Deals with Daisy // LN4

44 ~ Enjoy the Magic

March 15th 2025, First GP of the season

Lando's POV

The benefit of Daisy and Laurent dating for the last year was that I could walk into her room without being in fear of what I might find. After the night that will never be spoken about, that had gotten considerably worse for a period of time and it felt as though every morning I was back to pulling a stranger out of her bed, normally as she dealt with some sort of hangover that almost had me worried that she was an alcoholic. She wasn't and it was just a rough patch that I assume was guilt for leading me on that was quickly forgotten about when she met Laurent.

That confidence I had when I walked into her room ended today though as I saw something that made me want to burn my eyes out of their sockets. I'd been caught out with the sight of Laurent's bare ass when I had walked straight into her room first thing this morning, my eyes still blurry from sleep and certainly not expecting that horrific image.

The sleepovers had ended a long time ago, after the summer break and Elena and I had kissed, Daisy was a lot more firm about forcing me back to my room or leaving for hers. She was very respectful and while I'd tried to convince her on a couple of occasions that it really wasn't a big deal, she'd always efficiently shut it down. I knew she was right to but part of me couldn't help but try. Sometimes I got stupid and I just wanted to risk it all to see if it might just feel the same as I remembered. I think part of me wanted to know that it didn't. That I'd overhyped it in my head and the drinks had exacerbated that feeling but alas - I wouldn't and couldn't cross that line again. Daisy wouldn't let me even if I wanted to.

"This is why you knock!" Daisy simply chastises me as the three of us walk down the paddock. I hear Laurent grumble on the other side of her and instantly fight the urge to roll my eyes as I continue smiling down the paddock filled with fans and cameras.

"This is why he shouldn't have a key!" He answers moodily. Despite this I keep the perfect smile on my face, aware that there were several cameras around us at the moment. There always are, the sport hasn't quite hit the peak apparently and the numbers of cameras each season only ever seems to increase - especially with Laurent around.

"You shush - I told you not to walk around naked, you only have yourself to blame," she snaps back at him before stopping. We both immediately stop on either side of her, eyes focused on the red head who is busy taking a deep breath. "Both of you grow up!" Is all she says when her eyes reopen before marching down the paddock ahead of us. I contemplate a snippy remark once she's out of earshot but decide against it as we get to the McLaren hospitality. Laurent isn't so smart though and I can see he goes to open his mouth until he sees Daisy glancing over his shoulder and forces a grin on his face.

"You are so fucking lucky she is here..." is all I get as we both speed walk to catch up with Daisy. I just smirk to myself happy that it didn't take any effort other than my existence to get under his skin. It had been a fun game for the last year - both of us working to get under the others skin when Daisy wasn't around. He didn't hate me and I didn't hate him but I preferred life when he wasn't around and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

"Sorry Laurent, make yourself at home but I need Daisy right now," I tell him with a happy grin, smiling as though I've won the lottery as we get to the entrance of the hospitality and I throw my arm around Daisy's shoulders. The three of us quickly garner the attention from some of the guests already here and Laurent goes to open his mouth to snap back at me before his eyes move to Daisy's and he softens.

"Of course," he says simply, holding his hand out for her to take and I feel her step out from under my arm, leaving it to fall emptily to my side as he brings his hands to her waist, pulling her close to him. "Ci vediamo più tardi, mia farfalla," [I'll see you later, my butterfly] I can hear him whisper, the words grating on my ears like nails on a chalk board as his thumb brushes against her soft and now slightly pink cheeks. Learning the language had been a blessing but at times like this it felt like a curse as I had to stomach them and try my hardest not to roll my eyes.