Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 38

Time skip to the race in Miami...

Lando

The Miami sun blazed down, casting a golden glow over the entire circuit. The energy was palpable, buzzing in the air like static before a storm. The crowd was roaring with excitement, the grandstands packed with fans waving flags and banners, their cheers a symphony of support. 

I stood in my racing suit, the familiar weight of the helmet in my hand, and took a deep breath. It was good to be back.

My ribs were completely healed now, a testament to the long, gruelling weeks of recovery and training. The pain that had once been a constant reminder of the crash was now nothing more than a memory, a scar that had faded with time. 

Today was the first race since that accident, and I couldn't have asked for a better place to make my return than Miami. I was calm, almost eerily so, given the circumstances. 

My times in the practice sessions had been strong—third in the first, second in the next, and first in the final practice. I'd qualified second, and that alone had filled me with confidence. I knew I had the pace. I knew I could win this.

But what mattered most to me, more than anything, was that Lily was here. I caught sight of her across the garage, her back to me as she organised some last-minute things for the race. Even from a distance, I could sense the nervous energy radiating off her. 

She was worried—I could see it in her eyes every time she looked at me. It was as if she was holding her breath, waiting for something to go wrong. I understood. The crash had shaken us both, but I needed her to know that today, everything was going to be different.

I walked over to her, my boots clacking against the floor. She looked up as I approached, and for a moment, the worry in her eyes softened into something warmer, something full of love and pride.

"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Hey," she replied, her voice just as soft. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You ready?"

I nodded, holding her gaze. "I am. Don't worry, Lily. I'm feeling good. Better than ever, actually."

She exhaled a small, shaky laugh. "I know, it's just... I can't help it."

I pulled her into a quick hug, needing to feel her close. "I promise you, I'll be careful. And I'll see you at the finish line."

She hugged me back tightly, her arms wrapped around my waist as if she never wanted to let go. "I know you will," she whispered.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of my engineer's voice crackling over the radio, calling me to the garage. The race was about to start. 

I gave Lily one last reassuring smile before slipping my helmet on. With a final squeeze of her hand, I turned and headed towards my car. This was it.

As I slid into the cockpit, everything else fell away. The noise of the crowd, the pressure of the moment, even the lingering worry for Lily—it all dissolved, replaced by the sharp focus that racing demanded. 

My team was efficient, getting me strapped in and ready to go in no time. The roar of the engine filled my ears, a sound that was both comforting and exhilarating. I was back where I belonged.

The formation lap flew by, and soon enough, I was lined up on the grid, the lights above flickering one by one. My heart pounded in sync with the countdown. And then, as the lights went out, it was as if time itself held its breath. I launched off the line, my car surging forward with all the power I'd missed in those weeks away from the track.