I Dare You, I Bet I Can - Max Verstappen

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4

"You look like shit," Daniel said as he took the seat next to me at the bar. "And like you need a lot more alcohol."

3

I chuckled, mostly because I felt like shit too. Kelly and I had been going through a hard time, we broke up a month ago, but up until today she and Penelope still lived in my apartment.

15

"It's official." I said, knowing that Daniel would immediately understand what and who I was referring to.

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"Thank goodness," He exhaled, and I nodded at him. "So, now you can finally bring some girls home."

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"Ricciardo, don't overdo it now," I downed my whiskey, and gestured to the bartender to fill my glass again.

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"What? Maybe there is someone special here today, I mean, you've been complaining about not having sex anymore for the past five weeks. Time to man up and find a one night stand."

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I shook my head, "There's no way I am doing that here in Monaco. Chances are too big that I'll meet her again."

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Daniel shook his head, laughing, "I thought you were gonna grab every chance you'd get."

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"No, mate," I laughed along with him. "Maybe if it wasn't this early in the season and if we weren't in Monte Carlo, I would have."

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"And–" Daniel stopped in his words, and nudged. "Forbidden property, Max. Sister Leclerc entering the club."

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"How forbidden is forbidden?" I asked as I looked at the group of girls walking towards the bar.

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Jasmine Leclerc was immediately recognisable, wearing Charles' Ferrari jacket on her shoulders, covering little of the dress she was wearing, and the tease she gave along with it. But not only that, Jasmine Leclerc was beautiful, even when she simply wore her brother's merchandise on race days.

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"Charles will run you off every race, believe me. He will risk getting disqualified for her."

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I rolled my eyes, "No way."

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"Yes way," Carlos joined the conversation and gave both of us a little pad on our shoulders. "He is very protective over her. And so are Arthur and Lorenzo. And believe me, you don't want to have three Leclerc brothers against you."

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"Max sees a challenge," Daniel chuckled, nudging the Ferrari driver.

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I looked towards Jasmine, her friends and she were clearly enjoying themselves with some shots and gossip. I wouldn't mind seeing how far I can take it before I have a fuming Charles in front of me.

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"I'll have her laying under me before the summer break."

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"Is that a bet?"

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"Yeah, I bet I can." I glanced at the woman, for a brief second our eyes met before I downed the whiskey in front of me.

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"You're playing with fire, Max," Carlos said. "But your bet is on. What's in it for us?"

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"You can all have my boat for a week of choice and do with it what you wish."

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I looked back to the group of girls, and again, Jasmine's eyes met mine. I gave her a smile, which she returned before she returned her attention back to her friends. But I couldn't get my eyes off her.

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"She's walking our way," Daniel snapped me back from my thoughts. "Go, go, go. This is your first chance."

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I rolled my eyes at him, but got off my seat and walked towards her.

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"Hi–" We said at the same time, and for a few seconds the conversation ended.

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"You're Jasmine, right?" I asked carefully, and purposely leaving out her last name. For a second, I thought I could see a glimpse of confidence, right before she gave me a shy smile and nodded.

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"Max," I said, and reached out my hand.

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She took my hand and gave it a gentle shake, "I know who you are," She said playfully. "What's gotten you here? Charles said no drivers were going out today."

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I laughed, and shook my head slightly, but I was glad that she started talking about Charles herself.

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"No other driver has the same curse as he does. He can't afford to go out while the Monaco curse hangs above his head." I bit the inside of my cheek, in all hope she would appreciate the joke.

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And she did. She laughed, and while she did, her eyes lit up for a second. She too knew all too well that Charles hadn't been able to complete his home race completely until last year, in the 2023 season.

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"So... how uhm... How are you doing nowadays?"

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Her question caught me off guard, mostly because I could sense her nervosity, and also because I never really spoke with her before. Especially since she never really visited the races and if she did, she would be hiding in the Ferrari VIP-areas.

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"I am okay," I smiled. "And you?"

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"Oh, yeah, I am alright," She smiled back, but the nervousness was still palpable. She quickly glanced back at her friends before she looked at me.

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"Do you want to go back?" I asked, but she shook her head.

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"Oh, no. I don't mind chatting with you."

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I smiled at her words, the nervousness seemed to eb away, but she quickly tugged a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled back.

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"So, um, what do you do when you're not hiding in the Ferrari VIP areas? I mean, if that's not too personal of a question."

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"I am not— I actually am hiding inside their VIP areas," She blushed. "Gosh, now I feel caught." And she laughed again.

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"Well, I am just good at noticing people, and you surely are one I notice."

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She blushed, and gave me a little smile, "You shouldn't flirt with another woman if you're taken, Max."

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Her words got mine stuck for a moment, but I quickly shook my head, "No, no. I am actually... Kelly and I broke up."

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And that seemed to break the ice, her eyes softened and she tilted her head a bit.

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"A month ago already, it just didn't work out."

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She nodded and gave me another shy smile. It was cute, but I realized that she was probably this shy because she didn't know whether I would tell Charles about this little chat.

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"I paint." She said suddenly.

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"Huh?" It caught me off guard.

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"When I am not hiding inside the Ferrari VIP areas. I paint."

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