the number 16 to avoid cooking.

The Leclerc were making "Barbajuan", which was an appetiser from Monaco made of Swiss chard, spinach, ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, onions, leeks, egg whites, pastry (flour, eggs, olive oil, water). It mainly looked like a sort of pocket made of dough stuffed with Swiss chard, spinach and ricotta. The dough was baked and it was a bit of a fritter.

Pascale was preparing the dough while the boys prepared the inside. Arthur was cutting the spinach and Lorenzo was preparing the cheese. Charles helped getting things out and talked with everyone. Once the dough was ready they stuffed it with the preparation and put all the pockets in the oven. After a few minutes they got it out and put it in plates. The family all gathered around the dining table to eat. They continued to talk and this time talked about racing. Charles was very happy to finally have a break as he was done with Ferrari being a real joke. The car was good but far from the top, and their strategies were something sometimes. Arthur reassured him telling him upgrades were normally coming as he had tested the car in Maranello. It was his job after all, being a test driver.