Into You, Max Verstappen.

Summer break was nearing its end, and Max wasn't handling it well. The thought of being apart from Brielle gnawed at him, making the looming end of their precious time together feel like a dark cloud on the horizon. He lay beside her in bed, the familiar warmth of her presence offering some comfort, but his thoughts were restless, swirling with the uncertainty of when they'd see each other next.

"So, what happens after the break?" Max asked softly, his fingers lazily running through her hair, trying to anchor himself in the present moment.

Brielle stretched languidly, her voice gentle. "Well, I'll be attending the Dutch and Monza GPs. After that, I have some schedules—music awards and other commitments," she explained.

Max frowned, his heart sinking at the thought of her busy schedule. "So, you'll be away for a while?" he asked, hoping she'd say no.

"Well, 'long' is relative," Brielle said, turning slightly to look at him. "You'll be away racing anyway, so I don't think you'll notice much. Besides, you've got races in America and nearby, so I'll be attending those."

Max hesitated, then decided to voice the question that had been lingering in his mind. "Would you consider moving in with me?" he asked softly, almost as if testing the waters.

Brielle's eyes widened in surprise. "What?" she asked, turning fully to face him.

Max rushed to explain, his words tumbling out in a nervous stream. "I know it's a big question, and we haven't been together for that long. You have an entire career apart from me, so it's probably a stupid idea. But I just don't like the thought of being so far from you. If you were in London or somewhere closer, I wouldn't have even brought it up. But the US is such a long flight for both of us."

"Max, stop rambling," Brielle said, her hand cupping his cheek, her touch grounding him.

He exhaled sharply, feeling a bit foolish. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about myself," he admitted.

Brielle smiled softly, her thumb brushing against his skin. "Max, I would love to move in with you," she said. "But it's going to be a process. Like you mentioned, I have a whole career based in LA, and it supports everything I do. I'll need to move a lot of things closer to Monaco, and that's not something I can do overnight. So I can't promise it'll happen within weeks."

Max's face broke into a wide grin, his heart swelling with joy. He leaned in and placed a sloppy kiss on her lips. "Take as long as you need," he murmured. "I just want to be close to you."

Brielle laughed softly, her forehead resting against his. "I want to be close to you too. And honestly, most of my friends have already moved to Europe. I'm the last one still based in the US."

Max pouted playfully. "So, it's not just me?" he teased.

"Mostly you, you big baby," Brielle whispered, pressing another kiss to his lips.

.

.

On the final day of their time in Malta, the soft, golden light of the afternoon cast a serene glow over the family as they gathered together. Max sat with his mother, Sophie, watching Brielle and Victoria from across the room. The two women were engaged in a lively conversation, giggling about something only they seemed to understand. Brielle's laughter was like music, easy and full of joy as she played with Lio and Luka. Sophie being the mother she was , couldn't help but comment.

"They're attached," Sophie said quietly, her voice filled with a knowing warmth as she watched the bond between Brielle and the kids.

Max nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. His gaze softened as he watched Brielle interact with his family. "Yeah, I can feel it. Victoria and the kids have taken such a liking to her. I'm really happy about it."