Sitting In Traffic | Formula 1

Chapter 167- I'll always wait for you Riley.

Riley was sitting in her living room with Max on Christmas Eve while her family was putting out the bonfire in the yard. Sloan was hiding away in the kitchen, not wanting to partake in the festivities that were being held at a low volume. No one wanted to wake Griffin up while he was sleeping in Riley's old room upstairs. Ava wasn't too fond with the placement, she had to share a room with Griffin and hated it.

"Do you think she's lost the list?" Riley mumbled to Max while Ava was searching her suitcase for her list of baby names.

"With everything she had in her bag maybe" He laughed, sitting up between Riley's legs. Max put his hand over Riley's while she was holding his torso, feeling it whenever she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Are they arguing?" Riley whispered to him quietly when bickering sounded from the kitchen. Samantha was trying to get Sloan to join the family while she was actively standing her ground and saying no.

"Sounds like" He nodded, moving to entwine their fingers, feeling at that moment Riley lay her head on his shoulder. She nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck, taking note of Max's thumb stroking her own.

They sat there in silence for a minute, soaking up the time and holiday together. Riley had been cuddly all day, she was excited Max was home for a few months and showed it physically. max didn't mind, he enjoyed it when Riley showed affection softly. Unless Mike was around. Then he ran away from her like she had the plague.

"Maxie" She whispered, lifting her head carefully, "How many more years of racing do you think you'll do?"

"None if you're asking me to quit" He told her, which was gong to happen yet. "If you're not," He thought, "I think I'll take a few gap years throughout the next 10 years" He said, "But those 10 years won't be spent in just Formula One, I'll try out some other series briefly."

"Sheesh" She sighed, "10 years is a lot"

"I'll take gap years" He told her, "And just stay home with you and JJ, any other kids too if we have them."

"Okay" She nodded, "Okay this is a good plan. I like that."

"We can tweak it if you don't" He said, "Just say the word."

"No" She shook her head with a soft smile, "Enjoy your career Max. I'm not going to say it"

Max shook his head, he truly wanted Riley to tell him to stay home. He wanted her to tell him to stop racing and just live in Monaco with her. The racing would be over, the invasive media would be gone. But Riley wanted Max to be the one to pull the plug on racing. She didn't want to control him. Whenever he was ready to give it up she'd welcome him home with open arms.

"Do you guys ever open gifts on Christmas Eve?" Max whispered to Riley as she placed her chin on his shoulder.

"We opened one on Christmas Eve" Riley told, hearing Ava's feet patter their way downstairs. "But Santa brought the rest when we were asleep" She said loud enough for Ava to hear. "Doesn't he?"

"Yess" Ava said as she walking into the living room.

"So maybe bed after you read the list?" She suggested while Ava took the free cushion on the same couch, sitting across from her and Max.

"Let me read!" Ava said, she didn't want to go up to bed. What kid wants to go to bed on Christmas Eve when they could try to catch Santa and his reindeer instead?

"Let's hear them" Max said, "His middle name will be James if that helps"

"James Stowan- okay"

"No- Ava." Riley put her head against Max's shoulder as she laughed, "James Verstappen, you know this already!"