Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 37

Lily

As I watched Lando finish the last few sips of his broth, a wave of relief washed over me. Seeing him with a bit of colour in his cheeks again, even if it was faint, made me feel like we were finally coming out on the other side of this. 

He looked at me with those familiar greenish eyes, the ones that usually sparkled with mischief and joy, and now held a quiet gratitude that made my heart swell.

I stood up, taking the empty bowl from the table, and began to clear away the dishes. Lando insisted on helping, but I waved him off with a gentle smile.

"You've done enough for now," I said, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. "Let me take care of the rest."

He didn't argue, just leaned back in his chair with a contented sigh. As I moved around the kitchen, washing up the dishes and putting things away, I could feel his eyes on me, watching with a sort of quiet appreciation. 

It was moments like this—simple, everyday moments—that made me realise just how deeply we cared for each other.

When I finished tidying up, I walked back over to Lando, who was still sitting at the table, looking a bit more like himself. He smiled up at me, and I reached out to take his hand, pulling him gently to his feet.

"Come on," I said softly. "Let's get you back to bed. You need to rest."

He hesitated for a moment, glancing over at the living room. "Actually, can we sit on the couch for a bit? I'm tired of being in bed all the time."

"Of course," I replied, guiding him to the sofa. "But only if you promise to take it easy."

He chuckled, a sound that was music to my ears after the past couple of days. "I promise."

We settled onto the couch, and I pulled a blanket over his legs, making sure he was comfortable. He leaned back against the cushions, his eyes half-closed as he relaxed into the softness of the couch.

"Do you want to watch something?" I asked, reaching for the remote.

"Sure," he said, his voice a little drowsy. "Something light. Maybe a comedy?"

I nodded, scrolling through the options until I found a lighthearted movie. As the opening credits rolled, I snuggled in beside him, resting my head on his shoulder. 

He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close, and I could feel the warmth of his body against mine. It was comforting, familiar, and it made all the stress of the past few days melt away.

For a while, we just sat there, letting the movie play in the background as we enjoyed each other's company. I could feel Lando's breathing even out, and I knew he was drifting off to sleep again, his body still recovering from the rough night.

As I lay there, listening to his steady breathing, my mind drifted back to the conversation I'd overheard earlier. The way Lando had talked to his mum about me had made my heart skip a beat. 

It wasn't just the words he said, but the emotion behind them—the way he'd called me "the one" and talked about our future together with such certainty. It was as if he had no doubts at all about where we were headed, and that kind of confidence, that kind of love, was something I'd never experienced before.

It made me feel so incredibly lucky to have him in my life, to be the person he wanted to spend his future with. And as I lay there, wrapped in his warmth, I realised that I wanted the same thing. 

I wanted a future with Lando—a life full of moments like this, simple and beautiful, where we could just be together, no matter what life threw at us.