On and Off the Track

E I G H T Y.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains, I stirred slowly, the remnants of sleep still clinging to me. I turned, expecting to find Charles beside me, and was met with the coolness of the sheets. The faint sound of movement in the hallway caught my attention, and I realised he must have just got back from his morning training.  As I settled back against the pillows, I heard the bedroom door creak open, followed by the sound of his footsteps. The door swung open, and there he stood, shirtless and droplets of sweat still glistening on his skin. He looked down at me, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Good morning, mon coeur," he teased, his voice a deep rumble. "I hope you don't mind a little sweat in your bed." I laughed softly, my eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You're so charming first thing in the morning," I replied, rolling onto my side to get a better look at him. "I might need to think about a stricter 'no sweaty athletes in bed' policy." Charles laughed, walking over to the bed and flopping down beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight.
"You love it. Admit it!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He leaned closer, kissing my neck. "Plus, I'm just giving you a little extra warmth." I feigned disgust, scrunching my nose.
"Oh, please! You reek! What do you do at training? Wrestle with a goat?" He chuckled, shaking his head as he settled back against the pillows.
"No goats, just sweat and determination. And maybe a few push-ups." As we joked back and forth, the warmth of the moment wrapped around us like a soft blanket. It felt so easy to be with him, and the joy of our playful teasing filled the room. I loved how effortlessly we could connect, even in the simplest of moments. Eventually, Charles sighed, leaning back and looking at me with that soft, adoring gaze that made my heart flutter.
"You know, I really wish I didn't go," he admitted, his tone turning slightly serious. "Would have much rather stayed here with you and had a lazy morning."
"Training is important, and I'll always be right here waiting for you," I promised, reaching out to lightly brush my fingers against his arm. "Just next time maybe have a shower before you jump back into bed." He grinned, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"I thought you loved the smell of my sweat. I was doing you a favour."

With that, he got up, stretching his muscles before heading out to start his day. I snuggled back into the sheets, feeling a warm glow in my chest as I realised just how much I was already starting to love living with him. As the morning turned to afternoon, I lingered in bed, savouring the comfort of the soft sheets and the scent of Charles lingering in the air. The quiet of the apartment enveloped me, but a part of me felt restless, yearning for the bustling energy of the outside world. After a quick shower and a change into comfortable clothes, I decided to make the most of my day. I ventured into the kitchen, brewing a cup of coffee and reminiscing about our time together in Paris. The excitement of Fashion Week was still fresh in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory of Charles cheering me on from the front row, his face a picture of pride. It was moments like those that made my heart swell. With my coffee in hand, I plopped onto the sofa and grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my social media, checking in on friends and the latest updates from the fashion world. But as I flipped through my feed, my eyes landed on a photo of Charles, fresh from training, sweaty and smiling with his team. A wave of affection washed over me; I could practically feel the warmth of his presence even through the screen. After a while, I noticed a message from Charlotte.
"Let's go for lunch! I need to hear all about Paris!" I quickly typed back,
"Absolutely! Meet you in an hour?"

Once I finished my coffee, I took a moment to tidy up the apartment before heading out. The day was bright and sunny, the air crisp with the promise of autumn. As I walked through the streets of Monaco, I felt the familiar thrill of the place—its vibrant colours and lively atmosphere. I had always loved this city, but it felt even more special now with Charles in her life. When I met Charlotte at a quaint little café, we greeted each other with warm hugs, laughter spilling out as we took our seats.
"So, spill! How was Paris?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"It was insane! The shows were incredible, and the after-parties... let's just say I had a lot of fun," I replied, my cheeks flushed with excitement. I went on to share stories of the runway, the fashion icons I had seen, and, of course, the time spent with Charles.
"Can you believe you walked for Valentino?" Charlotte said, her voice filled with awe. "That's a huge deal! And Charles was there to support you the whole time. It's so sweet!" I smiled, feeling my heart flutter at the thought.
"He's really been amazing. I don't think I could've done it without him cheering me on." We chatted animatedly, our conversation flowing effortlessly between fashion, personal stories, and future plans. After lunch, we decided to stroll through the marina, admiring the luxurious yachts and soaking up the sun. Charlotte brought up plans for another Leclerc family get-together and the possibility of my family also being there. I said it would be fun and we began discussing how we could make it possible. Just as we turned a corner, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Charles:
"I'm finished with work. Can't wait to see you. I miss you already." My heart swelled, and I quickly replied,
"Miss you too! Heading back now"

Later that evening, as I returned to our apartment, I felt a surge of excitement from my day still lingering in the air. As I opened the door, I was greeted by the warm glow of dim lighting and the flickering of candles. Charles was already home, and I could see him settled on the couch, his expression lighting up as soon as he spotted me.
"Hey! You're back!" he said, a smile spreading across his face as he stood up to greet me.
"Hey," I said softly, leaning up to kiss him. Charles smiled at me, his eyes reflecting genuine happiness.
"I missed this place without you," he said, glancing around the apartment. "You make everything feel alive." We settled onto the couch, sharing stories of our days, laughter echoing between us as we reminisced. I felt the warmth of our connection wrap around me like a familiar blanket, grounding me. As the evening wore on, we decided to order in, savouring each bite while discussing our upcoming plans. Charles mentioned a few ideas for activities we could do together during our time in America and his days off. In those moments, as we shared food and laughter, time seemed to stand still.