Mind the Gap

Chapter 18

landonorris: perfect weekend 🇪🇸

Lando's POV:

It's Monday morning, our last breakfast together before I leave for Hungary tomorrow with Carlos. I wake up to the familiar sight of Ana still asleep beside me, her hair a messy halo on the pillow, her breathing soft and steady. These past few mornings, waking up next to her has been something I could easily get used to. Too used to, maybe.

I slip out of bed quietly and start making breakfast, savoring these little moments I've come to love. Like how Ana can't hold a proper conversation until she's had her first cup of double-shot espresso. And how she likes her soft-boiled eggs in the morning—simple, with a bit of salt. It's one of those small things that I've come to appreciate about her routine.

As I finish setting the table, Ana shuffles into the kitchen, still half-asleep, wearing one of my oversized shirts. She mutters something that sounds like gibberish and heads straight for the coffee machine.

I laugh softly, watching her. "Good morning to you too," I tease.

Ana shoots me a sleepy look and mumbles, "Not until I've had my coffee, Norris."

I shake my head, smirking. "One day, I'm going to lock you in this apartment so you'll spend the whole day with me instead of running off to work."

She finally takes a sip of her coffee and looks at me properly, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? You're going to tie me to the espresso machine or something?"

"Maybe," I joke. "Or I'll just hide all your work stuff. Could be fun."

She smirks, her voice still laced with sleepiness. "Nice try, but I love my work too much. I'll cut the day short for you, though—so we can have dinner out."

I grin. "Fine, I'll let you go. But I'm handling the reservation. Carlos recommended a place—I'll call and get it sorted."

"Deal," she says, clinking her mug against mine.

After breakfast, I call Carlos while Ana gets ready. "Hey mate, how'd the blind date with Mia go? Don't leave me hanging."

Carlos pauses, and for the first time in what feels like ever, he's... flustered. "Uh... I'll tell you on the plane tomorrow, Lando. I know you're with Ana now."

I raise an eyebrow, grinning. "Come on, Carlos. It went well, didn't it?"

Carlos stammers a bit, clearly embarrassed. "Let's just say it wasn't bad. But I'll tell you when we're flying."

Ana, who overhears the conversation, leans in with a smirk. "Hi, Carlos! I'm looking forward to hearing the updates too. Don't keep us in suspense!"

Carlos groans audibly on the other end. "Hi, Ana... yeah, I'll give you both the details tomorrow. For now, just enjoy your day."

I laugh as I hang up. "Wow, that's a first—Carlos speechless."

Ana chuckles, shaking her head. "It must've gone really well if he's this shy about it."

"Definitely," I say, still grinning. "He's never short on words, but today? He's got nothing."

With dinner plans sorted, I attend my online meeting with the engineers to catch up on car updates. It's nothing too intense, but necessary. After that, I head out to run an errand before picking Ana up.

I stop by a jewelry store I noticed the other day, looking for something special for Ana. After browsing for a while, I find the perfect piece—a simple gold necklace with a small charm shaped like the number 4. It's subtle enough that it could be seen as an "A" for Ana, but also represents my race number. It feels like the perfect mix of personal and thoughtful.

While waiting for it to be wrapped, a few fans spot me. The usual scene unfolds—pictures, autographs, and a small crowd forming. I try to keep it brief, but eventually, I have to make a quick exit before the shop turns into chaos.

Later that evening, I pick Ana up, and after a quick shower, we head out for dinner at Casa Blanca. The drive is relaxed, the city lights flickering as we move through Madrid. Ana's looking out the window, quiet, and I can't help but steal a glance at her every now and then.

Once we arrive at the restaurant, the ambiance is perfect. Low lighting, intimate tables—it's exactly the kind of place Carlos would recommend. As we sit down and start going through the menu, the conversation flows easily, just like it always does between us.

But as the evening progresses, I can't shake a thought that's been lingering in the back of my mind. I wait until our mains are served before finally bringing it up.

"So," I say, taking a sip of my wine, "I've been thinking..."

Ana raises an eyebrow, smirking. "That sounds dangerous."

I chuckle nervously, but this feels important. "I've been thinking about us."

"Oh?" she asks, tilting her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

"Yeah," I say, setting my glass down. "I'm not seeing anyone else... and I wanted to know if... you are?"

She pauses for a second, then breaks into a soft smile, clearly amused. "Do you really think I'd have time for someone else with how jealous you are?"

I feel my face heat up, and I let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Okay, fair point. But I just wanted to be sure."

Ana leans back in her chair, her smirk turning into a genuine smile. "No, Lando. I'm not seeing anyone else. Just you."

I glance at her, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Good. Because I'm really into you."

She reaches across the table, taking my hand. "I'm really into you too."

For the rest of the dinner, the air between us feels lighter, more open. By the time dessert arrives, it's clear that whatever this is, we're both in it together. We share more stories, more laughs, and those quiet glances that say more than words could.

"So," I say with a grin as we finish up dessert, "I guess that means we're exclusively dating?"

Ana raises her glass, smiling. "I guess it does."

We head back to the apartment, slipping into our comfortable clothes. Soon, we're in bed, lying close together, her head resting on my chest.

"I'm going to miss you when you leave tomorrow," Ana says softly, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

"I'll miss you too," I reply, running my fingers through her hair. "But I'll be back before you know it."

She lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine. "Promise?" These brown eyes.

I nod, smiling. "Promise."

There's a brief silence before I ask something that's been on my mind for a bit. "Would you come to Hungary?"

Ana bites her lip, looking torn. "I'd love to, but I've got a work event in Germany next weekend. It's going to be hard."

I nod, feeling a bit disappointed but trying not to show it. "So... maybe the Dutch Grand Prix?"

She smiles, tracing her fingers lightly on my chest. "I'm sure we'll work it out."

We fall asleep like that, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world fading away.