Book 2: Beginning Again -Carlos Sainz

Chapter 38

Carlos couldn't stop smiling. Sometimes it was just the slightest upturn of a lip, sometimes it was a full fledged grin, but he couldn't stop his face from showing his emotions. He was back in the game. She called him for help. She called him to come to her rescue, to come protect her when she didn't feel safe. There had to still be something there. At the very least, there was a sliver of hope. Carlos hopped out of his car, wrapping up a rather boring FP2. He finished up the rest of his work duties, wandering around the garage. He spotted her long, blonde ponytail before he realized he had stopped in his tracks.

**

Marie was pissed. Mark had dragged her to FP2, when she knew she would rather be quite literally anywhere else. Free practice was boring, even when she was dating one of the drivers. Mark was in full panic mode about taking over her job, and he was bothering her with questions constantly. Marie thought about the plans she had earlier, involving a stroll through the downtown, maybe some pastries from the local shop with great reviews. It was a perfect day in Italy, but now she stood in the garage watching the most boring FP2 in existence.

"Okay, how does this look?" Mark said, turning his Ipad to Marie.

"Fine," Marie said, glancing over to her father who had drifted to the other side of the garage. Marie briefly wondered how much he would kill her if she snuck out right then and there. She looked to the screens once again, letting her mind drift towards the pastry she was planning on getting. She felt a tap on her shoulder, forcing a sigh out of her nose as she turned her head around.

"Hey," Carlos said. He stood with his hands on his hips, staring at her from under his long lashes.

"Hi?" Marie replied with confusion, still only half looking over at him. "Can I help you?"

"How are you today?" He replied, cocking his head to the side. He threw her a look that made Marie feel her heart drop.

"I... uh, I'm fine. How are you?" Marie replied with more confusion as she looked around. Mark was deeply invested in his ipad and probably wasn't even mentally on this earth.

"I'm great. I've decided that we're friends now," Carlos replied with feigned seriousness.

"You've... just... decided this?" Marie said, now fully turned to him with her arms crossed on her chest.

"Yes. I decided after I rescued you a few days ago. That's how you can repay me."

He said it like it was a fact, like she didn't have a choice in the matter. He moved his arms to match hers, crossing them over his thinly-veiled chest. He stood to the tallest of his height, looking down at her.

Marie stood to the tallest of her height like he did, still having to tilt her chin up to maintain her eye contact. They stayed like that for a beat, in silence, daring the other to speak first. He resorted to pouting out one lip, throwing his best smolder.

"It looks like I don't have much choice in the matter then," Marie said, as the edges of her mouth formed the smallest smile. Carlos reveled in his victory of seeing her smile. Before he knew what he was doing he took a step forward towards her, invading her personal space. Confusion flashed on her face, but she didn't step back. He leaned forward, inching closer to her face as he stared into her eyes. Marie felt her heart rate quicken, waiting for her to feel angry or want to push him away. She waited for her brain to tell her hand to raise up and smack him, but her hand wanted nothing more than to loop around his neck and feel his soft hair matted by his neck. She felt betrayed by her brain wanting to pull him closer and feel him. At the last second, his head deviated towards her ear, whispering to her,

"You didn't."

**

Singapore was hot. That was all Marie could think about as she tossed and turned in her hotel room bed. She flopped her body on top of the sheet, taking out her frustrations on the white bedding. They had just arrived that day, and Marie was exhausted from the time change and all the travel, but she couldn't get her mind to shut up. She sat up to redo her ponytail, making a big floppy bun on her head. Her head fell into her hands, willing her brain to just shut up. She couldn't stop thinking, but it was what she was thinking about that was keeping her up. She grabbed her phone, noting that it was well past 1am. She opened every app she had, twice, before she opened her messages and typed in his name.