𝐁 𝐑 𝐄 𝐀 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄 [lando norris x oc]

𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐲-𝐬𝐢𝐱

They were eating dinner. Gabi was sitting right next to him and everyone  knew. Lando could tell. Carlos was unable to control his giggles and Max was nudging Lilly every two seconds. 

After they'd successfully gotten back to their own rooms, Lando assumed Gabi showered and napped because when she finally returned from the cabins, yawning and rubbing her eyes, the sun was practically going down. Her exhaustion didn't help his case.

Gabi's leg was centimeters from him and his fingers found their way to brush against hers enough to satisfy Lando's desires for the evening. There was something about their secrecy, they're stolen glances, that made these dinners fun. Like they knew something everyone else didn't.  

Part of Lando wanted to say fuck it and tell Max, but he thought the smarter idea was to talk to Gabi about it first, seeing as he already lost her once and he couldn't lose her again. 

"What's your plan after the trip, Gabi?" Verstappen asked her, side-eyeing Lando as he took another bite of his food. 

She swallowed her sip of cocktail. "Nothing huge. I have some stuff to do for the new album and I have to start thinking about tours and stuff." A small smile peeled against her lips. "I also might have a TV show deal...."

"What?" Lando couldn't help himself. "What show?"

"I can't say."

Carmen groaned. "Seriously? You're going to play that  card?"

Gabi raised her hands in defense. "I've been sworn to secrecy. Motherfuckers and their NDA's. But I'll give you a hint: it's a superhero show."

"Since when do you do movies?" Lando asked, trying his best ot seem casual even though he felt stares burning into him. 

Gabi shrugged. "I've done commercials and stuff but it's pretty normal for singers to do movies eventually. It's a small role, too, so it's not like a major thing or whatever."

"Still, though." Carmen smiled. "You're going to be in a movie that's insane!"

"Let us know when it comes out, we'll watch." George nodded. 

The people around them agreed, it was only Verstappen, George, Carmen, and Kelly if you were to exclude Lando and Gabi. They separated from their friends when they came out but by the way Bridget was eyeing Lando, he assumed that Gabi's friends knew by now. That only deepened his hopes of being with her publicly--he wouldn't make the same mistake as last time.

"What about you guys? When does season start up again?"

Verstappen coughed. "Let's not talk about that. This is the one time of year where I don't have to think about cars and I would greatly appreciate it if we didn't mention it."

Lando laughed, agreeing with him as he glanced over the horizon. The sun was setting and it was beginning to be Lando's favorite part of being on the boat. Sunsets were prettier in the Pacific, he found, and being with good company made it better.

He felt something brush his hand and he glanced down to see Gabi delicately tracing the top of his hand with her fingertips. Her eyes stayed on Verstappen who was yapping aggressively about his job, but Lando could see a hint of a smile on her lips. 

"So when did you guys get back together?"

Pause. Full halt. 

Lando laughed awkwardly. "Uh, what?"

Verstappen looked just as confused as him. "You guys are back together, right? That's what Oscar said."

That little bitch, where the fuck is Oscar? Lando was squeezing his napkin so hard his knuckles were definitely turning white.

"A few days ago."

Um, what? 

Lando's was in a state of complete shock and confusion as Gabi calmly answered Verstappen's question, smiling at him even. She didn't even look fazed. 

"Interesting. Congrats." Verstappen looked unamused but that was his usual expression. 

"Thanks."

Lando and Kelly were both out-of-their mind confused, but they were the only ones--Gabi went back to eating her food and Verstappen started scrolling on his phone. So...that was it? They were back together? Or was that just a sell-out for her? 

"Relax." She must've read his mind because Gabi looked at him and smiled. "You're not off the hook yet. This will just make things easier."

Right. Not off the hook. Lando couldn't help but smile back as he nodded, too giddy to say anything. 

Her hand slipped into his and she went back to talking to Alexandra on the other side of her, leaving Lando to sip his drink and ignore Kelly's looks. 

After dinner, Gabi left to sit with Max and Lilly by the edge of the boat, so Lando decided to refill drinks. Standing by the kitchen was Oscar who was typing aggressively on his phone. 

"Dick."

He whirled around to Lando who had a very angry expression on his face. 

"Oh, hey. What are you talking about?" Oscar laughed nervously, clicking his phone off. 

Lando raised his eyebrows. "Don't play stupid."

Oscar cut the bullshit. "Okay, but listen--I didn't think Verstappen would say anything!"

Lando's expression didn't change. 

"Alright, I'm sorry. But you guys aren't even together so it doesn't matter."

He coughed and looked away.

Oscar's eyes widened. "Holy shit! Oh my God. What--how? When? Holy shit."

"No need to freak out." Lando shushed him. "But yes. And now I want to know how you knew."

Oscar looked away. "Well. Remember last night when you came back from the club?"

"...Yeah?" 

"Well." He swallowed. "I was still on the boat. In the room next door. I heard everything."

"You were listening?" Lando almost dropped the cup. How could he and Gabi have been so stupid? Now that he thought about it, Lando remembered Oscar staying behind on the boat because his stomach hurt, and Lando also remembered choosing the room right next to his all those days ago. Idiot. 

"On accident! I didn't know who it was but I heard talking and then I realized it was you two." Oscar raised his hands in defense. "I didn't tell anyone other than Bridget and Verstappen."

Lando made a face. "Of course you told Bridget, too."

"It's hard for me to keep secrets."

"Clearly. Especially when they're pretty girls."

Oscar looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mess anything up for you. That's my bad."

Lando sighed. If anything, Oscar had actually helped him and Lando felt bad for the younger guy. "Don't worry about it. Things are good now, so maybe I should be thanking you."

That made him smile. 

"I have to go refill the alcoholics' drinks." Lando slid past him to the bar. "Try to keep secrets to yourself going forward."

"You got it, boss."

a/n: heyyyy .....this is kinda awkward

lets ignore the fact that i ahvent publiched in wuite a few days

schools starting back up so ive been hella busy but gonna try and bang out the end of this book within the next few days, THE END IS IN SIGHT FOLKS! expect four or five more chapters....

anywho love you miss you, hope u enjoy!