Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 28

Lily 

I woke up to the soft glow of my phone screen, feeling the familiar warmth of my bed beneath me. For a moment, I was disoriented, unsure of where I was or what time it was. But as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized that my phone was still in my hand, and the FaceTime call from last night was still going.

The sight on the screen made my heart melt.

Lando was still asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed as he lay in bed. His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, and a few strands of his hair had fallen across his forehead. He looked so calm, so content, that I couldn't help but smile as I watched him.

For a moment, I just lay there, taking in the sight of him. It was rare to see him like this—so completely at ease, with no cameras, no crowds, no pressure. Just Lando, as he was, in the quiet of the early morning.

A soft sigh escaped my lips, and I couldn't resist the urge to wake him up, but I wanted to do it gently, in a way that wouldn't startle him.

"Lando," I whispered softly, my voice barely above a breath. "Lan, wake up."

At first, he didn't stir, still lost in whatever dream was keeping him so content. But I could see his eyelids flutter slightly, and I tried again, my tone even softer this time.

"Baby, it's morning. Time to wake up."

His brows furrowed a little, and he let out a sleepy groan, his eyes slowly blinking open. For a second, he looked confused, like he wasn't sure where he was or what was happening. But then his gaze focused on the screen, and his eyes met mine.

A slow, lazy smile spread across his face, and he let out a contented sigh. "Morning, beautiful," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.

My heart fluttered at the sight of that smile, and I couldn't help but grin back at him. "Morning, sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?"

"Best sleep I've had in a while," he replied, still looking at me with that half-awake smile. "Waking up to your face definitely makes it better."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his words, and I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You're such a charmer, even when you're half asleep."

He chuckled, rubbing his eyes as he slowly started to sit up in bed. "Can't help it when it comes to you."

We both fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying the fact that we were waking up together, even if it was through a screen. There was something so intimate, so special about it, and I found myself wishing we could do this every morning.

"Do we have to get up?" Lando asked, his voice still laced with sleepiness. "Can't we just stay like this a little longer?"

I hesitated, knowing that I had something else in mind for the morning. But his sleepy, hopeful expression made me pause. "We could," I said softly, letting the words hang in the air for a moment.

His eyes brightened at that, but I quickly added, "But I should get ready for the day."

He let out a playful groan, flopping back onto his pillow. "Fine, but I'm going back to sleep then. It's too early to be up." I laughed softly, shaking my head at him. "You do that. Rest up, Lan."

As I watched him settle back into his bed, I made the decision. "I'm going to go for a run, okay?" I said, trying to keep my voice casual.

"Alright, have fun," he murmured, already half-asleep again. "Be safe, Lil."

"I will," I assured him, ending the call with a soft smile. But as I put my phone down, I felt a pang of guilt. I wasn't really going for a run.

Instead, I quickly got dressed, pulled on some comfortable clothes, and grabbed my keys. I knew exactly where I was going, and it wasn't the park for a morning jog.