A/N: It's race week!! Which means I'm just in time to post the final summer break chapter before we get back at it with the Dutch Grand Prix 👀 Jumping into Charles's POV for some summer fun... Or heartache? French translations at the end!
"Mate!" Charles jumps slightly in his spot on the yaucht's front deck. He drops his phone on his towel before pushing himself upright. Joris is waving wildly from the other side of the boat while holding Leo in his other hand.
"What?" Charles shouts back, taking off his sunglasses.
"Leo a fait pipi sur le canapé," Joris groans, holding the Dachshund away from his body.
"Non, Leo!" Charles whines, walking over to grab his dog from his best friend.
"Oui. Norman est en train de le nettoyer."
"Mais c'est son anniversaire. Il n'est pas obligé de faire ça," Charles sighs as Joris shrugs. He goes back inside while the Ferrari driver stares with a frown at his dog. Leo sticks out his tongue on cue. Charles doesn't know if he should return the boat to the port or drop Leo into the sea.
As he's almost made up his mind, his phone rings loudly against the deck. The familiar fan-made song echoes across the sea as Charles hurries over to take the call before his friends notice. He's almost there when he trips on the final step leading to the deck. Leo goes flying, landing gracefully on the beach towel, while Charles faceplants first on the wooden underground.
Face down, he reaches for his phone. He accepts the video call, finally lifting his head to look his boyfriend in the eye.
"What happened to you?" Worry is etched in Max's features.
"Well, I burned on day two of this getaway. Leo has peed and pooped on the boat several times, and I just faceplanted rather painfully on a wooden deck, and I don't feel like getting up," Charles says, trying to keep a straight face. Going to Ibiza with friends sounded great in theory a few weeks ago, but after the mess the past week's been, he just longs to return to his boyfriend.
"That all?" Max snorts, trying to hide his laughter behind his hands.
"And I miss you." Charles bites his lip, feeling a blush creep into his cheeks as Max's face lights up.
"I miss you too. Portugal's been a drag without you."
Charles can't wait to return to Monaco.
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Charles knows Monte Carlo like no one else. He's grown up here and raced several times around the infamous track. Yet, when he wants to visit his boyfriend, he manages to walk the wrong way twice. He has no idea why he's nervous. They've gone longer without one another than last week. It shouldn't make him this anxious. It does, though. After meeting Max's sister and her small family, Charles's been on edge. He doesn't know if Max expects the same from him. Hell, he doesn't know how to act once the F1 season starts again. They were in such a happy bubble the past few weeks. What if it changes once more?
"Hey." Max's voice erases all the worries that have been forming for days.
"Hi." Charles launches himself at the Dutchman, throwing his arms around his neck and going straight in for a desperate kiss.
Max stumbles backwards but catches Charles just in time. He kisses him just as feverishly back while kicking the door closed.
"I've missed you so much," Max pants as Charles moves towards his neck, sucking and biting as he does.
"I've missed you, too," Charles whispers against Max's sunburned skin.
'At least, we're both Ferrari red,' Charles thinks to himself, trying not to break out into laughter and failing.
YOU ARE READING
If Clarity's in Death, Then Why Won't This Die?
عاطفية"Max doesn't know what to say. His eyes draw over every inch of Charles's face. His green eyes with brown specks, the sweat dripping down his face, his lips curled in a small smile... "If only you saw yourself the way all of us do. The way I do." Ma...
