𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬

𝟏𝟐 | 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 ⅋ 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭

The next morning, I woke up feeling the weight of everything that had happened the day before. I took a shower, trying to shake off the memories, and got ready to join the guys for breakfast downstairs. As I walked down the hall, I ran into George and Pierre.

"Hey, Lis, how're you holding up? We heard about what happened from Lando—he was really shaken up, and we were too," Pierre said as we walked.

"I'm... okay, I guess," I replied, looking down and fidgeting with my nails, feeling a bit nervous about facing everyone.

We headed down the elevator and walked into the dining lounge, where Daniel, Lando, and Carlos were already sitting. I grabbed a plate of food from the buffet and made my way to the table, sitting down next to Lando, but keeping a little space between us. A few minutes later, Max and Charles joined us, each with a plate. Charles sat down between me and Lando, his focus on his food as if I wasn't even there. His coldness stung, but I refused to let it ruin my morning. Instead, I turned to George, and we struck up an easy conversation.

After breakfast, I went back to my room, only to hear a knock a few minutes later. It was Lando. I opened the door, smiling, and hugged him tightly before he stepped us both inside and closed the door.

"Kiss me," I whispered with a shy grin. He lay down beside me, leaning in and brushing soft kisses along my neck, but something in me held back, and he noticed, pausing.

"Are we still on for dinner tonight?" Lando asked, looking a little unsure.

I hesitated, but then nodded. "Yeah... pick me up at seven?"

"Seven it is," he agreed with a gentle smile. We cuddled on the bed, and I drifted off to sleep in his arms, waking up a little while later to him still by my side.

"Did you enjoy your nap, sleepyhead?" he teased. I smiled and nodded, sinking back into his warmth for a few more minutes until he checked his phone.

"Sorry, gorgeous, but I've got to go—meeting up with Carlos. I'll see you later," he said, giving me a quick kiss before he left.

Once he was gone, I decided I needed to clear things up with Charles. I took the elevator to his floor and knocked on his door. When he answered, he looked surprised.

"What's up with you, Charles? Can't you just be happy for me? I've finally found someone who makes me feel happy, and it feels like you don't want that for me," I said, regretting the words as soon as they left my mouth. "I didn't mean that... I'm sorry."

Charles sighed, his expression softening. "Sophie, I do want you to be happy. I love you, and I wish you the best. But dating a friend—someone who triggered a panic attack, no less? I'm not sure if that's normal, or... safe."

"It was an accident; he didn't know!" I protested.

"I just... I didn't expect you to like him back. And if things go south, what if it impacts my friendship with him? I don't want to lose either of you."

I sat beside him and took his hand. "Please, Charles. Lando isn't like Nick—he's kind, and he genuinely cares about me. I was going to tell you after our dinner last night; things just didn't go as planned."

Charles pretended to give me a hug, but then pushed me off the bed. I fell right on my butt.

"Hey! What was that for?" I started laughing.

"Are you doing something tonight? I'm going out with Arthur, Pierre and Max" Charles said.

"I'm going out with Lando, if that's okay for you." I looked at him with my best puppy eyes.

"Fine, have some fun." he said laughing while shaking his head. I glanced at Charles with a big grin. I got up and hugged him tight.

"You're the best!" Charles and I were playing a game we did when we were younger, when Arthur walked in. He sat down on the bed too. We catched up with each other and talked for ages. I decided to go back to my own room to chill, as it was going to be a long night. I said goodbye to Arthur and Charles and went back to my hotel room.