Racing hearts

Part 4 - Introduction

"Everyone is going to be there, so you'll be able to meet all the drivers," Max informed me as he walked through my hotel room to me. He took a seat on my bed as I sat at the dark wooden desk, doing my hair and makeup.

"Would it be bad if I said that I was nervous?" I was looking forward to meeting them but I couldn't help but stress about what they'd think of me. I'd already spoken to 2 of the 3 drivers Max boasts about the most and that's Daniel and Lando, leaving only Charles.

"Definitely not, during my first race, I was shaking when I met them all properly," he answered as he scrolled through his phone. "That's a lot different, you were going to be driving against them," He has so many reasons to be nervous that day, I remember being in school and checking the race at every free second and made sure to text him to check that he was ok after he retired the car.

"I promise, you'll be fine. They are all great guys," he stood up, walking over towards me and standing directly behind my chair.

"I'll take your word for it," I looked at him through the mirror as he placed his hands on my shoulders. "And if any of them do hurt you, I'll punch them so hard they can't see straight," he gave me an innocent smile before turning away.

"You wouldn't actually do that, right?" I shouted after him, no response. I got up from my chair and followed him through the hotel room. I found him sat on the sofa, on his phone with a devious smirk plastered across his face.

~

Walking towards the club, I felt my heart pounding through my chest, I gave Max a quick but wavering smile which he reciprocated before wrapping his fingers through mine as squeezing my hand tightly against his.

The loud music blasted through the doors as we looked into the large crowd that formed around the dance floor. I noticed Lando instantly, he was leant over the bar, talking to someone who I instantly assumed was Oscar.

The Brit spotted us almost immediately and called us over while waving his hand towards us. He moved a few steps, catching us in our tracks, he flung his arm around my shoulder jokingly before turning to Oscar. "Oscar, this is Madelyn Anderson," He opened his mouth to respond only for Lando to cut him off, "yes, the singer," he nodded in understanding before moving his gaze to me and then to Max.

"Are you two...," he gestured between the two of us in which both of us responded quickly, "nooo," I shook my head aggressively, turning to Max who was doing the same thing as me. "She's practically my sister," Max replies before ordering a drink from the bar.

"I'm going to go and find Danny, I'll see you later," he walked away leaving me with Lando as Oscar had gone to go and find someone called Logan.

"Come on, let's go dance," Lando smiled as he offered his hand out for me to take. I let out a light giggle before placing my hand in his, he interlocked our fingers and pulled me along with him into the dancing crowd.

He waved our interlocked hands around while moving from side to side, I laughed at his actions, "How much have you had to drink?" He put his index finger to his lips, "shhhh secret," He yelled back over the noise completely contrasting his words before getting me to sway to the music along with him.

~

After around 20 minutes of dancing, Lando insisted we take a seat in one of the booths, he went to go and order drinks while I sat on my phone waiting for him. My heart dropped when I got a notification from my brother, the last interaction we'd had, we just shouted at each other.

Ollie😊
Seriously, that's pathetic Madelyn

Maddie😜
What are you talking about?

Ollie😊
You, getting Max to fight your battles for you

Maddie😜
What do you mean?

Ollie😊
I woke up to a message from Max saying that I need to apologise to you and that I was in the wrong

Maddie😜
First of all, you are in the wrong and second, I didn't ask him to do that so unless you have something to say that's worth listening to, kindly fuck off

I placed my phone in my bag before heading to the terrace to get some fresh air. Max shouldn't have gotten involved but I shouldn't be getting insulted because of his actions.

I took a deep ragged breath as I leant over the stone railing, looking down the dimly lit street that was filled with life and energy.

"You know, that this is the first time I've seen you alone tonight, I keep wondering which unlucky driver you'll go dance with next," two lines formed on my forehead, I turned to the source of the voice. A man with brunette hair and an accent which sounded like French leaned against the pillar which joins to the building.

"Excuse me?" The smirk on his face matched the arrogance of his words. "You heard me," he answered before walking back into the crowd. I rolled my eyes already exhausted from the events of the night.

I headed into the room, determined to find Max to tell him I am leaving. He was sat with Danny and instantly turned his attention to me as I approached him with a tired expression. "I think I'm going to head back to the hotel," I muttered to him. I gave Danny a forced smile as he greeted me before Max responded, "That's fine, come on I'll drive," he got up from his seat and said goodbye to Danny before the Aussie wrapped me in a hug.

Max grabbed my hand gently and led me to the door, making sure to look back at me to check I'm still there despite my hand being interlocked with his.

He opened the door to the passenger side of the car for me before walking around to the drivers seat. He turned his gaze to me, inspecting my expression. He held out his hands and gestured for me to hug him, I gave him a smile before I wrapped my arms around his torso. He stroked his hand down my back to comfort me, his ability to read my emotions just by looking at me, made me realise just how much he knows me.

"Thank you," I whispered in his ear which caused him to hold me tighter, it was in that moment that I realised how much Max had been there for me, even more than Oliver had over the years.

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