I love you , I'm sorry • Max Verstappen

5.

Lewis was visibly thrilled at the thought of having Alice and Emily in his garage. “Double the support, huh?” he chuckled, clearly delighted.

He knew he held a special interest in her—an undeniable romantic spark. All he needed now was to make sure she was moving on from her ex. He genuinely felt for her; no one deserved the kind of heartbreak she’d been through. “Wish me luck, eh?” he said, his voice light but hopeful, and Alice couldn’t help but blush slightly at his enthusiasm.

After that dinner, a part of her realized it was time to let go, to truly move forward. And perhaps, just maybe, life was offering her something new—someone willing to treat her right.

“Good luck, Lewis,” she replied softly, patting his helmet with a smile before giving him a gentle, encouraging hug.

“Will you be here when the race is over?” he asked, his gaze sincere.

“Yeah, maybe with Carmen and the other girls,” she replied.

Lewis hesitated, his voice softening. “Uh… if I win the race, will you… go to dinner with me?” His words hung in the air, his eyes bright with anticipation.

Alice chuckled at his nervousness, her smile warm. “Yes, I’ll go with you. Anyway, I’ll be there with everyone,” she teased, making him laugh.

But her smile lingered, knowing that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.

It felt like a fresh start, the beginning of something new. Alice and Lewis weren’t rushing into anything, but there was an undeniable spark that hinted at something special. The race itself was intense, with Lewis nearly colliding with Lando at Turn 4. But in the end, he crossed the finish line at P2, just behind Max at P1 and Charles at P3.

As soon as he could, Lewis made his way over to where the girls were waiting, his eyes lighting up when he spotted Alice still there. “Hey, you were amazing today!” she congratulated him with a warm smile, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small candy to hand to him.

Charles, noticing the exchange, grinned playfully. “Hey, don’t I get one too?” he teased, holding onto Charlotte, who laughed at her boyfriend’s eagerness.

“Aww, man, we need one too, little star!” Daniel chimed in, joining their little circle with a wide grin.

Alice laughed, pulling out more candies from her bag. “Good thing I have plenty,” she said, handing one to each of them, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.

As everyone savored their little treats, Alice felt an unexpected sense of belonging. The laughter, the teasing—it reminded her of simpler times, moments she’d missed without even realizing it.

“So, did you have fun watching us zoom around?” Lando asked, popping his candy into his mouth, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Alice nodded, glancing at Emily, who was equally caught up in the moment. “I didn’t know racing could be this thrilling,” she admitted with a chuckle. “And terrifying,” she added, remembering the near-collision.

“Terrifying?” Lewis echoed with a grin. “I’d say it was just a little excitement to keep the heart pumping.”

Max, who had been observing from a few feet away, walked over, catching her eye. He gave a polite nod, his gaze lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. “Glad to see you here,” he murmured quietly.