Redline | L.Norris

eighteen

Isla's phone buzzed against the nightstand, dragging her from the haze of a morning nap she hadn't meant to take. She squinted at the screen, groaned when she saw Max's name, and answered with a half-hearted, "It's eight in the morning, Max."

"Perfect," came his chipper response. "Pack your stuff."

Isla blinked. "What?"

"You're coming to Monaco," he said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

She rubbed a hand over her face, still curled up on the worn couch in her dad's guest room. "Max, I'm literally in the middle of nowhere. I'm at Dad's. Why would I come to Monaco?"

"Because you need to get out of there," he said, not unkindly. "You've been hiding. And don't give me the whole 'I'm just taking time off' excuse. I know you. You're overthinking everything and pretending it's not eating at you."

She didn't answer right away. He wasn't wrong.

"I've been doing sponsor calls. Sorting out logistics," she finally muttered. It wasn't a full lie. She had taken a few calls and attending a meeting here and there between her and Lando's mini vacation.

"Exactly," Max said. "You're doing work during your break. That's not resting. That's spiraling professionally. You need a real reset. Come stay with me. A few days, no pressure. Daniel's coming too, and I already have extra towels, I swear."

Isla hesitated, staring at the ceiling. "I don't know how long I'd even stay."

"You don't have to know," he replied. His tone softened a bit. "Stay a few days. A week. Whatever you want. Just get out of your own head for a while. Let us look after you for once."

She bit her lip. The idea sounded... nice. Safer, even, than the quiet isolation she'd been floating through the last few days. And Max always had a way of knowing when she needed the kind of support she wouldn't ask for.

"Lando's still here," she said quietly.

"Great. Let him drive you to the airport. He said he'd stay as long as you wanted, right?" There was a knowing tone in Max's voice that made her cheeks flush.

"God, you're annoying," she muttered, but the smile was already tugging at her lips.

"And yet, here you are. Considering it."

She exhaled slowly, heart already pulling in the direction she hadn't realized she wanted to go. "I'll look at flights."

"Good," Max said. "Bring snacks."

She rolled her eyes, warmth blooming in her chest. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love me. See you soon, Räikkönen."

It had been a weeklong escape from the world that she knew would have to end soon. The possibility of spending the rest of the break with Max didn't sound horrible. Easing back into reality and the racing world might be for the best.

A knock on the door made her look up and she smiled as Lando leaned up against the door frame.

"What did Max want?" She shook her head at his question.

"For me to head to Monaco for some proper relaxation." He pushed off the door frame and walked over to sit on the couch next to her.

"Is that what you want?" he leaned back into the cushions as he studied her facial expressions.

She shrugged a shoulder, "I know this little world can't last forever, but the thought of having to watch myself for paparazzi and fans with phones makes my stomach turn. I love racing, but God is the social media side of things rough."