bucket list || l. norris

twenty six

* a short(ish) chapter, but drama-filled! enjoy, and don't forget to comment throughout - you guys are so supportive and i appreciate it so much <3 *

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"Mila!" Callum called after me as I strolled through the paddock, on my way back to the McLaren hospitality building after leaving Lando at one of his many debriefs. I rolled my eyes, but didn't show my frustration, and forced a smile onto my lips as I spun on my heels. "Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good, how are you?" I didn't want to be rude. I felt like Callum and I just needed to sit down and talk things out like mature adults, because we needed to come to a mutual agreement and understanding about the terms and basis of the relationship we'd developed.

"Good, thank you," he seemed a little nervous, with his fingers linked together as he glanced between them and my face. "I've been wanting to call you, but I thought I'd ask you in person. So I've been waiting until I saw you in the paddock. I was hoping you'd be here today."

"Here I am." I giggled, smiling, as I glanced around me to take in my surroundings. I was still in shock knowing that this was my job, and I'd been lucky enough to be asked by Lando to join him. I still couldn't really get my head around it.

"Where's Lando?" Callum looked around to try and spot my best friend. I got the impression that although they agreed to be civil, there was still some sort of tension there, on Callum's behalf, anyway. I wasn't too sure about Lando anymore. He had nothing to worry about, and I'd made that clear so many times.

"Debrief," I shrugged my shoulders, chewing on my lip nervously as Callum pointed towards a bench in the central part of the paddock. I followed him and took a seat. It was quiet, so we wouldn't be interrupted. "What's the matter?"

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" He seemed nervous, his cheeks blushing red as he dampened his lips with his tongue. My stomach began to toss and turn as I thought about being alone with Callum. We'd not done anything together for a while now. "I know it's short notice, and you might have plans with Lando, but I just really want to spend some time with you. I was thinking we could go back to my room afterwards, have a drink? You can stay, if you'd like."

I didn't want to hesitate, because that would make it seem like my answer was no. It was actually the opposite; I knew that spending some time with Callum would be good, and maybe the conversation I desperately needed to have with him would be provoked.

"Sounds good to me," I smiled, feeling quite shy and nervous in his presence. I didn't know how I would approach the topic of conversation that had been bothering me for so long. I just wanted things to be normal, like how they were before Callum and I got involved with one another, and moved to the level between just friends and something more. "Text me times, okay?"

"Definitely," Callum didn't hesitate to press a kiss to my forehead, which I took reluctantly. His lips were soft and warm, but they were nothing like Lando's. "If your best friend says anything, tell him to come to me."

I showed him a rather fake smile, feeling quite aggravated at his comment, but I just let it slide. I didn't want to wait any longer and I had to be honest with Callum, otherwise things would go on and on; I couldn't deal with that. I couldn't lead him on, which I felt like I was doing right now.

I left Callum with a warm smile and a hug, not wanting to make it seem like his comment had bothered me. I just relaxed, and left the bench like I approached it, checking the time on my watch as I headed up the steps and into the hospitality building. It was barely full, and nowhere near bustling like it was on race day. We had a few days to go until it would become really busy here, and I just enjoyed the peace and quiet, pleased to be back in the paddock with Lando. I felt great, and that was such a positive. It was reassuring to Lando, and it was reassuring to me to know that he was happy. Things were looking up for us, truly, and I wanted it to stay that way.