𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅𝐅, ᵐᵃˣ ᵛᵉʳˢᵗᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿ

TWENTY-FOUR

30th september 2023, japan

FOR MAXS BIRTHDAY, THEY DECIDED TO STAY IN JAPAN FOR A WEEK AFTER THE GRAND PRIX. Max had gotten his mojo back, winning with ease. "Happy birthday Daddy!" Millie cheered as soon as Max had left his hotel bedroom. Max rubbed his eyes and gave his daughter a hug and thanked her. "Happy birthday, Max."

"Thank you Antonella, breakfast smells good," he complimented, she thanked him and made her way over to the Verstappens with two plates. "Omelette for the lady," she passed the plate to Millie. "And for the birthday boy, bacon, scrambled eggs and toast since you don't like omelettes." She handed him the plate, he thanked her and pretended not to notice the tingling sensation in his chest. She remembered he didn't like omelettes.

"Dad open my presents!" Millie insisted, Max couldn't refuse and so put his plate on the floor next to where he was sat, and picked up the first present. He opened it to discover a mug and some of his favourite sweets, the mug said 'Best Dad Ever.' He kissed his daughter and opened the rest of the presents she got him, with the help of Ella of course. "Here's mine." Ella smiled, handing him a bag. Inside was a new gaming headset, and a navy blue hoodie. "Thank you Antonella, I was needing a new headset!"

"I know you broke the last one a month ago," she laughed, Max smiled at her. "Okay Millie do you want to get dressed to go out?" He asked, Millie nodded and ran to her room. "Thank you for my presents, you didn't have to." Max smiled, giving her a small hug.

"Don't mention it! Millie was desperate to get you those shoes in pink, luckily I convinced her otherwise." Ella laughed, pointing at the shoes Millie had got her father for his birthday. Max laughed and thanked her for saving him from having to wear pink shoes. Ella disappeared to her hotel room to get changed and ready for the day. Once she was ready she returned to the hotel room next door.

Max was wearing the hoodie she had got him, his white tshirt was peeking out underneath it, and he had paired it with light wash slightly baggy jeans and the white blazers Millie had bought him. "Your fashion sense has improved massively since I first met you," Ella laughed. Max wasn't sure to take this as a compliment or insult. He surveyed her outfit, Ella felt his eyes on her. She was wearing a white off the shoulder sweater, a black mini skirt with tights and knee high boots. Max thought she looked lovely.

"So birthday boy, what do you want to do today?" Ella asked, Max shrugged his shoulders and said he was happy to do whatever Millie wanted.

Millie had decided she wanted to go bowling, Max had promised Ella he would win, but Ella and Millie weren't so convinced. "You're awfully confident," Antonella laughed, from the passenger seat. Max shrugged his shoulders, "I'm good at bowling."

"Well we need the bumpers up for Millie so that will give you a bit of help," Ella laughed. Max furrowed his eyebrows. "Millie can play without barriers."

"What?" Ella said surprised, Max laughed and told her she had played bowling a few times. "But she's only four? Without bumpers?" Ella was shocked, Max nodded. "She's nearly five, and besides..."

"Why is it a big deal? Can you only play with barriers, Antonella?" He teased, Ella rolled her eyes and denied his statement. "You know there's no shame in it," Max said softly, teasing her.

"I just don't understand how you can get the ball to go perfectly straight!" Ella stated shortly, making Max laugh as he explained the physics to her. "It's not about it being perfectly straight, it's about the speed."

"Well still," she pouted, Max moved a hand from the gearstick to her thigh. "We'll play with the barriers, don't worry, Millie needs them anyway." He laughed.

"You just said she doesn't!" Ella sighed, Max had the biggest grin plastered on his face while Ella stared at him coldly. "I know. I was lying to get you to admit you need them." He chuckled, Ella slapped his arm lightly making him laugh even harder.

Much to Ella's disapproval, Max did win. He teased her endlessly after it, flexing his muscles at her. "You are such a show off!" Ella laughed, pushing his arm out of her face, Max chuckled and lifted his daughter into the air in celebration. Ella pretended not to notice how warm her cheeks had become, and ignored the possibility she was blushing over Max Verstappen's biceps.

Ella instructed Max and Millie to get a table in the restaurant next to the bowling alley, while she got Max's cake from the car. She handed it to the hostess on the way in, telling her it was the man's birthday and showing her what table they were on.

"Where did you go?" Max asked as she took her seat across from the father and daughter. Ella explained she had to get her purse from the car. "Why? I'll be paying." Max furrowed his eyebrows, Ella shook her head. "Not on your birthday, Max. I've got this one!"

The three of them shared a wonderful meal, and Max was very surprised when his cake arrived at the table, and thanked Ella over and over again for a wonderful day.

On the car journey back to the hotel, Millie fell asleep in the backseat. Max struggled to keep his eyes on the road as he noticed even Ella begin to doze off next to him. "Antonella, you okay?" He spoke suddenly, Ella jumped and answered simply. "Did you have a good day?" She asked.

"It was amazing, thank you for making it all happen. Best birthday ever." He said childishly, Ella was glad he enjoyed himself.  He paused, then said "You're my bestfriend, you know that?" And he knew what it was, he was in love. And it wouldn't end well.

a/n
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