Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 75- Strawberry Wine

Max and Riley didn't fall asleep until 2 hours after their conversation. Max had a million questions that Riley took the time to answer. He fell asleep that night knowing every aspect to Riley's past. He officially knew her better than anyone. Better than her parents, sister, Josie, Logan, Joshua and Arthur.

Max walked into his shared room that Riley was still sleeping in after picking up the new rental and some breakfast from Harken's. He tried to be as quiet as possible while walking back into the room. He didn't want to wake Riley up abruptly after everything last night. Max made very minimal sounds as he set a small bag down on Riley's night stand next to a cup of iced coffee. He placed a different bag he got from a CVS on the ground that had a morning after pill in it, a pack of condoms, and pregnancy test just in case.

"Where'd you go" Riley mumbled, already being half awake when Max sat on the edge of her bed.

"I picked up the car" Max started sliding his shoes off, "I grabbed you some coffee and breakfast if you want it"

"From where" She sat up slowly, Riley leaned over the bed and grabbed her coffee, kissing Max's cheek in the process.

"Some place called Harken's?" He asked himself, hearing Riley gasp.

"I was going to take you there" She told him, taking a sip of the coffee.

"I was going to go yesterday too" He turned over to lay with Riley again. He laid beside her legs, keeping an arm draped over her.

Max had his head laid on her lap, about to fall asleep again after the long night that just continued getting extended. Riley had her hand on the back of his head, stroking it slowly with her thumb as she leaned against the wall drinking coffee. The only thing keeping Max awake was the subtly brushes of Riley's thumb in his hair.

"You said I can ask questions right?" Max mumbled incoherently, rubbing his hand along Riley's thigh.

"Yes" She said, noticing the difference in his touch right now. He was treating her like she was fragile.

"It's about Noah" Max told her, he felt Riley grab his hand and move it up to her hip where it usually went.

"What about him" She set down her coffee, sighing quietly when Max moved his hand again.

"Where do you think you'd be if you never found the lighter"

"Probably living in London with Logan and a 4 year old" She said quietly, looking down at Max when he lifted his head.

"You would be living with Logan?" He asked her, watching her nod.

"Yeah I don't think Noah would've wanted the kid," She told Max, which was half true, he just wouldn't be present in their life. "I've never really thought about it because of the circumstances"

"Yeah" Max laid his head back down, "I shouldn't have asked that question," He brushed his thumb against her thigh gently. "You don't think we would've been together though?"

"It's not that." She chuckled, "I just think it would've been hard."

"Maybe..."

"Max I'm not going to break" She told him with a sigh. "I don't want to be treated like I'm fragile"

"I'm not trying to" He mumbled, about to fall asleep again. His thumb continued moving as his eyes closed, he let out a small yawn allowing the weight from his chest to lift.

"I don't want you to see me any different"

"I just love you" He mumbled, he wasn't trying to treat Riley differently. He was always gentle, this morning he just accidentally decided to be even more so.