'I thought I recognized when love was true, but I'm confused. Am I ready for love or maybe just a best friend, should there be a difference, do you have instructions?'
In which Lexi explores the world through photography and gets the shock of a life...
♪ Natalie Cole - Starting Over Again: 'We were just too young to know, we fell in love and let it go. So easy to say the words goodbye, so hard to let the feelings die'
Lexi's holiday with her family had been lovely. She could relax for the first time in months after finding out she passed all her finals and she had made peace with the decision she and Lando made. Of course, she missed him, but their lifestyles didn't allow them to be together right now and she had accepted that. It would be hard seeing him this weekend because it was the end of August and the Belgian Grand Prix was scheduled on Sunday. Today was Monday and the team was flying out Wednesday morning. Lexi was on her way to Olivia, who had just launched her new collection and they wanted to celebrate with a day at the mall. They were going to get their nails done, maybe a pedicure and of course a good lunch and some shopping time.
"Hey girl! You look so tan!" Olivia said when she sat down in the passenger seat. The girls hugged each other and Lexi complimented Liv's outfit. It was one of her own designs and the beige dress was absolutely stunning. "I'll give you a couple of items tonight when you leave okay? So you can rock them around the paddock this weekend!" Lexi nodded and she was excited to wear some of her best friend's clothes to work. They talked about their holidays and Lexi filled her in on the latest with Lando. "We haven't texted once in three weeks. I miss him and I still love him so much, but I realise now that this may be for the best. We both needed some time apart.." Lexi told her and Liv nodded her head. She thought Lexi and Lando were meant to be together and this whole thing was just silly, but she supported her friend in anything.
"I think I will go for orange tips, like McLaren papaya". Lexi said when they were seated at the nail salon. That would be fun. She normally just chose a standard white or black colour, but she was feeling something different today. "I'll go with baby blue, I like this one". Olivia said and she held up a bottle of nail polish. Lexi nodded in agreement and the girls chatted for about an hour while they got new gel nails. "Shall we go get some lunch now? I don't really feel like doing a pedicure today, I just want to start shopping". Liv said and they walked over to the little restaurant they ate at a few months ago. Lexi ordered pancakes and Liv chose a burger with some fries. "I'm glad you're back home. It was quite boring around here without you. Kyle spent all his time gaming with his friends and I just finished my collection so I didn't have any work to do. Well, maybe I already designed some pieces for my winter collection". Olivia started. "I'm happy to be back too, Italy was lovely and great to get my mind away from the situation, but nothing beats a girls day with your bestie". They clinked their glasses of juice together and ate their lunch.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Their shopping trip was going great. Lexi was currently sat in Zara waiting for Liv to show her another item she was trying on. She had just posted a picture of her nails on her Stories and she had tagged McLaren, Daniel and Lando. "Lexi?!" She heard someone say and turned around. She looked up and saw Mark, the editor from Autosport who went to the McLaren event with Jackie and the team all those months ago. "Oh hi, Mark!" She said and she stood up to give him a hug. "How have you been?" He asked and Lexi started telling him about her new job, the holidays and her passing her finals. "Graduation is in three weeks. I'm so happy to be done. How are things at Autosport?" She asked him. "Oh you know, Jackie is still drinking way too much coffee, Benji is still the goofball he always was and the rest of us work our butts off". They both laughed and Lexi made a mental note to visit them again someday. "I wanted to ask you something". Mark started and Lexi looked up at him. "Would you like to have a drink with me someday? I know you were with Lando but he mentioned on his stream that you had broken up and I just wondered if you wanted to go out with me, just casual". He asked her and Lexi's eyes went wide.
She thought about it for a while. 'Lando had mentioned our breakup on his stream? He must be done with it then.. What harm could one drink do?' She wasn't ready for a new relationship but she didn't want to mope around the house all the time. And it was Mark, she had known him for almost a year now. "Yeah, why not? You have my number still? Text me the details later, okay? I need to go, my friend is waiting over there". She hugged him goodbye and walked over to Liv. "Who was that? He's quite handsome". Olivia said while looking behind Lexi to where Mark was. "That was Mark, he is an editor at Autosport and I think I just agreed to have a drink with him sometime.." Olivia gasped and stared at her in disbelief. "Are you sure you want to do that right now? You know, so soon after you and Lando broke up?" "Well, he told me Lando mentioned on his stream that we weren't in a relationship anymore so I guess he's over it. I just want to have some fun okay? It will be nothing serious, I promise". Lexi told her and it was time for Liv to pay for her items so they walked over to the register. Lexi thought about it again. She was quite looking forward to going out again.
Mark 📸: Hey Lexi it's Mark. How does tomorrow evening sound for that drink? Let me know! X
Lexi 🧡: Hey Mark, tomorrow evening is fine. I can't stay out too late though. Flying over to Belgium the next morning. Text me where to meet you tomorrow okay? X
Tuesday went by pretty quick. Lexi had packed her suitcase and cleaned her room before getting ready for her drinks with Mark. He was picking her up at 7 and she was ready just before that. "Mom, I'm going out for some drinks with a friend okay? I won't be home late". She said and walked over to give her a kiss on the cheek. When Mark arrived, Lexi walked outside to his car. "Hey Lex, you look lovely". He said and he gave her a hug. She sat down in the passenger seat and they drove to a bar near her house. When they arrived, they took a seat at a table near the window before they ordered some drinks. "I just heard today that I will be going to Belgium too later this week, with Benji. Autosport is doing an article on Formula 1 in the next issue, so we have some interviews and stuff to do". Mark said and Lexi was excited for him. "Maybe we'll see each other there then!" They started talking about Formula 1, their shared interest in fast cars and they reminisced on some memories from her internship at Autosport. Mark was actually really easy to talk to. He was interested in what she had to say, listened and seemed really sweet. He was good-looking, but not as handsome as Lando.
They ordered another drink and talked for a few hours before Lexi looked at the time on her phone. "Mark, it almost 10.30 PM. I need to be on a flight at 8 tomorrow morning. Can you take me home please?". She asked him and he stood up to pay the bill. She wanted to tell him that she would pay but he was already gone. When he came back, they took their jackets and headed to Mark's car. "I had fun with you this evening, Lexi". Mark spoke up and Lexi turned her head to look at him. She had seen him looking at her like that before at the McLaren event. "I had a great time too, thank you for inviting me". Lexi said. They pulled up in front of her house and Lexi turned to hug him. He held his hand on her arm and looked her in the eyes. His face was really close and Lexi's mind was a little blurred because of the drinks she had. He leaned in closer and kissed her. It wasn't a nice and slow kiss like Lando had done the first time. It was quite firm and she felt him deepen the kiss almost immediately. She let him. In her mind, she knew it was wrong, but she had felt so miserable these past few weeks and this distracted her.
After a while, Lexi pulled away and smiled at him. "I need to go now. Thank you again!" She stepped outside and walked to her front door. When she headed up to her room and sat down on her bed, she thought about the kiss. Why was she feeling guilty? Lando broke up with her. He told his entire stream that they weren't together anymore. Of course, she missed him, but he obviously didn't think they would get back together if he announced it to the world already. Lexi washed her face and changed into her pyjamas. She set her alarm for the next morning and cuddled up into bed. She checked her phone and saw a message from Mark, saying he had fun and he looked forward to seeing her in Belgium this weekend. Lexi texted him back and put her phone back down. The alcohol had made her sleepy and she was dreaming away pretty soon.
