Love in the Dark

Chapter Nineteen: Shadows of Doubt

The club was alive with the electric pulse of celebration, the sound of music and laughter filling the air. Carlos stood among his friends—Lando, Max, and Charles—fresh off his Australian Grand Prix win. Bottles of champagne were being passed around, and the grid was deep in their celebrations, toasting to the thrill of the race. But despite the cheers and the smiles, Carlos wasn't fully there. His mind was wandering, drifting to Charlese and Kaia, the two people who meant more to him than the trophy he had just lifted.

Kaia was under the care of a trusted nanny for the evening. Carlos and Charlese had made sure she was safe before heading out for the post-race celebrations. Kaia had become such an integral part of their lives, a bond that tied Carlos and Charlese even closer together. And though the awkwardness between them lingered after recent events, there was no denying that their connection had deepened since they had taken Kaia in.

Carlos had been trying to focus on the moment, laughing along with his friends, but something felt off. Then Lando stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting towards the entrance of the club. His grin widened as he gave Carlos a nudge.

"Hey, isn't that Char?" Lando asked, leaning in with a smirk.

Carlos, already on edge, glanced in the direction Lando was pointing. His heart sank when he saw her. Charlese, looking stunning in a sleek, black dress that hugged her in all the right places, had just walked in. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, and the shimmer of the dress caught the light with every movement she made. She looked effortlessly beautiful, and for a moment, Carlos couldn't take his eyes off her.

But then he noticed something else. Reginald was right there with her, walking side by side. They seemed relaxed, comfortable—even more than just friends should be. Reginald leaned in to say something, and Charlese laughed, the kind of laugh that made Carlos's chest tighten.

Max, ever observant, noticed Carlos's expression and raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the same guy from earlier?" he asked, clearly enjoying the drama brewing beneath the surface.

Charles, who had been listening quietly, nudged Carlos with a playful grin. "Mate, let it go. He's here for the party, same as you."

Carlos forced a smile, but his gaze remained fixed on Charlese and Reginald. The way Reginald had his hand on the small of her back as they moved through the crowd made something twist in Carlos's stomach. He knew it shouldn't bother him. He and Charlese were just taking care of Kaia. That was it. They had agreed to put her future first, not let anything get in the way.

But seeing Charlese and Reginald together like this, so at ease with each other, felt wrong.

"They're just friends," Carlos muttered, trying to convince himself as much as anyone else. He took a sip of his drink, but his eyes betrayed him. He couldn't help but stare at the way Charlese leaned into Reginald's words, her smile bright.

Lando, sensing Carlos's growing frustration, tried to keep things light. "Sure, just friends," he teased, but then his tone softened. "Come on, man, don't let it ruin your night."

Max, leaning in, clapped Carlos on the shoulder. "Yeah, forget about it. We're here to celebrate you, not whatever's going on with them."

Charles, ever the voice of reason, added, "You're overthinking it, mate. She's here because she's part of the team. You know Char. If there was anything going on, you'd be the first to know."

But Carlos couldn't shake the unease. Reginald had always been around, part of Charlese's life, but now, seeing them like this—it was different. There was a certain ease between them that Carlos couldn't ignore. He tried to remind himself that Charlese wouldn't do anything to jeopardize Kaia's future. They had both made that promise. Still, the jealousy gnawed at him.