You’re sitting on the old wooden bench in the park, beneath two tall trees, your book open on your lap.

Bailey sits beside the bench. Alert, but relaxed, his ears twitching at every little sound.

You turn a page and lose yourself once more in the book, until Bailey suddenly perks up.

His posture shifts, curious.

A man is slowly approaching along the path.

He's wearing a Ferrari jacket, sunglasses on his nose and a dachshund trotting just ahead of him.

You recognize him instantly.

Charles Leclerc.

He doesn’t look like the Formula 1 driver you’ve seen in pictures. He looks more like someone who just needed a bit of fresh air.

You only lift your gaze once he’s passed you.

Your eyes linger on his back for a moment longer than necessary, before you turn back to your book.

But Leo has other plans.

With a sudden tug, he pulls free from Charles’s grip and runs toward you with pure excitement.

Bailey jumps up, as if he’d been waiting for exactly this.

And then..Chaos.

They’re running in circles, around the bench, across the path, their leashes tangling together in a thick knot.

Charles reaches you quickly, slightly out of breath, a sheepish smile on his face. “I’m so sorry. Leo can be..a bit much sometimes.”

You laugh softly. “It’s fine. Bailey too." You say with a little giggle.

You both kneel to sort out the mess. Your fingers move alongside his, occasionally brushing.

A conversation starts.

Light, easy.

You don’t even realize you’re smiling.

Then Leo circles one too many times.

His leash wraps around your legs and Charles. Before you can react, you lose your balance.

Charles tries to catch you, but it’s too late.

You both fall.

Right into a muddy patch next to the path.

Charles ends up on the ground and you half on top of him. His arm is still around your waist.

“That wasn’t part of the plan.” He murmurs, his lips just inches from yours.

You laugh. "No, definitely didn’t imagine spending my day in the mud either.” You say.