𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 | 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄

The next morning, Clara woke up on the couch, still in last night's clothes. She wasn't drunk at all this time; she just came home very full and very tired. The dinner with her gang had been a blast, especially since she spent most of the night chatting with Lando. He was incredibly funny and charming, like no one she had ever met before. Clara savoured every minute spent with him, feeling a warmth in her chest as she recalled their laughter and easy conversation. It was a refreshing change, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought of seeing him again.

Clara very slowly got off the couch, feeling the stiffness in her limbs. She had avoided going upstairs last night since her bed was still a mess from her earlier mishap, and the housekeeper wouldn't come until later, while she and Carlos were out at lunch with their families. The thought of that lunch made her feel like kicking herself. It wasn't that she disliked her own family; it was just the idea of being around Carlos's family that made her uneasy. She sighed, knowing she'd have to face the unresolved tensions that lingered between them.

As Clara made her way upstairs, Carlos began going down. "You look nice," she complimented him. He was wearing Louis Vuitton pants and a white t-shirt, paired with Louis Vuitton Air Force Ones. Clara couldn't help but admire his style, even as her heart raced with the tension that hung in the air between them.

Carlos glanced down at his outfit and smiled, a hint of pride in his expression, but she could see that his eyes held a bit of uncertainty, too. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to appear casual as he leaned against the railing. "Thanks," he replied, his voice a little softer than usual. Clara took a step closer, feeling the urge to break through the awkwardness. She noticed a small smudge of something on his shirt and reached out, lightly brushing it away with her fingers. "You might want to watch out for that," she said with a teasing smile, hoping to lighten the mood. Carlos chuckled, the tension easing just a bit as he looked into her eyes.

"You also smell so good," she added, and he smiled. They exchanged a brief glance before separating, each moving in their own direction. Clara headed upstairs, glancing at her closet as she thought about what outfit she could wear to match his style. She opened the door and started pulling out clothes, laying them on her bed to see what might work. Clara considered a few options, holding them up to the light, trying to visualize how they would look next to Carlos.

Clara got dressed in a fitted white dress with lace trim, pairing it with thigh-high black leather boots and her favorite gold jewelry. She grabbed a black leather bomber jacket that she had picked up in Australia during The Open and made sure to spritz on her favorite fragrance. Even though she preferred a more natural look, she applied very light makeup, aware of how judgmental both her and Carlos's moms could be about her appearance. After tying her hair in a sleek high bun, she took her YSL shoulder bag and walked downstairs.

As she reached the bottom, she spotted Carlos lounging in the living room. Clara walked over and sat down on the couch next to him, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as she settled in. Carlos looked over, his eyes widening slightly as he took in her outfit. "Wow, you look amazing," he said, a smile spreading across his face. Clara felt a rush of warmth at his compliment, hoping that lunch would go smoothly.

"Yeah, you came home quite late last night," Carlos said casually, glancing over at Clara, who felt her cheeks heat up. She looked back at him, biting her lip. "I know, dinner ended kinda late," she excused herself, shrugging her shoulders slightly. Carlos nodded, then asked, "Was Lando there?" Clara shot him a quick look, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, but so were Jimmy Butler and Coco," she explained, her voice a bit defensive. Carlos nodded slowly, and an awkward silence hung between them, the tension palpable.

"Oh, is Jimmy that guy who made a video congratulating me on winning Wimbledon?" Carlos said playfully, his lips curling into a teasing smile. Clara's face brightened as she responded, "Yeah, he is," her mind drifting back to the video and how he mispronounced 'Carlitos.' "Speaking of videos, would you like to make a TikTok with me?" Clara offered excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she held her phone out, bouncing slightly in her seat. Carlos hesitated for a moment, then gave a shy nod, a small smile creeping onto his face. It had been quite a while since the duo last made a TikTok together, and she loved doing those dances with him. She quickly opened the app, ready to pick a fun song that they could dance to.