Shadows Between Us - Max Verstappen

seven - the proposition

Amelia opens her eyes and immediately shuts them back. Max Verstappen was sleeping in her bed, holding her tight against his chest. The events from last night come back to her. They danced and kissed under the stars. Then they left and Amelia invited Max upstairs. Nothing else happened, they just talked late into the night and ended up falling asleep on her bed.

Amelia doesn't dare move, not wanting to wake him up. It's strange how all of this turned out to happen. She knew she had growing feelings for Max, but, most of all, she felt scared. Ever since she got her heart broken by Lucas, the guy she was supposed to marry, she hadn't let herself feel anything for anyone. She hadn't dared getting to know any of her one night stands, not wanting to fall for anyone. And now, there was this boy who, despite what everyone thinks, was a kind and caring person. And who seems to like her too.

She startles a little when Max starts moving. He moves away from her a little, not taking his arm from under her just yet. Still, Amelia doesn't move or open her eyes, not feeling ready yet to face all this. She feels his calm breathe on her face and then he carefully takes his arm from under her. Before he gets up, Max leaves a kiss on Amelia cheek and then gets up and leaves the room.

Amelia lets out a breathe she didn't know she was holding and finally opens her eyes. She waits to hear the front door open and close, but instead she hears some noise from the kitchen. So he's not leaving? Amelia wasn't used to that. A few more minutes pass and she never hears the front door. Finally, when she's ready, she leaves her bedroom and slowly makes her way to the kitchen. There, she finds Max, still wearing his suit from last night, but without the jacket, setting two plates on her kitchen island.

"Good morning princess," Max says when he sees her standing there.

"Good morning," Amelia says and sits on the stool, while Max goes back to the stove, and she watches every move of his. "What are you doing there?"

"Pancakes. Luckily you had ingredients for pancakes, you don't have much in the fridge."

Amelia laughs. "I don't cook a lot," she says, her mouth watering a bit from the amazing smell.

"Well, today you'll see one of my other many talents," Max says, putting a plate with pancakes in front of her. She waits for him to sit next to her and then she puts two pancakes on her plate. She can't help but let out a satisfied hmmm when she takes a bite.

"You are invited to make me breakfast every morning," Amelia says and regrets it immediately because she realizes how that might sound. In response, Max laughs, which makes Amelia relax a little.

"So," Amelia says after a moment. "Do you have any plans for your summer break?"

"Next week I'll be going to Italy with some friends," Max says.  "What about you? Do you plan on doing something fun this month?"

"Not really," Amelia says, finishing her pancakes. "I'm sure my father will have some event for me to attend."

"Don't you travel when you don't have any duties?" Max asks. Amelia realizes she doesn't. She could, but she is always sitting around waiting for her father to call her. She suddenly feels angry. She could be enjoying her 20s, traveling around, but instead she just waits for her father to demand her presence.

"Not as much as I would like," Amelia says, giving him a weak smile. They stay silent while Max finishes his pancakes.

"Max, I'm really sorry for last night," Amelia finally says. He looks at her, a concerned look in his eyes. "About my dad."

Amelia adds and Max instantly relaxes. Did he think she was talking about their kiss? Despite her feeling scared, she didn't regret kissing him. It was the only good thing from last night.