Diamond Tears | Book 2 of The Champagne Chronicles

S E V E N - The Grand Prix Confrontation

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Riley's room, casting a golden glow over the quiet space. Daphne stretched beneath the covers, blinking sleepily as she slowly came to. Beside her, Riley was already awake, his arm draped lazily over her waist, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on her skin.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep but carrying a playful edge.

"Morning," Daphne replied with a sleepy smile, shifting closer to him. "Last night was... fun."

Riley chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "Yeah, I'd say we had a pretty good time. You looked incredible, by the way. That leather jacket? Killing me."

"Oh, I know," Daphne teased, grinning up at him. "And you weren't so bad yourself, Mr. I'm-Too-Cool-For-The-Dancefloor."

Riley laughed, shaking his head. "I'm just glad I didn't step on your feet. But I'll admit, the best part was getting you back here."

Daphne smirked, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. "I noticed. You couldn't keep your hands off me."

Their playful banter was interrupted by the sound of movement in the apartment. Daphne sat up slightly, peeking out from under the covers just in time to see a girl tiptoeing out of Jérôme's room, her shoes in hand. The girl shot a quick, embarrassed glance toward Daphne and Riley, offering an awkward smile before making a hasty exit.

Daphne bit her lip to keep from laughing as she flopped back onto the pillow, glancing over at Riley, who raised an eyebrow.

"Guess Jérôme had a fun night too," Riley said with a chuckle.

"Clearly," Daphne said, stifling another giggle. "You'd think he'd at least walk her to the door."

Before they could say anything else, the door to Riley's room suddenly flew open, and Jérôme himself strolled in, still half-asleep, wearing nothing but his boxers and a messy grin.

Without any warning, Jérôme dove onto the bed, squeezing himself between Riley and Daphne as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Mornin', lovebirds," he mumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow as he snuggled into the covers.

"Dude, seriously?" Riley groaned, shoving him playfully. "Can't you at least give us some space in my bed?"

"Nah, it's cozy in here," Jérôme replied, eyes still closed. "Plus, I have a hangover, and your bed is comfier than mine."

Daphne laughed, leaning over to poke Jérôme's side. "So, what's the story with your friend? Didn't seem like a serious goodbye out there."

Jérôme cracked one eye open, a lazy smirk spreading across his face. "Eh, you know me. She's cool, but nothing special. Fun for a night, though."

"You're terrible," Daphne said, shaking her head with amusement. "And here I thought you were looking for 'the one.'"

"Oh, I am," Jérôme replied, putting on a mock-serious tone. "But until then, I've gotta keep my options open, right?"

Riley groaned again, throwing his arm over his eyes. "Why do I let you live here?"

Jérôme snorted. "Because you love me. And you'd be bored without my sparkling personality."

The three of them fell into easy banter, laughing and teasing each other. It was moments like these—wrapped up in lighthearted fun—that reminded Daphne why she loved being with them. For a moment, everything felt right, like the world outside could wait.

——

The ride to Monte Carlo was quiet, the group still recovering from last night's Halloween celebration. The crisp autumn air filtered through the open windows, carrying the scent of the sea as the car navigated the winding streets toward the famed Monaco Grand Prix.