"You're making me out to be a better person than I am, George."

~•~

This was the moment every Brit in Formula One had been waiting for. So, precisely four drivers, even though one of these four had chosen to race under a different flag. Lewis Hamilton, perhaps the most famous British driver, who even received the title of Sir from the Queen. Lando Norris, who wasn't making it easy for Max Verstappen to win this season. Alex Albon, who has dual citizenship—British and Thai—but chose to race under the Thai flag, so most people exclude him when talking about the home race. And lastly, George Russell, Vica's boyfriend and a guy who couldn't be more British if he tried.

Vica was excited because it meant she would also be home. They couldn't sleep in her apartment, though, because Silverstone was far from London, so they had to stay in a hotel, but neither of them minded. They were both content as long as they had each other.

They had been dating for less than a week. For less than a week, they had enjoyed the status of boyfriend and girlfriend, and the fans were enjoying it with them. The couple hadn't officially announced it, but the fans took that kiss as a sign that the brunette and the blonde were dating. The couple didn't mind and let the fans talk about them on social media as much as they wanted. They decided to keep their relationship as private as possible and not comment much on it.

"My parents asked about you," George told her as they lay in bed after coming back from breakfast. George had only the simulator scheduled for today, and that was around four in the afternoon. Until then, he had free time, which he wanted to spend at the gym and was trying to persuade Vica to join him because, as he once said, he would teach her to work out and run. So far, he hadn't succeeded because Vica always found an excuse.

"And what did you tell them about me?" Vica asked, resting her head on his chest. George didn't hesitate and immediately started stroking her hair. He loved her hair, and his favorite activity was exactly this. He loved stroking her hair and playing with it.

"Not much, just how terrible you are and how you hit me when things don't go your way," George said playfully. Vica laughed and playfully slapped his chest.

"You're an idiot," the blonde said between laughs. She had been laughing a lot these past few days. She hadn't seen Jess since the race in Spain, and it was doing her good. George noticed it too. Vica was definitely much better when she kept Jess out of her life. He decided he wanted it to always be this way. He didn't want Jess around his girlfriend because he saw how her so-called friend was slowly destroying her. The Asian girl was extremely jealous of Vica and her life, which wasn't good, especially when she claimed to be her best friend.

"I'm just kidding," George kissed her hair. "I told them the truth. I told them how you make me a better person, how you make me laugh more, and how you're the most amazing and talented person I've ever met."

"You're making me out to be a better person than I am, George," Vica smiled. "Now they'll have an impression of me, and I'll just disappoint them when they get to know the real me."

"When they get to know the real you? You mean the amazing, beautiful, and simply perfect Vica Pascall?" George hugged her tightly and rolled her so that she was underneath him. Vica's face turned as red as a tomato in a store. She had never behaved like this with her boyfriends, so she had to slowly get used to how romantic George could be.

"Do your parents have time today?" Vica asked, completely ignoring that George's face was only about five centimeters away from hers. She could feel his breath, which smelled of beans and eggs he had for breakfast—a typical British breakfast. But above all, she was lost in his beautiful blue eyes, with a hint of green, almost brown. Plus his eyelashes, which she envied every time she looked at him. Such long lashes, and genetics gave them to a guy—so much for justice in the world.

"They should be here around eleven," George replied. "Why do you ask?"

"Would you like to organize a lunch with your family and introduce me?" she asked him. She was nervous, of course. She would be crazy not to be. She was about to meet his parents, and that was a big deal because if they didn't like her, it would be disappointing. She didn't know if she could continue dating George if his parents didn't like her.

"Are you sure?" George confirmed, "You don't have to meet them if you don't want to. We can plan it for another time."

"I'm sure," she smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. "We may have been dating for less than a week, but if I'm going to be sure about this relationship, I want to know that not only you but also your family likes me."

"Well, if that's what you want," George smiled, "I'll call them and arrange a lunch," he nodded.

"Thank you," Vica kissed him.

~•~

Her heart was pounding. She would be lying if she said she felt perfectly fine and nothing was happening to her. Her heart was beating faster than if she had run a long marathon. She felt like it might soon leap out of her chest and hop as far away from this place as possible.

George and Vica had stopped in front of the restaurant where the lunch with his family was to take place. His mom was overjoyed when George called her to arrange the lunch and mentioned that he would be introducing his girlfriend—someone his parents had already noticed, as they couldn't ignore how the internet was buzzing about Vica and the beautiful blonde who kissed their son after he took first place in Austria.

"Everything will be fine," George hugged her tightly around the shoulders, "they were both thrilled that I wanted to introduce you to them and they can't wait."

"What if they don't like me?" Vica asked George. "I don't have parents, and the only family I have left, I ignore because they don't like me, and to top it all off, they live in Hungary. I work as an editor for a publishing house and occasionally translate. I don't make a lot of money, so what if they think I'm a gold digger?"

"If they think you're a gold digger, I'll tell them about the time you almost shoved me into the street just so you could pay for your ice cream, which you did in the end," he said, stroking her arm to show her he was there for her and there was nothing to worry about.

"But you still bought me flowers afterward because you felt bad that I paid for my own ice cream," Vica countered.

"My parents raised me to be a gentleman, so I don't want my girl paying for herself," he kissed her on the hair.

"I wasn't your girl at that time," she pointed out.

"Hey, most people would just smile and thank me and not bring it up again," George said, making Vica laugh.

"I know," she smiled, "I really appreciate it, a lot."

"And now, no more stalling, my parents are waiting for us," he said, heading into the restaurant with Vica by his side, still holding her around the shoulders.

Vica saw them as soon as they walked in. A smiling older blonde woman and a gray-haired man who looked a lot like George. They started waving at the couple as soon as they spotted them. Vica took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Don't worry, I'm here, and I always will be," George whispered to her as he walked towards his parents. Vica nodded, even though George couldn't see it, and followed him.

She let them greet their son first. She stood behind the brunette, trying to be invisible—which she had had plenty of practice at, having done it for twenty-five years. But this meeting was about her, so she didn't stay invisible for long. As soon as the older man finished hugging his son, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, both he and his wife turned to the blonde girl.

"Mom, Dad," George began, putting his arm around Vica's shoulders, "this is Vica Pascall, my girlfriend."

"Very nice to meet you, dear," the blonde woman smiled and enveloped Vica in a hug, forcing George to release his girlfriend, "please, call me Alison."

"Nice to meet you, Alison," the girl smiled, not wanting to appear rude. She was glad both parents were smiling, but it still didn't calm her extremely pounding heart.

"Steve," the gray-haired man smiled at her and extended his hand. Vica was surprised, realizing where George got his good manners. Steve didn't want to hug her like Alison did because it might seem improper or uncomfortable.

"Vica," the blonde smiled and shook his hand.

The four of them sat down at the table. They all ordered first before the attention turned back to the blonde sitting next to George.

"So Vica, George told us a little about you, but he left out what you do for a living," Alison looked at her. This was it. The one conversation topic Vica feared because it could make her look like a gold digger who was with George just for his money and fame.

"I'm an editor for a publishing house," she answered, "and I occasionally translate books."

"Vica is too modest," George interrupted her, "yes, she's an editor and translator, but she's also written her own book, which will be published soon."

"George," Vica looked at him.

"What are you ashamed of? My parents deserve to know how smart and talented my girlfriend is," he smiled at her.

"So, a writer?" Steve asked.

"Hopefully," Vica nodded, "I've written a book about the Korean War, which will be published the day after the race in Hungary."

"Well, I'll definitely buy that book," Alison smiled.

"You don't have to," Vica objected.

"Oh, please, I want to read the book written by the girl who makes my son so happy."

"That's not how I meant it," Vica smiled, "I'll ask George for your address and send you a copy for free. And I'll be sure to write a dedication inside."

"You don't have to, Vica," Alison objected.

"But I want to and I will," Vica insisted. She truly wanted to do it. The publisher would give her a few free copies to distribute among friends and acquaintances, and since she didn't have many of those, she appreciated everyone. Alex and Charles would definitely get one, she had promised another to Kelly and Max, and a third would go to Alex and Lily. She was glad the fourth found its place with Alison and Steve Russell. She still had to find homes for six more, but she believed those would find a place too. Maybe she would give some to fans.

"Alright," Alison nodded, "I'll look forward to it."

"And what language do you translate from, if I may ask?" Steve inquired.

"From Hungarian or into Hungarian, depending on what's needed," she answered. Her pounding heart was slowly calming down. So far, it didn't seem like they disliked her. Quite the opposite, she felt like they might like her more than their own son. George sat proudly next to Vica, happy that his parents liked his girlfriend. He didn't know what he would have done if he saw that they didn't like Vica.

"Hungarian isn't an easy language, you must be really smart," Alison remarked.

"I told you I attended her graduation, didn't I?" Vica didn't have time to respond before George chimed in.

"You just said you attended some girl's graduation," Alison corrected him, "was that you?"

"Yes," Vica nodded, "at the time, we had known each other for only two days, so I was very surprised. He came to my graduation and then invited me to lunch."

"We raised you right," Steve smiled.

"I try not to bring shame to our name," George nodded.

"And it was Oxford. I completed a master's degree at Oxford in Literature," Vica answered the question they hadn't yet asked but she knew was coming.

"You found yourself a really smart girlfriend," Alison smiled at her son.

"The smartest," George nodded and kissed Vica on the head.

"And where were your parents? From the story, I gather they weren't at your graduation," Steve asked.

"Dad," George burst out and shook his head, as if to say no. He probably didn't want Vica to have to talk about it right after meeting his parents, but she didn't mind. She was okay talking about her deceased parents. She couldn't do anything about it, so she just accepted it as it was.

"My father and mother passed away before I finished high school. It's a bit complicated because my mother was Hungarian and after divorcing my father, she moved back there, so visiting her grave is a bit difficult. I lived with my father because the court thought it more reasonable for me to finish school in the country where I was born and where my native language is spoken."

"We're very sorry," Alison said.

"I apologize for asking," Steve added.

"Please don't apologize, Steve. I don't mind talking about it. It happened several years ago, so it doesn't hurt anymore," Vica smiled. "They were great parents who were there for me whenever I needed them and always supported me in everything, so I like talking about them because people like that deserve to be remembered."

"They must have been wonderful if they raised such an amazing daughter, and I'm glad George found you," Alison said, which completely calmed Vica's pounding heart. This confirmed that Alison was thrilled George had chosen her as his girlfriend.

"I have never cared so much about somebody before," George whispered in her ear.

"You have got my heart, please do not break it," Vica whispered back.

"Never," George smiled and kissed her in front of his parents.

~•~