Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 31

Lando

Time skip to the Australian GP...

We had just landed in Melbourne, the vibrant city bustling with life as it welcomed us with warm weather and clear skies. The familiar hum of excitement and anticipation was in the air, reminding me that another race weekend was upon us. 

This time, though, things felt different—better. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't have to worry about hiding anything or sneaking around.

Lily and I could finally be open about our relationship, and it felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

After grabbing our luggage, we made our way to the exit, where a car was waiting to take us to our hotel. The drive was smooth, and the cityscape of Melbourne passed by in a blur of modern architecture and lush parks. 

I glanced over at Lily, who was looking out the window, a small smile playing on her lips. She looked relaxed, happy, and it made me feel the same.

When we arrived at the hotel, the team had already checked in, and the lobby was buzzing with activity as drivers and team members from various F1 teams mingled and greeted each other.

There was a sense of camaraderie and competition in the air—a strange but familiar mix that always got my adrenaline pumping.

We made our way to the front desk, where the receptionist greeted us warmly. "Welcome, Mr. Norris. Miss Lily," she said, handing over the key cards. "You're in room 905. Enjoy your stay."

I took the key card with a nod, and we headed to the elevators. As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but smile at the fact that we were finally sharing a room, no more sneaking around or pretending we were just colleagues. Lily caught my grin and raised an eyebrow.

"What's that smile for?" she asked, leaning into me slightly.

"Just happy," I replied simply, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

She chuckled, resting her head on my shoulder as the elevator ascended. "Me too, Lan. Me too."

When we reached our floor, we found our room easily. The door clicked open with the key card, revealing a spacious suite with a stunning view of the city. 

The decor was modern and sleek, with a comfortable-looking king-sized bed dominating the room. I dropped our bags on the floor and took a moment to take it all in.

"It's amazing," I commented, kicking off my shoes and flopping onto the bed, spreading out like a starfish. "Ohh so comfortable..."

Lily laughed, shaking her head as she walked over to the window to take in the view. "This is so beautiful" she agreed. "And the view's amazing."

I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on one elbow to watch her. "You're amazing." She turned around, her cheeks flushing slightly as she smiled. "You're cheesy."

"And you love it."

She didn't deny it, just gave me that smile that always made my heart skip a beat. But before we could get too comfortable, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I called out, not bothering to get up.

The door opened, and one of the team's PR managers poked her head in. "Lando, Lily, just wanted to remind you about the interview this afternoon. We've arranged a car to pick you up in an hour."

I groaned internally. I'd almost forgotten about that. Interviews weren't exactly my favorite thing in the world, but they came with the job. And now, with Lily by my side, there was the added pressure of talking about our relationship in front of the whole world.