The Racing Line | M.V.

21. High Expectations

The next few days went by in a flash. Liv still did not respond to Max's texts, the wound was still fresh. On Tuesday, Liv did not show up to Max's apartment with tacos, and neither did he show up at hers. That day Liv and Lewis were watching a movie in his apartment. He could tell she was feeling down and had been trying his best to cheer her up.

"What do you want for dinner? The first thing that pops into your mind" he said as he paused the movie. 

Liv said the first thing on her mind "On Tuesdays I usually eat tacos" she shrugged.

Lewis smiled "Then tacos it is". 

So Liv had her first Taco Tuesday without Max. Second one actually, if the Tuesday of the week before counted. It felt slightly wrong, kind of like cheating, but Lewis managed to still put a smile on her face even though she felt like shit and she missed her best friend. 

On Wednesday it was time to head to Emilia-Romagna for the next race. 

At the airport in Nice, Max and Ashley were already seated and ready to leave in his jet. Max had been feeling terrible since his fight with Liv. They had never fought before, so he didn't know how to fix it. Ashley kept following him everywhere too, which didn't allow him much time to think or talk with Liv. His spirits had plummeted though, he hardly laughed anymore, he kept snapping at everybody, he had never felt so defeated. 

Still, he was hopeful that the whole fight with Liv would be resolved. That he could fix things. He had texted Liv letting her now the date and time they would leave. And even though she did not reply, a big part of him knew she would show up. They would talk and joke, and soon enough they would be laughing about the whole thing. 

He heard voices coming up the stairs into the plane and he immediately sat up straight and looked at the door expectantly, only to see Charles walk in followed by Lando. Max felt himself deflate and sink back onto his seat. 

"Hello everybody" said Charles.

"Sorry for being late, let's get going then" smiled Lando.

"Hi guys" greeted them Ashley with a bright smile. 

"We should wait for Liv" said Max looking out the window, searching for a sign of her arrival.

Ashley's smile faded and she rolled her eyes. Charles and Lando shot each other a look "Uhm" started Charles "I don't think she's coming mate".

Max turned to Charles as he tried to hide the hurt inside of him "What? What did she say? She said she's not coming?"

Charles shook his head, recalling the long list of transports Liv preferred taking. He decided to spare Max the details "Yeah, she's not coming".

"But.. Well what did she say exactly? Maybe she changed her mind" Max insisted.

Lando sat down, feeling the awkward tension in the air as Ashley gave Max a look so cold that Max could have turned into ice. 

Charles sighed and looked anywhere else expect directly at Max "I think her exact words were, she rather walk to Italy than ride with us". 

"Oh" Max felt a punch in the gut. He had been feeling guilty before, but his hopes for fixing his friendship with Liv were rapidly depleting. "Right" he tried to pretend like it was no big deal "Uhm, then we should go. We're already late anyway". 

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"Even though I don't like seeing you so sad Liv, I'm glad you came along with us" said Lewis as they sat on a jet plane along with Toto Wolff and a few other members of the Mercedes team.