Lando's POV
Our pancake date was a disaster. To be fair, it wasn't a date because I had Sofia, and she was probably seeing someone too.
Even though she said she wasn't - she was never not seeing someone.
She didn't want to be there, with me. I could see that. She could barely look at me.
"Babe, it's our dinner tonight, yeah?" Sofia asked as she walked in the living room. "Yeah it is"
Our traditional dinner evening before a race weekend.
It used to be my favorite evening - spending time with all our friends and I could look at Nova all night.
Even when we were fighting, even when we weren't together.
I knew that I was gonna see her that night. I could always try to flirt with her then.
But everything changed since that night.
Nova moved to Australia, so her seat stayed empty, Nathan's and Billie's seat too.
Our entire friend group crumbled down.
After a while, Piper and Julian joined our dinners. Kelly probably begged Piper because it was way too awkward and Piper dragged Julian with her.
We always got along great, me and Julian, and we still did.
He ignored me for a couple of months, but one evening, he just started talking to me again.
So Billie's and Nathan's seats got replaced by Piper and Julian.
A couple of months later, Sofia joined our dinners as well. I never asked her, she just decided to join them.
But every dinner, there was always one empty seat. As if everyone hoped Nova would walk in and join our dinner.
She obviously never did.
Until now.
"Will Nova be there?" She asked. "Yes she will"
"Okay" she said more quiet.
I never really told her what happened with Nova but I also didn't need to - every gossip website told our story.
I didn't introduce her to Nova on Kelly's birthday. Because no gossip website could prepare her for the way we looked each other.
Still look at each other.
"Julian is her brother, right?" Sofia asked, fixing her dress and applying even more makeup. "Yes he is"
I didn't know why she asked - didn't care either.
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Sofia and I walked in the restaurant together. Everyone was already there because, as usual, I was late.
But there was still one empty seat. Nova's seat.
Did she change her mind? Wasn't she coming after all?
"Finally" Max Verstappen chuckled. "We already thought you weren't gonna come"
If he only knew that this was the first dinner in a while I was actually excited for.
"Isn't Nova coming?" I leaned closer to Piper.
Pipes, she was working for Mclaren and she became one of my closest friends. To make it more weird, she became Nova's best friend as well.
"She is" she mumbled. "She's just running late - had something to do before this dinner"
A couple of minutes later, every head snapped to the door, I didn't even need to look to know who was walking in.
But I still looked.
She was absolutely stunning. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at her.
"Hi guys, sorry I am late, something important came up" she said as she sat down. Her hair fell down her shoulders and she kissed Piper on her cheek.
She used to always sit next to me, but Sofia took that place.
"You must be.." she said as she looked at Sofia. "Sofia" my girlfriend helped her.
"Right, Sofia, nice to meet you" she smiled at her. "I am Nova"
As if people didn't know who she was. She needed no introduction.
Dinner went amazing, it was just like old times. She didn't notice the difference, but everyone on this table did.
We missed that Nova spark.
Even if it was only for one dinner.
"So, you're going back to Australia?" Sofia asked and looked at Nova. I don't think she was trying to be mean, she just desperately wanted to talk to her.
Nova nodded her head. "I am flying back on Monday"
Sofia nodded. "You're going to the Grand Prix?"
"Yes" Nova said. "I got invited"
Max looked at me and gave me a quick nod. A 'good job' nod.
I didn't invite her, I was convinced Max actually invited her - but judging by the look on his face, he didn't.
I leaned back in my chair, still looking at Nova. She smiled at me.
It didn't matter who invited her, she was gone next week and everything was going back to how it was.
Easy.
I put my hand on Sofia's thigh and kissed her cheek.
But I had to admit that my heart didn't jump like this for a year now.
