Love, Monaco

00.08

A/N ^^^This photo of Charles makes me giggle every time, he's so bundled up which is such a relatable mood 😂

The end of the week comes and goes, the Monday of our second and final week in Monaco comes too quickly for my liking. When I wake up on the first day of the week I sigh staying in bed for a few extra minutes hoping to permanently remember the room I'm staying in. That thought makes me quickly grab my sketchbook which is on the nightstand, I open it to a blank page and start sketching out the bedroom from my angle adding it to the other drawings from this trip. When I finish a few minutes later I smile and close the book placing it back where it was, picking up my phone instead. The top notification on my lock screen is a text message from Charles, the time stamp is 2:45am.

Charles

Just got back, meet me at the cafe at 10:30, I can't wait to know everything about you Della😊

I bite my lip to hide the smile on my face as I think about the guy that manages to make me forget about all of my doubts. When I see the time on the top of the screen I swear sliding out of my bed, not realizing how late I slept in. As I shimmy into the jeans I chose for the coffee date, I grab the first shirt I touch, a red long sleeve that dons a small Ferrari logo, over my heart, one of the souvenirs my brother got me from Maranello. I grab my phone and keys before sliding on some flip flops walking out of the room quickly wanting to make it to the cafe in time. "Woah where are you rushing to?" I smile at my friends who are at the kitchen counter, "Charles, cafe, gonna get to know each other" I explain briefly as the time on the stove shows one minute to when i'm supposed to meet him. "Have fun" Wren exclaims as I walk out of the apartment shutting the door behind me before running down the stairwell and out onto the sidewalk.

I look both ways before crossing the street like almost every morning, but my eyes look for a certain brunette this time around. A smile comes to my face when I see him leaving the cafe two ceramic mugs in this hands. He sits down at a table so I approach happily, the bottom of my flip flops slapping the pavement with each step. When I'm close enough Charles looks up, he smiles at me making my heart flutter, "you made it" he says making me laugh, "yeah, I nearly slept in too long" I reply sheepishly, he laughs as well and I sit down across from him. His eyes move to the logo on my chest, his smile changing, "what do you not like this shirt?" I ask looking down at the spot, "that's not it" he replies making me look up, "because if you don't then why do you drive a Ferrari" you interject trying to figure out the guy that's across from me. "Della I need to tell you something" Charles says, the tone of his voice concerns me, "ohhhkay" I reply, hesitantly watching the brunette, "i'm a driver on Ferrari's Formula 1 team" I blink a few times processing his words, he looks at me a nervous expression on his face.

I place my elbows on the table leaning forward onto them, "so you're telling me that you drive really fast cars for a living?" I ask with a smile, he nods still looking at me unsurely, "damn Charles, why did you make it sound like you were going to tell me the worst news possible" I exclaim with a laugh making him smile, "everyone treats me differently when they know, which I usually never have to tell them personally since everyone knows already" he explains sheepishly. I reach across the table and with a spark of confidence place my hand over his, "you will never have to worry about that with me, my older brother on the other hand is in love with Ferrari's F1 team soooo sorry in advance if you ever talk to him" this makes him laugh and he turns his hand to interlace our fingers. "I can handle it Della" I smile, "now that the secret is out we can move on to other things" I say before grabbing my mug with my free hand to take a long sip of the warm beverage.

"I never got around to asking, and don't take this the wrong way, but why are you in Monte Carlo?" Charles asks me curiously, I smile, "me and my two friends just graduated from uni, we've been saving up to take this trip as a sort of celebration for finishing school" I reply proudly. "Congratulations Della" I blush looking down at the table, "thank you, it's been quite the journey" he squeezes my hand, "I wish I could say that I get it but I really don't" I giggle looking up at Charles, "you don't want to go through what I did for a degree in fine art" his eyes light up, "you're an artist" I shrug "I veer towards drawing more than painting" he scoots closer making me smile. "Have you drawn anything while here?" I bite my lip remembering the first drawing I did of the guy leaning towards me, "yes, but they're all rough and messy" he smiles, "i'm sure they're great, I would love to see them some time" I blush looking away from his gaze, "we'll see what happens" I reply vaguely. "Enough about me, tell me about you" Charles nods and leans back in his chair before telling me about his likes and dislikes, which gets us talking about our families. We end up leaning on the table our heads close as we talk, our fingers loosely interlaced between us.

I jump away from Charles when my phone vibrates in my back pocket, "I'm so sorry" I say as I take out the device, "it's okay Della" he replies as I unlock the phone to check why the group chat is going crazy. Del it's almost 2pm are u ok? my eyes widen at Émie's text, "woah we've been here so long" I say while looking up at the race car driver, he nods giving me a dimpled smile, "we had a lot to talk about" I smile before dropping my head to reply to my friends, i'm fine still at the cafe with Charles, I go to put away my phone but a hand grabs it quickly. I snap my head up to see Charles typing something while biting his lip, "there now we follow each other on Instagram" he says and gives me my phone back, "did you really need that extra follow?" I ask in disbelief, "how else am I going to see your amazing artwork?". I'm speechless at his reasoning my heart fluttering again at Charles' interest in my passion. "Why do you look so surprised Della?" I shake my head trying to form a reply that doesn't give away my horrible past relationship, "you keep surprising me is all" he slides my phone across the table to me, "surprises are the best, aren't they?" I laugh and nod, "they can definitely be pretty great" I say thinking about our first meeting about a week ago.

Once we've paid for our second round of coffees and snacks the two of us leave the cafe. I'm biting my lip nervously as we walk next to each other trying not to jump into anything deeper by crossing my arms to prevent any hand holding. I tell Charles that I need to get back to my friends as we cross the street. "I understand Del" I smile up at him, "thank you for today" he smiles as well as we approach my building, "I had a great time" he says when we stop in front of the building entrance. "I had so much fun with you Charles" I exclaim the doubts I've been ignoring resurfacing as I keep a healthy distance between us. We fall silent for a few seconds my inner thoughts telling me that I need to tread carefully. "Are you okay Della?" I give Charles a hopefully convincing smile, "yeah I'm great, just lost in thought" he nods sticking his hands in his pockets, "when do you leave?" he asks me, "Friday" I reply, "maybe we could do something like this again" he says a hopeful tone in his voice, "I think that's a great idea" he smiles and I bite my lip. "Have a great rest of the day" I add and turn to open the door, "you too Della" he replies making me look over my shoulder with a small grin before I completely walk through the door. Once inside I lean back against the door with a sigh, closing my eyes hating that my ex has made me this person that doubts ever guy that I come in contact with. After a few seconds I open my eyes and go up to the apartment bracing myself for the questions from Émie and Wren.

☕️☕️☕️

Liked by emietach, wrentellier, charlesleclerc and others

16LechateauDella Dans un café en Monte Carlo ☕️

emietach 👀

wrentellier 👀👀

ariellelechâteau77 ma cousine an artist and a photographer 🥰
- 16LechateauDella omg I miss you Ri ❤️