L is for Love ♡ Lando Norris

33 | Making it up to you

♪
Jake Scott - The Man Who Stays:
'Lights will shine, but I won't fade. I'll be here waiting if you com back this way. 'Cause I'm the man who stays'

"Are you staying over for dinner Lando?" Lexi's mom said when they were seated on the sofa in the living room. Lando had just brought Lexi home after their first night back together and they had been chatting with her family for a while. "Yeah sure, if that's okay?" He answered and Caroline nodded. "Of course dear". She and her husband Dave loved Lando. He had always been really kind to them and they knew he loved their daughter. They had no clue Lando was surprising Lexi at her graduation and Caroline had cried right when she saw him standing behind her. She knew how much Lexi had missed him and how happy they were together. She couldn't think of anyone better for her precious girl.

"So where is the next race taking you? Italy right?" Dave spoke up during dinner. Joey looked up at Lando when he started nodding. "I love Italy, Monza looks like an awesome track to drive on!" He said and Lando looked over at Lexi. "Well, I was thinking, what would you guys think of joining us this weekend? I can have the team arrange everything if you would like that". He said and Lexi's eyes grew wide. "That would be awesome!" Joey called out. "Dad, can we go? Please?" He was bouncing on his seat looking at his dad with hopeful eyes. Lexi knew her dad would love this opportunity and she saw the twinkle in his eyes starting to form. "Well dear, I know you're not really interested in racing, do you want to go?" Dave asked his wife. "You boys go, I'll stay home. It's fine. Go have fun!" She said and Joey threw his chair back and hugged his mom. "I will call the team later to book you on the flight and arrange a hotel room and paddock passes for you okay?" Lando said and he was the next one to get a hug from Joey. "Thanks, babe". Lexi said while she put her hand on his leg underneath the table.

Dave had talked to Lando for a while about the practical things involving their visit to Italy this weekend. He would share a hotel room with Joey and they would fly out with the team tomorrow afternoon. Lexi was helping her mom with the dishes as they were listening to the enthusiastic sounds from the living room. "Are you happy to have Lando back over here?" Caroline asked and Lexi smiled while looking down. "Yeah.. I missed him so much. I think we were both a bit stubborn and didn't want to admit that we wanted to be back together so I'm really happy Liv helped us a bit". She laughed and her mom gave her a hug. "He's everything we've ever wanted for you darling". Lexi smiled at her mom and put the last plate away. She walked into the living room and loved the view of Lando on their sofa just hanging out with her dad and brother. If life could only stay this simple. But Lando had to leave again, their flight tomorrow was early and he still had to pack.

"I hate that you have to leave again now. It was so much fun just having a normal day at home with my family and you". Lexi said when she had walked him to the door. Lando grabbed her hands, brought one up to his face and kissed her knuckles. "I will see you tomorrow, baby. We still work for the same team and can see each other walk around in the paddock all the time. I know it will be difficult again, but at least you don't have the stress of your studying next to it anymore". Lexi nodded. That was true. She wouldn't have to go to school anymore on Mondays and Tuesdays so they would be able to spend those days together if they weren't needed at the MTC. "I love you Lexi, I'm not going to let anything happen to us ever again, okay?" Lando said while he cupped her cheek with his hand. He lifted her face slowly upwards so he could look into her eyes. "I love you too". Lexi whispered before Lando leaned in to kiss her. It was a delicate sweet kiss as if it was their last and they both treasured the feeling. "Good night, angel". Lando said before he turned around and walked to his car.

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"Mom, where is my passport?" Lexi heard Joey scream across the hallway when she was getting ready for their flight to Italy. Joey had been up roaming around his room and the house for a few hours already and he woke Lexi up with his yelling quite early. She knew he was just a bit nervous and excited, but she could have used a little more sleep because of the night before at Lando's house. Let's say they hadn't slept much then either. After Lexi had brushed her teeth and added a light bit of makeup to her face, she braided her hair and stuffed her toiletries inside her suitcase. She had gotten really quick and handy at packing now, so she knew exactly what was supposed to be in there. When she checked everything off her imaginary checklist, she closed the suitcase, grabbed her purse and took the heavy bag downstairs. "Good morning, ready to go to Italy?" She saw her dad at the table and he looked so excited.

Lexi walked over to him, planted a kiss on his cheek and answered: "Very ready, has Joey found his passport yet?". They both let out a chuckle and her dad shrugged. "I think your mom is helping him look as we speak". Lexi walked to the kitchen to make some yoghurt with strawberries for breakfast when Joey and Caroline entered the room. "Found it!" Joey said with a big smile on his face while he was holding the document in the air. "Now, give it to me, before you lose it again". Dave said and he put the passport in his bag to keep safe. They all had breakfast together and before they knew it, it was time to head to the airport. They would meet Lando and the rest of the team there and Lexi was already excited to see her boyfriend again. The drive was pretty short and the excitement from the boys was real. She hadn't seen Joey as excited about anything before and she loved that they could do this together again. It had been a while since they had visited a race with the three of them.

"Okay, follow me". Lexi said when Dave had parked the car and they all grabbed their suitcases from the boot. She knew exactly where to go and when they entered the terminal, the McLaren team was easy to spot. Lexi walked up to Charlotte and Helen and hugged them before she introduced her dad and brother to them and a few other members of the team. Lando hadn't arrived yet but she did spot Daniel. "Joey, dad, come here". Lexi said and she saw her brother's eyes widen when he noticed who was stood behind her. "Daniel, this is my little nightmare of a brother Joey and my dad Dave. Guys, you know who this is". Lexi said and Joey held his shaky hand out for Daniel to shake. "Oh my god, you're real". He said and Lexi and Daniel laughed. "As real as they get buddy". Daniel said and shook her dad's hand. "Nice to meet you Daniel, we're big fans". They talked for a while and Lexi saw Lando enter the terminal. He walked over to the team, greeted a few people before he joined their little group. He hugged Lexi and kissed her cheek and greeted the boys. "Good morning sleepy head". Lexi said to him. He looked tired and she guessed he hadn't slept very well.

Joey enjoyed every aspect of flying with the team. He was a little less starstruck now, so he spoke some more with Daniel and asked him all kinds of questions. He asked Lexi what every member's role was in the team when they were seated on the plane and she loved his enthusiasm. The flight went pretty smooth and before they knew it, they touched down on Italian soil. The journey to the hotel was short and they exited the van they were in when they arrived. "I have a surprise for you". Lando whispered to Lexi when she was about to head to reception to collect her room key. Lando walked over and chatted with the receptionist for a while before he came back with two keys. "One for you boys". He said when he gave Dave their room key. "And one for us". He held Lexi by her waist and a smile grew on her face. "Are you sure? You need your rest this weekend". Lando nodded. "You would have slept in my room anyway". He whispered to her so her dad couldn't hear it while he winked at her.

"Thank you so much for arranging all of this". Lexi said when they had dropped her dad and brother off at their hotel room. His arm was draped around her neck and she was holding his waist, while they walked over to their room. "It's my pleasure babe, I love your dad and brother and I know how happy this makes them. Now come on, I want to show you our room". Lando said as he picked up the pace. Lexi gasped when she saw him press the top button in the elevator. Lando looked at her with a mischievous smile on his face and led her to their room when the elevator doors opened. "Close your eyes baby". He said and held Lexi by her hand. They stepped into the room and Lando put down their suitcases in the corner before he led her over to the middle of the room. "You can look". He said and Lexi slowly opened her eyes. She couldn't believe it. They were in an apartment-sized hotel suite with a view of the Italian mountains.

Lexi walked over to the window and felt tears forming in her eyes. "Because you love the view of the Italian mountains so much and I wanted to make it up to you because I couldn't be there on your holiday to enjoy them with you". Lando said and Lexi felt his presence behind her when he wrapped his arms around her waist. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and Lexi sighed. "Thank you so much. I really don't know what to say". Lexi said and she let out a small sob. "Don't cry baby, just enjoy the view and us being here together".