Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟸 ♡ Pineapple Skies

"He shoots! He scores," Daniel exclaimed as he swished the basketball into the water hoop and jumped into the pool. 

"Traveling, you were traveling!!" Max yelled after him as he raced for the ball. 

"Nah, mate, just pure athleticism," Daniel grinned as he reached the ball first and deeked out Max around the pool. 

Under the blazing Monaco sun, the surface of the pool shimmered like liquid diamonds as Daniel and Max engaged in a spirited game of water basketball. Laughter and splashes filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy. The agreed-upon teams were Max and Azalea, and Daniel and Isla Ashford. 

Isla was visiting her sister in Monaco during their summer break before they had to leave for the Netherlands to race at Zandvoort this upcoming weekend. 

"You think we should do something?" Isla questioned her sister from where they relaxed on the side of the pool, watching the boys do whatever they were doing with amusement. 

"Nah, they probably wouldn't even notice if we left the pool," Azalea countered, never taking her eyes off the scene before her. 

Suddenly, the basketball bounced toward Azalea, landing with a splash in front of her. Wiping the water off her face Azalea only stared at the ball. 

"Throw me the ball, Az!" Max's voice rang out from across the pool, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. Azalea's lips curved into a playful grin as she hurled the ball back with all her might, her aim slightly off. The ball plopped into the water halfway between them, eliciting chuckles from the onlookers.

"That's as good as you can do?" Max teased as he started swimming for the ball.

"Like you're doing much better!" Azalea countered. "Try me!" he replied.

"You're on!" Azalea replied as she put her drink on the edge of the pool and started swimming after the ball as well. 

Both reaching at the same time they wrestled until Azalea ended up on top and tried to shove Max under the water. Max got the upper hand and tossed her across the pool. 

"Loser!!" she bellowed when she re-surfaced. 

Max, his eyes dancing with mischief, countered with a playful smirk, holding up the ball as a token of his victory.

"Shoot it then," She smirked right back. 

Daniel and Isla stood beside each other with amusement as they watched.

"Five bucks says he misses," Daniel said to Isla beside her.

"You're on," she replied. 

"10 bucks he misses!" Azalea hollered from where she stood across the pool.

Everyone laughed then as Max threw the ball and... "AIR BALL!!" Azalea announced as she swam over to Max and tackled him again. 

With friendly bets and cheerful laughter, they savored the precious moments of togetherness, basking in the joy of friendship and the simple pleasures of a carefree summer day by the pool.

~~~~~~~~~

"It's a good thing you're a racing driver," Azalea grinned as she lounged on her bed, her hair still damp from their impromptu pool game. She scrolled through the photos she had captured earlier, reliving the laughter-filled moments frozen in time.

Max emerged from the bathroom, toweling his hair dry, a playful smirk on his lips. "I'm still better than you," he declared with mock confidence, his eyes gleaming with playful competitiveness.

Azalea chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "That bet I won says otherwise," she countered, flashing him a teasing grin as she held up her phone to show him the evidence.

Max let out a theatrical laugh before making his way to the bed, his movements graceful and fluid. With a playful glint in his eyes, he enveloped Azalea in a warm embrace, pulling her close in a tight hug.

Wrapped in each other's arms, they savored the quiet intimacy of the moment, the warmth of their bond enveloping them like a comforting embrace. In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, they found solace in each other's presence, cherishing the simple joy of being together.

As the evening waned, they lingered in each other's arms, reluctant to let go of the fleeting moments of tranquility before the demands of their busy lives beckoned once more. Yet in that moment, surrounded by the gentle rhythm of their breaths and the soft hum of the night, they found solace in the simple pleasure of each other's company, grateful for the precious moments of peace they shared together.