On and Off the Track

S E V E N T Y E I G H T

October 1st
I woke up with a flutter of excitement in my chest. The first thing I did was check my phone, where I found a string of messages from Charles, filled with snippets about his experiences in Singapore so far. As I read through his words, I could practically hear his voice, excited, full of enthusiasm and passion.
"The city is incredible! So many lights, and the energy is through the roof. I wish you could see it. Qualifying was intense, and I can't wait for the race!" I smiled at his exuberance, a familiar warmth spreading through me. I quickly typed back,
"I can't wait to hear all about it! Good luck today! I know you'll do great."

As the hours passed, I tried to focus on my upcoming events and some meetings with designers I was collaborating with. But no matter how deep I got into work, my mind kept wandering back to Charles and the exhilarating life he was living as an F1 driver. I couldn't help but picture him zooming through the streets of Singapore, his determination written all over his face. By the evening of October 2nd, I needed to unwind, so I met up with a couple of friends for dinner at a restaurant in Monaco who I had met at recent events. The ambiance was perfect, warm and inviting, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. As we caught up over plates of delicious pasta and glasses of wine, I could feel the stress of the week melting away.
"Have you seen all the buzz about Charles and the race? It's everywhere!" Lauren said, scrolling through her phone. "They're saying he's a serious contender for the championship this year." I felt a surge of pride rise in my chest.
"He really is. He's been working so hard for it."
"Are you two officially together now?" Sophie asked, flashing me a teasing smile. "Because everyone's been talking about you two since that charity event." I laughed, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks.
"I guess you could say that. We're still figuring things out, but I'm really happy."
"Good! You deserve to be happy," Lauren added, raising her glass in a toast. "To love and to Charles!". We clink our glasses together, laughter bubbling around the table. It was one of those easy nights with friends, where the conversation flows, and you feel like everything is falling into place. But even as I soaked up the joy of the evening, I couldn't stop thinking about Charles. The yearning to see him again tugged at me, reminding me just how much I missed him.

Later that night, when I got home, I curled up on the couch and started flipping through social media. My feed was flooded with posts about the Singapore race, highlights of Charles and his incredible performance. Seeing the joy and excitement on his face made my heart race. The victorious energy radiated through the screen, and it was contagious. I swiped through photo after photo of him celebrating with his team, and all I could think about was how much I wished I was there. Just then, my phone buzzed with a video call request. My heart leaped when I saw Charles's name flash on the screen. Without hesitation, I answered, and suddenly, his face filled the frame, bright and animated.
"Hey! How are you?" he beamed, his enthusiasm palpable.
"Good! Just wrapped up dinner with some friends. How's everything in Singapore?" I asked, leaning in closer, eager to soak up every moment with him.
"It's amazing! The fans are incredible," he said, his eyes shining. "I miss you though. It's not the same without you here." My heart warmed at his words.
"I miss you too! It's been weird without you around. I keep thinking about all the fun we had in Milan and Monaco."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too," Charles admitted, his smile softening. "I can't wait for you to be at the next race. I want to celebrate together." We chatted for a while, sharing stories about our days and laughing over inside jokes. Charles animatedly recounted the race weekend, detailing the thrills and the strategies he planned to employ. I listened, captivated by his passion and drive. After saying our goodbyes, I settled into bed, the warmth of our conversation lingering like a sweet melody. I closed my eyes, imagining the next time I would see him, the anticipation of our reunion already filling me with excitement.

October 9th,
The air was electric with anticipation as I awaited Charles's arrival. After what felt like an eternity, he was finally flying home after the Japanese Grand Prix, where he had just secured another podium finish. He left the track immediately to get home to see me. The excitement of seeing him again fluttered in my chest like a thousand butterflies. I arrived at the airport early, my heart racing as I walked through the terminal, scanning every face that passed me. I replayed the last few days in my mind, the way we had talked and laughed over video calls, but nothing compared to being in the same room as him. As I settled into a seat, I kept glancing at the arrival board, willing time to move faster. Finally, the flight landed, and I could feel the energy shift as passengers began to stream through the terminal. The moment I spotted him, my breath caught in my throat. Charles emerged, his hair slightly tousled and still in his team jumper, a huge grin lighting up his face as he scanned the crowd. Our eyes locked, and in that instant, everything else faded away.
"Bronte!" he called, his voice a mix of relief and joy. He hurried toward me, his long strides quickening as he closed the distance between us. I rushed forward, my heart racing, and before I knew it, we were enveloped in a warm embrace. The world around us melted away as we held each other tightly, the exhaustion of travel and the weight of separation dissipating in that singular moment. "God, I missed you," he said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes.
"Me too! It's been way too long," I replied, a wide smile breaking across my face. Charles took my hands in his, the warmth of his touch igniting butterflies in my stomach.
"You look amazing. I can't tell you how good it feels to see you."
"Thanks! You look pretty good yourself, considering you just raced," I teased, noticing the light stubble on his jaw and the gleam in his eyes.
"Race day always brings out my best," he joked, but there was a sincerity behind his smile that made my heart swell.