SO AMERICAN | max verstappen

three.

I didn't think sitting across a table sipping my coffee would be something so unbearable, but somehow, Max has made it that way. We'd been here for nearly 10 minutes and the only words he'd spoken were to the barista when he ordered.

A sigh fell from my lips as I took another sip of my latte, letting it warm my body. "No coffee?" I queried upon noticing Max sipping on a cup of tea. How had I not realized he'd ordered it?

He shook his head, "Don't drink it."

"I'm hurt." I held a hand over my heart, jokingly being offended. "I cannot survive without coffee."

"I just never liked it." Max shrugged, falling back into a bout of silence.

So, no conversation this morning. He's got to be the most boring breakfast partner ever.

Back home, my best friend Ella and I can never stop talking when we go out. Even with my friends on the grid, I don't think I've ever had a meal or outing more silent than this.

After a few minutes, I'd finished off my latte and noticed that Max was still only halfway through his. A yawn captured me and I knew I wasn't going to make it through the day if I didn't get more caffeine in my body.

I stood up from my seat, Max's attention suddenly turning to me. "I'm getting another coffee to go, you want another tea? My treat this time."

He shook his head, but pulled out his wallet, holding his card up to me. "Let me."

"Max, I can pay for myself, I'm a big girl with my own money." I attempted to decline his offer.

"I insist, Rockstar." The nickname was enough for me to know that he must see someone watching us.

I tried not to grimace at the name. Over the past few years of us knowing each other, he only referred to me as Rockstar when he was irritated with me or wanted to annoy me. Obviously, the public didn't know that part.

"And this is why you're the best, Mr. World Champion." I sent him a smile, plucking the card from his hands and making my way to the counter.

The barista smiled at me, quick to ask me what I wanted to order. I ordered the same thing from before, this time to-go.

"He your boyfriend?" the barista asked, nodding over to the table I just came from.

I glance back, seeing Max looking over at us. When our gazes connected, he looked away, back to his phone.

"Sure is," I smiled when I turned back to her.

"The two of you look good together, and you should see the way he looks at you when you're not looking."

I tried not to react to her claim, instead just opting to thank her before happily taking my coffee when she handed it to me. I made my way back to the table and handed Max his card back, the driver standing up as I did. He gestured toward the door, obviously ready to go back to the hotel.

Our hands were intertwined as we waited for the car to be brought up, paparazzing around as we waited. I wonder if Mark or Taylor had subtly warned them to be there? The drive back to the house took almost no time at all, silence overtaking us once again.

"I guess I'll see you on Wednesday?" Max questioned, stopping when we reached the door of the house.

I had somehow managed to forget that we were parting ways today. That he had a flight to Bahrain tomorrow for pre-season testing and I had my own flight to catch in a few hours to head back to America to pack my life away.

"Wednesday." I spoke back in confirmation.

He nods, ducking down and pressing a kiss to my temple. I could tell by the minimal change in his facial expression that he'd hated the action just as much as I had.