Broken Speed | Lestappen

22 | new family

-|- Silverstone -|-

It was one of the last races before the summer break would start that I needed to be at the track again. Next week there would be the race in Belgium, but my presence wasn't needed there, meaning that the team provided me with no hotel, flights or paddock passes.

Even though had always been one of my three homes races and I really loved that circuit, Christian had told me that I wasn't welcome, that the team didn't need me that weekend. he also said it would be some punishment, so that I would become 'normal' again.

He still was mad at me for behaving like I was, for bringing Luka and Lio to the track. But as I really wanted to stay with the team, to return to racing, maybe even next year, I tried my best to act 'normal'.

That also included that I walked into the RedBull garage alone today. Luka and Lio were here in Great Britain with me though, but luckily I had found some babysitter. Or better their new grandma, as Charles's mother was attending this weeks race.

Charles and I had been taking things easy over the last weeks. He often spend time in our apartment playing with the kids before bringing them to bed. We then cuddled and watched movies or shared some kisses.

It really was good, having someone around again, someone who was there for me. He made feel so comfortable that I even cried while laying in his arms. He was always there for me, as this weekend.

After the situation with Christian, Charles had suggested that he would take the kids for the weekend and Luka and Lio of course loved it, happy to see the 'red car' again. He then had told me that his mother was also here this weekend, the perfect babysitter for them.

Yesterday we had met her in the lobby of the hotel and Luka and Lio instantly loved her and the other way around. I had no clue what Charles had told her about the situation between us, but I guess she figured it out on her own, because of our looks and the way we stood close together, almost holding hands.

Luka and Lio, who had fully accepted that I was with Charles now instead of a girlfriend, also instantly called her 'grandma', which had caused Pascale some tears. But the shadow side of all of this, welcomed me as soon as I stepped into the garage this morning.

"Finally without the kids, welcome Max." Christian said as I walked in, waving me over.

I offered him a quick smile that I had to force on my face, before I looked at the data in front of him. We quickly talked about some racing stuff as today would be the last practice and then qualifying, before I stepped away again.

"Hello mate!" Daniel welcomed me as he currently walked over from his engineer, "Wanna grab a coffee?"

I only nodded, understanding that he wanted to take me somewhere more private to talk, so I followed him over to the hospitality. there we grabbed some food and drinks before we took a seat in the corner.

"How's it going?" he then grinned at me, wiggling his eyebrows, "Are you finally together?"

"No, we haven't talked about that yet." I returned, peaking in my food with the fork.

"Pronouncing the 'yet'." Daniel chuckled, before he got serious again, "And the other thing? Has he banned Luka and Lio now fully from the paddock?"