Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 96- Invisible String

Max had been told the ring would be done by August 15th. He was picking it up in store instead of having it shipped. He didn't want Riley to stumble upon it in the mail. Max would've asked to send it to Lando or Daniel but for obvious reasons he couldn't. Max and Lando still had bad blood, which started to upset Riley. She liked Lando and knew him and Max were good friends. It didn't seem fair that Max could fix things with Charles yet continue to give Lando the cold shoulder.

Riley hadn't realized Max was streaming when she walked into the room. Her footsteps halted as soon as she walked inside, seeing Max try to hold Sassy who was next to him. He saw Riley in the doorway and waited for her to say something but she stayed quiet. Riley walked further into the room silently and sat down on the couch as the cat Max was holding previously left him.

"I mean..." Max started moving his camera to show Sassy but put the entire room on display instead, "See the cat" He said, "And Riley"

Riley glanced over at Max even she heard her name, watching him put the camera back where it was before.

"Crane said hello" Max relayed over to Riley, she responded quietly, not wanting to be overheard on stream. "What were you going to say"

"I think I'm going out with Dan" She told him what she had been waiting to say, "I just didn't want you to think I was hiding around here"

"I was planning on taking the boat out later" He reminded her, "So if you want to come, meet me there"

"I'll be there around 5" She got up from where she was sitting and headed for the doorway, "If that's when you were going"

"If that's when you're free" He picked up Sassy as he continued talking to Riley.

"Well I'm free whenever you want to leave" She told him, "Which boat?"

"Mine"

~~~

"Lando I swear to go-" Riley started saying while she was sitting at the piano in her bedroom, just to hear Lando do exactly what she was saying not to. He pressed his hands all over the keys ruining her train of thought.

"Don't beat me up" Lando threw his hands in the air, walking back to her bed where Daniel was sitting. Riley's room felt empty with the lack of clothing inside, but it felt nice to be home, in a room she decorated. She didn't add a touch of herself to Max's room beside her dresser. It was all his, she was just there.

Daniel invited Lando over. Riley wasn't going to blatantly start problems with Lando, so she stayed quiet for the most part. Max would've rather it been like that instead. But Riley missed having Lando around, she was upset with his comments, Max was furious, but in the end she wanted him to move on from it. Although it was deeper than just his comments now, it was the races.

"Riley when are you moving back in" Daniel asked her, staring at his phone, interrupting Riley's playing again.

"Mmm," She hummed with a smile, "When I can convince Max to come with me"

Slowly but surely, moving in with Max officially before tying the knot or an engagement seemed more appealing to her.

"I don't think you'd have to convince him" Lando said, "If you asked he'd be on his knees, praising you"

"He would not" Riley whispered, playing the piano softly for the first time in a few weeks. "You need to stop with the side comments" She muttered to Lando, "It's unnecessary"

"Do you not like living at his apartment?" Daniel asked, trying to steer the conversation clear of bickering.

"No I like it" Riley stopped playing, "But... I don't know... it's not like my place. I also told him I wouldn't be ready until we were married, which was stupid."