Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 18 | Sparks Fly

February 10, 2023
(Text messages in italics)

My phone buzzes again, and I check it with a slight sense of nervousness, but Aria's response is nothing like what I expected. 

"Oh ok, just curious. 😊 How was your morning?" 

I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. She doesn't pry, doesn't make a big deal out of it, and I'm grateful for that. It's just another example of how easy things are with her, no drama, no unnecessary complications. 

"It was good, actually," I reply, feeling a bit more at ease. "I went to my first therapy session today. It was...better than I expected. How's your day looking?" 

I hit send and lean back in my seat, waiting for her reply. I watch as the sunshine cascades in through my windshield and my phone buzzes again. 

"That's amazing, Charles. I'm really proud of you! I've got a promo event tomorrow and then I fly out to Tokyo, but I'm free for a bit now. Want to grab coffee before we both get back to our busy lives?" 

I can't help but smile at her response. The idea of seeing her, even just for a little while, brightens my mood. 

"I'd love that. Let's meet at my apartment?" 

"Perfect! See you in 20?" 

"See you then." 

I start the car and heading back to my apartment, feeling a sense of anticipation bubbling in my chest. Part of me would have loved to meet in a cafe to enjoy each other company, but I wasn't ready to be in public yet. I appreciated how Aria never questioned why'd we never meet outside of one of our apartments.

I had avoided any and every opportunity to be seen in the streets of Monaco, drove my more incognito cars and avoided all social media. I was already dreading the thought of being thrown back into the limelight in a few days when I'd head to Maranello with Carlos.

 It's strange how something as simple as a coffee can make me feel this way, but with Aria, everything feels different. When I pull into my buildings garage, I walk through the lobby, seeing Aria sitting there, waiting.

Her eyes light up when she sees me, and I can't help but notice the way my heart skips a beat. I'm not ready for anything serious...I know that. But there's something about her that makes everything feel so...natural. 

"Hey," I greet her, kissing both of her cheeks. "You beat me home" I laugh.

"Yeah, my shoot was actually around the corner from you, so I walked here!" 

I nodded and we walked towards my elevator. The silence in the ride up was comfortable, both of us just smiling at each other as we waited for my floor to appear. I watched her from the side of my eye, her smile making my heart flutter.

I unlocked my front door, stepping aside so she can enter in first. I don't miss the way our arms brush against each other, her warm skin against mine. A blush creeps on my cheeks and I find myself smiling like an idiot at such a small touch.

"You look like you've been up to something exciting." She laughs, a sound that tugs at something deep inside me. She places her stuff down on the hallway table, following me into the kitchen. I flip the espresso machine on, pulling a few items to prepare for the two of us.

"You could say that. I've got this huge photoshoot coming up in Tokyo, and I've been swamped with preparations. It's a lot, but I'm excited." 

As she talks, I find myself getting lost in her eyes, the way the golden hues blend into the green, how they light up when she's passionate about something. There are tiny freckles scattered across her face, each one like a little star, and I can't help but notice the way her lips curl up when she's retelling a story.