Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 117- Why are you so obsessed with me?

Max's face while walking into grid dinner showed no emotion at all. Riley was cracking up, as they walked around a large table to their seats that were thankfully assigned this time around, reducing the risk of them not sitting near each other. Riley held onto Max's hand loosely, out of habit scanning the room for Logan, but for obvious reasons he wasn't there. Instead she found Susan, placed next to Oliver who was filling in for Kevin Magnussen that weekend.

"Oh cheer up Max" Riley whispered, "It was just a shirt"

"You're never picking out my clothes again" He told her, which was a lie, Riley would have her fair share of moments. She rolled her eyes, and took her seat after Max pulled a chair out for her.

"We should get Susan to swap her name cards" Riley whispered to Max, "Who's sitting across from us?"

"I think the new guy" Max said, taking his seat next to Riley, "Honestly we should probably move so you're not giving him the death stare throughout dinner"

"I won't" She told him, but Max was wrong. Charles took the seat across from them, followed by Arthur. Alex went out to dinner with Kika instead.

Riley watched as Arthur sat down across from her purposely, even after Charles suggested that he took the seat across from Max. Whomever made the seating chart, must've done this on purpose. Riley looked at Max, seeing his jaw clench slightly, it was a never ending story. Arthur just wouldn't give it up. Riley told him she'd be friendly, and she had been so far, but it wasn't meant to get out of hand.

But with Arthur arriving, Riley didn't have to mention the thought of Susan and Ollie swapping seats with someone; they did it themselves.

"I may actually prefer sitting across from Franco" Riley whispered to Max, "This is going to be a shit show"

"Just ignore him" He said, but Max was having a hard time ignoring Arthur himself.

"I don't know why it hasn't clicked for him yet" She said, scooting her chair closer to Max so she could look at his menu. It made whispering easier, no one but Max could hear her. "It's like an unhealthy obsession"

"Well," Max wasn't trying to defend Arthur, "I was also hooked on you for 9 months after you told me to fuck off"

"Okay but that's different" Riley told him, "I entertained it"

Riley finally admitted it. She entertained Max's thoughts and hopes when she was with Arthur, she told him to wait, Riley allowed it. She let Max get close to her, and she tried on her own subtly. What Kelsey said was right.

"I'm not entertaining Arthur" She sighed, putting her chin on Max's shoulder.

"Well"

"What?" Riley looked at Max quickly, "How"

"I'm joking" He lied, Max thought that Arthur got the wrong impression after Riley went into his garage in Monza, Max would've too if Riley wasn't friends with Daniel while they were broken up. It was small interactions like that, it kept Arthur's hopes elevated.

"Don't do that" She frowned, Riley wasn't trying to lead anyone on. She's told Arthur that it was over, there wasn't much more she could do. "He's delusional"

Max and Riley both muffled their laughs, dropping the topic as a whole so they could try and enjoy their nights.

"Susan, when did you get in" Max asked her, putting his arm on the back of Riley's chair.

It was becoming harder for Riley to keep conversations with Susan. The only thing they had in common was Jonah and Tristen. But neither of those people were in Riley's life anymore. Jonah would always have a special place in Riley's heart, but it was difficult for the conversations to feel natural, especially after she tried pushing the ring onto Riley.