paper rings

"I'm sorry."

7th July 2022, Spielberg

I slept like shit and my mood the next morning matched just that. I immediately kept myself busy with some uni assignments before my thoughts could go back to Lando.

I get quite some work done and get ready for my lunch with Heidi. We decided to have some lunch outside the hotel. As I wait for her in the lobby it's already 3pm because we both didn't manage to get everything done earlier.

"Mon Soleil? What are you doing here?" I hear Charles behind me.

"Oh hi Charlie. Heidi and I are heading out for some food. I spend the whole day buried in uni stuff."

"I figured, you didn't answered any messages" He examines my face "You look tired. Everything okay?"

I smile shortly "Always. And sorry about the messages I didn't look on my phone once today. If I would've I would be stuck on TikTok and I wouldn't have managed to get so much work done."

"You wanna come up to me and we watch some Netflix later?"

I nod "Sounds lovely. How was Media day?"

He shrugs "Nothing new, all the same"

I laugh "Then go and catch a brake I'll come around once I'm back."

"Take your time, you can text me when you know a time."

"Oh I forgot my phone upstairs. Is it okay if I just come by?"

He smiles and assures me that it's fine, gives me a quick kiss on the hair and leaves inside.

Heidi and I spend the whole time just talking about everything and nothing. I love the boys but it's good to have a girl by my side too.  Heidi and I usually FaceTime once a week if she isn't attending the race weekend. I found a real friend in her and I love that.

The time flies and before we know we're back at the hotel and it's 7pm. We say our goodbyes and she leaves inside. But I decide to sit down outside for a bit, on a bench across the street from the hotel.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Today was a good day. I liked leaving my phone behind and just enjoy the time. I look at the mountains and enjoy the peace.

Suddenly I hear someone shout my name behind me "VIC?!"

I turn around and see Lando running up to me.

And he looks.. mad..?

I get up and smile, a part of me is very happy to see him.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" he asked as he stood right in front of me. I tried to say something but he didn't let me.

"I texted you. I called you. The whole fucking day. And you ignored me. I was worried sick that anything happened to you!! I get it. I didn't text you yesterday. ok. I'm fuckin sorry okay?! But that doesn't give you the right to let me think that something happened to you!"

"Lan I-"

"I had my reasons why I wasn't texting yesterday. So don't fucking ignore me just because you're pissed. I-"

"LANDO!" I scream at him to make him stop talking. "I didn't ignore you on purpose! I was studying the whole day and went out with Heidi after. My phone is in my room. I didn't even know you tried to reach out! So stop screaming at me"

He looks at me his breath still going fast.

"Lando I am okay. I'm sorry if you thought-"

He closes the distance between us with one step and takes me in his arms. His heart beats so fast I'm afraid it will jump out of his chest any second. He holds me tight and his breath and heartbeat steadies.