Lost and Found

Chapter 26

The days spent in Spain were heavenly and Sara felt bad that after tonight's sponsor event, she would have to go home early in the morning. Carlos would head back to England for some final preparations for the British Grand Prix and life would go back to normal.

"Carlos?" With her hands tightly gripping on the front of her dress, Sara walked out of the bathroom where she had been getting ready for the event. "Charlo?" Carlos came walking up the stairs and started smiling when he saw Sara in her midnight blue dress that reached to the floor, especially since she wasn't wearing her heels yet.

"You look gorgeous." Sara blushed.

"Could you zip me up?" She turned around and quickly felt Carlos' fingers grazing over her lower back, dragging the zip up. "Thanks." She turned around and noticed herself flicking her eyes down at his lips and back up to his eyes. "I should do my hair." She whispered and quickly turned around. Once back in the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror and breathed heavily. Much time for calming down she didn't get as Carlos walked in as well, getting out the products he needed for the finishing touches for his appearance.

Sara's heart was racing and her blood rushing to her cheeks. And it didn't go unnoticed by Carlos. He had noticed that over the days, the dynamic between him and Sara had changed. The cuddling on the couch was no longer just to be comfortable but being as close to each other as possible and the teasingly flirting was no longer strictly teasing. He knew that the attraction towards Sara had turned into feelings a while ago but for the first time he felt like she reciprocated the feelings. For the first time, he truly felt like there was something between them.

Of course, the soft peck in France gave away some of it but it was in a moment where Sara was completely lost and people sometimes do strange things when they are lost. But since then, there had been more moments where he felt like a kiss could have happened. Where they both wanted it but it didn't actually happen. They finished getting ready and found themselves driving to the venue in silence. It wasn't awkward or anything, both were just too invested in their own thoughts to have a conversation.

"What is the evening going to look like?" Carlos explained the night. There would be a moment where he would have to let Sara alone but that would be for only fifteen minutes and she would be able to listen to the interview. Furthermore, he would be by her side, chatting to people, eating and dancing.

When they arrived, the first thing that awaited them was the red carpet. It wasn't the first time they would appear on a red carpet together. After all, the Amber Lounge in Monaco had been the first time. This time felt different, however. Where they had been holding hands in Monaco, they were now standing millimetres apart from each other, looking very much like a couple.

Carlos greeted a large number of people and watched as he saw how Sara engaged in a conversation of her own with some of the females standing close by. The event started and soon Carlos had to leave for a bit.

"He's a handsome man," Carmen said, looking at Carlos as he stood on the stage. "You're lucky to have a man like him."

"Oh, but he is not my man."

"Would have convinced me." She winked. "The guy is head over heels for you darling. He keeps looking at you. Even now he is on the stage." Sara looked up and indeed caught Carlos looking at her. She smiled at him and he winked. Carmen looked back at Sara. "And something tells me you are head over heels for him as well. What is holding you back?"

"Something that happened."

"Being romantically together doesn't mean you are bonded for life, so why not take a leap of fate and see where it goes?" The words hit Sara. Carmen was right. All this time she had been afraid to have something serious with Carlos but a relationship wasn't something as permanent as a marriage and even that wasn't permanent.

"You're right." She whispered. "Absolutely right." In the meantime, Carlos' interview had finished and he was walking back towards Sara.

"Ready for the dinner?" Sara nodded as Carmen's words still echoed through her head. It wouldn't be that big of a commitment to be in a relationship with Carlos. It could be ended in a few words if ever needed. There wouldn't be the whole process of legally being divorced, the having to divide the things they had bought. It would be as open or committed as she would want it.

They sat down at the table and stared at the several glasses and bottles of beer in front of them. They were going to do a beer tasting. Sara had been to several wine tastings but she wasn't a big fan of beer. However, for Carlos, she would taste every beer they would serve. Slowly, they went through all the beers. Sara would take a sip of every beer and at the end, she had to admit, there were a few she didn't mind as much as she disliked others. Everyone got a bit looser at that point and some people started to dance.

"Do you want to dance?" Sara didn't process what Carlos was saying as she was still running over the words. Would she just have to take the lead and tell Carlos how she felt about him? Because she was sure there were feelings on both sides and if there was one thing she had learned from staying in Spain with him, it was that she wanted to be close to him at all times to be able to hug him, to lean into his chest, to snuggle up on the sofa. "Sara?"

"Sorry?"

"I asked if you wanted to dance but you were miles away with that pretty head of yours."

"Sure," Sara said, slightly flustered. The impact of his compliments also started to get bigger as she started to like Carlos more.

Together, Sara and Carlos walked to the open space in the room where several couples were already dancing. Sara put her arms around Carlos' neck and he placed his arms around her hip. Once again, being this close to Carlos felt safe and comfortable. She rested her head against his chest, going over the words one final time. If she wanted to be with Carlos, she would have to take the lead as Carlos had become more careful with how much he showed that he was very much interested in her after he had heard the full story of Noah.

It had scared Sara for a moment that he had set a step back but after a good conversation with her mother, she calmed down. She had to be grateful that he was willing to take it slow, as slow as she needed.

But right now, she didn't want to take it slow anymore.

"Can we go outside or something?" Carlos frowned and quickly looked around.

"I guess we can." He said and hand in hand, they walked towards the doors that would lead them to a garden. It was scarcely lit and Sara's eyes had to adjust for a little.

"What's wrong?" Carlos sounded worried, he noticed how tense Sara was and if he didn't know any better, he could hear her heart beating rapidly, but that was most likely his own heartbeat.

"Nothing, I just really need to do this." She cupped his cheeks and pulled his lips towards his. "I've been wanting to do that for days now." She whispered as their foreheads rested against each other.

"So have I." Carlos stroked her cheek and she rested against his touch. "You have no idea." He kissed her again. And again. And again. Sara giggled but she too enjoyed the kisses and finally getting over themselves. "I didn't want to push you into anything but I wanted to scream it from the rooftops how much I like you, Sara."

"Go ahead. I'm all yours." She breathed.

"So, if I would want to, I could call you my girlfriend?" A smirk was tugging on Carlos' lips and Sara smiled. She loved how Carlos could be so cocky and selfless at the same time. He had somehow found the perfect balance and always knew when to let the right side out.

"You could but only if I can call you my boyfriend." Carlos laughed but then stared at Sara.

"No, you can't." She giggled and pushed him awayever so slightly, only to be pulled back in by him and to feel his lips againsthers. "Of course you may." He grinned. "You may even scream it off therooftops."