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After pre season testing, things with me and Carlos were a bit awkward. Not in a 'ew why did we do that' kind of way. More like a, 'where do we go from here"? kind of way. We had hung out a few times off track but were also very busy with the beginning of the season.
I did stay in his room after Bahrain and we celebrated his podium. But soon enough we were doing different things in the week leading up to the Saudi Arabian GP.
Wednesday morning we came in for media duties, Carlos did not seem himself. He was unwell, so he went back to his hotel early.
The next day, he was still feeling unwell, but came to the track for FP1 and FP2, despite his fever, not being able to eat, and me telling him not to. After practice I could tell he was not great.
"Carlos, you need to go home or to the doctor or something, you're clearly not ok!" I whisper yell after seeing him struggle to get out of his car
"Charles, it's fine, we have it handled." he tries to reassure me he voice weak
"Obviously not!" I answer but before I can continue, Caco calls him over and they go back to the hotel while I stay a bit longer in the garage
Friday March 8
I had not heard from Carlos all morning. Around 1 pm I received a message from Caco but from Carlos' phone.
The doctors say he has appendicitis. He's going into surgery soon. Will keep you updated.
My heart was pounding out of my chest, the room was spinning and suddenly I could barely breathe. Appendicitis...surgery...I want to be there with him.
About an hour later I see the tweet Ferrari sends out, as well as announcing that Ollie would be driving instead.
Soon enough I'm in the car for FP3, the car isn't great but that's the least of my worries. I focus on the program get everything I need to done, give Ollie all the help I can and get myself ready for Quali.
A bit after FP3 I get a message from Caco saying that Carlos was out of surgery, that everything went well, and he'd let me know once he was awake.
I finished Quali in P2. Of course I always want P1, but it was the best I could do. Ollie finished Quali in 11th, good for his first time. But in all honesty, I just wanted to see Carlos.
But how would that look? Me going to visit him at the hospital? Maybe if Lando came with me...yea.
Hey Lando, could you come to visit Carlos with me? I text and he answers quickly
Yeah, meet you in the lobby in 10 minutes.
I go downstairs and wait for Lando there.
"Hey mate." Lando says when he sees me, his face fallen
"Hey, you ready to go?" I ask quietly and he nods
We take a taxi to the hospital and Caco meets us at the entrance. He tells us that Carlos has been awake for a bit. He leads us to his room and we see him through the window in the door. He looks tired. I tell Lando he should go in first and I'll go in after. I watch him sit down on the chair next to the bed and talk to him for a bit. I see Carlos chuckle as Lando tries to crack a joke to make him feel better. A few minutes later Lando comes out and nods for me to go in. Him and Caco go walk around the hallways.
"Sharl...what are you doing here..you should be preparing for the race and helping Ollie." Carlos mumbles and smiles, eyes heavy
"You worried me Chili..." I sit down and reach for his hand but he pulls it away, I look at him confused
"Not here" he whispers and looks behind me through the glass in the door. I turn around and see people walking around. I nod and pull it away.
"I was so scared. Couldn't lose you too." I blink back a tear
"You won't ever lose me Charlie..." he smiles and blinks a few times before falling asleep
I let a few tears escape my eyes and finally get up. I wipe them away before leaving the room. Caco and Lando were waiting on a bench outside the room. They stand up and I look straight at Caco.
"I want an update every hour. Even during the race, I won't see them, but I want the reassurance. Please." I ask and he nods
Lando and I walk out of the hospital and wait for a taxi while sitting on the curb.
"Hey Charles?" Lando asks hesitantly, looking at me and I look up at him, cocking my head "Are you two..."
"Yeah." I whisper
"How long?" he asks
"Car launch, so almost a month? But we haven't seen much of each other...we've been very busy..." I answer
"I'm here if you guys ever need an alibi." he jokes and I smile and thank him.
It was hard for me to sleep that night but I did eventually.
Saturday March 9
Caco kept me updated throughout the night and said Carlos was already feeling better this morning.
It was race day though. I was nervous. For myself and for Ollie. I gave him as much as I could last night and this morning.
I received a text a few hours before the race from Carlos saying he would be coming. I told him not to, and to stay at the hospital but he was adamant that he wanted to come.
I was in the garage talking to engineers when he walked in. I so desperately wanted to just run to him and hug him. Of course, I couldn't do that. Not with so many watching eyes. I shake his hand and go in for a short hug and a few taps on his back.
No words were exchanged but he could read my eyes saying "I'm glad you're okay."
He smiled and walked away to say hello to the engineers.
The race went well, I finished on the podium. Carlos was helping Ollie out throughout the race. After the podium ceremony and debrief, Carlos texted me saying he would meet me at my hotel room.
After I showered, I heard a knock on my door and checked the peep hole. It was Carlos. I opened the door quickly and pulled him into the room, closing the door swiftly behind him.
"Carlos..." I breathed out, relieved to finally see him privately "I'm glad you're okay." I smile, my hands holding his cheeks.
His hands reach up to mine and pull them down as he leans forward and pecks my lips slightly.
"Is it bad? Can I see it?" I ask tugging his shirt up slightly to look at the stitches "You were in surgery yesterday and now you're up and about. You're crazy, you know that right?"
"Crazy about you" Carlos says placing his forehead against mine and I smile
"You should go get some sleep." I whisper pulling away from him
"You're right. See you later Charlie." Carlos pecks my cheek and walks out of my room.
Everything around me suddenly getting colder, his body bringing me so much warmth earlier.
I go to sleep soundly knowing he's okay and that I would see him the next day on the jet back to Italy.
I had almost forgotten, that we'd be parting ways in 274 days.