Hey guysss uploading a bit earlier than planned because I've had a pretty stressful day and I wrote to get rid of my stress ughhh it's so hard to be a citizen of a third world country :((

Enjoy!

*****

It took Charles and I a full day to recover from the wine tasting.

We went through four batches which came to a total of twelve glasses each. At some point, I think it was the third or fourth batch, we ended up asking the waiter to add more wine to the glasses which led to us having to sober up the entire night so that we could drive home. We were only able to feel the results of the hangover the morning after when we found ourselves passed out in my living room.

Despite the very eventful day, I still managed to order the bottles for the wedding as well as a few that I would be bringing home with me. It's been two days since we visited the vineyard and I decided that this morning was going to be spent in bed. Taylor sent me a list of things to do for my workout and I was debating if I should do them or postpone it for another day.

While I was messaging Taylor, Charles' name popped up as he sent me a message.

Leclerc: look what I found on my phone

An image was attached and my eyes widened at a drunk photo of me, holding two wine glasses over my head as if they were horns. Another photo came in and it was of Charles this time but he was holding the wine glass like a telescope.

Bellerose: we look stupid

Leclerc: what do you mean we? I look handsome

Bellerose: you are clearly still drunk

I locked my phone and moved my position on the bed, burying my face into the pillow to lull myself back to sleep. My phone vibrated again and I ignored it, thinking it was Taylor but then the vibrations didn't stop. I patted around my bed until I found my phone and opened it to see a bunch of messages from Charles.

Leclerc: are you still in bed

I need a workout buddy

please?

Bellerose wake up

wake uuuuuuup

Bellerose: no

Leclerc: come on what happened to being healthy

Bellerose: I'm still healthy so no thanks

Leclerc: I'm gonna call Taylor

Bellerose: you don't even know her last name

Leclerc: I have my ways 😉

Bellerose: I'll work out with you but you have to come with me this afternoon

Leclerc: where?

Bellerose: it's a surprise

With a groan, I stood up and changed into some workout clothes, pulling out a dark blue set and a black Nike windbreaker to fight the cold. I arrived in front of Charles' house ten minutes later and discovered that the front door was unlocked. For someone who earns as much as he does, he's very relaxed when it comes to his security.

I made sure to lock the door before finding him inside the house. The doors to the backyard were open so I headed for that direction and found him setting up the equipment. There were a bunch of weight plates, resistance bands, as well as kettlebells. I sighed deeply as Charles laid out two yoga mats in the middle of it all and he laughed at the look on my face.

"Good morning." He greeted, giving me a side hug before pulling me towards the yoga mats.

"Good mornings are reserved for people who know how to have lazy days." I said, setting down my things at a nearby table and joining him for a warm up in the yoga mats.

Charles chuckled and did his own warm up routine. "You don't have to follow my workout routine. We both know Taylor already sent you one for the day."

He was right and I didn't have any response but to stick my tongue out. For the next ten minutes, we both warmed up on our own. Charles played his workout playlist through the portable speakers he placed between us. After warming up, he went on to use the jumping rope while I began Taylor's workout for the day.

She did not go easy on me. Her workout was focused on both my core and upper body strength to prepare me for the combat training I'd have to go through next month. There were three sets with exercises lasting at least forty five seconds each. In the middle of the second set, I decided to take a brake by sitting on the grass with my bottled water and watching Charles. He just finished doing his neck exercises, which looked painful from where I stood, but I have to commend him for the endurance he's strengthened. Without even taking a break, he moved on to the resistance bands.

"Why'd you stop?" He asked when he noticed that I wasn't doing any exercises.

"Unlike you, normal human beings like me need to have a break to catch our breath." I said and he laughed before moving on to his other side.

"Let's do a plank later and if you last longer than me, I'll ask Taylor if she can give you a day off." I raised an eyebrow at him, tempted at the idea. I may act like a grump when it comes to workouts but planks were my favorites. I've lasted longer than Taylor before and she works out for a living.

"You're on." I said and stood up to continue my workout. Naturally, I finished first before Charles because his workout routine is far more rigorous than mine. My entire body was glistening with sweat so I took off my windbreaker, leaving me in only my leggings and sports bra. Behind me, Charles uttered a grunt when he lost his balance doing weighted forward lunges. "You okay there?" I asked and he nodded, doing the last repetitions before putting down the weights.

"My legs are killing me." He groaned, moving over to where I was to grab his bottled water.

"Does that mean you concede?" I asked, smiling triumphantly but he only shook his head at me.

"That's not happening, Bellerose." He smirked and we both headed to our own yoga mats. We fixed it so that we were both facing one another while Charles placed his phone in between us so that we'd both see how long we've been planking. "Ready?"

"Definitely."

As the timer began, we both lifted ourselves on our elbows. It's a good thing I finished my workouts with my core exercises because if not, my arms would be burning right now. I glanced at his phone and saw we had passed the thirty second mark and I had a feeling there was a long way to go.

I glanced up at Charles who looked like he was having a harder time than I was, forehead scrunched up as his hands closed into fists. Thirty seconds became forty five then sixty. It was around a minute and fifty seconds later when Charles let out a pained grunt and lowered his arms, lying down on his back as his chest rose up and down in exhaustion.

"You're a monster." He breathed out when I stopped the timer and let my arms rest.

I laughed at him and stood up before offering a hand for him to take. He took it and pulled himself up, a smile on his face despite his defeat in the challenge. "You should know that planks are one of my favorite workouts." I winked and let go of his hand, grabbing a towel to wipe my face.

"What do you have planned for later then?" He asked and fear passed through his face when he saw the glint in my eyes. "You have that look again."

"Which one?"

"The one that means we're about to do something I don't like."

I smirked and placed the towel around my neck. Tapping his shoulder twice, I began grabbing my things so that I could go home for a shower. "You're definitely going to hate it. Be ready in half an hour."

*****

"Absolutely not."

Charles had both of his hands on his hips as we stood in front of the farm. I didn't tell him where we were going, only telling him to wear something fit for the cold. While I was getting ready, I already called the owner and she was more than happy to accommodate us once again, reserving two horses but I doubt Charles would ride one his own.

"We have a deal." I said, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the restaurant. The owner was already there when we arrived and her eyes widened at the sight of the person beside me. Our eyes met and a look of understanding crossed her features when I lightly shook my head. "Buongiorno." [Good morning.] I smiled and the owner returned it before leading us to the stables.

She gave a bit of a rundown for Charles who looked like he was about to make a run for it any second. I didn't let go of his arm knowing that it was a possibility, but when we reached the stables, the look of fear faded into astonishment.

We both approached Midnight as the owner left us on our own, placing the equipment we'd need at a nearby table. "Hey there." I smiled, running my hands over her mane again. She moved her muzzle over me and I chuckled when she bent down a little so that my hand would be by her forehead instead. "She won't bite." I told Charles who was standing at least five feet away from us. He looked at me before turning to Midnight, a look of apprehension on his face. I offered him my left hand which he took after another ten seconds of debating with himself.

Slowly, I guided Charles' hand to Midnight's forehead, placing it there until she got accustomed with him. It didn't take long and before I knew it, a soft smile was plastered on Charles' face. "I'm adding this to one of my core memories." Charles said as he continued to admire Midnight. I let him have his time to get comfortable while I fixed up the equipment on her back.

"What are the others?" I strapped in the saddle and reigns, making sure that everything would be secured to avoid an accident.

"My first F1 race, when I began driving for Ferrari, the flower fields..." I smiled as his voice lowered when Midnight stepped near him, already getting comfortable.

"Alright." I said, finished with double checking the equipment. "Time to go out for a ride." We brought Midnight out onto the field, Charles beside me as I held onto her reigns. When we were at a safe distance, I stopped walking so that we could get on. I instructed Charles first since I'd be mounting before him and he listened attentively, lips pursed in concentration. "Your turn." I said, cocking my head to the side.

"You better not film this because I know I'll look stupid." He said, holding on to the saddle. I laughed when it took him three tries to get on and said that maybe I should've gotten a stool to make it easier for him. When he was finally sitting behind me, he showed me a glare which only made me laugh harder. "You couldn't have thought of that earlier?"

I only shook my head at him and tightened my grip on the reigns. "Hold on." I said, before pressing my legs against Midnight to tell her to begin walking.

Charles' hands immediately went on my waist as Midnight began moving, starting off with a slow speed before she moved faster when I pressed my calves against her again. "Oh my god." I heard Charles breathed out behind me, holding on tighter as the wind blew past us.

As we crossed the fields, I tried to focus all of my attention on controlling Midnight's reigns and not on the person sitting behind me.

Easier said than done.

It was difficult to cover the blush in my cheeks every time Charles squeezed my waist when Midnight would go fast. I had to bite the inside of my cheek when he moved closer to me, my back almost pressing against his chest. I'm just thankful that he wouldn't be able to see my face.

"You good?" I called out over the wind and the sound of Midnight's hooves against the ground.

Another squeeze on my waist. "I want to jump off this horse but also stay at the same time." He said and I couldn't help but laugh.

We could no longer see the farm and there was a tall tree up ahead that we could hangout for a few minutes before making our way back. I pulled on Midnight's reigns and she began to slow down to the direction of the tree. When we stopped, I turned my head to tell Charles to get down but I was surprised at our closeness. If I move even just a few inches, his nose would touch my cheek.

I cleared my throat and patted Midnight's back. "Time to get down, Leclerc." I smirked and he sighed, knowing that dismounting wouldn't be as difficult as getting on but it wasn't a walk in the park either.

"I deserve a free meal after this." He grumbled as he slid off of Midnight in a very inelegant manner.

"Yes, sir." I saluted and he smiled at me, offering his hand for me to take. I moved my left leg over Midnight so that both of my legs were on her right side before grabbing Charles' hand. The only way I knew to go down was to jump and I did, landing me standing right in front of Charles. "So, what do you have to say about your first time riding a horse?"

"First time and last time." He emphasized before letting go of my hand and walking down to the tree. I tied Midnight's reigns to one of the branches before sitting down beside him.

"We still have to ride back."

"Fuck me." He cursed and I covered my lips with my fist to stifle my laughter. "You have a knack for testing my limits, Bellerose." He said but he has a smile on his face.

"It's a talent I take pride in." I smirked before sending him a wink. If only he knew, he was testing my limits as well.

And I'm getting close to breaking them.

*****

Mhmmm do you guys think the last name nicknames are okay or should I change it?

✧Reese✧