At every table, I'll save you a seat

Chapter 3

Okay I may have forgotten about you guys and ended publishing in on Ao3 like 2 months ago... opus i guess so... I don't have much of an excuse but blame in on my ADHD soooo... here's the complete of the story sorry again lmaoo😬😂

———————-

Race#3: Australia

Australia was good, Charles had a good second practice, but that didn't matter to Max. Charles qualified seventh, but that didn't matter to Max. Charles DNF, but that DID NOT matter to Max. Max was winning and that's all that mattered, not the sad face on the Monegasque, nor the tears in his eyes and certainly not the ache in his chest.

So Max did what he thought was best, he got drunk, drunk enough to have a good time with Daniel without worrying about anything. So drunk that when he woke up in some room next to a browned hair girl with green eyes, his head hurt so bad that it took him sometime to recall the event of the night.

He looked at his phone, it was 6am, the girl was sleeping comfortably and he almost felt bad. He grabbed his clothes, keys, shoes, wrote 'thanks for last night :) -Max' note and left. He didn't know if he meant it but he decided that was the 'not asshole' thing to do. Max needed to determined where he was, he got out the building, a fresh wind brushing his face and activated his localisation.

Shit.

He was an hour and a half by foot away from their hotel. He needed to find a way to get back and fast because it was Monday and the streets were getting busier by the minutes. So he called Daniel hoping that since the Aussie didn't drink he wouldn't feel too bad waking up. Max hated the situation, he hated asking for help and he was never taught how. His friend knew that, that's why he was the one checking up on him, that's why he was the one coming to him if he felt something was off. Daniel answered on the forth ring.

"Heymdjsghwijx... Sorry, hey Max what can I do for you?" He had clearly just woken up and his mind needed time to adjust.

"Hey Daniel... I kind of need a ride back to the hotel... I am sorry for waking you up... I just didn't know who else to call and..."

"No don't worry, I am glad you're okay mate, just send me your location and I'll come pick you up."

Thirty minutes later his friend pulled over in front of him. Daniel seemed well awake and he had way too much energy compared to Max who was caring his shoes moments ago.

"Good' day! How's the walk of shame doing?" The Dutch chuckled and got in the car. " Got you some water on the way..." He handed him the bottle.

"Oh! God, I don't know which god put you in my life but I could literally marry you right now! Thanks mate." Max put his seatbelt on then realised. "Wait, whose car is that?" It was the heart pink shaped sunglasses that got his attention first, but the more he looked the more it became obvious. Daniel was smiling ear to ear at Max confusion.

"Remember the photographer, last night?" He did not expect that. "Well if anything, she's the one that saved your ass by letting me borrow her car."

"Oh... Then I guess we better get her croissants for when she gets up..." Max was bursting in laughter looking at a place he could buy breakfast for his saviours.

When they got back, he gave Daniel the bag of patisseries telling him to give it to her on his behalf and parted way with his ex-teammate to take a shower.

Max spend some of the break in Australia with the Aussies of the grid and Lando, the weather being way nicer than literally anywhere in the north hemisphere. The four of them were chilling on a yacht at night when Lando stood up, took a sip of his drink, exhale deeply and spoke.