On and Off the Track

E I G H T Y F O U R.

The next morning arrived with the familiar hum of excitement in the air. Race weekend always carried an electric energy that even the quiet of our hotel room couldn't escape. Charles was already awake when I stirred, quietly getting ready for another day at the track. He moved around the room with his usual grace, the soft rustle of his clothes barely audible as I lay there, watching him through half-closed eyes.
"Morning," I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep. He turned to me, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"Morning, mon coeur. You've got a couple more hours before you need to get up," he said gently.
"I know," I said, stretching out in the bed. "But I like watching you get ready." He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"You're strange."
"And you're predictable," I teased, making him laugh under his breath. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead.
"I'll see you later," he said, his voice low and affectionate. "What time you coming to the track"
"Midday" I replied, still half-draped in the sheets. "Wouldn't miss it."

With one final glance, He slipped out of the room, leaving me to enjoy the last few moments of peace before the day fully kicked off. I stayed in bed for a bit longer, my thoughts wandering between the day ahead and everything that had happened so far this weekend. The calm before the storm. By the time I made my way to the track, the paddock was already buzzing with activity. Practice sessions were well underway, and the familiar sound of engines roaring filled the air. I found my way to the Ferrari hospitality area, where the team greeted me warmly. There was something comforting about being surrounded by the same faces, the familiarity of it all making me feel at ease despite the chaos of race weekend. I bumped into Joris again who was in his usual spot capturing moments around the paddock.
"Back for more?" He teased, snapping a quick photo of me before I could protest.
"You always catch me off guard," I complained playfully, shaking my head.
"That's the point," he grinned. "How's the day going so far?"
"Good, just trying to soak it all in," I said, glancing around. "It never gets old, does it?" Joris shook his head.
"Never. Especially not when you've got this kind of energy going on." As we chatted, I spotted Lando in the distance, talking with some of his McLaren team. He looked even more energised today. It was good to see, I thought, glad that he seemed to be doing better. My thoughts briefly flickered to Yvie, and though I hadn't seen much of her this weekend, I couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet respect for the woman who had clearly become a big part of his life.
"Hey, Earth to Bronte?" Joris waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry, spaced out for a second," I laughed, slightly embarrassed. "It's just a lot to take in sometimes." He smirked knowingly.
"Yeah, that happens around here."

I felt more at ease than ever in the paddock. There was something about the familiar chaos of race weekends that felt strangely calming now. I strolled through the busy paddock, exchanging smiles and waves with the other team members and friends I'd come to know over the years. It was like a small community, bustling and full of life, and I fit right in. As I wandered toward the hospitality area, I bumped into Isa, standing by a taco stand.
"Hey!" she called out, a bright smile on her face. "You hungry? You have to try these; they're amazing!" I grinned, making my way over.
"I'm always down for tacos." We grabbed a couple and found a quiet corner to sit and chat. The conversation flowed easily, moving from race talk to fashion week highlights, and soon we were laughing about the smallest things. I felt a sense of normalcy that was sometimes hard to find in this world.
"These tacos are unreal," Isa said, taking another bite. "I swear, this is the best part of the weekend." I laughed, nodding in agreement.
"I think I agree. This might be the highlight." As we ate and chatted, one of the F1 media photographers approached us, camera in hand.
"Mind if I get a quick photo of you two?" he asked, motioning toward the tacos in our hands. I exchanged a glance with Isa, and we both laughed.
"Sure, why not?" I said, he captured the easy, fun moment, us mid-laughter, tacos in hand before thanking us and moving on.
"That's definitely going to end up online," she said with a grin.
"Of course it will," I replied. "But hey, at least we'll look like we're having the time of our lives."