sunshine, ALEX ALBON

xvii

[SKIP TO THE SUMMER BREAK]

"MONACO'S BEAUTIFUL," EVELYN COMMENTED, HER head resting on Alex's shoulder as they sat on the sand of the beach. She felt it was normal, just something everyone did with their close friends. However, inside, Alex was screaming. He felt the heat rise to his cheeks and felt thankful that Evelyn seemed too focused on the gentle ripple of the waves to notice.

Alex hadn't planned anything for the Formula One summer break. He'd largely been waiting for Evelyn to tell him her plans, but everything in her life was last minute. He'd been lying on his bed, only half-dressed, when she'd texted him to ask if he wanted to meet on the beach. If it had been anyone else, Alex would've said no. For anyone else, he wouldn't throw on a shirt and some shoes before practically running down to the beach at six in the evening, two hours before sunset.

But Evelyn was perfect. She was not just anybody; she was the girl he fell in love with when they were ten. The girl he held hands with while they ran around the children's playground in the local park. The girl he knew he could never forget.

Alex Albon was not even close to being perfect. He made mistakes too often. He rarely took things seriously, bit his ice cream rather than licked it, and most importantly was too critical on himself after a bad race, which happened far too much for his liking. Despite how much he wanted Evelyn, he knew he was not the guy for her.

But sitting on a blanket too small for two people while watching the waves sparkle in the light left of the evening, her fingers toying with the fan-made bracelets on his wrists, he realised that perhaps he didn't have to be perfect to the world. Perfect to her, however? She'd already told him that she thought he was. Alex knew that despite his many flaws that Evelyn didn't see, chose to ignore, or saw as what made him, him, she would accept him as he was.

"You're more beautiful," he said, breaking the silence that had formed while he'd been lost in his thoughts. At first he didn't quite register that he'd said it out loud, but when he felt her fingers pause their movement with his bracelets, he was very aware of it.

He thought he'd ruined things, but then she laughed, shaking her head. "I cannot believe you just said that, Alex. That was so cheesy." She resumed her fiddling, attempting to hide the blush forming on her cheeks.

Alex knew there was no going back now. "Doesn't matter, Ev." He shrugged. "You're still more beautiful."

Evelyn smiled into Alex's shoulder before standing up, pulling him up with her. He began to protest when he realised she was taking him down to the shoreline, feeling the wet sand beneath his feet.

"Come on," she pleaded, pulling on his arm, though she knew there was no way she was going to manage to drag a Formula One driver into the sea when he'd firmly planted his feet into the sand.

"I am not going in there. What about sharks?" he asked, watching her kick the water up with her feet.

"This isn't even up to my knees," Evelyn replied, looking down at the water level. "There aren't gonna be any sharks." With a sigh, she disconnected their hands and walked out of the sea.

Alex frowned when she gave up so easily and just went to turn around when he felt two hands planted on his back as Evelyn shoved him into the water from behind. The water wasn't deep, but he'd stumbled and fallen over, and he could feel the water slowly soaking his shirt and shorts.

He stood up, brushing his dripping hair out of his face as he picked Evelyn up by her waist before she could run away, throwing her in. Evelyn resurfaced coughing, having swallowed some of the salt water. 

The two of them wiped their eyes before looking at each other with identical grins, Alex making the first move towards a mini water fight. They spent the next ten minutes splashing, running from each other (or at least trying to), and pushing the other in, and they walked out shivering. They were in wet clothes with no spares, and no towels.

Alex pulled her into his side, an arm around her shoulders. "If you'd listened to me, we wouldn't be freezing our asses off right now," he said, looking down at Evelyn who was walking back to their belongings beside him. They slipped their shoes on and Evelyn leaned into his side as they walked back to Evelyn's house.

When they reached the front door, Evelyn paused. "Want to stay the night?" she asked, voice at a whisper. "Soph's out with Carlos."

Alex hesitated for a moment before simply nodding his head, following her in after she opened the door, taking his shoes off as she locked the door behind them. 

They turned to look at each other, Evelyn about to ask what he wanted to do, when she felt her breath hitch randomly just at the sight of him. The only sound in the house was the soft hum of the air con as they stared at each other longingly before Evelyn finally gave in and pulled him in for a kiss. Alex tensed, surprised by the sudden move, but reacted quickly to let her know that it was something that he wanted too. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he leaned down to be at her level as they both melted into the kiss. 

Alex broke away first, resting his forehead against hers. He felt as if his heart had stopped. "Wow," he breathed out in disbelief.

Evelyn nodded slowly, leaning against his chest to catch her breath. 

"Wow."