Lando Norris has known Stephania Anderson almost his whole life, but the childhood friends had a rough falling out when she started dating his then teammate. Now four years later, he finds himself back in her life and he has to deal with the feelin...
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59. Close To You
It was Tuesday morning, and the sun had just begun to filter through the blinds of the hotel room that Stephania and Lando were sharing for the first time. The room was tastefully decorated, a blend of modern elegance and comfort, but it felt particularly special to them, given the circumstances.
Lando lay on his side of the bed, watching as Stephania stirred awake. Despite the excitement of the new surroundings and the intimate setting, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. The encounter with Maya in Baku had left him unsettled, and he was still grappling with how to approach the topic with Stephania.
As Stephania slowly opened her eyes, she turned to find Lando propped up on one elbow, watching her with a gentle, contemplative expression.
"Good morning," she said softly, a smile playing on her lips as she stretched and yawned.
"Morning, Beautiful," Lando replied, his voice still heavy with the remnants of sleep. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, his touch tender but distracted.
"Are you alright?" Stephania asked, noticing his preoccupied look. She could sense that something was on his mind, but she didn't want to press him too soon.
"Yeah, just a bit tired," Lando said, trying to mask his concern. "It's been a busy few days."
Stephania nodded, accepting his answer. She sat up and glanced around the room, taking in the newness of their surroundings. "I'm excited for today," she said, attempting to lift the mood. "It's going to be a great experience to go golfing with the others."
"Yeah, it should be," Lando agreed, though his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
They spent the morning getting ready for the day, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Lando's mind kept drifting back to Maya and the unresolved issues between them. He knew he needed to talk to Stephania about it eventually, but the weight of the situation made him hesitant.
Stephania and Lando were gearing up for a day of golf with Alex, Lily, Max, and Carla. Max had invited himself along after learning about their plans, and to make amends for his intrusion, he brought Carla, Stephania's best friend, who was now his girlfriend after years of playful teasing.
As they prepared to leave for the golf course, Lando turned to Stephania, taking a deep breath. "Niah, I..."
Before he could continue, Stephania interrupted with a bright smile. "Let's make the most of today. We can talk later."
Lando hesitated but ultimately nodded. He knew she was right. They needed to focus on enjoying their time together, but the conversation he dreaded was looming over him, a shadow he couldn't quite shake. For now, he resolved to keep the issue at bay and cherish the moments they had, hoping that when the time came, he would find the right way to navigate the conversation.
