Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 39 -

Zoe

When I had woken up the next morning there was a note on the empty bed side next to me.

Raymond told me everything, I wish I could be with you when you wake up but Christian needed me at the track. So see you later and I really love. I'm going to win for you today.

And he really did, he won the race by far and I was happy for him. Luckily I had so much work to do in my office that I didn't see Charles or Lilianna, because that would have brought everything back up.

I still had so many question but didn't want to talk to Max before the race. Now the interviews were long over and I was still sitting in my office, I was scared. Scared that he would be mad at me or didn't want me anymore.

Scared that he would go back to his ex because he realizes that she is much better than me. Obviously she wanted that so there was nothing to held him back if he wanted to. I had texted Lando about everything, as he was still a very good friend.

The Brit understood me and was also pretty shocked about what Charles had told me, telling me how dumb the Monegasque was for falling like the shit Lilianna had told him. He also said that I should talk to Max and that he would still love me.

But I told myself to wait just five more minutes and somehow it ended up being hours. Most of the people were already gone and I was sure that Max was also at a party already, celebrating his win here in Austin.

I sighed before I turned off my laptop and stood up. Slowly I walked out of my room and jumped down the stairs in the hospitality. As I turned around the corner I saw a person sitting in the little hall in front of the exit, Max.

"What... What are you doing here?" I asked more than surprised to see him here, but also scared what would happen.

"Waiting for my girlfriend to finish her work so I can take her back and have a nice evening with her." Max said as he stood up and smiled at me, which caused a warm feeling inside me.

"Girlfriend?" I asked slowly.

"Yeah, as far as I remember you are my girlfriend, or aren't you Zoe Graham?" he said and looked sarcastically around, searching for other people in the hospitality.

"N... No I am Zoe Graham." I giggled as he stepped even closer and took my hands.

Slowly I got a serious face again and looked up into his blue eyes.

"But I thought you don't wanna be with me any more, because of my reaction and now that Lilianna is back. I thought you maybe realize you still like her." I stumbled unsure of what Max thought about this.

"Zoe, I love you and only you and that won't change even if Kim Kardashian would walk in here."

"Kim Kardashian?" I asked and couldn't hold my laugh back any longer.

"Hey sorry but she was the first person that came to my mind, cause I saw her today." Max defended himself, "But before you ask I don't find her attractive or anything, cause there is no woman on this earth who is more beautiful than you."

"Oh Maxie, that's so sweet of you." I whispered and took my hands from his just to put my arms around his neck.

"And if someone has to be scared to not be wanted anymore it's me. Look Zoe, I am really sorry that I haven't told you the truth about Lilianna and all that, but I thought"

"I might get scared away." I ended his sentence and he nodded his head.

"I was really scared that you would look at me differently and don't want me anymore."

"Max." I laughed and laid my hand on his cheek, "After all your insults and the things you did and say to me, I was still there and liked you, so there is nothing in this would that would change that. No even you being a crazy sex addicted idiot."

"Hey! I'm not a crazy sex addicted idiot." Max defended himself but also started laughing, "What have Raymond told you?"

"You'll never find out." I winked at him and giggled.

"But I wanna know."

"No but." I said and laid my lips on his to shut him up.

Immediately Max's hands wandered on my waist and he pulled me even closer before giving himself into the kiss. Form the insecure start of our moving lips it got more and more passionate and we had to break up after some moments to catch our breath.

"I'm happy that we cleared that out." Max whispered against my lips before he joined them with his again.

"Me too." I said between the kisses, "But I still have so many question."

"Later babe." he returned, "But now I have to kiss and hold my beautiful girl."

I smiled into the kiss and a heavy stone fell off my chest. After making out for a bit in the dark hall of the hospitality we stepped out into the nearly empty paddock.

"Aren't you expected at some party or something, I mean you won the race?"

"I told Christian that I would skip this one and he immediately understood." Max said and smiled at me, "I think Raymond spoke to him and he knew about the situation."

"Christian is so nice and caring, I really love him."

"Hey!", Max stopped and I got pulled back as our hands were intertwined, "I might get a little bit jealous here."

"Oh come on honey, you know how I mean it." I returned and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "He's like family, he know my father so well and we talked a lot about him and their connection. He came to motor sport because of my father actually."

"Really?"

"Yeah they used to be friends and my father was obsessed with cars and was driving go karts and all that stuff and with that he got Christian into it."

"That's an amazing story, your dad was sure a great guy. I would have loved to get to meet him."

"Yeah, I think you two would have get along pretty well." I said but then got silent, which Max noticed.

"I am sorry for bringing it up." he said as we entered the parking space.

"Yeah no all good. It's actually his birthday today so it's nice to think back at these stories of him."

"Oh." Max then said as we reached the car.

But instead of opening me the door he pulled me to the back of the car and took out a blanket and a candle.

"Where does that come from?" I asked laughing as he closed the car again.

"I don't know, Brat keeps strange things in here." Max returned laughing and then pulled me over to the grass, where he opened the blanket.

I wasn't sure what to say or think so I just took a place and watched as Max turned the candle on, before he took a seat behind me so that my back was leaning against his chest.

"Your father is surely proud of you and wherever he now is, he's looking down at you, stunned by what a confident and wonderful young woman you are." Max whispered into my ear and a small tear was running down my face.

Slowly I took his hands and intertwined our fingers before looking up to the sky, which was fully filled with little stars.

"Dad" I whispered, "Wherever you are, I love you and it's ok now. I found someone who takes care of me and who loves me. I will never forget you I just wanna thank you for being with me all these hard years, I love you forever."

Tears were now spilling out of my eyes and I closed my eyes while I leaned my head back against Max's shoulder. He didn't say anything, just tighten his grip around my waist and gave me a light kiss underneath my ear.

"He loves you too and he's proud of you." he then whispered and I opened my eyes before I turned my head so our eyes met.

"I love Max, thanks for doing this with me."

"I love you too." he whispered back before our lips met for a slow and with emotion filled kiss.