Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 15 -

Zoe

Four days later was Thursday and the race weekend in Silverstone was on the plan. The last days I managed to distract my mind a bit with work and stuff at the head quarter so my pain was pushed aside but today I would see him again.

He had texted me in the last days, saying he wants to talk but I hadn't responded at any of them. I still couldn't believe it that he had just kissed me because Charles was going to ask me out like what the hell.

"Hey Zoe!" Lando shouted after me as I was walking through the paddock.

Surprised I turned around and gave the Brit a tight hug. I really missed him over the last days since he was the only one who knew about the kiss, well not the one on Sunday but the one from the drivers room.

"Have you talked to Max yet?"

I stopped my walk and looked at him in horror.

"Why should I talk to him?" I asked curious but something came to my mind.

"About Sunday." he murmured and it was obvious how uncomfortable he was to bring up the subject.

Of course Verstappen had told him everything, I mean they are really close so what did I expect.

"He told you everything?"

"Yes and he said that you got some things wrong because of that he wants to talk to you."

Sarcastically I shook my head and laughed.

"What did I get wrong? He kissed me because Charles was going to ask me out so it had nothing to do with his feelings or anything he just wanted to prove that he was better than him."

"No Zoe you see this the wrong way, Max didn't do that because of him he did it because"

Lando paused and looked for a moment over to the RedBull garage. His silents made me crazy and I was curious what Verstappen had told him.

"Because what Lando? What did he tell you?"

"Look, I have to go now. It's best if you speak to him so he could tell you what he meant."

With that he said quickly good bye before turning around and disappearing into the McLaren garage. What the hell did just happen. I thought Lando was my friend but now it seemed like he was more on Verstappens side of the things, but partly I could understand him.

I mean the Dutch was clearly one of his closest friends here and that for a much longer time than he knew me. He liked me and saw me as a friend no question in that but I could understand how hard it must be for him that Verstappen and I were fighting and now have this other thing going on.

Speaking of the Dutch I noticed him in front of the hospitality talking to his media person but as soon as his look fell on me he didn't listen to her at all. She noticed it and disappeared into the garage with another woman but Verstappen didn't move and stood there looking in my direction.

It felt like hours that we were standing there and looking at each other even it were for sure just a couple of minutes or even seconds. Also there was quite a distance between us and many people crossed our view in that time. One of them was a man in red.

"Hey Zoe long time no see." Charles greeted me and stepped closer.

Before I turned away from him I could see how Verstappen got tense and started to move, in my direction. But before Charles could notice anything I gave him my full attention.

"Yeah I was pretty busy the last weeks. But I saw you had a good race in Austria, congratulation."

"Thanks." he said and then went silent not sure what to ask or say.