Never Get to Heaven • Charles Leclerc

016. OVERTHINKING

"Joanna?" I called out as I rushed through the apartment door, my voice edged with panic. "Joanna, are you—" I froze mid-sentence as I spotted a figure in the kitchen.

"Bea! Hi!" Lando greeted me with an mischievous grin, practically bounding over to me.

"Lando! What a surprise!" I blurted, feeling the tension in my body ease as I greeted him with a hug

He stepped back, taking a look at me, his expression shifting to mild concern. "Are you alright? You look a bit... flustered." He squinted. . "...And sweaty," he added with a playful grin.

I rolled my eyes and lightly swatted his arm. "I'm telling Jo."

His eyes widened dramatically. "Okay, okay! I take it back. Not sweaty at all, you're... incredibly dry?" He grinned as he threw his hands up in mock surrender.

I couldn't help but laugh as I set my bag down, just as Jo came into the room.

"Hey, little bee!" she chimed, her warm smile instantly calming my nerves. "How was your day?"

The anxious pit in my stomach tightened as my mind flashed back to Adam and Charles's interaction. How do I explain that with Lando here?

"Uh... Interesting?" I grimaced, the word coming out with a shrug. Joanna tilted her head, waiting for me to say more.

I glanced back over to Lando, who was now leaning casually against the counter. I switched my gaze back over to Jo who looked more concerned with each passing second.

"Do you want me to ask Lando to leave?" She spoke low and careful in French. I shook my head lightly.

"No, no. It's okay."

Joanna moved over the the couch across the room in front of the TV, motioning for Lando and I to join her.
"Come on then! Tell us everything!"

Lando slid in beside her, casually draping an arm over her shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. For a couple who had only known each other a few weeks, they looked surprisingly at ease together. Jo didn't even blink at the gesture, leaning into his touch with a contented smile.

Impressive, Loverboy.

I sat in front of them tentatively. I felt like I had just entered an interrogation room. I gave them a meek smile and began to tell them everything.

"Lando. This stays between us. I don't want you running off and telling all of your little racing friends." I warned, sternly. He nodded pretending to zip his lips and lock them.

I started from the previous weekend to catch Lando up on everything that had happened. The ice cream shop, how Charles interacted with me in the club and how I woke up to him in my hotel room. Although, I suspected had already heard all of this from Jo.

"So yeah... I felt so awkward and now I'm really worried about Spain." I exhaled, it felt nice to get it all off my chest.

"He just invited you... both of you?" Joanna asked tentatively, curiosity washed across her face.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Adam is really excited." I pulled my lips into a thin line.

"Wait... So did something happen between you and Charles in Italy?" He questioned.

Jo shot him a stern look.

"NO!..." I blurted out, causing him to jump back slightly. "Sorry... I mean, no. Nothing happened, but it felt like I crossed a line." A few seconds of silence passed.

Jo and Lando exchanged a glance, one that spoke volumes, though I wasn't entirely sure what it meant.

"Why is it an issue then?" Lando probed further, it felt like he was trying to catch me out.

"I don't know." I admitted, lowering my head. "Maybe I'm making this more of an issue than it is in reality..." I finished, struggling to meet the couple's gaze.

"Little bee..." Joanna spoke gently, reaching out for my hand. "It feels like you are overthinking this." Her thumb rubbed against my hand in soothing circles. "You were going through a lot while we were in Italy and you are still sorting things out with Adam. It's a lot for your little brain to process!" I looked up to see Lando nodding along to Jo's words.

"Nothing happened between you and Charles. You are just friends, like you told me. You just got caught up with all of your feelings. And anyway..." She turned to face Lando. "Didn't you say Charles is a bit of a charmer?"

"Yeah... I guess you could say that. I wouldn't worry about him."

I blinked hard. A charmer? I shifted uncomfortably. Why did that irritate me?

"What is that supposed to mean?" I questioned, my voice a little sharper than intended.

"You know... He gets a lot of girls. It seems like it's a game to him, impressive really." Lando let out a small chuckle.

"Do you want to be with Adam?" Jo continued, quickly diverting the conversation as she saw my jaw clench at Lando's words.

I hesitated, fiddling with the ring on my index finger. Of course I do, right? I made my choice.

"Uh... Yeah, I want to try and work things out." The words felt disconnected as they left my mouth, anxiety seeping through my tone. "He seems like he has changed..."

I noticed Jo's expression shift slightly and then soften again, like she had more to say about my answer but decided to stay quiet.

"You know, I'm just annoyed Charles got to you first, I was gonna ask if you wanted to come to Spain." Lando stood up, hands on hips, jokingly pouting.

"Jealous?" I teased back.

"Yeah, he's stolen my biggest fan!"

"Keep dreaming, Lando!" I winked.

"At least you won't need to thirdwheel anymore, Bea." Jo elbowed me playfully. I felt a spark of my usual self return.

"Thank God for that, you guys really need to learn how to get a room." I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips.

Maybe Jo and Lando are right—I'm completely overthinking this. Charles was just a momentary distraction, someone who happened to be there when everything was spinning out of control. My mind must have latched onto that. Adam and I are working things out, and we'll get back to the way things used to be.