Same but... different (Lestappen and Carlando)

Chapter 13

Warning! It might make you hungry :)

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POV: Max

I had decided to prepare a traditional Monegasque dish, but couldn't find the ingredients and chose to make the French "hachis parmentier", which is made from mashed potatoes and minced meat. I also chose to add some wine in the sauce, and a few different spices and onions to make it a bit tastier. And grated cheese on top, obviously!

I smile looking at the result, quite proud of myself. I only asked Arthur about the location of certain things I needed, like the glass container, but did everything else without any help. Now, the only problem is to understand how that complicated oven works, how many buttons are really useful on this? It's almost as complicated as the steering wheel we have in the car, but at least I know how to use this one!

Before I can accidentally set a fire in the kitchen of the Monegasque, he appears behind me, startling me and almost making me drop the dish that I so carefully made. He then helps me make the oven work, and I hum contently smelling the aromas starting to fill out the air. This is going to be amazing!

I then decide we need to balance this quite rich dish with a bit of vegetables, and prepare a nice salad with its dressing, hoping they are gonna like it. We are racing drivers after all, we have to stay fit or else our trainers are gonna be angry at us, and as much as I love Bradley, I don't want to do any more gym than necessary.

I hear the two brothers talking among themselves in French in the distance, but I can't understand anyway so I stay focused on monitoring the cooking, taking it out as soon as I hear the beeping.

— Do you need help Max? Wait, don't get burnt, here. Charles gives me a potholder, making sure I'm safe.

It's the little attentions like this that really make my heart race, and my cheeks blush. I feel so cared for when I'm with him, it's something I'm not really used to, and well, it just feels nice. I then shake my head, refocusing on bringing the dish to the table.

— Ohhhh, it smells amazing, thanks Max! Arthur says, and I smile at him, not noticing the fuming Charles behind me.

— Yeah, thank you so much, this is hachis parmentier right? I absolutely love it, I know it's gonna be delicious! Charles also compliments me, and I can sense a weird atmosphere between the three of us, but decide to shrug it off and we all take a seat.

— I made salad too, so we don't get fat! I joke, and it relieves a bit of the tension, but there's still a strange feeling floating in the air, and I decide I want to explain myself as soon as possible. This is getting on my nerves.

We eat in a relative silence, the music still playing quietly in the background, our hungry stomachs making us unable to talk for now, as we all concentrate on the food.

— Well it was actually super good Max, I should hire you as my private chef! Charles says, before sipping on his glass of wine.

His joke actually gets me thinking about it, but something else catches my attention even more. I didn't think that drinking some wine could be that attractive but God, even how he is holding his glass is making me unwell. His hands, so beautiful... Anyways, I know the end of the dinner is getting close now, and that makes me feel like my body is on fire, like every nerve is about to burst from all the stress.

— Guys, I completely forgot actually but I brought dessert, because I was coming to see Charles and well, I know that's your favourite cake so... yeah. Arthur starts telling me, before addressing himself to his brother.

— Naaan, t'as ramené du cheesecake ? Putain trop bien merci! (Nah, you brought cheesecake? Shit, that's sick, thanks!)

We share the cake, and even though I'm not a fan of dessert, I have to admit this is really good. But it doesn't make the bitter taste in my mouth go away, due to the situation to come.