Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 122- His Voice

Riley was attempting to tell Max. He was in the shower after a day at the tracks and dealing with the stewards. She wasn't going off of a timing that felt correct. She was just going to do it. She was sitting on a couch in the living area, debating on what she could and couldn't say. She took deep breaths, both to calm her and just because felt like she was out of it.

All until Max walked out of the bathroom. He was in a pair of boxers, holding a towel in his hands while he wiped his hair dry, not noticing the eyes that were on him. It was like Riley had seen a ghost. Max was frustrated with how the day had gone; finishing FP2 in P15.

Max tossed his towel down on a chair nearby and got into bed without saying a word to Riley. Now wasn't the time. Yet she got up and joined him, putting a hand on his shoulder when she laid next to him.

"Max" She said quietly, taking a deep breath, "I need to tell you something"

"Tell me tomorrow" He groaned, "I can't deal with Arthur right now"

He assumed Arthur had attempted to make a move per usual.

"It's not about Arthur" She told him, "I swear"

"Is someone dying?" He mumbled into the pillow, feeling Riley's hand slowly disappear from his shoulder.

"No"

"Then just tell me tomorrow" He said, rolling over to look at her, "Or after this we leave, this entire weekend is going to shit already"

"Ok" She said simply and quietly with a nod, "Yeah I'll just wait"

"Thanks" He told her, putting his hand on her waist while leaning in for a kiss. "The FIA is entirely bullshit" He started to complain, not noticing how Riley was nearly frozen in place. "How the fuck are they going to give me community service because I said the car was fucked"

"Yeah, I don't know Max" She shrugged, letting out a sigh, "It's not fair"

"Everyone swears" Max exclaimed, "If a kids parents are going to be that sensitive they can turn the race off"

"Mhm" Riley nodded, shimming away from him slightly. "Do you think this is really Daniel's last race?"

"Yes" Max nodded, "I think it's fucked right before Austin"

"Yeah I know Austin's his favorite." She said confusedly, moving away subtly from the kiss Max was trying to lean in for again. "Max I'm really just not in the touchy mood right now"

"Okay" He said, losing touch from her entirely when she rolled away from him. "Did I do something wrong"

"No I'm just tired, and you have Qualifying tomorrow" She mumbled, closing her eyes as she laid her head on her pillow.

"I wasn't insinuating that we do anything-"

"I just don't want to be touched"

~~~

Riley held her breath all throughout qualifying. Every turn that Max had made, every small brush against the wall she saw from any driver. Riley was exhausted on top of that. And it didn't help that it was both hot, and extremely humid. But Max was performing well. He finished P2 in both Q1 and Q2, she was just praying he had the same finish, or landed P1.

He was in the garage for a moment, staying in the car while his crew worked around him. Gustav nudged Riley gently when Max appeared on screens, featuring her in the background briefly until Max drove out of the garage. She was more relieved when Q3 started. Riley was ready to fall asleep, Max would be out of the car and only have a few hours of media until they could go.