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It was Max’s home race and between the media duties, spending time with his family and prepping for the race, Max had spent no time with his boyfriend leading up to the Dutch Grand Prix. The most he had seen of Sergio was the Stroop waffle video they made. He had wanted Checo to meet his little sister and nephews, but the scheduling was not in their favor.
On race day when Max was finishing answering some questions for a local Dutch newspaper, his father came up to him and discreetly told him to look in the direction of Redbull’s hospitality area. When Max look, he inadvertently crushed his Redbull can, accidently spilling some on his father’s shoes. The scene Max was looking at made him feel sick to his stomach with jealousy, he was watching his boyfriend talking to a tall, blonde hair blue eyed young guy holding a Feyenoord jersey. Max hadn’t been able to keep up with the Eredivisie as much as he had in the past, due to his schedule getting busier every year, so Max had no idea who this young guy was. But Checo was smiling and laughing too much in Max’s opinion, the Feyenoord guy was too close to Checo, especially when he leaned to listen to Checo in what looked like and exchanging of phone numbers. Just as Max was about to storm off towards them, someone held him back and snapped him back to reality.
Jos: “Don’t make a scene. There is too much press here and the last thing we need is a scandal. Your little sister is excited to meet Sergio. I don’t know who this boy is since I haven’t been able to keep with the league much, but I do know Feyenoord won last year and are doing much better than PSV. Go get Sergio before the media starts making up crazy stories. I will not have you be made a fool by some Feyenoord player stealing your boyfriend.” He says as he walks away to join Helmut.
Max watched for another moment as Checo and the Feyenoord player walked to a couch, how close they sat next to each other, the giggling, the smiling it was all too much for Max, Checo was his, so he composed himself, recycled the now empty Redbull can and approached the men.
Max: [ Insert some insult in Dutch about Feyenoord] --- sorry I am not familiar with this league at all and do not speak Dutch, rather than butcher the language or offend someone, please feel free to use you imagination as to what Max said.
Checo and the Feyenoord player look up smiling. However, Max didn’t realize a young lady standing near to guy talking to Sergio also in Feyenoord gear look up at Max with their eyes popping out of their head.
Checo: “Huh? What did you say Max?”
Max: [ starts speaking Dutch]
Sergio: “Wait, before you continue, let me introduce you to my friend and fellow Mexican… Checo turns to face the other guy… This is Santiago Gimenez, he plays for Feyenoord and helped them win last year.”
Max internally starts to panic and hopes that Gimenez doesn’t understand Dutch. He had just insulted Checo’s friend and just as he was beginning to spiral the other Mexican snaps him out if it when he stretches out his hand for a handshake.
Santi with an accent just as thick as Checo’s in English: “Hello Max, nice to meet you. You can just call me Santi.”
Max quickly regains his composure: “Hi hello, nice to meet you too Santi. Congrats on winning last year. So how long have you been in the Netherlands?”
Santi: “I joined Feyenoord just last year, but before I played in Cruz Azul back home in Mexico. They are from Mexico City just like Chequito’s America.”
Checo and Max laugh at the use of the nickname for Checo’s nickname.
Max: “So how do you like the Netherlands?”
Santi: “Its really nice here. Very different from Mexico, but the desserts are really good. I don’t like the weather and to be honest I am still struggling to learn Dutch.”
Max internally relaxes and just as Checo is about to say something, Alice calls over both drivers.
Max: “ Nice to meet you Santi, good luck and hope you enjoy the race.”
Santi: “ Thank you Max. Nos vemos Chequito! ”
Checo: “ Te lo lavas guey! “
Max doesn’t understand what Checo said, but seeing his boyfriend laugh made his heart happy. Max grabs Checo’s hand as they walk towards Alice who informs them that they have an interview soon. Checo steps away to the restroom, and at this moment Jos approaches Max.
Jos: “So who was that?”
Max: “ Hes Checo’s friend, his name is Santiago Gimenez and he is also Mexican. I know he kinda looks Dutch, but thankfully he understands as much Dutch as Checo- which is basically none. Otherwise, I think he would’ve been insulted what I said to him before I knew he was Mexican.”
Jos: “Good its settled. Your sister will be here any minute, I’ll bring her to you two after your interview. By the way who is that person standing next to this Gimenez guy?”
Max: “ Huh, what person? “
Jos: “ The girl with red hair next to him, she is wearing Feyenoord gear, I wonder if she is his interpreter.”
Checo rejoins them and Alice pulls them away. The long day finishes with them driving home, with Max’s little sister in the backseat sleeping. Her and Checo hit it off wonderfully and Checo promised to cook her breakfast in the morning. Checo phone’s rings with an incoming text message. Whatever he got makes him laugh. He shots off a few responses be putting away his phone.
Max: “What was so funny?”
Checo: “It’s a message from Santi, he was wondering if you liked him?”
Max: “Oh course I do. I mean I don’t like the team he plays for, but he is your friend and seems like a nice guy…”
Checo: “Then why did you call him a [insert Max’s insult from earlier] ? “
Max lets out a nervous laugh: “huh, what are you talking about? No I didn’t, you were there the entire time we talked.”
Checo: “He says his interpreter heard you say something when you approached us.”
Max pulls the car into the driveway: “Okay yes I did say that. I admit I was jealous when I first saw you two together. We haven’t spent much time together and I clearly didn’t recognize him as being Mexican.”
Checo kisses Max’s hand before saying: “ Ayy Max, you don’t have to worry about Santi or any other guerito who I talk to. I only have eyes for you. “