LOVE OR RIDE | LESTAPPEN

Chapter Thirty - Love or Ride

Max

"Give me a break!" I shout, dousing Daniel with water. The man laughs, running away from me. Red Bull decides to take me, Checo, Daniel and Yuki to the track so we can drive drift cars. During the boy's race, my friend and I make a beeline for each other, dousing each other with water and chasing each other like kids. I laugh when he accidentally throws a bottle at me, which slips from his hands.

"Give me a break!" he prefaces me, crooking at the same time oddly. I roll my eyes, looking at him and Checo, who does a hundred and eighty, causing him to lose first place. I'd be surprised if he chose, because while he doesn't want to insult him, somehow first place puts him off.

"You're happy." says Daniel quietly, standing next to me when the cameras are no longer pointed in our direction.

"I am." I answer honestly.

After yesterday's day and night, despite having slept only a few measly hours, I feel like a newborn today. I've had a smile on my lips ever since I woke up. Yesterday we returned to my hotel room late at night, showered and went to bed for a measly few hours. I feel that I am sleep-deprived, but it doesn't take away from my joy. Charles and I agreed that for now we won't tell anyone about our relationship, it's far too early.

"Did something happen on the date?" he queries.

"Yes, I kissed Charles." I say amused and walk towards the car when our time to race comes. Daniel looks in my direction offended and I cross my arms over my chest, satisfied with the answer.

We spend the next few hours making fun of each other in front of the cameras. I have fun overtaking Daniel and then laughing as we all race, hitting the cushions that the towers are made of on our way to the finish line.

Tired, I return to the paddock and, bypassing the reporters, walk quickly to the driver's room. I have interviews in two hours and I want to rest until then. I hate media days. I'd rather race than prance around in front of the camera, unless it's prancing around with Red Bull, because then I have a lot of fun with the various activities they prepare for us. I sigh tiredly, closing the door and leaning my back against it, closing my eyes.

"Hi, Maxie." I suddenly hear Charles' voice in the room. I shudder in fright and open my eyes, looking at the boy who is sitting on the bed, watching me with a smile.

"Hey, baby." I reply, immediately moving toward him. The brunet moves over, making room for me, so I lie down on my back and lay my head on his legs, looking up at his face as he begins to comb one hand through my hair and stroke his thumb across my cheek with the other. I immediately notice on his collarbone the raspberry I made for him yesterday, as he continues to wear my T-shirt. "What are you doing here?" I ask, smiling lazily.

"We were supposed to go to Christian's." He reminds me, and my smile disappears. "Hey, it'll be fine. We'll be there together and..."

"I love you." I interrupt him, at which he stares into my eyes in surprise, after a moment smiling broadly.

"I love you too, Max, but those words don't change anything in this situation. You really need to get up." He leans in, placing a kiss on my forehead and takes his hands from my face and hair.

Reluctantly, I rise, and he stands up so that I don't lie down again. The only people who will know about our relationship are Frederic and Christian, because Charles and I know that they will help us with contracts and the rest of the stuff. Am I stressed? I don't, but I know the Ferrari driver does, because he cares more than I do, so I hope everything goes well and nothing will spoil our good moods after yesterday.

"Then maybe today a repeat of yesterday?" I mumble into his ear, standing right behind him and placing my hands on his hips, pushing him closer.

"How about switching roles?" He laughs when he sees my horrified face, shaking my hands off his body. "Come on already, you perverted man." He rolls his eyes, leaving. I wonder if he knows he's wearing a Red Bull T-shirt, and although at first I want not to tell him about it, I know he'll be angry later.