Lando Norris has known Stephania Anderson almost his whole life, but the childhood friends had a rough falling out when she started dating his then teammate. Now four years later, he finds himself back in her life and he has to deal with the feelin...
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10. If These Walls Could Talk
The living room was a cozy mess of blankets, pillows, and empty snack containers. After hours of laughter, singing, and reminiscing, the friends had eventually drifted off to sleep where they had settled. Lando lay on the couch, his head resting on a cushion, with Stephania nestled close by. Carla and Mariá were sprawled out on the floor, wrapped in their own blankets.
In the quiet of the night, the only sounds were their gentle breathing and the occasional hum of the city outside. Lando's sleep was light, his mind still buzzing with the events of the day.
Suddenly, a sharp ringing cut through the silence. Lando stirred, his eyes blinking open. The sound was coming from Stephania's phone, which lay on the coffee table. He reached over and picked it up, squinting at the bright screen in the dim light.
The name "Carlos - Mi amor" flashed repeatedly as the phone vibrated. Lando's jaw clenched. The sight of Carlos's name sent a surge of anger through him. He swiped the screen, revealing a barrage of missed calls and messages, all from Carlos, demanding to know where Stephania was.
He felt a fierce protectiveness rise within him. Carlos had no right to harass her, not after everything he had put her through. The anger brewing inside Lando made him want to confront Carlos, to tell him to leave Stephania alone once and for all.
Just as he was about to hit the call button, Stephania stirred beside him. Her eyes fluttered open, and she noticed Lando holding her phone.
"Lando?" she mumbled, still groggy from sleep. "What's going on?"
Lando looked at her, his expression softening but his resolve firm. "It's Carlos. He's been blowing up your phone all day."
Stephania sat up, rubbing her eyes. She took the phone from Lando's hand and glanced at the screen. Her face paled as she saw the number of missed calls and messages.
"I can't believe him," she whispered, a mix of fear and frustration in her voice. "He just won't leave me alone."
Lando placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to deal with this alone, Niah. He has no right to treat you like this."
She looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears. "What should I do? I'm scared, Lando. I don't know what he's capable of."
His anger flared again, but he kept his voice calm. "You need to block his number, Niah. And if he doesn't stop, we can go to the police or something. You deserve to feel safe."
She nodded, her fingers trembling as she navigated to the settings to block Carlos's number. The constant harassment had worn her down, but Lando's presence gave her strength.
As she finished, she looked back at him. "Thank you, Lando. For everything."
He smiled gently. "You don't have to thank me, Niah. I'm here for you, always."
