𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃, max verstappen

06 ; shots and teardrops

Tears were unique. Depending on the reason for crying, the first tear came from a particular eye. They tasted salty and almost bitter. As bitter as I felt when the scenario from a few hours ago replayed in my head.

I didn't understand why I was so angry. Max and I weren't together and inside I was aware that they were kissing —

But seeing it felt like hundreds of daggers were pressing into my heart and trying to bleed me out from the inside.

I curled up and snuggled closer into Max's shirt.

It was the only thing I still had of his after our break-up and although I wouldn't want to see him right now, it gave me the peace I was so longingly searching for.

Someone knocked on the door and I cringed, not expecting a visitor. I think my appearance in the Mercedes building had made it pretty clear that I didn't want to see anyone else today.

Tears had been running down the soft flesh of my cheeks for hours, almost violently stinging them.

My body was shaking from crying and by now I sounded like I was suffocating because I could barely breathe. The tears didn't allow me access to fresh oxygen, so my breathing was choppy.

I heard the door being pushed open and couldn't help but look.

George and Lewis were standing in the doorway. Lewis was holding a bucket of sweets and Monster Energy and George was holding a huge bunch of black roses and a bottle of wine.

The things they knew I loved.

And yet the black roses only made me cry more.

"Aww, guys." I sobbed when I saw the smile on their lips.

"Oh God, you made her cry again." George reproached his teammate before he came running into the room and placed the things on the nightstand next to me before pulling me tightly into his arms.

He cradled my head against his chest with his warm hand and stroked my back with his other.

"Me? You're the one who brought her flowers." Lewis looked at him uncomprehendingly, hugging the bucket to his chest as he closed the door behind him.

I let out an honest laugh for the first time in weeks and George and Lewis looked at me sympathetically as I continued to cry.

"I'm sorry I led you to him," George dropped his head onto mine while Lewis sprawled out on the bed next to us. "I spoke to him earlier. He said I should help him talk to you. I honestly didn't know Kelly was there, too." Lewis smiled sadly at me and put a big hand on my thigh to show me that he was supporting me, too.

"It's okay," My voice shook, backing up my statement and myself as well. "Maybe I deserved this. Maybe I needed this to —"

George interrupted me.

"Don't be silly. No one deserves that." He pressed a kiss to my temple while Lewis stroked my bare thigh with his thumb. An encouraging smile on his perfect lips and I couldn't help but return his smile.

"You know Max loves you. He's confused and hurt, but even worse — he's too stubborn to admit to himself that he's never felt anything for Kelly." Lewis continued to try and reassure me and when he saw the shirt I was wearing, he shook his head.

"Take it off," He plucked at the fabric carelessly, looking almost disgusted. "Show people it's a fucking privilege to deal with you. You're Matilda Wolff, don't make yourself smaller than you are."

I could hardly believe I'd been crying a few minutes ago as a rush of happy hormones flooded my body when George let go of me and slipped the shirt over my head.

We all didn't care that I was sitting in front of them in just my bra and they didn't stare at me, showing me the respect I deserved by looking me in the eye and just carrying on talking. Lewis pulled his hoodie over his head and handed it to me and I gratefully accepted it.

"You're not getting that back," I threatened the Brit, but he just grinned at me and shook his head while I put his hoodie on.

It smelled like Lewis and I welcomed his scent. It felt so familiar and I felt comfortable between the two men.

"I don't need it," He shrugged. I could only imagine how many he must have at home. "Besides, it looks much better on you than it does on me."

He grinned at me.

And right then, at that moment, everything was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing.

Lewis threw a packet of gummy worms at me while George decanted the wine, but we didn't bother to get the glasses out of the cabinet and drank straight from the bottle.

"What are you doing in the break?" I passed the bottle on and looked at the two men questioningly. We hadn't had enough time to talk about it and I was really interested in what they did outside of Formula One.

We always used to do things together, but I had a feeling that it would be different this time.

"I think I'll go home. Roscoe is already waiting for me." Lewis shrugged and handed the bottle to the man behind me after taking a big swig.

"Carmen has a vacation planned. We're going to the south of France and then she really wanted to go on to Italy."

My face lit up as I had exactly the same plan.

"Really? I wanted to visit friends in the south of France. We could go together." I suggested and George's face lit up too. He was glad that I got on so well with Carmen and that we could do so much together.

She trusted us both so much that we were even allowed to go partying alone and that trust meant the world to me.

"Carmen's going to freak out." The Brit grinned at me.

I bit my lower lip, trying to swallow the constricting feeling, because normally I always rode with Max and I was sure my friends would ask about him.

But maybe that worry was totally unfounded, because then I had another star with me and hopefully Max wouldn't be caught up.

I didn't want Max to ruin my vacation.