DNS 2

Chapter 13 - Peace

The air in the bathroom thick with steam, thin streams of water run down the walls as I dry myself off, finally getting dressed into actual clothes and out of that awful scratchy robe - it felt like I'd been naked forever.

Lando was already dressed and ready to go, he'd headed downstairs to arrange another night stay for us in the hotel - and here I am smiling like some sort of giddy school girl with a crush just thinking about him. I'd had to stand under the hot steam of the shower for 30 minutes and just question myself because this was becoming ridiculous.

What has he done to me.

I knew I wanted him but my god it's just suddenly over these last 24hours escalated to a whole new level, it's actually quite worrying how much I'm pining over him. To the point I am genuinely embarrassed for myself.

Bustling in the door whistling to himself as if he were a Middle aged man, he starts laughing before passing me his phone "Well we managed to get to 11am with no drama."

What on earth is he talking about? And do I even want to look?

Oh, well...

Given the level of situations we had been through the last few days, this seemed like nothing in comparison. A couple of photos have surfaced showing me scurrying from Lando's car into the hotel, with the expected headlines and captions that followed.

'Leclercs girlfriend spotted with Lando Norris'

'Is Lilly Walker on drugs?" - a personal favourite of mine.

'F2 driver Lilly Walker - walking her way through the grid'

'Lando Norris spotted with mystery girl'

And many more.

I didn't care much for the headlines or the captions on pictures or the rumours - people aren't stupid and half the time no one in motorsport actually takes the headlines seriously, but my god I looked bad in those photos. Dripping wet, covered in mud - mascara running down my face. Far from my finest moment.

Charles knew I was here with Lando, so it's not as if this would come as a surprise to him either. I just hoped everyone at Rodin Carlin didn't have any opinion on it - given Lando's recommendation for me as a driver, and the simple fact I was supposed to be resting and recovering from my injuries.

Lando notices my mind beginning to spin, but before I go into overdrive he grabs my hand pulling me up towards the door. "Right, we're leaving our phones here, no distractions today - let's go out and see what there is to do. Maybe we can find a display to go to tonight." he says.

A display for what? What is he talking about.

"It's bonfire night?" He's looking at me confused, but we didn't have bonfire night in Monaco - I kind of remember the faintest memory of fireworks and holding a sparkler as a child but my dad and I had never done anything for it since, and I don't remember the last time I'd been to an actual firework display, maybe New Year's Eve as a teenager.

His face drops looking at my reaction "You've not lived!" he mocks.

—[]—

This was a bad idea.

The second we exit the the lift into the lobby of the hotel, all I see is a wave of fans waiting outside for Lando. That's one thing neither of us had thought about, the photo's were published with the hotel name and location.

"Lando I can't do this"

"Hey, you're ok just don't think about it." He grabs my hand, his fingers latching in between each of mine as we wade through the lobby. The hotel doors being the only thing separating us from the growing crowd outside. I feel a strange sense of safety with him by my side but at the same time - I'm completely terrified.