A/N: While this year is turning out to be a banger, I do miss my easy Max wins and Lestappen 1-2s from the past year 😭 Congrats to Oscar! I'm so happy for him and I hope he can fully celebrate it despite McLaren's weird calls.
"It's been a week," Max whines into the empty void of his room. His iPhone screen crackles due to the shitty service at the Sussex hotel.
Charles's laugh echoes contortedly as the image on FaceTime freezes. Max can't help but pout. "Mon amour, I was with you until Thursday. It's Sunday."
"You could've come with me to Goodwoods," Max offers, fully aware that wasn't possible at all.
"Max," Charles deadpans, raising an eyebrow. "It's the celebration of Red Bull Racing. I don't think I would have fit in. Besides, I promised Alex I'd take her to Taylor Swift."
"I know," Max sighs. Before Charles broke up with Alexandra, he'd gotten them VIP tickets to Taylor Swift's Milan show. The separation being amicable, they decided they'd still go, with Kika and Pierre joining them. Charles asked Max several times, and the Dutchman told him to enjoy himself. Now, he just wishes Charles was next to him.
"How was she?" Max asks. Charles's face lights up, causing butterflies to swim in Max's stomach.
"It was really good! I didn't know all the songs, but Alex really enjoyed herself. It was fun!" Charles rambles, causing Max to mirror his grin. "Do you listen to her?"
Max shrugs: "Not much. I know some of her songs. I like Anti-Hero."
Charles nods knowingly: "It is very Mister Max Emilian Verstappen."
"My middle name's not French," Max replies, giving his boyfriend the finger. "Stop pronouncing it that way."
"But it sounds good when I do!" Charles counters, repeating the name several times. Max drops the phone on the covers before hovering both middle fingers above his camera.
Charles cackles, and Max is genuinely worried about the Ferrari driver's sanity for a moment.
"You're too funny, mon amour," the brunet says, wiping away some tears.
Max feels the blush forming on his cheeks. Anything Charles does makes him infinitely happy, but he's still not used to the many, intended or not, compliments the Monegasque sends his way daily.
"Anyhow, Pierre has adopted a dog too! Simba. I hope Leo finally finds a playmate in him, 'cause Roscoe was not having it," Charles continues, typing away on his phone as he does.
A second later, Max receives a message. It contains a photo of Simba. Max narrows his eyes. "What the hell is that?"
"A poodle! I think," Charles answers, looking at the picture too. "He's still young."
"I prefer cats," Max concludes, scrunching his nose. "They're less... like that."
"You like Leo!"
"I do, because I had the same dog. He gets a free pass."
Charles breathes out a sigh of relief, causing Max to shake his head. "I love you, you idiot."
"I love you too."
Max's heart skips a beat. He'll never get used to hearing those words. He can't help studying Charles's face, scanning every inch for a sign of lies, but it's open and honest, which means it's still true. For now...
"Good night, mon amour."
"Good night, schat."
-----
When Max's private plane lands in Nice, a Ferrari is waiting for him on the landing strip. Max spots the familiar mob of brown strands and wants nothing more than to run toward the man behind the wheel.
YOU ARE READING
If Clarity's in Death, Then Why Won't This Die?
Romance"Max doesn't know what to say. His eyes draw over every inch of Charles's face. His green eyes with brown specks, the sweat dripping down his face, his lips curled in a small smile... "If only you saw yourself the way all of us do. The way I do." Ma...
