Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟷𝟷 ♡ Never Be Like You

Never Be Like You By Flume, Kai

After finishing the meeting, Lana hurried home, her heart heavy and her mind racing. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she made her way through the familiar streets of Monaco, her thoughts spiraling. Every step felt heavier than the last, and by the time she rounded the final corner and saw her house, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

Pushing through the front door and into the living room, she stopped in her tracks. Her best friend, Nathalie, had transformed the space into a haven. Snacks of every kind crowded the coffee table, Netflix was queued up on the TV, and a gift basket filled with spa goodies sat waiting on the couch. Nathalie, with her usual brightness, was bustling around, setting up what could only be described as the ultimate comfort zone.

When Nathalie finally noticed Lana standing in the doorway, eyes swollen and red, she immediately dropped what she was holding and rushed over. Wrapping her arms around Lana, she squeezed her tight.

"Oh my god, Lana. I got your voicemail and tried calling you back, but when you didn't answer, I knew something was wrong. So I brought everything we could possibly need for a proper night in. Snacks, Netflix, spa stuff—whatever you need," Nathalie said, her hands now resting gently on Lana's shoulders. "But what happened? You sounded so upset."

Lana blinked, her throat tightening as she spoke. "Carlos has a girlfriend." The words came out in a soft, defeated tone.

Nathalie's expression immediately shifted to one of shock and empathy. She knew exactly how much Carlos meant to Lana. "Oh, Lana, I'm so sorry," Nathalie said, her voice gentle. She led Lana over to the couch, where they both sat down. "You ran into them?"

"Yeah," Lana replied, her voice barely a whisper. "I saw them on my way to the meeting. It was awful."

"Did you... meet her?" Nathalie asked carefully, leaning in closer.

Lana nodded. "She was right there, hanging on his arm, smiling up at him like—like she's everything, and I'm just... nothing." She swallowed hard, staring at her hands. "I don't know what he sees in her that he doesn't see in me."

Her heart ached, and the weight of it made her slump further into the couch. Nathalie was about to respond when the doorbell rang, startling both of them.

"I'll get it," Nathalie said quickly, standing up. "You stay here." As she walked toward the door, she called back, "And for the record, I'm going to kill him for this!"

Lana managed a weak smile at Nathalie's protective outburst and peeked over the couch to see who was at the door. Nathalie opened it just enough to talk to whoever was on the other side, exchanging quiet words before walking back into the living room, a surprised look on her face.

"Hey," Nathalie whispered, sitting on the edge of the couch, "Lando is at your front door."

"Lando Norris?" Lana asked, wide-eyed and alarmed.

"No, Lando Calrissian," Nathalie deadpanned before rolling her eyes. "Yes, Norris. Why the hell is he here?"

"Oh, crap," Lana muttered as she dropped her head into her hands. "New information."

"Care to share, or should we just see what he wants first?" Nathalie asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess I'll see what he wants." Lana stood, wiping her eyes as best she could, and made her way to the door.

When she opened it, Lando was standing there, holding out her phone. "You left this at the meeting," he said, looking slightly awkward.

Lana's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she took the phone from him. "Oh, god. Thanks," she said, her voice sheepish.

"It's nothing," he shrugged. "They made me bring it over." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Look, about this arrangement..." He scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "I just want to make sure we're on the same page. This is only fake, right? I'm not looking for anything real here."

Lana blinked, momentarily stunned by the sheer arrogance of his assumption. She squared her shoulders, her eyes hardening. "Don't flatter yourself," she snapped. "I got dragged into this just like you."

Before he could respond, she slammed the door in his face. Turning around, she found Nathalie standing behind her, arms crossed and a look of disbelief on her face.

"Ok, you really need to fill me in now," Nathalie said, her voice thick with curiosity.

Lana sighed deeply, leaning against the door. "Me and that D-bag," she gestured toward the door, "are fake dating."

Nathalie's jaw dropped. "What? How? Why?"

"Speedy Stars partnered with McLaren, and apparently that means I need to pretend to be in a relationship with him." Lana's words were sharp with frustration as they both walked back to the living room and collapsed on the couch.

"That is insane. I don't even know what to say." Nathalie shook her head, reaching for a snack. "I'm so sorry, Lana. That's a lot to deal with on top of everything else."

Lana nodded, feeling the weight of the day settle into her bones. "It's been a hell of a day. Can we just forget about it for now?"

"Absolutely," Nathalie replied, offering a comforting smile. "How about some Gilmore Girls?"

"Perfect," Lana agreed, sinking further into the couch, grateful for the warmth of her best friend beside her.