17. Practice

CAMERON'S POV

After the rally, which I have to say I liked, the week went by quite quickly. The weekend was better. To begin with, on Saturday morning we had gone to go kart riding in the city and Lara was going with her grandmother, who won to my surprise. I think now I could understand where Lara got her driving skills from, her grandmother was good, I must also say Lara occasionally hit the accelerator or brake while Carmela turned. 

We spent that day in the city, and they were showing the city to me, my mother and Eli, who had noticed she didn't get too detached from Bianca. 

Sunday had been quite a surprise, and I can't deny I had a great time. That was the day they decided to have a party to celebrate Lara's title, and everything was very crazy. What caught my attention the most is Lara had sat in a chair and everyone sat around her as much as possible to ask her questions about how the season had been and how long it would take to compete again, you could see they adored her. 

Today was Monday and we would go to Holland, where the following weekend would be the country's grand prix. Lara, Bianca, Eli, my mother and I were on the plane, and the first one was sleeping. Apparently, those pills made her sleep, but I don't think I know how many times the doctor told her she had to. 

"I think it's the first time in a long time Lara has slept for so long." Bianca said, her gaze fixed on her sister. "That's what it looks like." I said, "They should give her pain pills more often, at least those specifically, it seems they do more for her than the pills for insomnia." 

"You know she wouldn't take it." Eli replied "Probably. Better tell me how Lara's physio is doing." she asked, turning her attention to my best friend "Well, honestly, it's going quite well. Better than anyone I've ever worked with. It's true now is when her leg starts to hurt more from spending so long without doing the movement she is used to, but tomorrow I will remove the stitches and she will be able to do something else with her leg." 

"That's great." After that, both Bianca and Eli started talking about I don't know what really, I just know I focused on watching Lara sleep because it was one of the few times I could see as calm as she is now, that's if we don't have note from time to time, she had nightmares. 

"I can see how much you love her." As soon as I heard my mother say that I stopped looking at Lara to look at my mother who had a small smile on her face and who was also looking at Lara. 

"I do." I assured her "I don't think I've ever seen you so happy with someone." she practically assured to which I nodded, because it could be true "I am, I've never felt that way about anyone." 

"Your sister would be glad to see you like this." Mom assured, and I nodded again "I know." I replied, "I want to thank you, Cam." she said, and now I happened to look at her, because I don't know what exactly she was thanking me for "Why?" I asked, "For getting me out of England. I really don't want to go back there." 

"You don't have to thank me, actually, I apologize for not getting you out of there sooner." I replied honestly "I'm curious, why didn't you?" she asked "I didn't know what to do…. At some point the idea of you coming with me during the season crossed my mind... but I wasn't so sure you were okay... I didn't have the slightest thing to do... so I preferred to leave you with someone who knew what they had to do to take care of you while I was looking for a solution." 

"How did you come up with the idea of letting me live somewhere else?" mom asked "Eli told me I could try to get you out of England and she suggested you go spend a couple of days with them in France and then Lara told me maybe what you needed was to go live somewhere else, maybe you could even come with me what was left of the season." 

"You're surrounded by great people, Cam." she said, turning to look at my girlfriend again "I know, but I want you to promise me that anything you need, or you feel bad, tell me immediately." 

"I will, and I hope you know you have me here for whatever Cameron." He said, "I know, Mom." The rest of the flight we spent in silence, and I returned to focus my attention on Lara. After an hour or something like that, we landed in Holland and while everyone went down, I stayed to wake Lara up, at least so she could go down the stairs of the plane, then I could pick her up. 

"Lara, honey, you have to get up." I whispered, moving her gently "Mmmm…. I'm starting to think you like waking me up." 

A small one appeared in my face as she snuggled further into the seat, but after a couple more tries, she ended up getting up and leaning against me, as this week she had been able to start putting some weight on her leg. 

When we left the airport, we headed straight to the hotel to drop off our things and then we would go to the track to start things with the team, making plans, and Lara would help the driver who would replace her in the next few races. 

On the way to the hotel, Lara had fallen asleep, but even so, I could tell a little nervous about being in the car, so I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to me, causing her to end up leaving her head on my shoulder and unconsciously I get the feeling of intertwining our fingers with her free hand. 

When we finished doing all that, we got back in the car and went to the circuit. This time, Lara didn't fall asleep and when we arrived, Lara quickly got out of the car and waited for me outside. 

Once inside the circuit, the people passing by asked Lara how she was, and she told them she was fine with a smile, but the moment Eric saw her, it didn't take long for him to come running towards us, and a once again, Lara hid behind me, but looking over my shoulder with a smile on her face. 

"Really Lara? You hide? Again?" Eric asked in disbelief. "I'm doing this because it looked like I was going to end up on the ground, and I sure as hell don't feel like having to get up off the ground and possibly screw up my knee." 

"What I get the feeling is you like to hide behind your dear boyfriend." he said, crossing his arms. "I'm more of those who go head-on, you know that, and besides, it would be for him to appreciate more, isn't it, love?" 

She put her arms around my shoulders leaving them on my chest and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and when I turned to kiss her, she was already looking in the direction again, so I kissed her on the cheek too. 

"Yeah." I assured "Bianca was right... you're unleashed now you have sex when you want." Lara had started to laugh, so I followed her, because apparently everyone thought we were having sex, especially if we consider how her knee was now. 

"That idea had never occurred to me, did it occur to you, honey?" Lara asked with a big smile on her face "No, we should follow the plan everyone have, don't you think?" 

"That would be great... what I would do to you right now..." she said "Nah, nah, nah, don't even think about finishing that sentence Lara because I assure you, I don't want to know how your sex life is going." 

"It's funny you say that, and you should have seen your face, but I assure you things are still the same as they were months ago. He is quite a gentleman and doesn't want my knee to get worse." she assured, and I kissed her on the temple "Well, yes, she is quite a gentleman, how is your knee? How come you didn't tell me you had to had a surgery?" 

"Because at first I didn't have, I don't know what I did while I was sleeping, I just woke up with pretty bad pain in my knee." my girlfriend said with a shrug. "At least tell me it doesn't hurt now." 

"Oh, it hurts, you can be more than clear about it, but it's because I can't put any weight on at it, and it's not too much." she assured "How long will it take to heal?" Eric asked again "At least four months and six months at the most." 

"Wow, that's the season." he said with a sigh. "It could be, but I'm working as hard as I can to get to at least the last couple of races." Lara answered, and Eric frowned. "You shouldn't push yourself Lara." 

"And I'm not doing it. You know how grandma is about that." she said rolling her eyes "She's on your case, isn't she?" Eric asked laughing "Do you know how angry he gave me for not telling him?" Lara protested. "And I'm with her." 

"Well, not me." Lara snorted "Don't complain so much because in the end she didn't give you so much trouble. You must tell me what you promised her so she wouldn't stay mad at you, sister, because it wouldn't hurt to use it when she's mad at me." said her sister when she got to our side "She asked, and I told her I would do it. What's more, part of the promise I already did." 

"Vasme decir que é? (Are you going to tell me what it was?" she asked curiously " Facela ganar o Sabado e que para o próximo rally she iba a ser a miña copiloto. (To make her win on Saturday and for the next rally to go as co-driver with me)" dhe said with a big smile "Girls, I would like to understand." 

"Sorry." They both answered at the same time "If you do it when you're not at home, I don't want to imagine when you are there." Eric answered. "They do it often, and that's when Carmela joins us." 

"I can imagine it. So, you spent it in their village? How is it?" Eric asked me, "Calm, and can you believe everyone leaves the front door open?" I said, because it was something that had surprised me and I still couldn't believe it "Honey, do you really need to tell everyone?" 

"Tell me he's not telling the truth." Eric said in disbelief, "Why are you so surprised?" he asked and from Bianca's face, she was asking the same question as her sister "That's not normal." Eric assured. 

"It is where we are from. It's been like that all our life." Bianca assured rolling her eyes. "Now I understand why you sometimes forget to lock the doors." He said, nodding. "It could be. In the end you didn't tell me anything about your grandfather." 

"Well, he died..." It didn't take long for Lara to stop hugging me and as quickly as her crutches allowed her, which was quite fast, hugged him. Eric returned it and after a few minutes they separated, and Lara punched him in the chest. 

"Ow, what's that about?" he asked, running his hand over the spot Lara had hit him. "That's for not telling me sooner, I could have flown to be with you." Lara assured "I know you would have done it, and for that fact I didn't tell you. You hadn't had knee surgery for more than two days; I didn't want to bother you." 

"I was already doing rehab that day, for your information, I might have turned up." she assured "Maybe, but I decided not to tell you." Eric answered "And then you're with my grandmother..." 

At that moment, we heard how someone from my team calls me and at the same time they call Lara from hers, so we quickly say goodbye to Eric and before leaving each one to our teams we kiss. 

Eli doesn't take long to appear at my side. My mother must not have gone too far, of that I'm quite sure. The most likely thing is she's in Lara's box, in this week we spent in her village, they were practically inseparable, and I really liked that, I had never had a girlfriend my mother liked as much as she seemed to do with Lara. 

Once we got to the garage, it didn't take me long to get into the car and make sure both the seat and the mirrors were in a position where I was as comfortable as I could see the cars behind me. 

When they finished assembling the car, I went to put on my suit to do a couple of laps around the circuit and after these, when I returned to the garage, I could see both my mother and Bianca looking in the direction of the wall and whispering. I don't know what, so once I go pull out of the car, I go to where they are. 

"What are you looking at with such interest?" I asked and I could see how they both jumped a bit in the air, but soon Bianca gestures me in the direction of Lara's team wall, so I look and it's when I notice Lara doesn't stop moving her arms and seems annoyed with someone. 

"What's happening?" I asked with a frown. "Honestly, I don't have the slightest idea, I didn't risk going over there, but I get the feeling she doesn't like sitting there very much watching someone run in her car." 

"I can get an idea, but is the driver really that bad?" I asked. "No, he's not, and believe me, Lara will help, but I think she's more upset with not sitting in the car herself." 

After standing there for a while looking in Lara's direction, a woman appears next to her and it doesn't take long for the car to enter the box, causing both Lara and the woman to enter it and Bianca doesn't take long to disappear into her box. 

"Would you mind if I go to her box?" mom asked, I smiled and denied "You don't have to ask my permission mom, you can do whatever you want, and if you want to go to her box, you can. Besides, I'll go in a bit." 

"See you there then, Cam." I kissed her on the cheek and then went into my box where I looked at the data on the laps I had done, recommendations on what to avoid and the condition of the wheels. When I was finally able to go shower, I headed to my break room and quickly got into the shower. No more than fifteen minutes later, I was in Lara's box and where I could see my mother, Bianca, Eli, the lady who had gone with Lara before and the one who I suppose would be her substitute around the car and Lara was nowhere to be found, or at least until I noticed her sneakers sticking out from under the car, so I go over to see what they're looking at too. with so much interest 

"Do you see something strange?" asked the boy "No, I don't see anything out of place, at least the hit the bottom of the car tool, just a bit worn." Lara said without getting out from under the car "So that's not why he was losing speed?" 

Lara got out from under the car and sat on the ground looking right in my direction, bringing smiles to both of our faces. "No, maybe you should go for a lap or two to see. The machines don't find anything strange, but if in those couple of laps, you continue with that error, we will have no choice but to open the car and see if we find anything strange." 

"Now?" García asked "It's the best I think." The boy nodded and put his balaclava and helmet back on. It doesn't take long for Lara to reach out to me with a smile on her face, and even though Bianca was going to go help her, it doesn't take me long for Lara to reach her and help her up. Once standing, she took the crutch she had resting on one of the cabinets and I brought her closer to me so she could lean on me if she wanted. 

"Cameron, nice to meet you." The lady who was with Lara stretched out her hand in my direction and I didn't take long to return the greeting. "Cam, this is Serena, my boss. Serena, he's my boyfriend." Lara replied, "I'm glad to know you're together honestly." 

"Me too, and you don't know how much." We were talking for a while until Lara finished everything and both she and Bianca pointed out the reason why the car was losing speed. 

An hour later, the four of us were in the restaurant having dinner, and both my mother and Eli took me out of Lara's side and didn't stop telling her things from when I was little. Both Lara and Bianca couldn't stop laughing and if it were up to me, I would hide under a rock, but she assured I was cute, even though at times she seemed to be laughing at me. 

On the way to the hotel, we were silent and holding hands, but it wasn't one of those awkward silences and I also knew she wasn't angry as she was moving our hands back and forth. 

"How is your substitute?" I ask, "Not bad, but he still has a lot to improve, and this is his chance." Lara assured "At least he'll learn from someone who's good behind the wheel." I replied, "He could learn from many people better than me." 

"Are you saying you're a bad teacher?" I asked "No, I'm not, but there are people who have more experience in the grill than I have, you are one of them." she assured "I don't see myself teaching someone, I lose patience easily. How was your day anyway? 

"Really good, and even though it might be one thing I could do once I retired, I couldn't do it right now." she said laughing, "Because you want to be in the car?" 

"Yeah." He said, "So that's why you moved your hands so much?" I asked, "What are you talking about?" she asked with a frown. 

"When I returned to the box, I saw both my mother and your sister looking at I don't know where and they were whispering and once I got to where they were and I asked them what they were looking at with such interest, Bianca pointed in your direction. According to her, she had not approached you in case you were angry or something." 

"I wasn't, it's something I do when I want to do something else or I'm talking. I usually do it when I'm nervous or stressed too." She said, "When you tell you don't." I assured, because I had never seen her do something like that "Because I learned to control it over time, but sometimes it escapes me." 

"Why did you work so hard not to do it all the time?" I asked, because that was nothing special really. I even did it myself sometimes "I feel more comfortable not doing it." she responded with a shrug. "For what they would say?" 

"No, you know I don't care what they say about me, but it's another part of managing stress." replied "Were you stressed?" I asked worriedly "No, I just want to be able to drive again, nothing more." 

"And you will do it again." I assured with a small smile on my face, to which she nodded "What do you think if when we get to the room, I prepare a bath of those hot ones you like, and I give you a massage?" 

"That sounds great, honey." A couple of minutes later we arrived at the hotel and headed for the elevator to get to our floor. Once there, I took the key out of my pocket and opened the door. I left Lara on the sofa while I went to run her bath, but before I finished running her bath, Lara was leaning against the bathroom door in my direction. 

"You shouldn't be straining your knee so much, Lara." I protested "I'm not forcing it, but I swear if I don't move it seems to bother me more." She replied, "Did you take any pill to make the pain go away?" 

"It's just it's not my knee that hurts, but my thigh." she answered "Do you want me to call Eli?" I inquired, maybe she could help her be so uncomfortable "No, it's not necessary. I'm sure the bath it will help me." 

"You know Eli won't mind coming over." I assured "I know, but it isn't necessary. If so, I'll tell her when we continue with the rehabilitation tomorrow." She maintained "As you wish. Now you can get in while I go to the living room to get my cell phone." 

I was about to leave the bathroom to let Lara get in the tub when she stops me and makes me turn in the direction of the bathroom again. "You know you don't have to go out, right?" she asked with a flirtatious smile on her face "I know, but I have to go…" 

"Cam, your cell phone is next to the sink." As soon as she says that I look at where she said the phone was, where it is, which makes me hit on my mind for my slip. And I also don't know how I knew what I was going to say, "I know you're doing this so I can get in the tub, but I'm serious, I don't care if you stay." 

"Are you sure you don't mind?" I asked, noticing how my heartbeat quickened "If I did, I wouldn't be offering it to you, believe me, but if you don't want you can leave, and I'll call you later." 

I looked at her to make sure she was okay and went back into the bathroom and leaned against the sink. I could see how a small smile appeared on her face and Lara left her crutches leaning against the wall. Little by little she took off her clothes and even though I'm partly here in case she needed my help, I couldn't help but look at her and I didn't get out of the trance I had gotten into until her hand appeared in front of me, moving to one side to another. 

"In order not to want to stay at first, it's you keep watching now." she said laughing "I'm sorry." I apologized "You don't have to apologize, it would just be great if you could listen to me too." she assured and I frowned, because I have no idea what she was talking about "I'm sorry, seriously..." 

"Cam, I don't mind you staring at me, that's the least of it, but would you mind helping me with my pants?" she asked, and I nodded, because I didn't care even though I wish I had in other circumstances. 

I walked over to her, squatting down in front of her and placing her hand on my shoulder so she could lean on and slowly began to pull her pants down. Maybe I shouldn't take the moment to brush my fingers against her thigh, but I couldn't help it. I looked up, to see if I was making her uncomfortable in any way, but was met with what looked like lust. Her eyes had darkened a couple of shades, and I could feel my erection growing by the minute. After I don't know exactly how long, I got up and put my hand on her hip to keep some of her weight off. 

"Do you want to get in?" Lara asks "What?" I returned the question "If you want to get in the tub with me, Cam." she replied laughing once more "I'd love the idea, but I don't plan on burning myself." I assured "It's not that hot." 

"Maybe later. Now get in so I can give you that massage I promised you." I said "Okay, but you have to help me get in." She answers "Don't worry, you know I'm happy to do it." 

"As long as you have your hands on me, everything is perfect." she replied rolling her eyes but with a simile "Yeah." I whispered. After a few minutes, I put my legs in the tub. Lara leaned on them, leaving her head there and I began to massage her shoulders, which felt a bit tense, but as the minutes went by, they began to relax. 

"How do you know how to give such good massages?" Lara asked, fixing her gaze on mine "Ellie had back problems when we were little, massages were something that helped her, but we couldn't afford to take her as many times as she needed, so I learned." 

"She never said it." Lara replied, "Apparently she kept a lot of things." I assured "Don't blame her because I would do the same as her." she stated, and I frowned. "Wouldn't you tell me if you had a serious illness or problem?" 

"I would tell you, but I wouldn't tell my grandmother and probably not my mother either. I wouldn't want to trouble them with such things." She said, "And Bianca?" I asked, because I knew how close I was to her. 

"I don't. Partly I wouldn't tell her because she's very expressive and both mom and grandma would find out, but on the other hand I think I would tell her because we have no secrets between us." She replied "But you don't have it with your mother and grandmother either." 

"But grandma is already of an age and mom already had a bad time what happened with dad. I don't want my mother to start thinking only about that and I don't want to cause any problems for my grandmother." she said and I nodded, because I could understand "From that point of view..." 

"It makes sense, I know... but going back to your sister, you know all she wanted was for you not to treat her differently than you treated her when she was healthy." It is at that moment I notice the scar on her right hand, and I remember what Bianca had told me had happened. 

"What happened to your hand?" I asked looking at it. I don't know how I hadn't noticed it before. "What are you talking about?" she asked with a frown. "You have a considerable scar; I don't even know how I didn't realize it was there before." 

"It happened a long time ago." she said looking up at the ceiling "And what happened to you?" I asked again "I had to have surgery when I was little after breaking a couple of bones." Lara replied "How did you break it?" 

"Maybe I intentionally threw everything out of the garage where dad worked at and maybe I found the car we were in and smashed it up more and maybe punched it a couple of times. Then I locked myself in my room for a couple of days and when I came out both mom and grandma said we had to go to the hospital because of the way my hand was." 

As soon as those words are out of his mouth, I stop massaging her and a few seconds later she looks up in my direction, leaving her head on my lap. "Was it after your father died?" I asked and she nodded "A couple of months later." 

"Why did you did it?" I asked. "Back then I was angry at the world for taking my father from me without warning. I didn't talk to anyone, not even mom, grandma and sister... I spent all my time locked up ... It was a way of getting that anger out and not risking exploiting them, they had a hard time with what had happened to my father and how I was." 

I could see how her eyes began to fill with tears, so I ended up getting into the bathtub with her without caring about getting my clothes wet, what mattered to me at this moment was her and that she was okay. I hugged her and she ended up leaving her head on my shoulder with her face towards my neck, causing me to give her a kiss on the forehead and start to sway slowly to calm her down. 

"I'm sorry." She whispered "Why?" I asked confused "I have no idea." Lara replied, "Honey, if it's because of what you just told me, you don't have to apologize." I assured her, because I didn't need it "It's been almost twenty years since it happened..." 

"But it was something traumatic for you... You saw it happen in front of your very eyes... it's normal for you to cry whenever you talk about it and especially about him..." I declared "Sometimes I wish I was like when I was little and could get in a streetcar." 

"And you can do it." I assured her, "How, if every time I get close to one, anxiety appears out of nowhere?" She maintained "And we can work on that. I can help you with it, honey." I said, "You have more to do, Cam." 

"But the most important thing is you. I'm not telling you to start right away, but the moment you feel ready to try it, I'll be there by your side and supporting you." I assured, because I understood why she didn't like riding in streetcars after what happened. 

"I'll never be ready for that." she whispered taking a breath "Then we can go one step at a time. First, we can try going with sports cars at the speed allowed on the street. Once you get over that, we can go to sit in the car with the doors open so when you want to get out you can do it without anything stopping you. Once that doesn't give you anxiety, we can close the door until you get over the anxiety and it will be at that moment, we can start driving the car. We will stop whenever you want, and we will stop whenever you want." 

"You don't know how much I love you, Cam." I said, "I love you Lara, and I want you to be clear I will be with you at all times." It is at that moment Lara looks up, thus making our eyes lock. We began to slowly bring our faces closer until our lips met. At first it was a quiet kiss, but it quickly escalated. Lara put one of her arms behind my neck, making us only separate to get air. 

With one of my hands, I began to lower her body until I reached the place where I'm sure I'll get lost, but before doing anything, I separated myself from Lara a bit to make sure she wants it, and with a slight movement of the head, she nodded, so, slowly, I began to circle her clit with my thumb, getting her to stick closer to me. 

I began to kiss her neck while I increased the speed and pressure with my thumb and my other hand ended up in Lara's, which intertwined our fingers. I must say my erection was there, but what mattered to me at this moment is that Lara enjoyed herself, the rest came later. 

After I don't know how long, I notice how Lara's hands go down my chest until they reach the bottom of my shirt and she starts to take it off, running her hands over my abdomen and chest until she ends up taking it off, making us stop the kiss and take my hand from between her legs, but the moment the shirt ends on the floor, I kiss her again and my hand to her clit. 

"Oh god Cam... don't even think about stopping..." she moaned "I didn't mean to." I assured my girlfriend, kissing her neck again. I put a finger inside her, getting her to close her eyes and give me more space on her neck, which I took advantage of. Slowly I begin to put more fingers inside her and when I was about to put the third one, I notice how her hand ends up inside my pants and begins to slide it over my penis making circles with her thumb on the tip, drawing a moan from me. 

Not long after we climax and Lara leans into my chest causing me to drop my arms and her hands over mine. "I love you Cam." she whispered "I love you, Lara." 

After we bathed, I get out of the tub, grab the towel, tying it around my waist. Then I help Lara out of the tub, dry her off, and get dressed. When I'm done, I was going to take her to bed, but she insists she would wait for me, so I end up making her sit on the toilet while I dry myself and get dressed. 

A quarter of an hour later, we're in bed. Lara's head was up and circling her fingers on my abdomen as I ran mine through her hair. "I didn't ask you how today's practice was." Lara whispered, "I did well, but I can improve more." 

"I'm sure about that." We were silent for a couple of minutes until Lara raised her head and looked in the direction of the headboard wall. "Something happens, love?" I asked with a frown. "Don't you hear that?" Lara asked and I focused to see if I hear anything, but no, which makes me more confused. 

"What?" I inquired "Oh shit...really?" she protested putting her head in my chest again "What's wrong?" I asked, "My sister is having sex, and she has to make so much noise it seems." Lara replied with a snort. "I don't hear anything." 

"Believe me, better that way." she assured "We can go to sleep in mine if you want." I said "No need. I'm tired and you must rest for tomorrow." she assured "If it's what you want, fine. Rest darling. I love you." 

"I love you Cam." We kissed and then she put her head again back on my chest. I kept running my hand through her hair until she fell asleep and for a couple of minutes, I'm on her way.