On My Way To Mr. Right

Chapter 52

“I can’t believe we actually made it here.” I stood in awe and a little bit of chill staring at the abandoned stadium. It was half the Olympic stadium size. It was built in the last mayor’s term, but the permit was never renewed. They said there was trouble with the new mayor. Maintaining this huge place must also have been a handful.

I looked beside me to see Charles peacefully sleeping in the bleachers, his head on James’ lap, which I found to be really cute and funny. I took a snap of them already. Two days into dating and I’ve been rivaled.

Beatrice took her turn first. Although James didn’t let her immediately. She was pretty vexed with the Charles situation and thought she might not think straight due to the stress. But of course, B rejected that idea.

“Remember to stop long before you actually get near the stopping point, okay?” James shouts as Beatrice rears the sweet ride.

The engine roared and Beatrice was gone in a flash.

The stadium was long and wide enough to make turns comfortably and speed up like the wind. It must have felt exhilarating.

“So, do you think Charles will wake up before we drive him home?” James initiated the conversation. It was almost 11 pm and I was exhausted already. Socializing was never my strong font for a long period of time. I can just crawl up into my bed and stay until the winter break is over.

“I hope so,” I mumbled in response.

“Are you okay?” he asks, worried at my fatigued voice.

“Just a little tired, I guess.”

“You seem weird.”

“You’re weird,” I retorted.

“What’s wrong?”

“I really wanted to drive the Ferrari tonight,” I whined, rubbing my eyes.

“Well, you are going to. After Beatrice, as you’ve proposed, right?”

“Babe, I don’t think I can. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but the one hour we’ve had since arguing about who’s going to drive my brother’s car and trying to get Charles to get out of the car to sleep there instead has worn me down. My eyes barely open.”

“Seriously?” he asked, more out of concern rather than disbelief.

“Yeah, I really wish I could drive tonight, but I think I’m gonna fall asleep besides Charles here before Beatrice even returns to the Ferrari,” I muttered.

“Boo, I planned this surprise for you,” he mutters, visibly disappointed.

“I know, but,” I didn’t even get to finish my sentence as a yawn escaped my mouth.

“We could try this again next year.”

“I’m sorry, babe.” I said with another yawn. I could tell he was instantly bored the moment I refused to take a turn in the beautiful car. I really wish I could. I did. But I feared crashing more than the opportunity of a lifetime.

“It’s okay. It’s been a rollercoaster of a night. I’m glad I got the courage to ask you out earlier,” he says, reaching out for my hand. I tried to reach back but Charles’ fussy ass kicked me further down the bench, which made us both chuckle.

“Beatrice is unbelievably awake though. The adrenaline must be firing her up,” he observes.

Bea was definitely taking her time doing the speedy thing, making donuts, although they were quite large and unimpressive. James could definitely do better. But she was wildly enjoying her time in the Ferrari. She had not even come back to our side of the field.

It took about half an hour for Beatrice to finally return to the side of the bleachers and step out of the car. And when she did, she looked more than satisfied. Her lips were up to her ears, eyes bright and wide. Hair ruined by the wind.

“Come on, Lottie. It’s your turn!” She shouts to me, leaning over the car.

“She’s not driving tonight,” James answers. “She’s sleepy.”

“Trust me, the adrenaline will wake you up.”

“She would really rather not,” James was reluctant in his response. Bea, on the other hand, stood with her eyebrows crossed and her lips pursed. She runs up to us and stands in front of James, trying to look intimidating. Although, it doesn’t work when she’s in such a pretty royalty-looking dress.

“Are you telling her what to do? Seriously?” She spits out at James, hands on her hips.

“What?” He replied in shock, and I gasped in momentary disbelief.

“Do you get to decide what she does and what she doesn’t do now? Are you like freaking Adrian? Are you that controlling James?” She continues with the ‘intimidating’ look, which was mostly just her giving James the stink eye.

“Beatrice, no,” I laughed, unable to contain my amusement. James looked equally terrified and confused. “I’m genuinely very sleepy. I cannot drive that monster home even if I wanted to.”

“Is that so?” She asks again.

“Yes,” I exclaimed. James’s eyebrows were meeting now, looking crossed at B’s back. “I’m telling you I am exhausted and I’d hate to crash while driving. Even worse, I’d hate to crash that expensive thing.”

She turned back to James, who had relaxed back onto the seat, holding Charles’ head down to stop him from bobbing and sliding sideways, which made him fall a couple times already.

“I am sorry, I guess,” she said to him.

“You guess?”

“Adrian was always a bully to Charlotte. I can’t help but feel protective now that she’s in a relationship again.”

“You know how Charlotte is,” James whispers, frustrated or exhausted, I couldn’t tell. B was covering my sight of him and his facial expressions.

“Yeah, and I know how beat up she was emotionally and verbally with that loser, Adrian. You know that, too. You were there. I’d hate for her to fall prey to another controlling freak like him again.”

“No, Beatrice. I mean, you know Charlotte. You know how she bosses me around. If anything, I’m the one getting beat up in this relationship. That majesty,” he points out to me with one finger, “gets whatever she wants and more. And I make sure of that. Also, I really fear a book being thrown in my face. As much as possible, I’d like to avoid that at all costs.”

I rolled my eyes at them even though neither one of them could see me. They were talking about me behind their literal backs. As if I wasn’t even there!

Although, it was a little funny and sweet of James to defend me like that. I know B can be too protective sometimes. But I also know she comes with good intentions.

“Glad you’re discussing what I am and what I am not back there,” I murmured loud enough for the two to hear but avoid waking up the sleeping giant between us.

“I guess it is true. Charlotte is the boss of you. She won’t have any control issues with you. You almost literally bow to her.”

“Still here, friends,” I muttered again as they refused to acknowledge my presence.

“We know, Lottie. But we’re talking. Give us a darn minute, would you?” B replies with unequivocal sass lacing her voice. This bench.

“Let it go, Charlotte. Stay there and go take a nap,” James shouted before I could even stand up from my seat to join them in their conversation.

“Why are you so sleepy, anyways?” B finally acknowledges my existence as she helps me get off the bleachers. Finally, it was time to go home and time for some sweet sleep. Nothing sweeter than that speedy Ferrari, than some good, long rest.