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𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟

{ riley's version }
_

I woke up and the headache racked my head. Somehow, and thankfully, drunk Riley had remembered to set some water and an Advil. I took them as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. It was going to be a long day. Practice runs and media after. I would be able to sleep during practice laps, and most of the posts from today would be handled by Izzy. It was just adjusting a premade poster to show the positions in free practice.

I hoped it would be enough sleep to get rid of this hangover before all the media stuff started. But as I got dressed, I remembered why I was feeling like this. The club, Lando, all of it came rushing back as my mind finally started itself up.

The look in his eyes, the feeling I got when his hands were against my waist, the way his laugh seemed to make everything else melt away. I shook those thoughts from my head, it wasn't the time, and nor was it the place. It was unprofessional and after all, my career always came first. I wasn't here to flirt, I was here to earn the spot I deserved.

I opted for braids, the two French braids pulling the hair back from my face and the tight pull of them lightened my headache just a bit. I sighed in relief, tugging on the rest of my clothes. Simple today. I would be going to the track with Izzy. Lando and Oscar would be leaving any minute now so they had time to get ready.

The cargos I always wore back in Miami, the racing jacket I stole from Logan years ago with a black tank, and my old Jordans. Simple and yet, classy enough that I could pull it off. Especially with the addition of my paddock and press pass.

But, the knock on the door pulled me from admiring how I could pull off this outfit while still being dramatically hungover. I looked down at my watch, it couldn't be Izzy. We weren't supposed to leave for another forty-five minutes and as I opened the door, I should have realized who it was going to be.

"Hi, Lan."

"Hi, Riles. Are you feeling okay?"

I took the tea he was holding, rolling my eyes at the fact he was willing to be late to bring me a simple cup of tea I could have gotten myself on the way out. "Just a headache and it'll be gone in the next hour. You're going to be late for your car."

He shrugged. "I made a promise."

"I can get tea myself."

"Yeah, but I like that it allows me to see you every morning."

"Go catch your car before you're late, casanova."

_

I sat next to Izzy, my mind running from zero to nothing as I watched the city pass in a blur. I was worried about being late but Izzy promised us that we would be fine within the first few miles of the drive. Maybe I was just worried about the fact that we weren't riding with the boys. I had gotten used to either riding with Lando, now that he offered to drive me to work most mornings, or having him take me home. Same with travel, he had been there.

I realized I needed to rely on him less. It was okay to be friends but relying on him on him like this, it felt like I was back in Miami before Logan disappeared to chase his dreams. I shook whatever thoughts threatened my head to leave as we parked. I double-checked that I had my press and paddock passes before we got out of the car.

"So, you and Lando?"

"Izzy!"

"What?" She nudged me as we walked toward the garage. "I saw you two last night."

"Izzy, stop it."

"No, I will not until you realize that boy is over the moon for you."

I rolled my eyes, flashing a smile at Zak as we walked into the garage. "He's my colleague. That's so wrong."

"So what? You're telling me he's not attractive."

"Sure, he's attractive but that breaks every HR rule in the book. And what about that photographer?"

"Uh- do not spin this at me."

I snorted, opening the door to the driver's room. Lando and Oscar looked like they were engaged in a very interesting conversation. I put my hand over Izzy's mouth, not wanting to interrupt whatever this was.

"No, no, no. That's not how it goes."

"Fuck off, I am right."

"About what?" I finally spoke up, watching as both the boys jumped.

"Jesus, Riles."

I snorted. Izzy, burst out laughing as Lando and Oscar glared at us, clearly not happy about being scared during their very interesting conversation. I started to laugh myself catching the contagious energy that Izzy's laugh always had. The boys caught onto it and we all dissolved into laughter.

I was the first to stop, holding onto my side as I tried to catch my breath. "Okay, so what was the argument about?"

"Lando here was trying to tell me that Silverstone is the best track."

"Because it is!"

"It's not!"

"Riles?"

I froze. "Oh, uh. I don't know. I don't race."

"Well, duh." He rolled his eyes and I had half the nerve to throw my empty cup at his head. "But which is your favorite to watch?"

"Monza or Miami."

"What?" Both boys exclaimed.

"Are you serious?"

"Riles, no. No."

"Girl, I love you but no."

I rolled my eyes. "Then what's yours, Oscar?"

"Aussie."

"Your home race doesn't count."

"Says you! You picked Miami!"

Izzy was almost on the floor as she laughed behind all of us. Lando looked disgusted and Oscar was shaking his head. I raised an eyebrow at both of them but the tension broke and we all started laughing again until none of us could breathe. It took a bit longer for us to catch our breath again, the boys standing up.

"Free practice time. Are you girls going to watch?"

Izzy shrugged. "I am going to flirt with engineers."

I snorted at her, trying to keep my composure as the boys rolled their eyes. Lando looked over at me, giving me a this girl look and I almost lost it again. I took a few more breaths before Oscar looked at me, waiting for an answer.

"Me? I'm going to try and nap this hangover off and maybe steal something from hospitality."

"You are something."

"Listen, it's free food. And I can try to work up enough courage to talk to Lewis." I got laughs from all three of them and I rolled my eyes, throwing up my hands in surrender. "Laugh all you want, nerds. I'm going to talk to him before the end of the season. Now go race."

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a/n: i am manifesting a charles win in monaco this weekend which means praying to saint leclerc. forza ferrari
as always, love it or don't :p