Finding Home - an f1 romance

chapter 9

Max Verstappen (POV):
My father was livid when he found out I skipped a team meeting, and that night I was subjected to his cruel words flooding my messages.

Luckily, I won with a 12 second lead, so I made it out safe. My father left without speaking a word to me, and I was grateful.

Shanghai went smoothly, enough for my father to not hunt me down and murder me. Apart from qualifying P4 in sprint qualifying, I was P1 in everything. That's good enough.

I've been avoiding Natalia for the past month, still mortified by my behavior in Australia. She has yet to mention it, but it still haunts me every time she so looks in my direction. So I've kept my distance.

Still, I look at her in a new light. She's not like the angry, bitter version of herself I met for the first time. She chose to help me that day, even if she wasn't physically there.

She followed my every word, leaving me alone while also getting Daniel for me, no matter how crazy I must've sounded. I can't help but watch as she laughs with her friend from a distance. I can't help but wonder if I'll ever make her laugh like that. Probably not.

I was dry and tired most days, and that was something I couldn't control. At least not in my current state. But maybe that could change. Maybe one day I could make people laugh. Maybe one day I could hang out with friends and enjoy every second. Maybe.

For some reason, I'm petrified of how she might see me now. What if she sees me as pathetic? As childish? As. . . broken?

These thoughts plague my mind for hours on end, leaving little room for sleep. By the time the Miami Sprint Race comes around, I feel like a walking zombie, half-asleep and pretty much dead to the world.

Natalia
should we eat out in miami?
a ton of celebrities r here anyways, and several people are thinking about our relationship

Her texts sent sparks of nerves shooting up my body. I can't even look her in the eye, much less eat out with her. But for some reason, one I can't fathom why, I agree. We quickly decide on a restaurant, and after a win in the sprint race, we go out to eat.

And she looks way different then how she did in the beginning of our rushed relationship. She added highlights to her chocolate curls, and something about her makeup is different. Her lips, which used to be more opaque, are glossier than usual, and I can't stop looking at them.

Natalia smirks at me. "It's a new lip combo," she says, winking and blowing me a kiss as I pull out her chair. "Do you like it?"

My mind seems to blank. Do I like it? No, I shouldn't like it. I can't. Nope.

"Sure," tumbles out of my mouth before I can control myself. "Uh, do you know what you want to order? For drinks?"

She studied the drink menu for a bit before saying, "I'll just take water. You?"

"Same. I can't really drink because of the race tomorrow." My displeasure is written on my face, very obvious since Natalia snickers. "Hey, I won today, and I can't even celebrate!"

"I guess," she says half-heartedly, shrugging her shoulders. We order our drinks then, and conversation just flows. Our drinks and food come, and we swiftly finish everything. "Since when have you and Daniel been friends? Like, for how long?"

Her question hits me from no where, and I instantly am reminded of Australia. My body tenses with fear. "Uh, since we became teammates, really," I mumble, no longer intrigued in making conversation. What flowed so easily seconds ago instantly comes to a halt.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" she starts.

"It's fine. Ready to go?"

Natalia stays silent at my request for a bit, clearly thinking things through. In the end, she smiles shakily and says, "One second. I'm going to use the restroom really quick."