Guess Again

Authors Note: More Earlstappen crumbs for y'all

When the Hungarian Grand Prix rolled around, Morgan was ready. She was ready to dodge reporters and avoid questions if necessary. Walking into the paddock early Saturday morning, she stopped and talked with some of the mechanics.

After Morgan finished talking with the mechanics, she walked over to her spot in the paddock and set down her bag.

"Welcome back," Max said, standing behind her and taking a swig of water.

"Ah, I have returned," Morgan said with a raise of her eyebrows.

"Where's Jessica?" Max asked, looking for the trusty intern.

"Working on stuff for school," Morgan replied, "she's very busy and I'm not one to deny a girl a fun summer."

"That's good," Max replied, setting his water down. "Will you ever come back?"

Morgan looked up in surprise.

"Come back to Formula 1?" Morgan asked, trying to confirm.

"Yeah," Max said, not breaking eye contact. "Cause I think you should."

Morgan laughed weakly, and absently scratched her elbow.

"I don't know," Morgan replied after a long pause. "There's a lot of things that factor into me coming back. I might, I might not."

Max was quiet for a second, but his eyes didn't leave Morgan. It was almost like he was afraid that if he looked away she'd vanish forever.

"Max!" Someone called Max away, and he reluctantly turned away. Sooner or later, Morgan would know how he felt.

Morgan sat quietly on Sunday, waiting for the lights to go out. There was a pang of realization in her chest as she knew that these races would continue without her. It would all continue, whether she was here or not. She sighed, but shook it off.

Morgan stood and clapped as Max crossed the line. She'd miss his dominance as well.

"Glad you're leaving," said a gruff voice behind Morgan.

Morgan didn't need to turn to know it was Jos Verstappen.

"I'm glad I'm leaving or you're glad I'm leaving?" Morgan asked, keeping her tone light and casual.

"Isn't it both?" Jos asked, stepping close. Morgan's figure was certainly easy on the eyes.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't," Morgan replied enigmatically.

"What matters is that Max will perform better without women in the paddock," Jos snapped.

"Mmmm," Morgan replied, catching Alexandra's eye and giving her a thumbs up.

"Do you always ignore men?" Jos asked. Morgan didn't like how close his voice was.

"No, I usually slap the ones that get on my nerves," Morgan replied, then she turned around and took off her sunglasses. Her jaw was firmly set, but she noted that Max and Jos had the same color of eyes. Other than that, they were two very different people.

"Miss Earling?" One of the staff asked, breaking the conversation, "someone wants to talk to you."

"Thank you," Morgan said, side-stepping Jos and following the staff member.

"She's in here," The staff member said, pulling back part of a curtain.

"Alexandra," Morgan said, a soft smile spreading over her features, "what can I do for you?"

"Morgan, you're so business-like," Alexandra declared, holding out her hands, and Morgan took them, "but I want you to hang out with just me tonight. I know you're busy and stuff, but just one night of relaxing."

"What about your boyfriend?" Morgan asked, with a thoughtful tilt of her head.

"Oh, Charles will be partying with the other drivers. Best childcare that F1 offers," Alexandra said, waving Morgan's excuse with her hand.

"So you're suggesting a sleepover?" Morgan asked, a smile sneaking onto her face.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting," Alexandra said with a laugh, "I'll see you tonight."

Morgan and Alexandra took different routes out of the room, and Morgan ran into Max in the hallway.

"Morgan, did my dad speak with you?" Max asked, his tone guarded. Morgan looked up at him.

"Why yes," Morgan said, her tone light, "he simply mentioned that he couldn't wait for me to leave."

Max sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Your father is not the reason I'm leaving Formula 1," Morgan said with a shrug, "there's just too much crap in my life right now."

Max snorted, but shook his head.

"It's still rude," Max protested, and Morgan laughed.

"Hun, if you think a couple coarse words are going to scare the girl who's suing multiple companies for a combined total that reaches over a billion, you're going to have to do some rethinking. It's not my job to chew out your dad," Morgan said, the last sentence very quiet and tender on her lips.

Max's eyes traced over Morgan's face, hoping to memorize every detail before it slipped out of his grasp, perhaps forever. He also liked the name she'd called him. Hun. It was kind of Texas-y and sweetly southern.

"What are you doing after the race? Skirting back to New York?" Max asked playfully, trying to diffuse the feelings that had risen inside him.

"No, Alexandra invited me to her hotel room for a sleepover," Morgan replied, as they walked.

"Oh fun," Max replied, "and then you'll skirt back to New York."

"Yep," Morgan replied, smiling at his expressions, "right back to the firefight."

"How bad is it?" Max asked.

"Oh, not terrible," Morgan said, waving it away, "I just make a big deal out of it. It'll take a month to go through all the trials and testimonies and what not, and then I'm home free. It'll be a weight off my chest. I'm also suing some journalists for defamation, they were spreading lies all of last fall and into the winter."

"Would you ever sue the British media for me?" Max asked sarcastically.

"I might, they have been particularly nasty to me too," Morgan replied, taking him literally. Max laughed.

"I was being sarcastic," Max said as he stood outside the cooldown room.

"I know."

Morgan gave Max a cheeky smile.

"But, I'm afraid I have to go now," Morgan said, her voice tinged with traces of regret.

"Ah, as always," Max replied, smiling down at her.

"Goodbye," Morgan replied, and walked away.

Max watched Morgan leave, a pang in his chest. He wanted more than anything to chase her down and beg her on his hands and knees to let him be her boyfriend.

"Max?" Charles asked from inside the cooldown room, "are you coming in mate?"

Max straightened his posture and walked inside. 

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