𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬

𝟕 | 𝚨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 ⅋ 𝐑𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝛐𝐧𝐬

Arthur drove Charles and me to the Nice airport, the early afternoon sunlight glinting off the Mediterranean as it disappeared behind us. I leaned back in my seat, finally feeling a glimmer of ease. The past few days had been a whirlwind of recovery, but now, with my brace secured around my arm and most of the nausea gone, I felt nearly back to myself. I wasn't ready to let go of the comfort of Arthur's hospitality, but the idea of reuniting with the rest of our friends brought a thrill that made it easier to leave.

After a short security check, Charles and I met up with Max near our boarding gate. He broke into a broad smile when he saw me walking toward him, obviously relieved to see me doing so much better.

"Hey, you're looking good! Well, good considering..." Max said, raising an eyebrow at my arm brace with a playful grin.

I laughed. "I know. We're halfway there, at least."

With Max and Charles' help, we navigated the airport, and before long, our plane was in the air, carrying us towards the rest of the group who had arrived in Monaco the day before. I relaxed against Max's shoulder, and the gentle hum of the engines soon lulled me to sleep. When I woke, it was to the sight of an endless stretch of ocean beneath us, sparkling like glass in the early evening sunlight.

"Almost there," Max murmured as I stirred, rubbing my eyes and taking a deep breath to reorient myself.

After a smooth landing and a quick retrieval of our bags, we made our way to the airport exit, where Lando and Carlos were waiting for us. As soon as Lando saw us coming, he broke into an exaggerated wave, grinning widely.

"Good flight?" Lando's bright eyes met mine, his voice laced with his usual warmth.

"Yes! And thanks for meeting us," I replied, feeling a swell of happiness just seeing him. He took my bag with an easy smile, guiding me gently to the car, where Carlos already had his arms full of everyone else's luggage.

The ride to the hotel was full of laughter, the energy from Lando and Carlos instantly contagious. It wasn't long before we pulled up to the beautiful seaside resort, the crisp evening air brimming with the scent of salt and jasmine. Charles, Max, and I dropped our bags at reception and joined the rest of the group waiting for us in the hotel restaurant. I could hear their laughter before we even saw them—a welcoming sound that erased any lingering tiredness. The restaurant was intimate and cozy, its candle-lit tables casting a warm glow across everyone's faces as we finally sat down together.

As the night went on, the atmosphere grew lighter, and even without a drink, I felt my spirit lifted by their joy. The jokes and stories flowed easily, and I loved watching the guys relax and tease each other. Carlos and Lando seemed to be in a particularly competitive mood, each challenging the other to eat spicier dishes until George and Pierre were practically in tears from laughing at their expressions. By the end of the meal, I was grinning ear to ear, wrapped in the warmth of these friends who, over the years, had become more like family.

- | -

The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the late night. When I wandered out to the hotel lounge, I found most of the guys nursing groggy hangovers, their faces telling a story of a few too many drinks. Carlos looked up from his coffee and groaned, giving me a look that said it all.

"How are you so cheerful?" he asked, eyeing me suspiciously as I poured myself a glass of water.

"Pure luck," I replied with a grin. "And maybe the benefit of not having had anything to drink last night."

As the guys downed some water and tried to wake up, we collectively decided to hit the beach, eager to take advantage of the beautiful day. The walk to the shoreline was short, and before long, we found ourselves surrounded by the scent of saltwater and the feel of warm sand under our feet. I settled down with my towel, watching as the guys rushed into the waves, immediately transforming from professional athletes to carefree children.

It was a joy to watch them let go, so I took out my phone to capture the scene. George and Daniel were trying to dunk each other, and Pierre was executing some dramatic dives, while Charles and Max had started an impromptu race along the shore. Lando caught me taking pictures and walked over, grinning.

"Taking photos of me, huh?" he teased, his smirk playful as he leaned down.

"Don't flatter yourself! Just getting some shots of the boys. Who would want a photo of you anyway?" I joked, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled, sitting down beside me on the sand. The playful look faded from his face as he glanced out at the sea, his expression softening.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" he murmured. "You know, Sophie, I've only known you for a month, but I feel like there's something between us. Do you feel it too?"

I was taken aback by his sincerity, but as I met his gaze, I felt an undeniable warmth spreading through me. "Yeah, Lando, I think I do," I replied, my voice soft. The unspoken connection between us felt as real as the waves rolling onto the shore. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a moment, and I held my breath, caught in the tenderness of the gesture.

Before either of us could say more, the boys came bounding over, their laughter breaking the spell as they dropped onto the sand beside us. The quiet moment between Lando and me slipped away, and we were drawn back into the group's lighthearted chatter.

Back at the hotel, I took my time getting ready, catching up with Pierre, Carlos, and Daniel in the process. They were joking around and exchanging stories about old races and mishaps, and it reminded me of how much I had missed this friendship.

"I haven't seen you guys like this in so long," I said, smiling. "Ever since I joined F2, it's been non-stop. Feels good to just relax."

"That's exactly why we're here," Carlos replied with a grin. "Time to have fun and forget about all that serious stuff for a bit."