Miles from Normal - Lando Norris

30. She's Got Mail

Lando didn't know what to say about Alice's deportation situation. He had always been lucky in pretty much every aspect of his life and had no idea how to help her. He had a steady family and job. He also never needed to leave his country to fight for a better life, so he admired Alice very much for doing that. 

"What is the plan?" He asked Alice as she patted her hair dry with a towel. 

"As soon as our plane lands in London on Monday, I'm going straight to his apartment and get that letter." 

"What if he isn't home?" 

"Well, I'll just break in..." 

Lando looked at her unsure if she was joking or not. Alice took a bunch of keys out of her purse.

"I've still got the spare key." 

"Why?" 

"I don't know. In the beginning, it was hard to return it and then I just forgot about it." 

He wasn't too convinced with her explanation and felt a pang of jealousy. He wondered if she still wasn't over her ex at all. 

"Promise me that as soon as you get that letter, you'll delete his number and give back his key."

Alice agreed. She got in bed ready to sleep. It had been a long day and she was exhausted. She was frustrated for letting herself getting into that situation. 

"Argh! What if they kick me out? What's going to happen? With my job, with us?"

"Don't be scared... I'll follow you to the other side of the world If I have to."

"Don't be silly. You have a brilliant career ahead! I would never let you do that."

"Well, we would have to get married then!"

He was sweet, but that wasn't how Alice planned for her marriage to happen. 

"I definitely don't want to be one of those women that get married for a Visa. I'd rather go home." She said. 

"So you're saying you'd prefer to abandon this relationship than swallow your pride and accept help?" Lando asked, feeling slightly offended by her last remark. 

Alice sighed. She didn't have a way with words and didn't know how to choose them wisely. She could understand why he would be upset, but she also needed Lando to understand that they had only been dating for less than a month. It would be crazy to get married. His family would never accept her and there would always be doubt whether she did love Lando or not. 

She kissed him before turning her back on him. She didn't want that conversation to turn into an argument. 

"I will marry you in due time. Not now!" 

"Fine, but I'm coming with you to JP's place on Monday. Don't even try to say otherwise."

"Goodnight, babe." She told him as she adjusted her pillow. Alice had the habit of turning her pillow around now and then so that she always had the cold side up, which drove Lando crazy. She reached her hand to his and made him spoon her.  

"You're lucky you're cute. Sleep well, babe." He said and turned off his bedside lamp. 

*****

Alice and Leo were outside McLaren hospitality waiting for the boys to return from FP1. Alice was instructing Leo on what she wanted him to do with Daniel and he was simply nodding. She had a strange vibe with him. He was polite, but there was something about him she couldn't exactly put her finger on.