Ice and asphalt [Charles Leclerc]

40

"Here you are," I hear Charles' voice, soft but full of relief. I've been sitting on the rooftop terrace for what feels like hours, watching the sun dip into the ocean, the sky turning deep shades of orange and purple. The paddock has emptied out, the energy of the race long gone. Teams are packing up, and the once vibrant noise has been replaced by the occasional clank of equipment being loaded into trucks. I look up as Charles bends down to kiss my head, the warmth of his touch cutting through the haze of my thoughts. A small smile creeps onto my face, though I feel like I'm barely here. He pulls a chair next to me, gently lifting my legs onto his lap, the gesture so simple yet grounding. "You okay?" he asks after a moment of quiet, his voice gentle, careful. I know he's worried, but he's trying not to show it too much. I take a deep breath, staring out at the horizon. "I will be," I say quietly. "You just need to give me some time." It's the truth, though it feels heavy to say out loud. The anxiety has been weighing on me all day, a constant knot in my chest that refuses to loosen. But I want it to. I want this to work between us. I want to feel normal again, to stop feeling like I'm on the edge of breaking at any moment. "I'll have patience," he says, squeezing my leg reassuringly. His words are a promise, one that I'm grateful for but also feel guilty about. He shouldn't have to wait for me to be okay, but I know that's where we are right now. We sit there in silence for a while, the night wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. The cool breeze brushes against my skin, and for the first time in hours, I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Charles doesn't rush me to talk or push me to explain. He just sits with me, his presence solid and unwavering. The paddock, now nearly empty, feels like a different world from the one it was earlier. The chaos, the noise, the pressure—it's all faded into the background, and now it's just us, sitting in this quiet moment, letting the world spin on without us for a little while. I glance over at him, his face illuminated by the dim light from the motorhomes below. "I'm sorry for how I've been," I whisper, my voice catching slightly. "I'm trying, but it's hard." He turns to me, his eyes soft and full of understanding. "You don't need to apologize, Lou," he says gently. "I know you're doing your best. And I'm here, okay? No matter what, I'm here." His words make something inside me crack, and suddenly, the weight of everything I've been carrying feels too much. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I try to blink them away, but it's no use. A tear slips down my cheek, and before I can stop them, more follow. Charles pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. "It's okay," he whispers into my hair, his voice soothing. "Let it out." And so I do. The tears fall freely now, all the emotions I've been holding back finally spilling over. Charles doesn't say anything else; he just holds me, his arms strong and comforting. I bury my face in his chest, letting the warmth of him steady me as I sob quietly, releasing everything I've been too scared to let out. Eventually, the tears slow, and I'm left feeling drained but somehow lighter. Charles continues to hold me, his hand gently rubbing my back in slow, soothing circles. "Thank you," I murmur against his chest, my voice barely a whisper. He kisses the top of my head again. "Anytime."

My phone buzzes, pulling me out of the moment. When I glance down, it's a text from Vic. "Fuck," I mutter under my breath, realizing I've completely forgotten about the movie night I promised her. With everything going on, it slipped my mind. "What?" Charles asks, his concern evident as he watches me wipe away the last of my tears. "I promised Vic we'd have a movie night at her place," I sigh, feeling guilty that I have to leave. I'd rather get on a plane with Charles and head back to Monaco, just be with him away from all of this, but I can't stand Victoria up. I've barely seen her recently, and she's been looking forward to this. "It's okay, Lou. You need some time to relax," Charles reassures me, his thumb brushing gently against my cheek. I nod, grateful for how understanding he's being, even though I know it's hard for both of us. We get up, and he leans down to kiss me, but not before making me laugh. "Try to get some spill on her and Lando. I know they're sneaking around," he says with a smirk, his playful grin easing the tension in my chest. I laugh, shaking my head as I turn to leave, his words making me feel a little lighter. But the smile drops the moment I walk right into Max. Of all people. His familiar face darkens my mood instantly, the tension between us palpable. He doesn't even hesitate, leaning in with his trademark snark. "Having a hard time now that your affair is out in the open?" he says, his voice dripping with mockery. His eyes glint with something darker, almost pleased to see me struggling. I stiffen, the weight of his words hitting me hard. "Max, it's not an affair. You cheated. I didn't," I say, my voice firm as I try to end this conversation as quickly as possible. I'm not in the mood for his petty games, not after everything that's already happened. Max doesn't back down, though, his smirk widening as if this is all a joke to him. "You keep telling yourself that, Lou," he sneers, leaning in slightly, his presence suffocating. "We both know you're not innocent." I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. "I don't owe you anything, Max," I say coldly, stepping past him. "I moved on. Maybe you should try it too." I can feel his eyes on me as I walk away, but I don't look back. The encounter leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I push it down as I head toward the exit. Max's words swirl in my mind, but I know he's wrong. He doesn't get to rewrite the story. He doesn't get to ruin this too.