The Teammate

25 - The Photograph

October 2024 – After the Mexican Grand Prix

The apartment was in good taste, modest in size, but had an open floor layout with one bedroom and a small alcove off the main living area that had been indented for an office, but had been made into a gaming den instead. The entryway lead into the kitchen with a long island that held many memories or late-night dinners, catching up after time apart, and baking dance parties. Every piece of furniture didn't match the one next to it but held a million little memories from before.

Before everything changed.

Now, Lando felt like a stranger in his own apartment. The photos of them that had once lines the mismatched bookshelves framing the large window that looked over the water were gone. Marks in the dust were the only evidence that they even existed. His trophies and mini helmets had been removed from the shelves around his gaming computer, it was like he had never lived there. Never existed there.

He didn't even want to think about what lay beyond the closed bedroom door. Everything that she had erased after moving back into the apartment.

"Thank you for coming." She said, standing on the other side of the island from him. Her hair was damp, and she was in an oversized hoodie. If he got any closer he would probably smell the berries from her shampoo, so he stayed where he was. "I know you're schedule can be grueling."

"I was coming back anyways; my other place is just up the street." He mentioned the other residence after the look on her face, the residence that had been in boxes and still was since he had moved back. Lando forced himself to shrug. "I'm off to Brazil tomorrow."

"Where did you come from?"

"Mexico." He said, trying to keep the devastation that she was no longer watching off his face.

"That's a long flight." Lando shrugged again, trying his best to ignore the desire to step close to her. To remind her why he sometimes made these short trips home, the same reason they had gotten the apartment. At least why she had gotten the apartment, but he had helped her financially. Monaco wasn't exactly in a pro snowboarder's salary, and it was far from any of her training facilities. Still, it was something they both wanted, and used often. He was sure there were still drawers in the bedroom that held some of his clothes. Some of his clothes had made it into her drawers, those pieces that she loved lounging in.

Like the sweater she was wearing.

"First class isn't so bad." He offered, and she smiled which threatened to take his breath away.

"I may not have my memories, but I know you have a private jet." Her smile faltered at her own words, and it was struggle for Lando to ignore her comment.

"The team does." Lando said, his voice strained as he looked down at the island counter. "I don't."

"Right." She said, and for a moment neither of them spoke, nor did they look at each other. It wasn't until Lando cleared his throat that any sound came from either of them.

"Anyways, I have the paperwork from the lawyer." Lando opened the folder her had been holding and slid it across towards her. "It's pretty simple, I'm letting you buy me out for the amount there." He pointed and she leaned forward looking the document over.

"That's not what this place is worth." She said from where she was leaning over the counter, her head tilted up to look at him and he felt his knees weak. Memories flashed behind his eyes of her bent over the counter, a very different expression on her face.

He forced himself to ignore that part of his brain. To silence it.

It didn't work.

"I know." He said focusing on the document on the counter. "But the price I bought it for after..." he swallowed, "I was just desperate to get everything taken care of." He didn't look at her, despite her watching him intently. "I didn't think about negotiating a price."