*Sorry for the long break! Stay tuned this week for many updates! The end is near.
FLORENCE'S POV:
The tear slipped down my cheek as I watched Kelly walk down the aisle. She was beautiful in every way, and she was beaming with joy as she made her way towards us. Nerves, joy, excitement. I couldn't begin to imagine.
Max got me next as I glanced over to him. This was their first time seeing each other and he was sobbing. My heart was melting in every moment. Seeing him so emotional brought more than one tear to my eye.
When Kelly made it to Max, Charles caught my attention on the other side of the alter. His green eyes were shining while he watched the ceremony. There was a toothless grin plastered to his face and his dimples were out to play. Eventually he caught me staring at him and shot me a wink.
To avoid my tears by looking around at everyone, I focused on the ceremony. Max and Kelly exchanged vows and Penelope brought up the rings. The finale was the ring exchange and kiss that brought the venue to a roar of cheers that rang out from me as well. Max and Kelly were married.
~
"Just one more shot," Kika said hanging on to my shoulder. She was dangling the glass in front of me, the smell of tequila filling my nose already causing it to scrunch.
"My god," I scoffed out with a cough trying to push the shot away.
"Shots than dance, you can do it," Kika said returning it to my face.
While I was still tensing away from the shot, Kelly walked up in her beautiful white dress. "Shots than dance," she smiled sitting next to me.
Kika smiled deviously at me handing me the shot. "You might be able to refuse me but not the bride."
I moaned out a fine. "But we're all taking them," I said in return. I stood waving a staff down with a tray grabbing two more shots and offering a thanks. I sat them down next to Kelly and Kika then grabbed mine. "To the most beautiful bride," I smiled toasting to the girls.
"Here here," Kika said clinging all of our glasses together. The tequila slid down my throat with a burn. Shots were not my favorite way of drinking, especially not tequila.
As I put the glass down, Kelly was pulled away by her mom onto the dance floor which just left Kika and I. We were getting ready to join the dancing when Pierre came running up clearly excited.
He put his arms around both Kika and I and tried to keep his voice as low as possible but struggled speaking between deep breaths. "You won't believe what I just fucking saw."
Kika rolled her eyes and hummed. "I don't know did Daniel do a shoee," she asked uninterested. She was trying to tug away to the dance floor.
"Even better," Pierre said excitedly. "Think high drama."
I couldn't think of anything and Kika didn't have the patience for the guessing game tonight with the dance floor just steps away. She just told him to spill already while I was preparing my guess.
"Corrine just got removed by security before she was barely through the front door," Pierre whispered pulling both of us close.
Kika looked over at me with her eyes wide and my jaw had practically hit the floor. "She was here," I whispered out. I was virtually gobsmacked hearing this news. While I knew she was involved with the story, I had blocked out any information over the last few months for the sake of my own mental health.
"Yeah, she's lucky she didn't get arrested. I can't believe she would show up," Pierre said nonchalantly.
"Arrested," I repeated back curiously.
Kika and Pierre both looked over to me curiously. "The defamation case and restraining order?"
I shook my head at them, but it didn't take much for me to imagine. "It's news to me," my words came out quietly but a smile emerged on my face thinking about the possibility of justice. "Against Corrine."
Kika grinned back at me. "Look at that little evil smile," she said pointing out my current look.
"Can you blame me?"
Kika and Pierre let out little chuckles studying me. "No we can't," Pierre said.
A bit of curiosity got the best of me. "Care to share why?"
"False statements during an interview with Corrine claiming you and hers relationship after the initial article. Charles finally shared her stealing his watches and sunglasses while they were dating, that was news to everyone. He made statements on the cheating she did. Then spoke out about all these interactions you two had with her to legalize the restraining order."
I couldn't respond but just nodded my head.
Kika looked slightly worried with a crease between her eyebrows. "Should we be letting Charles share this?"
I shook my head letting a smile grow. "No, him and I are passed wasting thought on that woman. That's all I needs to know. He does deserve a thank you kiss," I said relieved. To know Charles took the risk to share uncomfortable details of his life was not something I wanted to make him relive. To know he stepped out for me made feel beyond safe.
Pierre scrunched his face up next to me. "Yeah, a thank you kiss," he said sarcastically.
Kika hushed him swatting her hand at his arm. "Leave Florence to their business," she said with a wink.
"And join me to dance," I said happily pulling at both of them while I stepped near the dance floor. Before I knew it the three of us were surrounded by people stepping, swaying, and spinning to the music. I could see Max and Kelly now dancing together in the crowd and before I could move toward them I felt a hand catch mine and tug me close. Quickly, my body was pulled against a familiar chest. When I looked up I was met by Charles green eyes.
"Excusez-moi mademoiselle, I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. I needed to dance with you," Charles said pulling me close.
I kept my eyes on him while I wrapped my arms up around his neck, I couldn't help but feel every movement of his arms looping around my waist. "That's quite a bold assumption monsieur."
"It's the color you have on. Something about red on a woman," Charles whispered into my ear.
A smile emerged on my face while I leaned back so I could look at him straight in the face. "And what are your thoughts about red being taken off a woman?"
While I controlled my laughter with my little comment my cheeks burned sparking my blush.
Charles kept his eyes glued to mine but I could see the dimples in his cheeks even without a smile formed.
"I believe your blushing," he said with a whisper.
"I believe you might have that effect on a woman."
Charles smile now formed on his face even though he was already carrying it in his eyes. He began leaning down to kiss me but I already wanted to do that myself so I leaned forward as well. Clumsily, in the moment, our noses bumped while our lips connected, us both laughing into the kiss as we adjusted to deepen the kiss.
"I love you Florence," he said in the moments we could breathe.
"I love you even more," I whispered back against his lips.
The rest of the wedding was a blast. I happily made way for Charles to dance with Penelope. While Max pulled me for a dance, we both watched Charles and Pen dance together. She stood on his feet while Charles held her hands and they stepped to the music, Charles spinning her in the air every few moments while giggles poured out of her.
As the night went on the party continued. Having everyone from racing, families, and friends we haven't met before the whole group celebrated and partied in the name of the Verstappens.
~
I woke up to my stomach exploding in knots. It was still dark outside as my body quickly adjusted to my surrounding, but I had no idea what time it was. I noted being in Charles house as I found my feet and quickly made my way to his bathroom. My hands found the toilet as I quickly pulled up the seat releasing the contents in my stomach. Within seconds Charles was behind me clumsily finding my hair to pull it off my neck. I could feel his hand find the top of my back trying to sooth me.
"You don't have to," I said between breaths but couldn't finish my sentence.
I couldn't see Charles but I could hear the kindness in his voice. "Oh but I'm here."
By the time I felt good enough to stand, I struggled to find the energy to brush my teeth and wash away the sweat on my forehead but somehow managed slowly. When I returned to the room, Charles had walked back in with a water and held the covers up for me. I climbed into the bed and felt him morph into the back of me. My eyes stayed open while I stared at the alarm clock next to the bed, 6:30am.
"I didn't think you were that drunk," Charles whispered into my ear. "Are you feeling better?"
I nudged further into the warmth he was providing and sighed. "I don't think it's from the alcohol," I said but it sounded more like a question. "Or at least don't think I got sick from that. Maybe it was a food," I offered as a solution.
"But you feel better?"
"For the most part," I whispered back finally closing my eyes. "I did have tequila after all," I yawned remembering the shot.
I felt the rumble of Charles little chuckles around me. I could hear the tired rasp to his voice. "Maybe, I do know you hate tequila," he said quietly before sleep came back over me.