Lost and Found

Chapter 14

"School. Pierre, Anthoine and I were in the same classes when we were teens. I went to races with them back then, but because of circumstances, that stopped about six years ago." Carlos nodded. It didn't take much to realise that those 'circumstances' were not a subject to start about over a first dinner. "But what about you? How did you get involved in the racing business." Sara quickly diverted the conversation away from herself. She used her interviewing skills as she listened to Carlos and it didn't take very long for Sara to realise that Carlos was a real family man with a true heart for the sport and that he thanked his father for it all.

"Do you do any sports?" Sara shrugged.

"Not really. I play badminton about three times a week after work and I work out." Carlos frowned.

"You don't really do sports, but you play badminton three times a week, most people do call that playing sports." Sara chuckled.

"For me, that is doing it every day and sometimes more than once a day. Including competitions."

"And why would that be?"

"Because that used to be what I did. I competed at a high level and it was everything I worked for."

"Why did you quit?"

"I didn't want to, but I had to." Sara played with the cutlery on the table. "I had a couple of returning injuries that kept me from playing pain-free, have fun and actually play at the level I wanted and would be able to without my injuries. It was too frustrating, so I quit. Despite hating it, it did make me happier."

"It must have been hard." Sara nodded.

"It was. It was really unfair as well. One of my best friends at the time was a real talent in her sport as well but she just threw it all away." Sara shook her head. It was still incredibly infuriating to think about how Juliette had behaved as a professional athlete. Sara had wanted nothing more than to be as successful as Juliette and she worked damn hard for it but injuries kept her from it time and time again. On the other hand, Juliette did quite the opposite and still managed to win a gold medal at the European championships.

"While you wanted nothing more but succeed and you were robbed from that opportunity and it was totally out of your control." Sara nodded. Carlos had hit the nail right on the head.

"But Anthoine is a good guy, Pierre is as well." Sara frowned. "Anthoine I know from last year, when I was at Renault, Pierre from my time in the Red Bull family, I even raced twice with him in Toro Rosso." Sara looked amused.

"Really, you were his first teammate in formula one?" The frown returned. "Should have known." She shook her head.

"Why?"

"Because I watched a couple of his races and I most certainly couldn't miss his first. He would have killed me."

"Pierre, kill anyone?"

"Yes. Maybe not everyone, because he has the sweet and innocent image to uphold. He would have totally killed me." They laughed. "All jokes aside, I know I can count on them at all times. And the other way around."

"You seem like you are really good friends."

"We are, even with everything that we have gone through. I love them with all my heart." The food arrived and Sara and Carlos thanked them for their food. "But to get off this subject, and not to get to racing, what's your family like? You've had a brief glimpse into my idiotic family, I have to say I am the slightest bit curious to yours."

The rest of the night, they laughed and talked. They talked about so many subjects that Sara didn't even remember what they had talked about by the end of the night. It felt normal, just like their many talks over the phone.

"I can't breath anymore." Sara wheezed when they stood at the entrance of her hotel. They had sat down on the steps. "Honestly, I am exhausted." She yawned. "It was a very busy day." She placed her hand on Carlos' shoulder and stood up. "Thank you for tonight, I had a lovely night."

"I had so too." Sara smiled at the Spaniard before continuing her way into the hotel. She had to bite the inside of her lip to keep herself from smiling. Even though she didn't want to get too comfortable around Carlos because she was afraid of his intentions but then again, she already was. It just felt good but that was what scared her.

She had felt totally at ease around Noah whenshe was in a relationship with him. That was why she had married him. The comfortlured her in, it gave her peace where her mind sometimes just kept running. It washer source of comfort. She didn't want to make the same mistake all over again.She didn't want to drag Carlos in it as well. Her mistake would involve him aswell, especially if she were to find out it was a mistake. She didn't want tohurt him because she did care for him. In whatever way it was.