Pole Position: Between Logic and Passion

Little Things

I cleared my throat, barely above a whisper. “Do you… have plans for tonight?”

He hesitated for a second before speaking again, running a hand through his hair, eyes briefly flicking to the floor, then back to me.

“I actually booked a flight for tonight,” he said. “Back home.”

My heart sank just a little, even though I told myself it was stupid to feel that way. I nodded, trying to hide it. “Right. Of course. Makes sense.”

I started to turn away, forcing a small smile, but he stopped me with a quiet, “Amy.”

I looked back at him.

He scratched the back of his neck, almost awkwardly. “I have an extra seat. It’s a private flight. If you want… you could come with me.”

My eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. “To Monaco?”

He nodded. “Just for a few days. Get some rest. Maybe avoid sticking your hand in a live engine for a little while.”

That made me laugh, despite myself. “I wasn’t planning on doing that again.”

His expression softened. “Good.”

I looked at him for a moment, really looked, trying to read whatever was going on behind those tired, thoughtful eyes. He wasn’t pushing. He wasn’t asking for anything more than a quiet escape.

“I’d like that,” I said finally.

He smiled—gentle, relieved—and somehow it felt like the first quiet breath after hours underwater.

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s go home.”

-----

The plane was quiet—just the low hum of the engines and the occasional rustle of fabric as we settled into our seats. It wasn’t a long flight, but the exhaustion in my bones made it feel like I’d been running for days.

I rested my head back, the pain in my arm now a dull, persistent throb under the bandages. Charles sat across from me, legs stretched out, hoodie pulled over his head halfway like he was trying to disappear into it.

I shifted slightly in my seat, my fingers nervously playing with the edge of the blanket covering my lap.

"Kate told me about the lunch," I said, my voice low.

Charles turned his head slowly, confused for a second. “What lunch?”

“With Anna.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. Just looked at me like he was trying to read between the lines.

“That’s what distracted you in the elevator?” he asked softly.

I nodded, feeling suddenly too exposed under his gaze.

He leaned back slightly, his arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. “I didn’t know Kate would tell you.”

“I don’t think she meant to. It just... slipped.”. Such a lie ...

“You didn’t say anything to me,” I murmured, eyes fixed on my hands.

Charles let out a soft breath. “I didn’t know you wanted to know.”

I looked up at him slowly, searching his face. “Of course I wanted to know.”

His eyes met mine again, gentler now, more cautious. “Amy… I don’t know the rules between us. Sometimes I feel like I should give you space. Other times, like now, I realize maybe I’m giving you too much of it.”