Neighbours, Friends, Lovers

42. Roomservice

꧁ Charlotte's Pov ꧂

Since Monaco he didn't got on the podium once.
In Baku he got a dnf, 5th place in Canada, 4th in Silverstone.
I didn't went to neither one of them since I've agreed to just European gran prix so here I am in Austria for the weekend.

"You look beautiful." Charles says while we're walking through the Paddock with my hand in his hand.
"Thanks." I say showing him a fake smile since we're surrounded by photographers.
"I'll leave you with Riccardo and Marta." he says stopping in front of the hospitality.
"Alright thanks." I say about to end our contact but he doesn't let go my hand and once I turn to look at him he's eyebrows are narrowed.
"Stop talking to me like this" he says with a fatherly voice tone.
"Like what?" I ask acting dumb.
"Don't play dumb. You know." he says giving me even a look that a parent would give to a child instead of yelling.
"Come here." he says  softening his eyes and pulling me into a hug.

He wraps his arms around my shoulders so well.
His scent wakes up my sense.
"Oh my God I've missed this all week." he whispers into my ear keeping me into a tight hug.

His raucous voice in the morning is one of my biggest weakness and it still has the same power on me.
"Your scent.." he says tickling my neck with the point of his nose.
I get chills every where and a pulse between my legs starts and that's my alarm that goes on.

I pull myself out of the comforting sensation of his hug.
"You have to go" I say while he holds both of my arms gently.
"You're right, I have to go but were you coming to the box for the free practice?" he asks and I see excitement and hope in his green eye.
"If they come I'll." I say and he nods satisfied of my response.
"Alright I'm going, I love you, see you later." and he runs away before I could yell at him.

"Hey how are you doing?" Riccardo asks once I'm sit on one of the sofas in the hospitality .
"Fine." I say while I see Marta talking to someone of the staff.
"You can tell me the truth char." he says and I lay all my attention on him and I see preoccupation in his eyes.
"I'm so confused, hurt, disappointed, scared and all of this doesn't make me sleep at night." I let out followed by a sigh.
He presses his lips in / line and he looks at Marta.
"Charles told me that you're sleeping at Thomas."
I nod.
"You could have told us we could have given you the guest room." he says and I shake my head.
"You two were at the race and also Marta is expecting and I don't want to be a bother." I explain and he furrows his forehead.
"A bother? It could be ideal to have another woman around the house expecially when I'm away." he says kinda obvious.
"I'll be keeping an eye on her don't worry." I show him a smile.
"You know that he asked me to find you an apartment?" he says with a uncertain voice tone.
"Yes I know it." I say while something heavy seems to take place on my chest.
"I've already found it and it's close to you class... so are you going to take it?" he asks.
"I don't know Ric. Taking that apartment would mean one that I'm not independent as I thought and two that I will let him get closer again." I explain really exhausted.
"Not true. You are independent you just are restricted because you have so many eyes on you you don't want to disappoint your family and other things... also you will not be living with him so you will not get closer even if... can I ask you something?" he says trying to cheer me up and then his face expression get serious.
"Yeah" I say.
"It would be bad letting him get closer to you again?" he asks and my smile drops.
"Riccardo." I say rolling my eyes.

"I swear I'm not doing it because he's my best friend but because I put myself in his situation and yes he been the most dumbass ever but he understood his mistake and he's trying to make things right." he says obviously defending his best friend.

I would be doing the same if there were Marta and Riccardo at our place.

"He is just trying to save his butt." I reply.
"Don't say that Cha. You can see how he looks at you and how much he has been through as you in the past weeks." he says showing pity for his friend.
"Don't compare the 2 situation. I'm in this situation, heartbroken, because of him." I explain the obvious to him.
"I'm sorry you're right but try to imagine this: he cheated on you, you did what you did and he never came back to you asking for a second chance. Instead of asking you forgiveness he goes to that girl and starts a new relationship. A relationship fully public, like a hard launch. Wouldn't be even worst?" he asks and a whole other point of view opens up in my mind.