Karma is Red - lestappen

chapter twenty : We made it

Knew that we would be alright, from the first time
Met you at your doorstep, remember how it tasted
Looking into your eyes, baby, you were still high
Never coming down with your hand in mine
- Louis Tomlinson We made it

Max Verstappen

It's evening now and neither Charles or I dared look at our phones. We spent the day isolated from the world.

Just the two of us.

Charles is tight with me watching a movie. His pains have calmed down a little. It has to be said that coming back to race the day after such an accident didn't really help, he still plans to take part in the Spanish Grand Prix and I don't dare tell him that it worries me a bit.

When I close my eyes I see the car burning again and my arms close more on Charles' body against me.

I don't want to be separated from him. I want to keep Charles against me, safe from the world forever.  He's the only one who makes me a better person. 

I have never felt as calm and patient as I have since I shared my intimacy with him. I haven't exploded in weeks.

He notices that I tightened my embrace and turns away from the TV. 

"Are you okay?

I'm nodding.

- I'm just thinking about the qualifications...

Charles puts his hand on my cheek and gently caresses it with his thumb making me shiver.

- Everything's fine now, we're fine."

***

I sit in Charles' bed and with a beating heart grabs my phone.

The Ferrari driver watches me in silence. We both know it's time to take responsibility.

I'm unlocking my phone. Not surprisingly, the screen is covered with continuous stream notifications. 

I sort and delete notifications.

"My Redbull team sent me a message and they tried to call me several times...

I tell Charles with concern.  I don't know what they're going to tell me, and I'm really scared.

- Call them back, I'm here. "

I take a big inspiration and decide to call Christian Horner.

He answers at the fourth ring. I'll put the phone on speaker.

"Max! How are you?

- I'm fine, I think. I just saw that the team tried to contact me several times.

- Are you with Charles right now?

- Uh, yes...

- Okay, we want to set up a meeting with Ferrari to discuss your image and privacy rules before the Spanish GP.

- When?

- We haven't set a time slot yet, but the best will probably be Thursday before the start of the interviews.

- All right. 

- Congratulations on your podium. I didn't have time to tell you yesterday.

- Thank you Christian, see you Thursday then?

- Yes, see you Thursday."

I hang up. Christian didn't say anything negative. 

He didn't say anything positive either, but he didn't seem angry or disgusted.

Charles in turn picks up his phone and I watch him send messages.

"What are you doing?

- Frédéric Vasseur also sent me messages about the meeting. 

- What exactly does he say?

- Nothing special, just that we need to talk about this like Christian told you. Why?

- Okay.

I'm relaxing a little bit.  No bad reaction at first sight, either.

- You were afraid of what they were going to say, weren't you?

- Yes."

Charles gently stretches out his arm to me and I grab his hand that he serves hard between his fingers looking at me.

Without letting go of my hand, he puts his eyes back on the screen of his phone, continuing to look at his messages.

I'm doing the same thing.

I see a message from Dad.

I open it with apprehension.

Jos
We'll talk about it after the Spanish GP at home.

I can feel my hands shaking. Charles turns to me and first looks at my hand in his before staring at my face.

"What is it Max?

- My father.

- What did he say...?

- I have to go back home next week to talk to him.

- You want me to come with you?

- No, I answer immediately before I add more slowly, I need to speak to him alone.

I know in advance how this will end. My father will have the last word and I will abide by his decision as always. 

I take Charles in my arms and put my nose in his hair to breathe his scent. He lets me do it without flinching.

I need to enjoy the time I have with him. Before my father got involved.

I continue to read the messages I received.

Daniel R.

OMG

Wow Charles seems to be a good kisser.

YOU AND CHARLES ARE OFFICIALLY TOGETHER.

Ahahahaha Christian's face you should see this.

Why are you leaving like that!!!

Alonso is alone on the podium because of your foolishness.

All right. Protect yourself. It's important.

You've caused trouble in the paddock. It's hilarious.

You have to call me!

Charles looks over my shoulder at Daniel's messages.

"Did Daniel knew?

- I confessed to him at his party and he knows I've been gay since the end of the 2022 season.

- I understand better.

- Did you get any more messages?

- Not much, Mom and my brothers who send us support, my friends who are a little surprised, nothing more."

I feel like he's not telling me everything, but I'm not forcing.

This is clearly not the best time. I'm already too preoccupied with my father's message.

I'm on social media. Obviously I come across a video of Charles coming up to me and kissing me.  The commentators lose their words.

I can't stop watching the video over and over again.

Charles laughs as he points his fingers at my screen.

"Fernando's face is excellent. We should do this more often, Max..."

I cut off my phone and grab his face in my hands looking at him with a big smile.

"you don't have to wait to do that."