Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Monday, Free Day, July

@SchumacherMick is banned from family game night after throwing a +4 on the table ON TOP OF A +4! - @JessicaBond57

⸻

ENGLAND
AFTER THE RACE
JULY

I lie down on my grey sofa as Max makes himself a coffee in the kitchen. He stayed last night, rather than go back to the hotel or take his private jet and fly off home. It was... weirdly nice, as much as it was a little awkward. It was the best night's sleep I'd had in a while, too; I can still feel the phantom sensation of his arms tightly around me as we slept.

In his lounge trousers and dark grey shirt, he looks knackered. His hair is an unruly mess, but I don't think he cares, since he hasn't gone to the bathroom to fix it. He pours the hot water as I watch him. It feels like he should be here, like he belongs. Like this is some kind of routine we've been in for years, not less than one day.

My phone buzzes, demanding my attention. I groan as I bring it up and see the text that I've received. Of course my dad noticed. I'll bet Cassandra told him. Or hell, maybe James noticed and went straight to him.

Father of the Decade;
Don't forget to bring Max
with you.
Does he like BBQ? Weather
is still good for one.
Did he sleep on the couch?

Max wanders over, and I sit up automatically, to allow him to have the space to sit down next to me. He places the coffee down on my glass coffee table before looking over at me with a warm smile and tired but bright eyes.

"Dad wants to know if you're okay with barbecues."

"I'll try anything at least once." He answers with a shrug, checking his own phone. Last night, Daniel was pestering him about the fact that Max had checked out of the hotel early. I have no doubt Charles and Daniel are going mental, asking Max if we slept together.

World's Craziest Daughter (Me);
He says he'll give anything a try.
Please remember, no shovel talk.
We're not anything.

I'm not telling him that we shared my bed. He'll think we were up to things we haven't even got near to yet.

Father of the Decade;
Jessica.
I love you.
You are my favourite daughter.

World's Craziest Daughter (Me);
I'm your ONLY daughter.

Father of the Decade;
You can't hide a boyfriend from
me. You never can.
You never will.
And I have a right to make sure
he doesn't break my little girl's
heart.

I groan again, offering my phone to Max wordlessly. He takes it, confused, until his eyes settle on the screen. Within seconds, he's laughing. I'm glad at least one of us can see the funny side of my dad being a complete pain in the arse.

"I'm so sorry about him."

"It's okay." He gives me back my phone. "He's a good dad."

I don't say anything to that. My brain has an insult locked and loaded, but I won't let it go out. It's become an elephant in the room: Jos Verstappen. I've maybe said hi to him once, but that's about it. I'm not blind to the man's... unsavoury past. I don't doubt Max is aware that I dislike his father, but it's for Max's sake that I never say a thing about it.