Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 27- Quit Smoking

Riley didn't tell Arthur that she had slept with Max at all that weekend. He started making a bigger effort to call her, and everything started feeling normal between the two of them again. He didn't seem irritated with her anymore, but that was just because she was gone and he was hooking up with people during that time away. Riley didn't know that though.

Riley felt so guilty about what happened with Max, about constantly being around him, the subtle glances and touches made between each other. When Arthur was plowing through half of Monaco, growing his body count when she was gone.

She was standing in Logan's garage with a headset on watching the screen as the race was going on. Riley felt even worse when her eyes were constantly glued to Max's placement, watching him whenever he popped up on the screen. If Arthur knew this was the case he would've been pissed, that's at least what Riley thought. Arthur wouldn't have given a shit if Riley was paying attention to him as he was racing. Her sleeping with him was different however.

Even if Arthur had done something worse to her, multiple times. He would've found it infuriating that Riley even let him near her like that. And that she knowingly fell asleep with him, wrapped up in his arms with his hand on her thigh. While Riley's hands were running along his bare chest, sleeping on his shoulder. Arthur took part in meaningless hookups, while Riley's interaction with Max was more intimate and had feelings behind it.

"What the fuck" Riley mumbled quietly when Stroll and Daniel had made contact under a safety car. "Stroll's gotta get a penalty of some sorts for that" Riley looked over at Lily, Alex's girlfriend once the replay started. "He drove right into Dan"

"I'd assume so," Lily said, "Maybe a penalty for the race in Miami"

"It was like he was day dreaming or something" Riley said, "No one else crashed, I don't know where his heads at" Riley shook her head. Daniel didn't need any mishaps like this at this point of the season. He hadn't been placing well this season yet, and everyone is buzzing about whether or not Liam should replace him.

Riley wanted Liam to have a seat, he deserved a seat. They dated throughout every Grand Prix he raced in last season, Riley saw what he could do, and how much he cared about racing. He should've gotten a seat this season. Yet Riley didn't want Daniel to get thrown out in the middle of the season, if anything, he should be able to finish this season and Liam can take over the next.

Riley stayed around in the garage after the race ended, watching the podium ceremony that was airing on the tv in front of her. If Max wasn't on the podium she probably wouldn't have watched it. But she did, she watched the whole thing with a small smile on her face. There's something different about seeing a world champion walk off the top step soaked in champagne.

Riley waited for all of the post race conferences to be done before she walked out of Logan's garage in search for Daniel. He was entirely pissed off with Lance, now received a 3 place grid drop penalty for the next race in Miami. Which felt completely unfair.

Riley was outside in the paddocks, dodging camera's like bullets when she saw Max and Daniel standing together. This nearly made Riley want to turn around and just talk to Daniel after they got back to the hotel. But she walked up to them anyways. They were already talking about the collision when Riley arrived.

"He's a fucking dumbass" Daniel told Max, seeing Riley join their side.

"Are you talking about Lance?" Riley asked, just making sure she was about to drop in on the same topic.

"Yeah" Max nodded, looking at her like she was a magnet.

"Well then I agree," Riley said, "No one else fucking crashed" Riley told the two of them, "It's so dumb that you got the penalty"