sunshine, ALEX ALBON

vii

ALEX WAS SAT AT EVELYN'S desk with her laptop in front of him, fingers hovering over the keyboard mouse as he scrolled through her work. He was unaware of the youngest British driver making his way up the stairs as Alex was facing the opposite way with music playing loudly through Evelyn's speaker.

He jumped, startled, when Lando placed his hands on his shoulders, leaning down over the Thai driver's shoulder to read the contents of the screen. "What're you doing?"

"Lando, you dickhead, why'd you do that?" He huffed, recovering from his surprise and turning off the music, yet he didn't spare his friend a glance, eyes still glued to the writing.

Lando shrugged, leaning against the wall of Evelyn's study. "Felt like it. What're you doing?" He repeated.

"Reading, through Evie's work" Alex replied.

"And does she know you're reading it or are you snooping?" Lando asked, fighting a smile at the nickname Alex gave Evelyn.

"She gave me permission," he told him, directing his gaze away from the screen and to Lando's face. "Something you wouldn't even think to ask for."

Lando pushed himself off the wall, ignoring Alex's last comment. "How long are you going to be?"

He paused, about to answer with until I've finished, before he sighed. "I'll finish it tomorrow," he said, standing up and pushing the chair under the desk, closing the laptop. "What're you here for?"

Lando shrugged nonchalantly. "I was wondering if you'd like to come out with me, Charles, Max, Soph and your girlfriend."

"Evelyn isn't my girlfriend."

Lando raised an eyebrow. "The fact that you know who I was talking about says otherwise."

"Piss off," Alex said, following Lando downstairs and grabbing his jacket off the hook in the hallway, where they saw Evelyn already waiting by the door.

Lando put his hands up in mock surrender, turning his volume down to more of a whisper as they neared Evelyn. "What? You clearly like her."

"Bullshit."

"Are you sure you two aren't dating?" Lando asked from beside Alex as they stood by the bar together, waiting to order drinks.

"I think I'd know if we were, and I promise you we're not," he replied, which made Lando roll his eyes, not convinced.

"I find that hard to believe," Sophie interrupted, suddenly appearing at their sides.

Lando looked over to where Charles, Max and Evelyn were talking at the six-seater table they'd reserved, before looking back at Alex. "Literally every driver has a bet on when you'll get together. It's pretty funny actually."

"Yeah, sounds hilarious," Alex replied, stepping forward to order drinks.

The awkward tone in Alex's voice made Sophie and Lando give each other amused looks before both of them added their drinks to the order.

"You two have so much sexual tension whenever we go out, I swear," Lando said. He then cleared his throat. "You're also making me feel very single so I'm gonna go back to our table and pretend neither you or Ev exist."