Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 161- I want you to leave.

Max had gone through with the announcement before they even had the chance to talk the next morning. Riley woke up to her socials public again, Max had the password to her account, it wasn't hard for him to do. And comments came flooding into her inbox regarding the pregnancy. And it was as she expected, body shaming, a narrative that her and Max only got engaged for the pregnancy and nothing else. She had read a multitude of death threats that terrified her, all coming from people who were upset Max won the championship. She'd received comments saying how she wasn't fit to raise the baby or be a mother after everything that happened with Noah. Max knew there were going to be negative comments, he just hadn't realized how many. And he wouldn't. Riley deleted and created a word filter before he could even check. But that didn't change what was being sent to her privately throughout direct messages.

Riley rode to the circuit with Gustav while Max drove his rental behind them. Riley was trying to gather her thoughts as she ignored phone calls from her family and Jade who thought the news was leaked. Daniel tried calling Riley but never got through to her, a part of him was hurt he found out online and not from Max or Riley personally. Which was another reason Riley didn't want to announce it online. She didn't get to tell her friends.

She didn't tell Tristen. Riley wanted to tell him, she didn't want him to find out online.

Riley waited in the car for Max to walk into the paddocks, it required him to walk across the parking lot that was reserved for the drivers only to find her. He opened her door, and immediately could tell Riley had been crying all night and morning. Her eyelids had a light puff to them, and her nose was partially swollen. Max may have spent the night alone; but Riley spent it believing Arthur, thinking her life was no longer hers. She didn't have any control to what happened anymore. That's how it felt.

"Hey baby" Max said smoothly, holding the door open for her and offering his hand that she took. Spending the night without her was like torture, he needed to hold her at night, or at least be in arms length. Riley knew that, it was the same for her.

"Hey" She said softly, tilting her cheek into the gentle kiss he was placing.

"Thank you Gustav" Max waved off to him, closing the door behind Riley. "Did you sleep alright? Was the room fine?"

"Yeah I managed to get a king size to myself for the first time in forever" Riley nodded, pushing down her frustration when Max laced their fingers together.

"Will you be back with me tonight?" He asked her quietly, heading towards the paddocks gates that was ways down the parking lot.

"Umm" She sighed, "I have the room booked for the weekend... maybe tomorrow night, I'm not sure. I'll think about it, we need to talk first."

"Okay." Max nodded and felt Riley readjust the grip she had on his hand, it was like she was preparing to let go. "My dads here- I was thinking we could all grab dinner tonight?"

"I was actually going to do something myself tonight" She told him, "Room service and a movie, a quiet night in"

"Yeah we can do that instead- I'll let my dad know."

"No- I mean alone Max, just me" She looked up at him, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine" Max shook his head and continued looking forward. "We should do something with him though"

"Mhm" She agreed silently as they got closer to the gate.

Gustav was walking behind them alongside Donatello who had learned Riley was pregnant along with the rest of the world. Gustav made it clear he already knew, it was like asserting his dominance in the 'operation' they were running.