Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 33 -

Zoe

The next morning I woke up and I felt cold, like missing something. The memory of last night came back and I closed my eyes again, thinking of my parents and the dream I must had. But then I heard a quiet snoring behind me.

Slowly I turned around and immediately tears shot into my eyes. Like a child he laid there, like a pure angel he slept right next to me and I had fucking broken his heart, and mine. There was no chance that he would be happy that I was here, even though he came to this room.

My mind wasn't clear and I couldn't think straight. The only thing on my mind was to run away again so I stood up and quickly turned into some comfortable cloths. Before I left I noticed Max's pullover on the table and without thinking too much about it I put it on.

Then I turned back to the bed and it broke me again. He looked so peaceful and calm like he deserved it. He deserved a chilled life without any problems or trouble and I had both so I definitely needed to go.

That what I did and so twenty minutes later I was standing at the beach of Zandvoort. There weren't many people, nearly nobody was walking here so I didn't really feel uncomfortable. It was just me, the birds and the blue sea.

I was lost. I didn't know what to do next, why was he even here, why did he came to that room, where did he had the key from? Did Lando call him? Should I drive to the airport again before he wakes up?

All these questions were in my head but at the same time my mind was completely empty. There was only one thing I knew that I wanted, Max. He was nonstop on my mind and I couldn't deny that he was the person that made me happy.

But I wanted him to be happy and all I have seen through the season, especially at the beginning where there was the situation with his ex, he didn't want something like that again, trouble with the media.

But that' exactly what I was, I just had seen my face next to his on the front page of a newspaper on my way here. The headline was in Dutch but it was surely nothing positive and I couldn't live with that, seeing my face all over the world with some bad words next to it.

I knew my past and I knew it had been nothing good and many people laugh about it or hate me for it, I did too, but I needed distance from all of that. I couldn't stand that alone and there was surely nobody who could help me through it.

Maybe it was better if I wasn't here anyway, a sudden thought hit me. If I wouldn't be here any longer than Max had nothing to worry about and al the fans and people in the world could celebrate him for his victories and din't have to worry about me and my stuff.

Probably I should go, go forever I mean with that. I sighed and looked over the surface of the sea. I already could see my parents standing on the horizon waiting for me. It would be the best for all of us, I thought again while slowly putting one foot in front.

A single tear was rolling down my cheek. Like a flash the last months went by in my head, all the moments I had shared with Max this year. Our journey together was definitely filled with up and downs but I had fallen for him, there was nothing else to say about it.

I was scared, scared if it hurt and scared that someone would see it and rescue me before I am gone. Another tear was rolling down my face and suddenly I wished nothing more than to say good bye to Max, but now it was to late.

Slowly I put another foot closer to the water when I suddenly felt two hands on my waist.

"Don't." he whispered in my ear as I could feel his face over my shoulder next to mine.

"I'm sorry." I croaked, still looking over the sea.

"It's fine babe."

After he had said that Max carefully pulled me back against his chest, slowly so I could refuse if I wanted to. Next to my ear I could hear his deep breaths and the warmth of it sent shivers down my back.

Nobody said something and after I while I started shivering, not because I was cold but because I was scared what we would think of me now. More what everybody would think of us, or Max because he was with me here.

I felt like my legs would gave out so I laid my hands on his and pulled them in front of my stomach so his arms hang around me and held me tight.

"Why... Why are you here?" I asked after a while.

"Because" Max started before he pulled me to his body "I love you."

His quiet and slow words shot through my body like a electric shock.

"But... but why?"

My mind was empty and I couldn't believe what he was saying, why should he like even after everything I have done, I had broken his heart. Slowly I turned around in his arms and was met with his deep blue eyes.

Carefully Max brushed a lose hair out of my face before he cupped my face with both hands.

"Because, Zoe Graham, you are an extraordinary woman. You made me crazy at the beginning of the season, you still do, but I love it. You challenge me everyday and not many people are capable of doing so."

Another tear was rolling down my cheek but Max directly brushed it away with his thumb.

"You look way more beautiful then every model and I just said that at the beginning because I was jealous that you wasn't mine. But now I hope you are, you would like that?" he said and a little smile appeared on his face what also brought my face to brighten up a bit.

"You are the kindest person I know Zoe, you are so talented and perfect in everything you do. I still don't understand how you have done it, stay with me I mean. I would have gone crazy if I would have been you. It was sure awful to pretend to be my girlfriend. But I guarantee you it's way better if it's a real relationship."

A smile appeared on my lips and I had so grin.

"It was pretty awful." I giggled and then stopped as I see a tear in the corner of Max's eye.

"What have I done to deserve you? I treated you so badly, I would never forgive myself." he whispered before the tears were running down his face, it made me also cry again.

"You're Max Verstappen, there's nothing you can't do." I croaked and his smile disappeared.

"I can't do it alone, but I know there is something I would like to do, something that would help me."

"What?" I asked a bit lost, not sure what he meant, and looked around if there was something he was referring to.

"Babe." Max said and got back my attention as I looked him into the eyes again.

His hands around my face tighten a bit and he pulled me even closer.

"I love you." he whispered before he closed the gap and laid his lips on mine.