Betting On Love ✯ George Russell

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♪ After thought, was I an after thought
Shook me like an earthquake, now there's aftershock
Was it real? ♪

George Russell POV

I've come to terms with the shit I've done. I've fallen for Melanie Albon, isn't that stupid? And I am praying to every fucking god there's out there that she feels the same.

I am walking the paddock, and I stop in my tracks as I see Melanie, Alex, and Logan inside the Williams' motorhome. Alex leaves as he sees me, but Melanie stays; both she and Logan are clearly engrained in the conversation.

"What's up with that?" I wonder as I look away from them, and Alex shrugs.

"No idea, they seem to be friends. I guess they met during one of the previous Grand Prix, and Williams is thinking about signing him next year; he came over for a quick chat, and they've been at it for some time now. Something's wrong?" His question made me doubt things.

"What? No, why? I just had a meeting," I am now doubtful of whatever is going on.

"Hey!" I hear her voice as she heads in our direction, and my doubts evaporate as she stands by my side, sneakily locking her pinky with mine so people won't notice the gesture and I run my hand through her head.

"Everything's alright?" I want the assurance all is fine, that I haven't fucked this up.

"Everything's perfect. Are you ready?" She asked excitedly, and I nodded as we walked through the motorhomes before getting to Mercedes.

I enter my room, giving her space to follow the movement, which she does. I sit on the bed and pat my legs, signaling for her to sit on my lap.

"You don't look well," she comments as she caresses my cheek. I lean into her hand and smile.

"I'm fine. You still talk to him?" I ask as I kiss her cheek.

"Not like that, as you can imagine, he is going to be Alex's teammate possibly, it's friendly talk. Don't be jealous," she had a little cheeky smile, and I chuckled.

"I'm not; I was just asking. I am just feeling nervous about the race," I confess, and her smile widens.

"Don't be nervous! You are finally going to be a Formula 1 Grand Prix winner! Today is your day baby, enjoy it," she is hyping me up, and I would like to believe it, but it was hard to imagine it going that smoothly.

"Do you really think so?"

"I don't think so. I know it. You are going to win that shit, and we are going to party until the sun is out again," she kissed me as the last word left her mouth.

I probably wouldn't have stayed by the kissing, but I heard the knocks on the door, and I took my hand off of her shirt, and her hand left my abdomen.

"Yeah?" I answer as I open the door, fixing my hair and looking at Lewis.

"I just wanted to say we have to go; we have to put the cars in the grid, see if everything's alright," he warns me, and I nod.

"Thank you."

"See you soon Mel!" He mentions as he turns around, and we both laugh. He could not see her, but he saw us getting in clearly.

I was nervous but it all evaporated as I entered the car. This was my moment. My opportunity. Every second counted. I could make no mistakes. I focused, and I could only think of the finish line.

The moment I crossed it in the first place, I felt the world's weight was off my shoulders. I could breathe in relief. I've made it. But at the same time, as I wanted to call my family, I also wanted to hug the girl on the other side of the barrier.

I got out of the car and ran to where she was, wrapping my arms around her.

"Congratulations, baby," I could see the tears in her eyes, and I smiled.

"I love you," I tell her before continuing the proceedings needed after the race.

I was shocked when the words left my mouth; it was on total impulse. But my mind was going crazy as I overthought what I had just said. I've fucked up.

Because I could say, it's a lie, that it could never be true. But it would be an even bigger lie. At that exact moment, I knew I had fallen for her and loved her.

"Are you okay?" Lewis asks as we are about to enter the cooldown room. He has already congratulated me about three times.

"Yeah," but was I okay?

It all happened so fast: the podium, the champagne, the video calls with Toto and my family, and then the media interviews. But as I entered the motorhome, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and Melanie's arms wrapped around me.

"I told you you would win this shit!" She is so excited and I could only feel relieved, I didn't fuck this up.

"And I did! I gave you the win you so badly wanted," I remind her as we both laugh.

"You truly did, baby. That was so amazing, you deserve it," she says before kissing me, and I pick her up.

She wouldn't say it back, not yet. And I knew Melanie, she would never it easily. She is not that type of person, but if she didn't feel the same way, she wouldn't be here. She would be running as far away as possible. That's how she handles problems.

"I wasn't supposed to say it that way," I confess, and she steps back.

"Did you mean it?" She seems nervous as she questions it, and I nod.

"I did, but I don't need you to say it back," I reassure her, and she smiles as she caresses my cheek.

"We can talk about it later, now it's about you," she assures me sweetly.

"Don't worry about it, Mellie," I tell her as I kiss her forehead.

She feels the same. I know it. She has to, right? She would've told me otherwise.