The Teammate

07 - Perfect Conversations on Dark Patios

May 2023 - Miami Grand Prix

Ever since Arabella's plane touched down in Miami she knew this weekend would be different than the other race weekends she had attended. The entire atmosphere was different, similar to the shift from her own competitions in Europe versus in the United States. The events were bigger and the fans crazier. Not to mention Miami was only in its second year on the circuit, which means they were still pulling out all the stops to make sure it was an amazing racing weekend.

From the plane to the hotel, Arabella kept her phone on airplane mode, trying to let the humid air clear her head. With the season over she was, for the first time in a long time, free from any obligations. It may only be for a few weeks and traveling to Miami to spend the weekend around the press wasn't what her brother or coach thought was best. The past few weeks had been stressful, to say the least. Not only had she been stressed with the end of the season, but her father's condition had taken a turn for the worse. Since she had time off, her brother encouraged her to come for another visit, but she didn't. She avoided the issue completely.

Arabella arrived at the hotel and checked in, and finally turned her service on just long enough to send a message to Max letting him know that she had arrived. As soon as the message bubble was delivered, she tossed her phone on the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Ignoring the buzzing of all the messages coming in after her 11-hour flight of silence. She knew she'd eventually have to answer her phone, have to face everything she had left behind in the Netherlands, but for right now she was going to enjoy her freedom.

Max arrived at her hotel room shortly after she had gotten out of the shower. The knock at the door was quick and excited, matching her little run to the door so she could open it as fast as possible.

"Fuck, I've missed you." He said his eyes roaming over her robe-wrapped body. She smiled, sticking her hip out to the side slightly.

"Sorry for my appearance, you didn't give me any warning. I didn't have time to get dressed." Max's eyes slid back up to hers and a mischievous smile spread across his lips.

"You, my darling, have nothing to apologize for." He said stepping into the room he didn't give the door a chance to close behind him before he wrapped her up in his arms, lifting her up and pressing her against the nearest wall. Thankfully no one else was in the hallway, not that either of them cared.

Their lips met in a furry of desperation and passion. No pleasantries were shared after not seeing each other for a few weeks. No small talk. Just pure desperation to be as close as humanly possible to one another and preferably naked at the same time. It was a good sweaty distraction for her, one that she welcomed, despite just getting out of the shower.

She melted into him, more than once. Allowing him to help her forget everything that was happening back in the Netherlands. Everything was blowing up her inbox and her social media. Just everything. She threw herself into the moment, into the feeling of her hands on her body and her lips on hers. Letting the feeling of his sweaty body moving against hers be the only thing that she could focus on.

Max Verstappen was exactly the type she usually went for. Handsome, adventurous, thrill-seeking, and incredibly attentive in bed. It was all there, the fire, the excitement, and the passion. Everything that would lead to a fun, easy, and not at all serious relationship. The best part: no pressure or obligation to introduce him to her family. It wasn't what she truly wanted, but it was the reality of her situation. If Arabella couldn't handle seeing her father, how could she possibly put it on someone else?

However, as she lay in bed beside him after their lengthy horizontal workout, she felt off. Once the sweaty distraction was over and Max fell blissfully asleep, nothing could be done to stop her thoughts from wandering back overseas. It was almost like her body knew there was somewhere else in the world that she should be. Even if she didn't want to be there.