Unexpected Love - Max Verstappen

Chapter 9 / Sofia's POV

Unexpectedly I felt really good the next day. I was already in the paddock looking for George and found him in the garage "George are you coming? We have to start warming up right away"

"Sofia to be honest I can't focus. I tried to call Carmen yesterday all night and this morning. She didn't even pick up her phone. I need Carmen without her I don't feel completely complete... you know what I mean?" he looked at me desperately.

I have to hide my smile „I have an idea how to cheer you up. Do you trust me ? Follow me!" I said and take his hand and bring him to his driver's room.

„Wow my driver room and now?" he said annoyed. I roll my eyes „You are like a child sometimes... Open the door... And afterwards you can apologize for being so rude to me" I said with complete conviction.

George opens the door and his eyes shine...Carmen was sitting on the couch in his room.„Carmen when? how?" He turn around and looks at me.. He hugs me tight and whispers thank you in my ear.

I smile and nod „I'll give you 20 minutes lovebirds... then we really need to start with the warm up" I said seriously. I wink and close the door behind Carmen and George.

After the warm up I stand in the garage to watch the race. Carmen is standing next to me in the garage and I can see that she is happy again.

„Everything sorted out for you, right? George practically flies over the track" I said with a smile on my face.

„Thanks for calling me and persuading me to fly here and sort everything out. I missed him so much and realized how unnecessary the argument was... but like him, I'm too stubborn sometimes" and Carmen was right about that George and she could be very stubborn..

„All that matters is that you both have each other again" I said and squeezed her hand.

It's almost the end of the race and George even manages to overtake Lewis and is now in 4th place behind Carlos, Charles and Max.

Suddenly we hear a murmur going through the audience... We look at the screen.. Not again.. that can't be true...I thought to myself immediately. On the screens we can see how Max has to park his car again... He kicks against his car and punches the wall...

"What is it this time?" I asked my uncle annoyed and sad. „It must be a gas leak... why are you sounding so sad about that? That means we're celebrating a podium today" said my uncle with a smile on his face.

„Yeah, that's super great. I'm just a little sorry for Max" Oh did I really say that out loud?

„You're too nice for this world sometimes" he sounded surprised. We see all the mechanics and engineers running to the start and finish straight to celebrate George. I'm really happy for George and celebrate the podium with Carmen and everyone.

After George has hugged and kissed Carmen, he comes to me and almost throws me in the air with joy „I owe this podium all to you" he said and hugged me. He was still so wet from the podium and now my shirt was wet too. I was glad I was wearing a black t-shirt. „Oh Georgie you drove the car not me"

„Let's celebrate tonight!"his eyes shine, how should i refuse him this wish now?

„I have something to do and then we'll party tonight. Celebrate it G you deserve it" I gave him a kiss on the cheek and made my way to the RedBull garage.

I speak to an employee in front of the RedBull garage „sorry I'm Sofia Wolff I'm looking for Max.„sorry I haven't seen him since he had to park the car. I'm sorry I can't help you" he said and the disappointment about the race was on his face.

I turn around and want to go back to Mercedes but then I remember the day in saudi arabia where I saw Max and his dad between the motorhomes. I go back and forth between the motorhomes without any real plan and look for Max. When I hear it...

„It's the same shit as Bahrain.. What did I tell you about that?" I saw Jos standing in front of Max.

„Dad it's a gas leak. it's not my fault" he defended himself.

„If it's not your fault then why did it only happen to your car and not checo's car?" This sentence from Jos made me so angry, it couldn't be serious, could it?

As so often, I couldn't hold myself back and spoke what I thought „That makes no sense..." was all I said at first. Jos turns to me, shocked that someone heard him... „A gas leak can happen at any time...so it was just bad luck..just like in Bahrain" I added and folded my arms in front of my upper body.

„And you are ?" asked Jos with raised eyebrows.

„Someone who seems to understand this better than you" wow it came out more confident than it felt.

Jos looks embarrassed „Max I see you in the simulator...tomorrow at the latest" he turned back to me „Goodbye Mercedes girl" He rolls his eyes as he leaves.

Now I looked at Max for the first time since I stood here, at first nobody said anything, but there was a comfortable silence.

I approached him. We look deep into each other's eyes, I have the feeling that I can see through his eyes into his pure soul. I question myself how could I ever think that Max is arrogant and rude. We both still don't say anything, but it's not an awkward silence. it's a calming, safe silence..

I break the silence by hugging him, I hug him tight but not too tight. I have to stand on tiptoe to hug him better , I break the hug and look at him again.

„I felt like you needed the hug right now" I said, my heart was beating so fast and I didn't even know why.

Max clears his throat and nod „You know me pretty well considering that we've only seen each other a few times" He put a hand on my waist.

„sometimes it doesn't take many meets to realize when someone is like oneself" no matter how hard i wanted i couldn't tear my gaze away from his eyes, it was like they were magically pulling me in.

„You are right" He smiles at me and takes my hand „Even if I could have told my father myself I would like to thank you"

„Of course you could, umm I have to go back to Mercedes now..Are you going to the party tonight?" I hoped he would say yes.

„Actually, I didn't want to go today, but if you ask me, I'll think about it" he had put on his cheeky smile, which made his eyes shine even more.

„Perfect then see you tonight" I walk away and try not to show my delight for tonight. I turn around again and wave Max, he waves back and walks towards Red Bull.