fouled by fate • aurelien tchouameni (4/10)
SYNOPSIS: Aurélien Tchouaméni, one of football’s rising stars, is used to navigating the pressures of the pitch—but nothing could prepare him for an arranged marriage. With his family’s legacy and cultural traditions at stake, Aurélien reluctantly agrees to marry a woman he barely knows. But as they’re thrust into the public eye, sparks fly in unexpected ways. The two must navigate the complexities of love, duty, and fame, all while figuring out if they’re playing on the same team—or if their hearts are destined for different paths.
PAIRINGS: Aurélien Tchouaméni x Zuri Awanto Nchang (faceclaim Samira Ahmed @/iamsamiira)
WARNINGS: cursing, football b.s., dry humor/wit, slight arguing, friends to lovers, instant attraction, angst, eventual smut (18+/minors dni)
TAGLIST: @trenterprise @f1-football-fiend @lettersofgold @hopefulromantic1 @deonn-jaelle @vile-harlot @perfecttrashface @queenshikongo3 @2serenity0 @essaysbyciara @saturnville @trentswrld @planetmimi @muglermami @shepgurl @sucredreamer @julescpu @tchouathon @greyishbach @shelovesfootie @certifiedlesbianbaddie @trinitoldyouso @bbgkoo
A/N: Doing my best to incorporate bits about Cameroonian culture as best as possible. Thank you again for your love and appreciation!
Zuri tilted her head, examining her reflection in the salon mirror. The warm auburn tones of her newly dyed hair caught the light, giving her skin a golden glow. She ran her fingers through the silky strands, marveling at the smoothness of the press.
"¿Te gusta?" the stylist asked, a hopeful smile on her face.
Zuri nodded enthusiastically. "Me encanta," she replied, her Spanish still hesitant but steadily improving. "It's perfect."
Stepping out of the salon, Zuri blinked against the bright Madrid sun. She pulled out her phone, tapping the Uber app to request a ride. As she waited, her agency's notification popped up again. They'd been shocked when she'd informed them of her move to Spain, but she'd managed to dodge their questions about the reason. How exactly does one explain an arranged marriage in the 21st century without sounding like you've lost your mind?
The Uber pulled up, a sleek black sedan that looked out of place among the colorful Spanish cars. Zuri slid into the backseat, giving the driver a polite nod before losing herself in thought.
It had been a whirlwind few days since Real Madrid's UEFA Super Cup victory in Poland. The city was still buzzing with excitement, and now all eyes were on the upcoming match against Mallorca. Including, apparently, her own.
Aurélien had been... different lately. Considerate in a way she hadn't expected. Always making sure she had enough to eat, asking about her day, suggesting places in Madrid she might enjoy. It was... nice. Confusing as hell, but nice.
The Uber wound its way through Madrid's streets, and Zuri found herself actually appreciating the view. When had that happened? When had this strange city started to feel less alien?
Arriving at Aurélien's - their? - house, Zuri was greeted by Zeus's enthusiastic barking. She bent down to ruffle his fur, giggling as he tried to lick her face.
"Hey, boy," she cooed. "You like the new look?"
As if in response, Zeus gave an approving bark.
Zuri made her way down the hall, her mind already on the packing she needed to do for Mallorca. Aurélien had invited her to the away game, her second match since Poland. She was determined to continue making a good impression, though she wasn't quite ready to examine why that mattered so much to her.
As she pulled out her suitcase, Zuri's phone buzzed with a text from Aurélien:
"Heading home. Want to grab dinner? There's this great tapas place nearby."
Zuri found herself smiling as she typed her reply:
"Sounds perfect. Can't wait. 😊"
As she hit send, Zuri paused, her hand hovering over her open suitcase. When had she started looking forward to spending time with Aurélien? When had his texts started making her smile like this?
She shook her head, trying to clear these confusing thoughts. Focus on packing, she told herself. One step at a time.
But as she folded a sundress into her suitcase, Zuri couldn't help but think about the paparazzi photos she'd seen online. They were claiming she was Lila's new BFF, which was fine by her. It kept her connection to Aurélien under wraps for now, at least until he could discuss everything with his PR team.
The flutter in her stomach returned, stronger this time. Zuri took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. This was just an arrangement, she reminded herself. A business deal, essentially. So why did it feel like something was shifting?
As she continued packing, Zuri found herself both dreading and eagerly anticipating the weekend ahead. Whatever was happening between her and Aurélien, whatever this strange new dynamic was, it was clear that Mallorca would be more than just another away game.
The quiet creak of the front door snapped Zuri from her thoughts, followed by the rapid patter of paws and excited barking that echoed through the house. Aurélien was back from training. Zuri took a steadying breath, running her hands over the fresh curls of her new hairstyle. It wasn’t nerves, she told herself—just an adjustment.
When she stepped into the foyer, Aurélien was petting Zeus. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, his eyes widening slightly as they landed on her.
"Nice hair," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Ready for dinner?"
Zuri gave a small nod, a bit of warmth creeping up her neck under his approving gaze. "Thanks. Let’s go."
Zuri followed him to his Porsche 911 Turbo S. She watched as Aurélien opened the passenger door for her, waiting patiently for her to slip inside before moving to the opposite side of the car, sliding into the driver's seat, his movements fluid and graceful. His large hands gripped the steering wheel with a casual confidence.
Aurélien navigated the Madrid streets with ease, his muscular forearms flexing slightly as he shifted gears. Zuri found herself stealing glances at his him, the strong line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes as he focused on the road. The way he handled the powerful machine with such effortless control was... undeniably attractive.
The tapas restaurant was tucked away on a quiet side street, its warm yellow lights spilling onto the cobblestone sidewalk. Inside, the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Exposed brick walls were adorned with vintage posters, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of garlic and saffron.
They slipped into a corner booth, the noise of the restaurant — soft chatter and the occasional clink of glasses — fading into the background. Zuri finally exhaled fully, feeling some of the unease of the past few weeks start to melt away.
"So," Aurélien said, popping an olive into his mouth, "tell me more about New York. What do you miss most?"
Zuri's mind flooded with images of her favorite coffee shop, late nights with friends, the constant buzz of the city. "Everything," she admitted. "But mostly my friends. It's... different here."
Aurélien nodded, understanding in his eyes. "It takes time," he said softly. "But Madrid has a way of growing on you."
His voice was quieter now, less assured, like he was offering something personal. Zuri tilted her head, curiosity getting the better of her. "How long did it take you?"
Aurélien smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Longer than I care to admit."
Over plates of patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo, their conversation turned to lighter topics. Zuri discovered that, despite his tough exterior, Aurélien had a soft spot for cheesy rom-coms, something that made her laugh out loud. She countered by confessing her own secret obsession with true crime podcasts, to which Aurélien, smirked and nodded in concurrence, as if he wasn’t surprised by her revelation.
"How's your father?" Aurélien asked as they shared a plate of churros. "No more late-night calls?"
Zuri shook her head. "No calls, but my mom's been texting. Sending over documents and stuff." She hesitated before adding, "My brother's not speaking to my dad right now. He's... not happy about this whole situation."
Aurélien's brow furrowed. "Is he trying to get you to come home?"
Zuri shrugged, suddenly finding the tablecloth fascinating. "I guess. I don't know how I feel about it. We'll cross that bridge if we get there, I suppose."
Something flickered across Aurélien's face, an expression Zuri couldn't quite decipher. Was it concern? Disappointment? Before she could analyze it further, it was gone, replaced by his usual calm demeanor.
The drive back home was quiet. Zuri found her mind racing. Did Aurélien care if she went back to New York? It had barely been two weeks - surely he hadn't gotten attached to her already? And more pressingly, why did the thought of leaving make her feel so... unsettled?
She snuck a glance at Aurélien, his profile illuminated by the soft glow of the passing streetlights. He was still a mystery to her, this man she was supposed to marry. But with every passing day, every conversation, that mystery was starting to unravel bit by bit.
And for the first time, Zuri wasn’t sure if she was ready for what she’d find at the heart of it all.
They arrived back at the house, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with an undercurrent of... something. Aurélien settled onto the couch, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Zuri, suddenly feeling awkward, started to head towards her room.
"Where are you going?" Aurélien's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Oh, I, uh... just thought I'd turn in early," Zuri stammered, the excuse sounding weak even to her own ears.
Aurélien arched an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a small smirk. "Nah, ZuZu, come sit down so we can finish this crime documentary series."
Zuri blinked in surprise. Well, damn okay... she thought, surprised and slightly aroused by his somewhat commanding tone.
She made her way back to the couch, where Aurélien patted a spot eagerly next to him - real close. She did as she was told, flabbergasted by the shift in his demeanor from the restaurant to now.
As usual, he'd thrown her for a loop, but she tried to relax as he grabbed the remote, pressed the Netflix icon, and resumed the limited series they'd been watching.
As the episode played, Aurélien couldn't seem to contain his commentary. "Man, some guys are just shit, you know?" he muttered, shaking his head at the latest revelation in the case.
Zuri gave him a look, half amused, half skeptical.
"What?" Aurélien countered, catching her expression. "You know you've been thinking it."
A small smile appeared on Zuri's lips, unable to deny it. As they continued watching, she found herself relaxing into the couch, acutely aware of Aurélien's presence beside her. The warmth of his body, the subtle scent of his cologne, the way his arm brushed against hers when he gestured at the screen...
When they finally finished the crime documentary series, Aurélien decided to turn on a random rom-com. Zuri felt his fingers graze her shoulder as he reached for the remote, sending a shiver down her spine. These light touches were becoming more frequent, and she found herself both thrilled and terrified by them.
For doing something in their routine together, she was slowly beginning to realize if this was "their thing" now, which was weird because that's something couples do and last time she checked, they were far from it, despite having a wedding on the horizon.
If they even have a wedding, that is.
Her brother was hellbent on having her engagement ended, which she couldn't agree more of due to the ridiculousness of it all - however, Aurélien could be worse. He could be mean, old, and an all-around shitty guy but from her interactions with Lila and his teammates as well as their time together, that was not him at all.
All in all, it was a lot to think about.
"My dad called me earlier today," Aurélien revealed, making small talk.
"Oh? What did he say?" Zuri didn't dare to glance into his hypnotic gaze, fearing she'll get trapped in it once again. Usually, she enjoyed the attention from a guy, but Aurélien's eyes seemed to bore into one's soul and she didn't need to further complicate her feelings.
"Stuff about your bride price," he said, letting out an amused miff. "You're not cheap, ZuZu."
"And you expected that I was?" She retorted sassily, taking this moment to stare directly at him. Big fucking mistake! He glanced at her, head cocked to the side and his bottom lip pulled between his teeth. It was sexy - dangerously so and she immediately shifted her gaze back onto the television.
"Never," he said finally and she could still feel his eyes on her, making her swallow and shift uncomfortably in her seat. "You're expensive." Hearing him say that in regards to her bride price and essentially buying her off should make her inwardly cringe, but Aurélien's deep timbre and underlying calmness just made her body's temperature rise and her heart thump like a jackrabbit.
"How much am I, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Merde, enough," he said playfully, kissing his teeth. "The elders think so too. Your father never talked to you about your bride price? Or at least your mother?"
"Nope, if you couldn't figure it out already, I'm as Americanized as one can get."
"Hmm," he began, "well it mentions a newly built house for your grandmother, a dozen cattle for your uncle, tithes to the church, jewelry, and some gift for your parents."
Her parents? "What?" That made her stare back at him. She was fine with her grandmother's new house and cattle for her uncle - only because she loved them both dearly and they were the complete opposite of her father - but she drew the line at a gift for her parents. "Like what exactly?"
"Bride's choice," he told her, "however your dad told mine that you wanted him to have a new car."
Of course he fucking did! "What?!"
"Yeah, figured that isn't true, especially after you mentioned at dinner that you haven't spoken with him recently. Glad we got that cleared up."
Zuri felt a surge of anger towards her father, but it was quickly overshadowed by a wave of gratitude towards Aurélien. He'd seen through her father's lie, had understood her well enough to know she wouldn't have made that request.
"Thank you," she said softly, meeting his eyes. "For not... assuming."
Aurélien's gaze softened, and for a moment, Zuri felt like she could drown in those eyes. "Of course," he murmured. "We're in this together, remember?"
As they turned back to the movie, Zuri found herself leaning slightly closer to Aurélien.
"Have you ever been to Mallorca?" Aurélien asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.
Zuri nodded. "Yeah, actually. I went with my best friend Senait a couple of years ago."
"Senait?" Aurélien repeated, his accent wrapping around the unfamiliar name.
"She's Eritrean," Zuri explained. "We've been friends since college. I miss her like crazy." She sighed, a wistful smile on her face. "We text all the time, but it's not the same, you know?"
Aurélien nodded thoughtfully. "I'll see if she can come to Madrid."
"Are you for real?" Zuri asked, straightening in her seat.
"Yeah, you miss your best friend. Have to fly her out."
"Oh Aurél, thank you!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. He tentatively hugged her back, and when she pulled back slightly, their faces were mere inches apart. "I really appreciate it," she said softly, her eyes locked on his.
"Y-yeah, of course," he replied, not moving from their embrace. "But after our families leave, okay?"
"Okay," Zuri agreed, reluctantly moving back to her spot on the couch. She glanced at her phone, trying to break whatever spell had fallen over them. "We should head to bed. It's getting late, and we have an early flight."
"Didn't realize how late it was, shit," Aurélien said, standing up quickly then leaned forward to place a kiss on her temple. "Good night, ma chérie."
"Good night," Zuri responded in a daze, watching as he headed upstairs with Zeus at his heels.
After turning off the TV, Zuri retreated to her room. She put a few last-minute items in her carry-on before starting her nightly routine.
She began by carefully brushing her hair, sweeping it around her head like a crown. With practiced movements, she secured it with duck clips, then wrapped a silk scarf around her head. Finally, she pulled on her satin bonnet, ensuring every strand was protected.
As she went through her skincare routine and brushed her teeth, Zuri's mind kept drifting back to Aurélien. The warmth of his embrace, the intensity in his eyes when they'd been so close...
Slipping into bed, she couldn't help but smile. Despite all the complications and uncertainties, she had to admit – being in Aurélien's arms had felt pretty damn good.
Aurélien was sitting on the couch, relaxed, with Zuri tucked into his side. The faint glow of the TV flickered across the room as they watched Netflix, the air thick with a quiet, easy comfort. Zuri laughed at something on screen, her head falling against his shoulder as she glanced up at him, eyes warm and bright.
"I got you something," Aurélien murmured, turning toward her.
Her face lit up with excitement. "Really? What is it?"
Instead of answering, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box. Her arms flew around his neck in a tight embrace, catching him off guard. The way she held him, pressed so close, made his pulse quicken. The feel of her body against his — soft, warm, familiar — shifted something in him.
The hug lingered, and then, as if on instinct, their eyes met, and before either of them could think twice, he kissed her. It started slow, innocent, but quickly grew heated. Zuri responded just as eagerly, her hands sliding into his hair, pulling him closer.
In one swift movement, he had her beneath him on the couch. The movie long forgotten, he trailed kisses down her neck, his hands slipping under her shirt, finding the warmth of her skin. Zuri gasped softly, arching into him, her fingers clutching his shoulders. He gripped her thighs, pulling her legs around his waist, settling between them as the tension between them escalated to something primal.
With their clothes off, he then entered her in one smooth thrust, a groan escaping his throat as her body wrapped around his. The sensation was overwhelming, her tight heat drawing him deeper, her soft moans driving him wild. Every movement felt electric, like they were perfectly in sync, the rhythm of their bodies a perfect match. He buried his face in her neck, losing himself in the feeling of her, the taste of her, everything he’d imagined and more.
Just as he was reaching the peak, his iPhone alarm blared into the quiet room, yanking him from the vivid dream. Aurélien bolted upright, chest heaving, his body slick with sweat. He glanced down, cursing under his breath as he saw the wet spot in the crotch of his boxers, his semi-deflated morning wood still straining against the fabric.
"Merde," he muttered, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, planting his face in his hands. His breath came in heavy, uneven bursts as he tried to shake the remnants of the dream.
It had been a long time — years, in fact — since he’d had a wet dream this vivid. And what made it worse was that it wasn’t some random woman; it was Zuri. The woman sleeping just downstairs. His future wife. His attraction to her had been steadily growing since she’d arrived, but this? This was something different altogether.
His body was reacting to her in ways he couldn’t control, ways he hadn’t prepared for. And now? It was only going to get worse. He could feel it, deep in his gut, how much he wanted her. The dream had made it clear — too clear.
Aurélien sighed, standing up and padding toward the bathroom, slipping off his boxers and turning the shower on. The water was cold at first, a shock to his heated skin, but he needed it. He stepped in, the stream pounding against his tense muscles as his mind wandered back to Zuri.
She had felt so good in his arms, so right. And that kiss… The way she melted into him in the dream. If that was any indication of how things might go between them in reality, he knew they would be explosive together. His body still throbbed at the memory, but he pushed it aside. They hadn’t even touched each other like that yet. But eventually, they would.
They were going to be sharing a bed soon enough, and the way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before they crossed that line. Sex would be second nature at that point. Yet, as much as he wanted it, he couldn’t ignore the complications it would bring. Sleeping together would blur the lines even more, making their situation more real, more tangled.
But then again, what could he do? Send her back to New York? Even if he did, he’d still be thinking about her, yearning for her from thousands of kilometers away. She was under his skin now, and there was no easy way to shake it.
He finished his shower, drying off quickly before getting dressed. His mind was still clouded with thoughts of Zuri as he moved around the room, grabbing his things for the day. They had a flight to catch — another match, another distraction. Maybe that would help, though he doubted it.
As he headed downstairs into the living room with his bags in tow, Zuri was already there, scrolling through her phone as she waited with her carry-on. She looked up when he entered, her face lighting up with a smile that only made his chest tighten. He couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on her for a moment longer than usual, the memory of the dream flashing in his mind.
"You ready?" she asked, oblivious to the turmoil brewing inside him.
Aurélien nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, let’s go."
He petted Zeus goodbye and sent a text out to his chef, letting him know they were leaving and to come to check on his dog before they headed out to the car and drove to the airport. His hands gripped the wheel a little tighter than necessary. He tried to focus on the road, but his thoughts kept drifting back to her, to that dream, to how much he wanted her in ways he hadn’t even admitted to himself yet.
This is going to get messy, he thought, his jaw tightening. Really messy.
______________________________________________
Zuri shifted in her seat of Aurélien's Porsche, immediately noticing the shift in his demeanor. Gone was the warmth and playfulness from the night before, replaced by a tense silence that filled the car like a heavy fog.
She tried to engage him in conversation, even commenting on the SZA song playing softly on the radio, but Aurélien remained frustratingly aloof. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead.
Letting out an almost brat-like harrumph, Zuri folded her arms over her chest and pouted as she glanced out the window. What the hell was his problem?
When they arrived at the airport, Zuri didn't wait for Aurélien to open her door. She marched to the trunk, pulling out her carry-on and weekender tote with more force than necessary.
"ZuZu, let me—" Aurélien started.
"No, I got it," she said curtly, causing Aurélien to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"Chérie, what do you think you're—"
"My favorite couple - Mr. and Mrs. Tchouaméni!" Camavinga's voice cut through the tension as he approached with open arms. "Ready to kick Mallorca's ass, Aurél?"
Zuri didn't stick around to hear Aurélien's response. She breezed past them like a bat out of hell, clipping Aurélien's arm as she went.
"ZuZu," he called after her, but Zuri's only response was a raised middle finger as she stormed into the airport.
Her mind raced as she made her way to the TSA checkpoint. How could she have been so stupid? Thinking he was sweet, that he actually cared about her wellbeing. God, she hated how he made her feel, how quickly he could go from charming to cold. She just wanted to go home.
As Zuri stood in the TSA line, fumbling with her passport and mobile ticket, a commotion behind her caught her attention. She glanced back to see the Real Madrid team striding through the airport, a small crowd of fans and paparazzi trailing in their wake.
Her eyes landed on Jude and Lila, walking hand in hand. To her surprise, Jude suddenly changed course, guiding Lila towards the TSA line where Zuri stood.
"Hey, Z," Jude greeted with a warm smile. "Thought you'd be with Aurélien."
Zuri managed a tight smile in response, not trusting herself to speak.
Lila's eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on the tension. "Yeah, why didn't you walk in with him?"
Before Zuri could formulate a response, Jude glanced at his watch. "Shit, I've got to go. See you on the other side, babes." He gave Lila a quick kiss, nodded to Zuri, and jogged off to catch up with his teammates.
As soon as Jude was out of earshot, Lila turned to Zuri, eyebrow raised. "Okay, spill. What's going on?"
Zuri let out a groan that seemed to come from her very soul.
"Oh," Lila said, understanding dawning on her face. "Lover's spat?"
Zuri nodded, her frustration evident in every line of her body. "He's being... I don't even know. Last night he was all sweet and considerate, and this morning it's like I don't even exist."
Lila linked her arm through Zuri's, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Men," she said, rolling her eyes. "They're all idiots sometimes. Even the good ones."
As they inched forward in the line, Zuri found herself spilling the whole story to Lila - the cozy evening, the morning's cold shoulder, her confusion and anger.
Lila listened attentively, offering sympathetic nods and the occasional "What an ass" at appropriate moments. By the time they reached the front of the line, Zuri felt marginally better, if no less confused.
"Look," Lila said as they gathered their belongings post-security check, "I don't know what's going on in Aurélien's head, but I do know he's not usually like this. Give him some time to sort himself out. And in the meantime," she added with a mischievous grin, "we'll have ourselves a girls' weekend in Mallorca. Show him what he's missing."
Despite herself, Zuri felt a smile tugging at her lips. She might be stuck in this bizarre arranged marriage situation, but at least she had found a true friend in Lila. Maybe this trip wouldn't be a total disaster after all.
As they made their way to their gate, Zuri caught sight of Aurélien in the distance, his tall frame unmistakable even from afar. She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin defiantly. Whatever game he was playing, she refused to be a pawn. Two could play at this hot-and-cold routine, and Zuri was ready to give as good as she got.
Aurélien stepped off the private jet, the warm Mallorca air hitting him like a wall. His teammates chattered excitedly around him, but he barely registered their words. His mind was still back at the airport in Madrid, replaying the hurt and anger in Zuri's eyes as she stormed away from him.
He hadn't meant to be so cold, but the dream from the night before had shaken him more than he cared to admit. The intensity of his growing feelings for Zuri terrified him. This was supposed to be an arrangement, nothing more. And yet...
"Oi, Tchouaméni!" Jude's voice cut through his thoughts. "You coming or what?"
Aurélien blinked, realizing he'd been standing at the foot of the jet's stairs, lost in thought. He nodded, hefting his bag and following his teammates to the waiting bus.
As he settled into a seat, Camavinga dropped down beside him. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes concerned.
Aurélien grunted noncommittally, but Camavinga wasn't deterred. "Come on, man. We all saw that little scene at the airport. What's going on with you and Zuri?"
For a moment, Aurélien considered brushing him off. But the weight of his confused emotions was becoming too much to bear alone. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "It's all... it's complicated."
Camavinga nodded sympathetically. "Arranged marriages usually are. But Zuri seems cool. And you two looked pretty cozy that night at dinner in Warsaw."
Aurélién's head snapped up. "You saw that?"
"Hard to miss," Camavinga grinned. "You were practically undressing her with your eyes."
Aurélien felt heat creep up his neck. "It's not like that," he muttered, but even to his own ears, the protest sounded weak.
"Sure it's not," Camavinga said, his tone making it clear he didn't believe a word. "Look, man, I get it. This whole situation is weird. But pushing her away isn't going to make it any less complicated. If anything, it'll just make you both miserable."
As the bus pulled away from the tarmac, Aurélien found himself mulling over Camavinga's words. He'd been so focused on maintaining distance, on not getting too invested, that he'd hurt Zuri in the process. The memory of her raised middle finger as she stormed away made him wince.
"I fucked up, didn't I?" he said, more to himself than to Camavinga.
His teammate clapped him on the shoulder. "Probably. But the good news is, you can still fix it. Just... talk to her, man. Be honest."
Aurélien nodded, a plan already forming in his mind. He'd find Zuri as soon as they got to the hotel. He'd apologize, explain himself.
As the bus pulled up to the hotel - or rather, the sprawling villa that would serve as their accommodations - Jude let out a low whistle. "Well, this is a step up from last year," he chuckled, eyeing the lush gardens and sparkling pool visible from the driveway.
The team filed off the bus, their excited chatter filling the air. Ancelotti's voice cut through the noise, reminding them of their early morning practice before granting them the evening off.
Aurélien's eyes immediately scanned the area, landing on another bus where the players' girlfriends and wives were disembarking. His heart skipped a beat when he spotted Zuri, standing next to Lila.
Before he could make a move, Jude was already jogging towards the women. Aurélien watched as his teammate leaned down to whisper something in Lila's ear, causing her to gasp and take a playful swing at him. Jude easily dodged it, wrapping his arms around her and hoisting her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Jude!" Lila yelped, laughing despite her protests. "Put me down!"
"Get in there, Jude!" Vini Jr whooped, earning a thumbs up from Jude as he carried his girlfriend away, pausing only to direct a bellhop towards their luggage.
Aurélien shook his head at their antics, but his amusement faded when his eyes met Zuri's. Her gaze was cold, narrowed in clear displeasure. Taking a deep breath, he hiked his bag higher on his shoulder and approached her.
He heard her suck her teeth as he neared, her attention deliberately focused on her phone. "Zuri, can we talk?" he asked, only to be met with stony silence.
Frustration bubbled up inside him. "Seriously? You're going to ignore me?" When she continued scrolling, he acted on impulse, plucking the phone from her hand.
"What the fuck are you doing, Aurélien?" Zuri snapped, anger flashing in her eyes.
"I'm trying to talk to my fiancée," he retorted.
Zuri let out a sardonic laugh. "Oh, now I'm your fiancée? But earlier this morning, you pretended like I didn't even exist. Can you make up your mind please? I deal with this back-and-forth bullshit with my father, and I damn sure don't want it to happen in my marriage."
"I wasn't ignoring you," he lied, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
Zuri's look made it clear she wasn't buying it.
"Okay, listen," he backtracked. "I apologize for what happened in the car, okay? It's just... shit is getting real. We have our families coming in a couple of weeks, and there's still too much we have to work through." Like how much I want to fuck you, he thought, but didn't dare say. "Plus, your father is bothering my father about this whole car bullshit... and I..." he trailed off, lost in her gaze.
Zuri shook her head, exhaling heavily. "I thought we were in this together, Aurélien? You put so much effort into me, and I can't do the same? Or at least be a listening ear when things get rough? How do you expect this marriage to work?"
Her words left him speechless. "You don't have to worry about me, Zuri," he finally managed. "I have to worry about both of us, as the husband–"
"Oh, spare me this old macho, man of the house spiel!" Zuri cut him off. "We both know that's a cop-out. I know both of our fathers put us into this situation, but I can tell that your father didn't raise you to believe anything you're saying right now. Did he?"
Aurélien shook his head, unable to deny it.
"So where is this coming from? Do you hate me or something?"
"No, Zuri–"
"So what's up?"
Again, he found himself at a loss for words, struggling to explain the turmoil inside him.
Zuri let out a frustrated growl. "Fine, be like that. Until you tell me what's wrong with you, I don't have anything else to talk to you about. Now give me back my phone so I can get to my room."
Aurélien stepped aside, handed back her phone and watched helplessly as Zuri trudged away, dragging her carry-on behind her. As she disappeared into the hotel, he realized he'd somehow managed to make things even worse.
"Fuck," he muttered, running a hand over his face. He had some serious damage control to do, and he had no idea where to start.
Aurélien sauntered inside the hotel, barely registering the opulent lobby with its soaring ceilings and gleaming marble floors. He checked in mechanically, his mind still replaying his disastrous conversation with Zuri.
The elevator ride to his floor felt interminable. When he finally reached his room, he tossed his bag aside and flopped onto the plush king-sized bed, staring blankly at the ornate ceiling.
How does one apologize to their fiancée in a way that admits to their fuck-ups? he wondered. He could take the easy route – buy her some expensive jewelry and hope she'd forget the whole thing. But Zuri didn't strike him as the type of woman who'd be swayed by material gestures. And if he was honest with himself, it probably wouldn't work anyway. It certainly hadn't in his previous relationships.
Aurélien groaned, thumping his head against the pillow. He had a bad habit of being avoidant in relationship conflicts, and this wasn't how he wanted to handle things now. Not with Zuri. Not with this impending marriage that, arranged or not, was becoming increasingly important to him.
Suddenly, a rhythmic thumping from the other side of the wall interrupted his brooding. The unmistakable sound of a bed hitting the wall, accompanied by muffled moans, filled the air.
Jude, Aurélien thought with a mix of amusement and frustration. The club tended to assign rooms by position, which meant he often shared a wall with Bellingham.
He couldn't decide if this was God trying to spite him, laughing at his sexual frustration, or serving up an epiphany of how things could be if he'd just been honest with Zuri. Not that they'd immediately jump into bed together, but at least she'd know where both of his heads were at.
It made no sense how he could like a woman to the point of constant blue balls, and yet here he was. Maybe it was all the time they'd spent together over the past couple of weeks. Or maybe the elders were right – this was a "strong match."
Either way, Aurélien couldn't lie there listening to Jude's enthusiastic fucking. He hauled himself off the bed and banged on the wall a couple of times. To his surprise, the banging was returned in kind.
"Motherfucker," he cursed, hitting the wall again. This time, there was no response. Instead, a few moments later, there was a knock at his door.
Chuckling to himself, Aurélien padded over and swung it open, coming face to face with a shirtless Jude.
"The fuck you doing, mate?" Jude asked, looking more annoyed than amused.
"You guys are loud," Aurélien stated nonchalantly, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jude just shrugged. "Use some AirPods or maybe stop being a dick and talk to Zuri."
That comment made Aurélien arch an eyebrow. "What the hell, Jude?"
"Lila told me what happened with you and Zuri. Really fucked up, and your bullshit almost messed up my 'special time' with my girl." Jude said. "And you know how much I enjoy our 'special time'."
"You're a fucking fiend, that's what you are," Aurélien joked, but Jude wasn't in a playful mood.
"Anyway, Lila and Z are basically besties now, so you can imagine how that works out. Fix it, Aurél." Jude said, then turned to head back to his room.
Aurélien poked his head out the doorframe. "So are you going to keep it down or...?"
"Fuck no," was Jude's response before he disappeared back into his room, the door closing firmly behind him.
Left alone in the hallway, Aurélien sighed. He had some serious thinking to do, and apparently, he'd be doing it to the soundtrack of Jude and Lila's fuckfest. Wonderful.
_______________________________________________
Match day dawned bright and clear, the Mallorcan sun already warm despite the early hour. Zuri stood in front of the full-length mirror in her hotel room, smoothing down the front of Aurélien's jersey. The oversized garment hung loosely on her frame, the number 14 emblazoned boldly across her back. She'd paired it with high-waisted denim shorts and white sneakers, her hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
The irony of wearing his jersey wasn't lost on her. After their argument yesterday, she'd been tempted to leave it crumpled at the bottom of her suitcase. But something – stubbornness, maybe, or a desire to keep up appearances – had made her put it on.
As she applied a final swipe of lip gloss, Zuri's mind drifted back to the previous day. Aurélien's hot-and-cold behavior had left her reeling, confused, and more than a little hurt. She'd spent the evening with Lila, venting her frustrations and trying to make sense of it all.
Now, as she gathered her things to head down to the lobby, Zuri wondered if Aurélien fell into that category. Was he a good one just having a momentary lapse, or was this a glimpse of what their future held?
The knock on her door startled her out of her reverie. "Z? You ready?" Lila's voice called from the hallway.
Zuri took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Whatever happened with Aurélien, she was determined to enjoy this day. She was in Mallorca, about to watch a professional football match up close. She wasn't going to let relationship drama ruin that.
"Coming!" she called back, grabbing her sunglasses and room key.
As she stepped into the hallway, Lila's eyes widened appreciatively. "Damn, girl. You're going to give Aurélien a heart attack in that jersey."
Zuri felt a small, satisfied smile tug at her lips. "Good," she said, linking arms with Lila. "Maybe it'll shock some sense into him."
As they made their way down to the lobby, Zuri's stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. She was looking forward to the match, to experiencing the energy of the crowd and watching Aurélien play. But she was also dreading the inevitable moment when she'd have to face him.
What would he say? How would he act? And more importantly, how would she respond?
Stepping out into the bright Mallorcan sunshine, Zuri took another deep breath. Whatever happened, she was ready. She might be in an impending arranged marriage, but she wasn't about to let anyone – not even her future husband – treat her like she didn't matter.
Game on, Aurélien, she thought as she climbed into the waiting car. Game on.
Zuri settled into her seat at Son Moix stadium, the energy of the crowd pulsing around her. The Real Madrid fans were out in force, their white jerseys creating a sea of support amidst the red of the Mallorca faithful.
As the teams took to the field, Zuri's eyes immediately found Aurélien. Despite her lingering frustration with him, she couldn't help but admire how he looked in his kit, tall and imposing as he jogged into position. The match kicked off, and Zuri found herself caught up in the ebb and flow of the game. She watched intently as Kylian Mbappé darted across the field.
In the 23rd minute, the crowd around her erupted. Rodrygo had curled a beautiful shot into the net, courtesy of a clever backheel from Vinicius Jr. Zuri found herself on her feet, cheering along with everyone else.
"Did you see that?" Lila shouted over the noise. "That's why they call it the beautiful game!"
As the first half wore on, Zuri's attention kept drifting back to Aurélién. He was everywhere on the field, intercepting passes, setting up plays. She felt a surge of pride, which she quickly tried to tamp down. She was still mad at him, after all.
The halftime whistle blew with Real Madrid leading 1-0. As the players jogged off the field, Zuri caught Aurélién glancing up at the stands. For a moment, their eyes met, and she felt her breath catch in her throat as his eyes scanned her body, his intense gaze lingering on the jersey she wore.
"Come on," Lila said, tugging at her arm. "Let's grab some snacks before the second half starts."
As they made their way through the concourse, Zuri's mind was racing. That look... what did it mean?
The second half kicked off with renewed intensity. Mallorca came out fighting, determined to equalize. In the 66th minute, their efforts paid off. Vedat Muriqi rose above the Madrid defense to head home a cross from Dani Rodriguez.
The stadium erupted, this time with the home fans' jubilation. Zuri watched as Aurélién's shoulders slumped slightly, frustration evident in his posture.
As the match neared its end, tensions rose. Mbappé had several near misses, including a shot that flashed just wide of the post. Zuri found herself holding her breath each time he got the ball, half expecting magic to happen.
In the dying moments of the game, chaos erupted. Ferland Mendy, in a moment of desperation or poor judgment, lunged at Muriqi. The referee didn't hesitate, brandishing a red card.
"Oh shit," Lila muttered beside her. "That's not good."
The final whistle blew moments later, the match ending in a 1-1 draw. As the players trudged off the field, Zuri felt a mix of emotions. Disappointment at the result, pride in Aurélién's performance, and a lingering uncertainty about what would happen next between them.
As they filed out of the stadium, Lila turned to her. "So, are you going to talk to him?"
Zuri sighed, running a hand through her ponytail. "I guess I have to, don't I?"
Lila squeezed her arm supportively. "Just remember, you deserve answers. And respect. Don't let him off the hook too easily."
Nodding, Zuri steeled herself for what was to come. Whatever happened next, she was determined to face it head-on. No more games, no more confusion. It was time for her and Aurélien to figure out exactly what this arrangement meant for both of them.
_____________________________________________
As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the hotel's outdoor restaurant, Zuri found herself seated at a large table with Aurélien, Kylian, Eduardo, Rodrygo, Jude, and Lila. The atmosphere was surprisingly light despite the day's draw, the players seemingly determined to enjoy their extended stay in Mallorca.
The sound of clinking glasses and laughter filled the air as they perused the menu. Zuri couldn't help but feel a bit out of place, still unsure of where she stood with Aurélien.
"I still can't believe that red card," Rodrygo groaned, shaking his head. "Mendy's going to be kicking himself for days."
Kylian nodded sympathetically. "It happens, man. We'll bounce back next match."
As the waiter arrived to take their orders, Zuri found herself gravitating towards a seafood paella, figuring she might as well embrace the local cuisine.
"Excellent choice," Aurélien murmured from beside her, his voice low enough that only she could hear. She felt a shiver run down her spine but kept her expression neutral.
The conversation flowed easily as they waited for their food, the guys recounting funny moments from past matches and sharing their plans for their mini-vacation.
"I'm thinking about renting a boat tomorrow," Jude announced, his arm draped casually over Lila's shoulders. "Anyone want to join?"
"Count us in," Kylian grinned, gesturing to himself and Eduardo.
Zuri caught Lila's eye across the table, silently communicating her uncertainty. Lila gave her a small, encouraging nod.
As their meals arrived, the table fell into a comfortable silence punctuated by appreciative murmurs. Zuri had to admit, the paella was incredible, bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked seafood.
"So, Zuri," Rodrygo said, breaking the silence, "what did you think of your second La Liga match?"
She swallowed her bite, aware of Aurélien's gaze on her. "It was... intense," she admitted. "I'm still learning, but I can see why you guys love it so much."
"Give it time," Kylian laughed. "Soon you'll be yelling at the ref like a pro."
As the meal wound down and they lingered over dessert and coffee, Zuri felt a gentle touch on her arm. She turned to find Aurélien looking at her, his expression unreadable.
"Can we go for a walk?" he asked quietly. "I think we need to talk."
Zuri hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
As they stood, she noticed the others exchanging glances. Lila gave her a subtle thumbs up, while Jude nodded approvingly at Aurélien.
"We'll be back," Aurélien announced to the table. "Just going to stretch our legs a bit."
As they walked away from the restaurant, Zuri's heart was pounding. This was it. Whatever was going on between them, whatever had caused Aurélien's strange behavior, it was time to face it head-on.
As they strolled along the beach, the soft sound of waves lapping at the shore filling the air, Aurélien broke the silence.
"You looked beautiful today," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers. "I was... distracted during the game."
Zuri raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why's that?"
Aurélien's lips quirked into a sheepish smile. "You looked so fucking hot in my jersey. Got me geekin' like Jude when I spotted you."
Suddenly, the intense look he'd given her at halftime made sense. "Oh?" she teased, a warmth spreading through her chest.
"I was this close to jumping over the barrier and kissing you, swear to God," he said, pinching his thumb and forefinger together for emphasis.
Zuri couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. As their laughter died down, she shook her head, inwardly frustrated at how quickly her anger was dissipating.
They walked further down the beach, the tension between them slowly easing. Finally, Aurélien stopped, turning to face her.
"Zuri, I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I... I've been struggling with something."
She waited, her heart pounding.
"I’m starting to like you," he admitted, his eyes searching hers. "And that scares the shit out of me."
Zuri felt her breath catch in her throat. "You’re... starting to like me?"
Aurélien nodded, looking almost vulnerable. "Yeah. I am."
Without thinking, Zuri stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. His arms tightened around her waist, the embrace lingering.
When they pulled back slightly, Aurélien's gaze dropped to her lips. He bit his bottom lip, a gesture Zuri was quickly coming to adore, and leaned in.
Zuri felt herself leaning forward too, her eyes starting to close...
"¡Disculpe! ¿Señor Tchouaméni?"
They jumped apart as a fan approached, speaking rapid Spanish. Zuri didn't understand until the person handed her their phone, asking in broken English for her to take a photo.
After the impromptu photo session, they found themselves alone again. Aurélien rubbed his neck nervously.
"We should probably head back to the group," he suggested, not mentioning their almost-kiss.
Zuri nodded, surprised but deciding not to push it. They'd had enough drama for one day. As they walked back towards the restaurant, a comfortable silence settled between them. Zuri's mind kept replaying their almost-kiss, her lips tingling with the memory of how close they'd been. She stole a glance at Aurélien, catching him doing the same. Their eyes met, and a shy smile spread across both their faces.
Sure they hadn't kissed yet, but Zuri had a feeling it was only a matter of time. And for once, the thought of her arranged marriage didn't fill her with dread.
The yacht cut through the azure waters, leaving a frothy trail in its wake. Aurélien leaned against the railing, his eyes fixed on Zuri, a cold red solo cup sweating in his hand. She was at the bow with Lila, their animated chatter punctuated by bursts of laughter that carried over the sound of Don Toliver's latest track thumping from the yacht's speakers.
"Man, you've got it bad," Jude chuckled, dropping into the seat beside him.
Aurélien shrugged, not bothering to deny it. "She's... something else."
"Tell me about it," Camavinga chimed in, joining them. "Never thought I'd see the day when you got whipped."
The guys laughed, but Aurélien didn't mind the teasing. His eyes were drawn back to Zuri, watching as she threw her head back in laughter at something Lila said.
Zuri turned, catching his eye. She flashed him a smile that made his stomach do a little flip, and he found himself grinning back like an idiot.
"You know," Kylian said, "it's nice to see Zuri settling in. Lila's been good for her.”
Aurélien nodded, grateful that Zuri had found a friend in this new world she'd been thrust into. "Yeah, it is," he agreed, his eyes drawn back to her as if magnetized.
The day unfolded in a blur of laughter and sea spray. Aurélien found himself constantly torn between wanting to be near Zuri and trying to give her space. He was determined to do this right, to really get to know her beyond the confines of their arrangement. But damn if it wasn’t hard to keep his hands to himself when she looked like that in her bikini.
The sun-kissed her skin, highlighting every curve in the most tempting way. Her bikini was simple, nothing overly flashy — yet it hugged her body in all the right places, the soft fabric clinging to her hips, and her chest, making his throat dry. And then there were her nipple piercings, barely visible through the thin top but enough to drive him insane. They were just subtle enough to tease, small hints of metal catching the light each time she moved, taunting him. His eyes kept drifting back to them, imagining what they’d feel like beneath his fingertips, his tongue.
Focus, he scolded himself, dragging his gaze away, but it was impossible not to notice her, and he fought back a groan.
Zuri, oblivious to the firestorm raging inside him, turned to face him, her lips curled into a teasing smile. "You good over there?"
He blinked, his mouth dry as he forced a grin. "Yeah… just, uh… taking it all in."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Mhm. Sure."
And as the day wore on, Aurélien realized something: he was completely fucked. This attraction wasn’t going anywhere. If anything, it was only growing stronger, pulling him closer to her like a riptide. And the more he tried to fight it, the harder it became to resist.
When Zuri decided to try paddleboarding, Aurélien couldn't resist swimming over to her. She was wobbling precariously, her face set in adorable determination.
"Need some help there?" he called out, treading water nearby.
Zuri shot him a playful glare. "I've got this, thank you very much."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a small wave caught her off guard, sending her tumbling into the water with a yelp. Aurélien was there in an instant, helping her surface.
"You were saying?" he teased, earning himself a splash of water to the face.
Their laughter mingled with the salt spray, and for a moment, Aurélien forgot about everything else – the arrangement, the pressure, the uncertainty.
Later, as the sun began to set, Aurélien found himself alone with Zuri at the stern. Before he could overthink it, he blurted out, "Hey, when we get back to Madrid, you wanna go out sometime?"
"Like a date?" Zuri looked surprised, then amused. "You mean, like normal people who aren't in an arranged marriage?"
"Yeah, exactly like that. I want to do this right, you know? Get to know you without all the..." he waved his hand vaguely, "arranged bullshit hanging over us. You down?"
Zuri studied him for a moment, her dark eyes searching his face. The vulnerability in her expression made his chest tighten in a way he wasn't quite ready to examine.
"Yeah," she said finally, her voice soft. "I'm down."
Aurélien's lips curled into a smirk, his eyebrow arching playfully. "Okay, so you want to get to know me better too, huh?" The teasing lilt in his voice barely masked the genuine curiosity underneath.
Zuri rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her gaze betrayed her amusement. "Don't get too full of yourself," she shot back, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
"All jokes aside," he said, his voice softening, "I mean it. I'd like to get to know you better. No rush, no pressure — just us."
"Sounds good," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the lapping waves.
Aurélien felt a smile tugging at his lips. "Good. Then we'll take it one step at a time."
TO BE CONTINUED....
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Chapter 5
Masterlist
Montreal definitely wins the trophy of the most rainy race until now. When we arrived in Canada, the sky was gray but nothing else. Now, with the beginning of media day, a pretty background with lightning appears earlier in the morning.
As Lewis kept working in his media duties, I was on the rooftop from the hospitality working in layouts Thomas sending me, one of my house and the other for the shelter.
The lighting makes someone curse as it goes up stairs, I giggle when Rosa appears grabbing her chest scanning the room.
“It’s just a lighting Rosa.” She scoffs and sits at the other side of the table.
“You've been working all this time?” I nod and raise an empty bag of snacks, following for a new one I just opened.
“And eating.” I saved the file to avoid a disaster before closing it and left it aside so I can talk to her without distractions.
Rosa takes the open bag and scrunches her nose. “Dried seaweed?”
I giggle. “I lost a bet with my brother, so he will be choosing my snacks for a whole week.”
Talking about the king of Rome, Lewis appears in the stairs already changed and pretty excited for the end of a media day.
“You punish her with snacks?” Rosa complained right away, Lewis rolled his eyes, sitting next to me. “She loves her snacks.”
Lewis looked at me as I stuck my tongue out. “She lost! Besides these are healthy ones.”
I laugh at the same time two lightning flashes appear in the sky.
“How can you work here? It’s windy, there's lightning and it’s starting to get cold.” Rosa looks at me, relaxing her lethal eyes; at least I have a hoodie to cover me from the wind.
Lewis shakes her hand. “Thank you. Is the same thing I told her.” He scans the rooftop; all the boys and girls of the cafeteria were already in the lounge. “Let’s go, you’re an amused person.”
“There is no one here.” I raise my hands as he takes my laptop.
Rosa ate seaweed and scrunched her nose standing, like her it took me a while to get used to the flavor.
“From far.” Next to us is the Red Bull hospitality, the upper floor is crowded with cameras and cellphones getting ready for record.
I stand and follow them with my bags in my hands. The salty flavor? Yes, I could get used to it.
The day of P1 came with a slight rain from time to time. I like the rainy days however I hate Lewis having to drive with this kind of weather.
“Take care ok?” I ask Lewis at the back of the garage. “I’ll be right here.”
Lewis smiles, grabbing my cheek. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry too much.”
Once the member of his team appears in the room, they are ready to go. Lewis smiles at me before walking away.
All the practice, I was pressing my hands together and cracking my finger trying to stay calm even when all is in total calm; it was until Lewis's car stopped and he got out of the car I could relax a little bit.
We don’t need any words, he just passes next to me and grabs my arm walking away with his team, he’s safe.
I heard indications that all the cars must be in the garage in 20 minutes, so I reached Bono who’s about to walk inside the room for the feedback with an innocent question in mind.
“Hey Bono, is there a problem if I go and walk along the track for a while?” I don’t see Toto coming too.
“Little H, give them 30 minutes and you can go.” Toto smiles entering the room.
Bono raises his shoulders. “You hear the boss.”
By the time I see the cars passing in front of the garage and George’s and Lewis’ getting inside too, I see my clock and 40 minutes have already passed.
“Take an umbrella.” Rosa said to me when she saw me walking out of the garage.
The sky is still cloudy, a few drops won’t hurt me.
“It’s ok, I’ll just be out for a couple of minutes.” I put on a huge black jacket. “This is enough.”
Rosa shakes her head as she keeps talking with her team.
It’s nice to get some fresh air; combined with the few drops over my head that made me feel relaxed, the loud noises from the tools, people and other equipment became distant after a while.
It was the sound of footsteps and faster breathing that made me turn around seeing Max trying to keep his suit race on at the level of his waist.
“Do you have something to do with the rain?” I stop, waiting for him. “In this week, every time there is a high chance of a storm you are sitting or walking around open space.”
Unintentionally the corner of my lips rises as I put my hands on my pockets. For the first time there is not this discomfort sensations with him.
“I believe you don’t have trouble getting wet, a little bit. Do you mind if I join to you?” I see Max with her big jacket too. “A quick walk along the track.”
I breathe in slowly and keep walking, he remains in his spot, so I turn around but don’t stop walking.
“You coming right?” Max smiles make me smile.
For 40 minutes Max told me about old races on rainy days with stories about mistakes that almost turned into a disaster and funny moments he could remember, the way he speaks and the fact his hands seem to do it too actually made me laugh a couple of times.
Even from time to time I challenge myself by asking him a few questions about him and his first years of racing.
“Aren't you curious? What will be living a day with so many things happening around you.” Max chuckles.
“I mean, I don’t mind being anonymous from time to time.” We’re walking back to the garage, our clothes weren't damped. The rain stops after a while leaving us with windy weather. “Still, I curious about something.”
He stops talking, making me curious, looking at him. “About?”
“Trying to figure out what you are thinking when you look at me in that way.”
I laugh lightly, it’s not a big change I have towards him, still he notices it. “I guess you're winning the benefit of the doubt.” After all, every conversation we had before I cut it out rudely, this is clearly different.
“I’m taking a pole position?” I genuinely smile at him before turning my face away.
“You have your moments.” The posture of Max relaxes, his shoulders go down even his steps seem light.
He keeps talking about a lot of things and I carefully listen to him until the paddock is a few meters away from us, time to split.
“I can get used to being surprised by you.” Max said, as we reached the main gates. We visibly relax even if our jackets are clearly wet.
He looks at the garages and smiles in a wily way. “The Red Bull garage has a nice spot to see the race. Maybe next time you don’t mind seeing different colors in a car.”
“I have a busy diary.” I take my hands from my pockets. “Besides, I'm in the Mercedes team right now.”
Before I could say something else I see Lewis coming out of the garage zone talking with Rosa going to the hospitality.
“I have to go, thanks for walking with me, Max.” I didn’t even reach to give 3 steps when multiple questions attacked my mind.
Bloody hell.
“Max.” I walk back where he remains standing. “I can make you a space… maybe.”
My phone buzzes the photo Roscoe appears on the screen, it’s Lewis.
Max didn’t say another word, making me feel shy, so I turned around to keep walking.
“I’ll take it as a <yes>!” Max shouts out as a wide smile appears on his face.
The following days were great for Lewis, he started the race from the second row, making him reach the third position. For my peace I watched the race from the paddock even when the rain stopped hours earlier; there some part of the track still wet, from T.V was hard to see.
Lewis reached me in the hospitality room covered in champagne and a big smile on his face.
“Congrats!” I stop before hugging him. “Save the hug for later.”
We high five as he goes to change for the last interviews he had for the day, and we can fly right away to home. We don’t want to miss any birthday of the family if we can be there, even if Lewis could be there just for one day.
I spent that week in London making a quick trip to Newport to see the progress of the house.
“Are you taking Roscoe with you?” Thomas asked as we stood seeing the people working, Roscoe next us.
“Of course, it’s Austria. Besides, after that I'll be in Monaco for a couple of days sending my things back to London.” I get down, kissing Roscoe's face. “He gives great advice for packing.”
Thomas laughs. “Have you already mentioned something to Lewis?”
I sigh. “I will, in Monaco.”
After long days of thinking and talking with friends and family I decided it’s time to stop my travels around the world; with the places set for the shelter and my house along the crucial moment of finishing the project, I need a place to stay calm and be close in case something comes up. That’s why the last GP I will be with my brother, be the one previous to summer break.
“Are you sure? I mean I can keep you informed about every single thing if you need.” Thomas already suggested to me at least I should close this season with Lewis.
“Do you know how tiring it is to travel every week?” I roll my eyes and shake my head. “This is temporary, I don’t want you to screw my house.”
Thomas scoffed and put his arm around my shoulder looking around. He, like Mika, stands next to me in the worst times, making me aware every day, if I feel the strength left in my body, I always can lead on them.
“This is a nice place to start, after all.” Roscoe barks, calling for us to pay attention. “Don’t worry buddy, I’ll make this a fortress but at the same time I built a nice garden for you.”
It’s the bulls house, so a lot of his colors were in the fences and every visible place. We arrived in Austria one day before the race, but Lewis suggested that Roscoe and I stay in the hotel, by the time we arrive they would probably be finishing the qualy.
So that’s what we do, Roscoe and I relax in the hotel near to the pool when Lewis reach us. Roscoe immediately notices him running, pretty excited for the way his little tail moves.
“Hi there.” Lewis hugs me sitting next to me. “How was the flight?” He asked if we didn’t take his jet with us.
“Calm, private.” He laughs. “A tricky day tomorrow, right?”
Lewis bluffs and assents. “Not the best spot, but we will work on that tomorrow. Anyway, are you hungry?“
Roscoe barks. “We do.” Lewis chuckles while standing so we can go to eat something.
We came back at night tired and stuffed, as I told him the idea of Thomas about the refuge like me, he’s pleased.
“Oh, I have the tickets for the race.” Lewis invited them to the GP of Silverston, the next race in two weeks. “I’ll give it to you at home, ok?”
As we’re waiting for the lift, Roscoe barks when the door opens, Leo in Alex's arms.
“Young boy, hi.” I greet Leo when they come out. “Charles, Alex, goodnight too.”
The couple giggles and lets Leo on the ground for the dogs to say hi.
“Y/N, Max was looking for you.” I choke with my own saliva winning the eyes of three people and two dogs.
“Are you all right?” Alex asks but I just nod. Thankfully the people who were waiting came out in the other lift, avoiding the talk.
Inside of the lift, I feel Lewis' eyes on me. “You’re taking Roscoe for the night? I ask, trying to switch the topic keeps floating in the air.
“Yeah, I’ll take him to the track.” He simply answered and didn’t say anything else. When the lift reached my floor I thought I would avoid an uncomfortable talk.
“See you tomorrow.” I kiss both of them but Lewis holds the door for a second.
“You know you can talk with me about everything, right?” I almost avoid it.
“I know.” I reassure him with a smile waving my hand as the door closes.
In my room, I hide my face on the bed, feeling embarrassed, but the constant buzz of my phone makes me answer the video call.
“Jesus! You scare me!” Mike fakes surprise for my messy hair. “Are you blushing?”
Oh my word, I shake my head, and breath in trying to calm.
“Is that all?” Mika giggles and raises her hand.
“Hey, it’s quick, the green one or the blue one?” She raises two dresses in front of her.
“Is it for your date with Thomas?” I wink at her, now who’s blushing.
Thomas and Mika had a couple of dates, claiming it’s just a friend's meal, but I’ve seen the way they look at each other, and that’s a lame excuse.
“Y/N, focus.” I laugh but I choose the green one. “I have time, you can talk all the time you want.”
Mika, every time she’s nervous, she talks without anything could stop her.
In the middle of our talk about a funny consultation she had that morning, a soft knock on my door distracted me.
“It’s ok, I almost finish.” She is straighten her hair.
I shake my head, I wasn't waiting for anyone. “No, it’s ok, Lewis knocked three times before entering.”
After a few seconds, I hear the knock one more time, maybe it’s important after all.
“Sorry Mika.” She smiles and stands in front of the camera giving me a full look of her. “He’s done.”
Mika winks before saying goodbye to hanging out.
I walk to the door, as I was talking with Mika I change my clothes for my pjs, I open without even asking, the tiredness taking my body, and close it right away.
Max is at the other side of the door in black shirt with black bags.
After a long breath, I opened it one more time. “Sorry, you took me by surprise.”
Max nod and clear his throat. “Sorry, it’s late I know but …” His cheeks are softly turning pink. “Here.”
It's a VIP pass, I choke my head. “Thanks? I mean, I already have one.” I take it from his hands turning around. I see it, it’s from RB garage.
I bite the inside of my cheeks, feeling awkward. “You know I don’t mean a right away invitation, right?”
In Max's face you can see the confirmation of his worst scenario.
“Of course, I imagine that so I came prepared. This is for any GP, when you feel ready to come.” He has that cute smile one more time.
I nod and keep it. “Good night Max.”
“But.” He closed his eyes. “I'll make my open invitation valid.”
This boy confuses me so easily.
“Checo mentioned you visited Lewis constantly, right?” I nodded slowly. “Would you have a walk with me next time?”
His eyes were closed one more time so he didn't see me smiling at him.
“It's not for being rude but when I'm in Lewis' home it is practically for me to be working on endless paperwork or packing some things I have there…So, I don't have so much time for walking around.” Isn't a lie but I hope Max doesn't feel I turned him down in a rude way, again.
“Perfect! I could help you with that.” He surprised me that I couldn't answer right away. “If you don't mind, of course.”
“Mhm, no, I…I…I don't want you to feel bored or anything like that, so it's ok, we can leave it open.” My mind is struggling to find another excuse.
“It's ok, I don't mind, we talk more comfortably.” He answered calmly, extending his hand for a shake.“Deal?”
I tightened my fist, he raised his eyebrows in a funny way.
I take his hand. “Deal.”
Lewis is right, the race for him simply doesn't go as he expects leaving him in the 8th position.
After his interviews he always finds a moment of calm along Roscoe; who as typical of him steals glances and hearts from everyone.
When finally we can go home, I see in the RB hospitality a lot of people with happy and exciting expressions, and the multiple race winner in the middle of it.
“Ready?” Lewis asked, coming out ready to go.
“Yeah, let's go.” I take a last look at a victorious Max.
By the second day in Monaco Lewis forgot he had tickets for the Roland Garro in France, he invited me too but there are things to send to London in a few days.
“Are you going to be fine?” Lewis asked, giving Roscoe a piece of celery.
“Sure. We wait here for you to take us home.” Lewis giggles. “Have fun, we have a lot of packing and arrangements, don't worry.”
It's been half of a week in Monaco and Max doesn't give any signs of life, so he probably gets it that being stuck inside of the apartment when he can enjoy the no race week, is a waste of time.
“Hey, it's okay if I invite a friend to help me with…?” Although I couldn't avoid asking
“It's your house too.” He stands to cut more fruit for us. “I'll be back Wednesday night.”
“Is anything granted, just in case.” Roscoe sees me and growls a little bit. “What?” I whisper to him.
Roscoe walks to his bed taking with him the fluffy lion. “And you’re judging me?”
“I promise, when you come to my new house, I'll make more than pancakes.” Roscoe licked his nose before we came out of the building.
I turned to my left slightly, then I saw Max in casual jeans walking inside the building.
“This isn't…Come here, baby.” Roscoe follows me as we follow Max reaching him outside of the lift. “Max?”
He turns around surprised to find us.
“Hi, I was about to go up.” He petted Roscoe's head. “I guess you're already finished, right?”
“For the…” He nods. “No, I mean, yes, I…I could say that.” I cover my eyes trying to put my ideas in order.
“I mean, yes, I already finished, my brother helped a lot.” Max put his hands in his pockets.
“Sorry, I have a busy week and well, it would be weird if I call Lewis for he let you know that.” He laughs.
“It's ok, I just have to close a few boxes and put in order a couple of files, I appreciate you coming.” He smirks, I narrow my eyes.
“I will help you with that.” I shake my head. “A good talk will be helpful after all these days.”
That's how we end up in Lewis apartment putting tapes over the boxes and putting papers in order.
Max was entertaining with something until I realized he was reading the papers of the refuge.
“This is yours?” I nod but I don't take it so much importance. “You have a refuge?”
I walked to see what caught his attention, the sketch of the logo. “Not yet.”
Max sits on the floor reading carefully as he keeps asking me questions about the refuge and all related too; without realizing I ended up telling him about my journey with this project sitting in front of him, on the floor of Lewis living room.
“This seems pretty good, of course I'm not an expert but hey.” He lifted the paper with the final sketch. “This is awesome.”
I feel flatter even with an unusual warmth on my cheek.
“I’m afraid.” I let it out without a filter. “I know I can deal with something like this is just…” I see Roscoe sleeping peacefully. “I don't want to let down anyone, especially Lewis, not after…”
The imagene of Lewis holding me tight on those dark days helps to realize Max's eyes shift, it’s like looking at a calm sea..
“I just don’t want to mess up anything.” Max stretched his back giving me the papers.
“Listen, if you ever need a hand, give me a call.” He stands and picks up his phone, I didn’t even realize someone is calling him. “Just a second.”
He walks to the other side of the room giving me time to calm down a little bit, when he comes back, apologizes but he has to go. I walk with him until the door to say goodbye, just when he walks away…I notice something different.
“Hey Max!” He turns around, raising his eyebrows. “Thanks…for everything, the talk, the packing, the vitamins.”
Max smiles and takes a deep breath, speaking in a teaser tone. “Well, I scored some points for a small visit to the garage.”
My answer is a small smile which makes him press his lips together while containing a smile.
When he goes into the lift I walk back to the living room, shaking my head and putting the last papers in their respective box, but at the corner of one of the sketches Max was seeing there was a small note, along with his number.
>+1 ;)
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