Going For The Gap

The last race of the year feels like a victory party, all weekend long. Even Papá came to Abu Dhabi!
It's pure magic in the air.

Nothing short of bliss.

This is the happiest I've ever seen Charles.

Hell, it's the happiest I've ever seen me.

The only thing worrying me is what will happen when we go back to our separate homes, and well - separate countries at that. After sharing a hotel room for several weeks now that feels so far away.

Too far.

I miss him even now when we're only apart for hours at a time, even when I know I get to be the one he cuddles every evening. The one thing I know for sure is that everything is better when I'm with Charles somehow.

And I don't want this to end.

I'm just going through the motions in the shower, too in my head to give it too much focus.

Or even to notice the man on my mind watching me with a smile.

"What's on your mind?" Charles asks, startling me.

"What?"

How can he always read me so well?

"I can feel you overthinking." He calls it like it is, moving to brush his teeth.

And overthinking I am.

"Where will you live after the season?" Easing in with no pressure.

"Monaco."

Oh.

I assumed that.

"Well, I must live in Italy."

"Oh." His turn to realize now, his voice falling flat.

So he hadn't thought of this before then. "Exactly." I exhale deeply at the word.

"I'll make some calls." All he replies. He's never stressed out, frazzled like me. It's not his nature and that's a good thing.

One worry wart in a relationship is plenty. "Ok."

Not like this is a good time to press the issue.

He's got to be driving like three hundred kilometers an hour in just a few hours.

"Amelia?"

"Yes?" I turn off the shower water, reaching for a towel.

Charles spits out his tooth paste. "Come to the paddock with me today."

With him.

I'm honestly shocked he asked. There's a reason we always go separately. Getting into the paddock on race day is a mass of fans, press and the public. But mostly the fans.

Charles is always stopping for photos and autographs, ever the charmer. He loves his fans deeply, and they love him.

When he gets stopped and we're out together it's usually just one or two, nothing like race day.

There's thousands.

I have no experience with anything of the like.

The press sure, but this is altogether different.

We're affectionate in public sure, but we both realize the paddock is our place of work and treat it respectively for the most part.

But this will be a part of my life with Charles, and the sooner I rip the bandaid off the easier it will be.

Right?

I've obviously waited a long time to respond because he swirls around to face me, looking fully confused.

"You said you didn't want to hide." He's got me there.

"I don't!" I'm protesting, not proud of my own hesitation.

What if they all hate me?

I don't have the cleanest record in the public eye. It was only weeks ago at at the track when Jay punched me, causing absolute havoc. What will people think?

"Let's do it." I say with as much confidence as I can muster. Charles rewards me with a kiss, and leaves me alone to get ready.

Please, please let this go well.

I can just take pictures for him, and nobody will even notice my presence. Hopefully.

A hopefully that passes the second we stop for Charles to sign the first hat. "Holy shit, are you dating?!" His fan screams, overjoyed to see him.

He's got a grin the size of Texas on his face when he says "We are."

"You're so lucky!" She breathes in my direction.

She doesn't know how right she is. "I am." I reply with a wide smile, taking her phone to take their photo.

"The luck is all mine." He protests, always so charming. I give her phone back and give him a knowing look of love.

My heart twinges just at the eye contact, but when he leaves in for a kiss it soars.

Well then, I guess we're doing the dang thing then. Camera flash and cheers erupt, Charles is giving them just what they want.

I'm so lucky to be his.

I love watching how he takes the time to care for each person he talks to, chatting with each of them. It takes us over half an hour just to make it to the paddock, but it feels like seconds. He has such a big heart, it warms my own.

Charles is absolutely beaming, taking me hand in hand to scan into the paddock.

And he's not the only one.

Us in public feels good.

Feels right.