Royal Speed | Leclerc & Verstappen

51 | starting first

-/- Abu Dhabi 2021 - race weekend -/-

Qualifying went pretty good, Max was the best in the last segment, which meant pole position for the race tomorrow, starting right next to his competitor Lewis Hamilton.

"Oh come on, we're going down to celebrate him." Victoria tried to convince me but I thankfully nodded my head and stayed on the balcony while all the others went down to welcome Max.

Of course I would have loved to hug and kiss him right after he gets out of his car, especially as he always looked incredibly hot when he does, but the words of the man came back to my mind. He was true, and as were my own thought.

This was such an important weekend for him and he should have his familiar people around, his trainer, his family. I was simply too much of a distraction as with me also the whole media was turning towards him.

It was additional stress for him and that was the last thing I wanted. He should do his thing and I would be in the back, being proud of him like I always would, but stay back. It was of course also an excuse not to go out and face the media.

It had been a couple of hours now and I didn't even dare to open my phone, sure that there would be tons of texts and calls from people who knew me, now being surprised about my sexuality and my boyfriend.

Only Arthur told me before that our mother had send him a text, telling me how proud she was that I really went through with everything. Still a smile laid itself on my lips as I saw the RedBull of Max driving in front of the big sign with the 1.

From the balcony I had a great view down on the area where the first three drivers parked their cars, being able to watch Max jumping out of his car. After running over to his engineers he also hugged his sister same as Cathy and Arthur.

His smile though then dropped a little as I saw him speaking to Arthur, who gestured to the balcony I was on. I panicked and for a moment thought of hiding, but when I saw the Dutchman looking up at me, grinning so big with the cute smile on his face, I felt butterflies.

He then waved at me and of course all the eyes and camera around turned towards me as well, thanks Max. Of course I was a public figure and used to being in the flash light since I had been a child, but I still wasn't comfortable.

The only moment I was, was with Max next to me, him holding me hand and whispering sweet nothings in my ear, telling me that it would be okay, that he was here for me. Gosh I loved him so much for that.

But here, alone on the balcony, I felt not pretty comfortable with now many eyes on me, so I decided to go back inside, down in the garage as I knew Max would come there before he had his media.

Inside the garage all the mechanics and engineers were rushing around, either congratulating each other or already working again. It was good for me as so nobody really noticed me or payed attention to me, until I saw him.

The racing suit already hanging around his hips while his hair were all messy and the cheeks red and puffy, god, I could melt right on spot. His stressed face lighted up when he saw me standing in the back of the garage.

Quickly he pressed his drinking bottle into the hand of his trainer before he stepped over to me. Unsure what I should do or what he expected me to say I just stood there while Max cupped my face, smashing his lips onto mine.

"We did it liefje, first step done, now we're gonna win this thing tomorrow." he beamed and a heat rushed through me, still filled with regret though.

"Maybe I should stay at the hotel tomorrow." I mumbled, not daring to look him into the eyes.