GRIDLOCK - Lando Norris [BOOK 1 Gridlock Series]

11

"I'm really sorry about that" Lando announces once we have settled in our seats.

"It's okay, you don't have to.."

He cuts me off in a desperate tone, "No, I do have to. This thing, Evelyn" he motions between the two of us, and the goofball, fun, easy going Lando, isn't sitting with me at the table right now, he looks determined and serious "I'm all in, you and me, whatever this is, I'm here for it, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, I'm here"

His confession comforts me in every way and I trust his words to my core.

"I am too" I agree.

It seemed as though Lando ordered everything on the menu and I've never tried so many foods that I didn't understand the name of in my life. But everything was so good and this night seemed to be the closest to perfect that I've ever been.

Part of me, for a moment, under the starlight, believed that this could work. That we would approach Max and my mother, Zak and Christian and tell them that this is how we feel, this is what we want, and it would be okay.

But the storm cloud rolling in from the horizon proved that maybe it wouldn't be as easy as that. But I was so determined.

"So," I faltered, "you said this place had some dancing?" and my subtlety is really not my strong suit as the dance floor just happened be only a few people away. But my question made Lando chuckle.

He scoots his chair back as he offers his hand to me, "Come on then" he chuckles.

As we make our way to the dance floor where a small local bland is positioned on the tiniest podium platform, Lando grasps my hand in his as he leads me along behind him. I notice the slight touches and squeezes his hand makes involuntary, but it gives me goosebumps.

Once a satisfied placement on the dance floor has been met by him, he turns to face me, guiding my two hands to be placed lightly on his shoulders as I tangle my own fingers behind his neck and he takes my waist delicately in his hands and we begin to sway to the music.

The happiness that is erupting through me right now is outrageous, and at the risk of sounding so cheesy, I didn't realise it was possible to feel this content or excited about the possibility of someone. I wish that for only a moment, we could freeze this moment, or at least this whole week.

Away from the track, away from the spotlight and pressures, this is real.

We danced long into the night, Lando stealing soft kisses every so often. The blur between songs and tempos seemed to get lost in the night. There were times we were holding each other close and swaying in harmony, and there were times that the dance moves that were on display, I'm sure we both want to forget.

But all in all, it was electric, everything I was feeling in this moment for Lando, was scary, but absolutely dynamite.

As we walked back towards the hotel, I started to believe that this was possible. All of this. The way he looked at me was in a way that was so pure to me, it had depth and purpose.

Lando and I connected on a way that is indescribable that night. It's the type that if you write it in words, or describe it to a friend, it sounds almost too cringe to admit. But that's what it was. It was slow, and it was deep. It felt like every part of him was willing and lovingly giving himself over to me. And it was the type of moments that is written in the pages of poetry.

I fell asleep with every hope and dream in the world sitting right in front of me. Feeling the sort of connection with someone that was more intense than whatever I've felt before.

And then I awoke inside a nightmare.

"Lando?"

I'm in his hotel room, but he's not here. The suitcase that was on the desk last night is no longer there. The clothes that were slung all over the couch, are no longer there.

I run my hands across my face and scrunch them into my eyelids. Perhaps I am dreaming. But of course, no. There has to be a simple explanation.

I sit up and place my feet on the floor, wrapping the sheet from the bed around my naked body and make my way across the hardwood floors to the kitchen area, the fridge rid of any of it's contents and I somehow wonder how I slept through it all.

My attention falls upon a piece of paper placed deliberately on the marble surface, a pen used as a weight.

Walking slowly over towards it, as if it would explode if I happened to move too quickly. I don't get too close and lean over to close the necessary gap to read its inscription.

Gone to Singapore

A wave of relief hits me like a tidal wave. Of course, such an obvious reason. Formula One. I had been living in fantasy land, for what felt like so long, with Lando now, I forgot that reality was due to settle in.

Zak probably wanted to do some last minute training or have Lando in the gym for another stupid work out.

He's a working athlete. That's his profession.

I contemplate joining him in Singapore, but I figured I don't need to follow him around. No one knows about us yet, so it's probably best not to hit them with it like a freight train.

Besides, spending some more time in Monza isn't the worst thing that could happen.

I gather up my things and pop back up to my room, rearrange my mess and take a nice, long hot shower. Wash my hair, shave my legs, and other places, cleanse my face and exfoliate my entire body.

By the time I hit the town again, it's a little after lunch and I spend some time strolling aimlessly through the back streets, reminiscing on everything that's happened with Lando, and how, although completely out of the blue, kind of makes all the sense in the world.

At least to me it does.

I stop by a small market that's happening out the back of one of the quiet streets, all handmade goods, clothes and jewellery. I pick myself up some really pretty flowing skirts, all in neutral tones, and then I stumble upon some leather bracelets with 1 small stone on them. The lady at the market informs me that the stones were collected from the waterside and were native here to Monza.

I purchase two. One for me, and one for.. him.

Monza seems like a significant milestone, and what better way to remember it.

I secure mine to my wrist and tuck the other one into my handbag, making a mental note to give it to Lando the second we are alone.