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Charles wasn't supposed to watch the stream. He had a busy day and he was meant to rest, catch up on emails, those kind of things. But, well, it is Max and he misses seeing Max. So he turns the stream on and vaguely listens to it as he heats up some leftover pasta. He almost misses Max’s introduction. But then he hears it. Just a little line, easy to forget, except Charles won't. One of Max's achievements is multiple wins in padel against George and Charles. Charles can't believe everyone knows he's lost to Max now! Charles was more than happy to let everyone believe that his padel win against Max was their only game because, well, he won. He likes winning. He likes competing against Max. He and Max get so intense about it that George doesn't even want to come anymore.
Charles still can't believe Max told everyone or at least told a member of his team who just told the entire world. He's going to have words about this with Max later. He'll just have to keep watching the stream so he knows when Max is finished. Then Charles will call him and demand a rematch.
Max doesn’t have as much luck as Charles hoped he would in the race. But he looks so cute afterwards. Not that Charles will admit to that if anyone asked. No. Never. Especially as long as Max is the padel champion between them. Max is his rival. That's definitely all there is to their relationship. Obviously. Charles definitely doesn't think about how beautiful and sweet Max is about twenty times a day. No, not at all. And he definitely doesn't dream about kissing Max. Nope. Just rivals.
Charles calls Max as soon as his interview ends. Max immediately picks up because they are rivals of course.
“Hi Charlie,” Max says.
Charles’ heart only beats a little faster.
“Hi Max,” Charles says. He waits a second. “I stumbled across your stream… So multiple padel wins against George and me?”
“It's true isn't it,” a clearly amused Max says, “It was 4 wins for me and 1 for you before we went on winter holiday, wasn't it?”
“Yes,” Charles admits. “But I will beat you the next time obviously.”
“Of course,” Max says. “And when will the next time be? I've missed spending time with you. We could do padel and then lunch?”
They had only done just padel games before but lunch with Max sounds perfect.
“I'm in Monaco this weekend,” Charles says, “Let's do Saturday, at 10?”
“Looking forward to it,” Max says.
“And just so you know… I missed you too,” Charles says.
“Glad it's not just me,” Max says softly.
Maybe, just maybe, Charles does have a crush on Max. Maybe, just maybe, Max has a crush on Charles as well. Maybe Charles just needs to find out where they stand.
“Padel and a nice lunch… Can it be a date?” he asks.
“I'd like that,” Max says, “Always hoped that's where we were headed.”
Charles is glad no one can see how badly he is blushing right now.
“Me too,” he realizes out loud. “I guess it was inevitable.”
From karting to Formula 1 to padel dates and phone calls. They have always been inevitable. Charles has been silly to pretend otherwise. It was always going to be him and Max. He can't be mad about it, really. Unless he never wins another padel game from Max. That might just be a little bit annoying. Though, Charles thinks, Max is cute enough to get away with it.