Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 65

Lily

The drive home from my parents' house was quiet, but the warmth of the evening still lingered in the car. The roads were almost empty, the soft glow of streetlights casting long shadows as we wound our way through the city. 

Lando was focused on the road, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel the way he did before every race, like he was trying to steady himself. His face was calm, but I could feel the buzz of excitement between us, hanging in the air like an invisible thread connecting us after the night we'd just had.

I shifted in my seat, letting out a small sigh as I stared out the window. The weight of the day was starting to sink in. Both of our families knew now. 

The secret we had held so close was out, and it wasn't just our news anymore—it belonged to everyone. That thought, both thrilling and terrifying, made my stomach flutter, and I absentmindedly rested my hand on my belly, already feeling protective of the two little lives growing inside me.

"I still can't believe your dad didn't cry," Lando said, breaking the comfortable silence.

I laughed softly, picturing the moment we handed my parents the little box with the ultrasound picture. My dad had looked at it for what felt like forever before finally reacting. "Oh, he's saving it. Trust me, the next time we see them, he'll be a mess."

Lando grinned, his eyes flicking over to me briefly. "Your mom, though...I thought she was going to start planning their first birthday before she even finished hugging us."

I smiled, remembering the way my mom's eyes had lit up as soon as she understood what we were telling her. "She's excited. First grandkids and all that."

"And Noah," Lando continued, shaking his head in amusement, "he's already making bets on who's going to change more diapers."

I rolled my eyes, remembering my brother's smug face as he teased Lando relentlessly. "Yeah, he thinks you're going to be elbow-deep in nappies every day."

Lando chuckled, his voice full of that easy confidence that made everything seem like no big deal. "I'm not afraid of a little diaper duty. It's like a pit stop—quick, efficient, and then back to the action."

I snorted, glancing at him in disbelief. "You're going to time yourself, aren't you? Set a new personal record for diaper changes?"

"Absolutely!" he said, pretending to be serious, his chest puffing up. "And swaddling too—watch, I'll have the over-the-shoulder swaddle throw perfected by the time they're two months old."

I couldn't help but laugh, the image of Lando swaddling babies like he was preparing for a Formula 1 pit stop too ridiculous not to. 

"God help us," I said, shaking my head. But underneath the joke, I felt this overwhelming surge of love for him. He was already so committed, so invested in this journey we were about to embark on, and it made me feel a little less scared.

As we turned down our street, our house came into view, sitting quietly at the end like it had been waiting for us to come home. But even though it looked the same, it felt different now.

Knowing that we were going to bring our babies here made it feel more alive, like it was holding its breath, waiting to be filled with the sounds of their tiny cries and laughter.

Lando pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, the quiet settling between us like a soft blanket. For a moment, neither of us moved, and I rested my head back against the seat, feeling the exhaustion of the day creeping in.

"I'm exhausted," Lando groaned, letting his head fall dramatically against the steering wheel.

I smiled at his antics, unbuckling my seatbelt. "From what? Charming everyone?"