𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 | 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

Clara drove through the streets of London, finally feeling good that day as she headed to the restaurant in Chelsea. It was only a few minutes away from Wimbledon, but the night air felt refreshing with the convertible roof down. After spending too much time in that house, she was happy to be out.

When she arrived at the restaurant, Clara parked on the sidewalk. The valet came over to help her out of the car and took the keys to park her McLaren Senna. She walked up to the entrance, wearing her Gucci sunglasses and holding her purse, appreciating the look of the place as she headed inside.

Clara walked into the restaurant and noticed the French decor right away. The soft lighting and stylish furnishings gave the place a cozy vibe. She took a moment to breathe in the delicious smells coming from the kitchen as she looked around for her friends, trying to push aside her stressful thoughts about Carlos.

She finally found the sitting in a quiet corner of the pretty empty restaurant. As Clara walked over to the table, she noticed Coco chatting with Jimmy and Lando, who looked cute as they held their menus. Clara assumed she was late since they were already prepared to order. Coco smiled up at her, and so did Jimmy and Lando, making her feel welcomed despite her earlier worries.

"Hey girl." Coco stood up to give Clara a quick side hug, her excitement evident. "Hey girl." Clara greeted back, feeling the warmth of their friendship. She slid into the seat between Coco and Lando, glancing around the table. Jimmy sat across from her, adjusting his menu with a playful grin. The big square table was tilted at an angle, making it look like a diamond shape.

Clara reached out for Jimmy's hand and gave him a handshake. "Hey, Miss Wimbledon," he greeted playfully, and they all laughed, the sound echoing softly in the quiet restaurant. Clara smiled back, her eyes sparkling. "Hey, Mr. Butler," she replied, her tone teasing.

Turning to Lando, she noticed his broad smile and the way he leaned forward, clearly happy to see her. "Hey, Clara," he greeted with a fist bump, his enthusiasm contagious. "Hey, Lando," she said, returning the gesture and feeling a sense of comfort in their presence.

Clara felt a twinge of offense as Coco moved her chair closer to Jimmy, clearly eager to engage in a private conversation. She watched her friend closely, realizing that Coco's behavior hinted at her growing feelings for him. Just as Clara was lost in thought, Lando interrupted her. "Stop watching them, it's creepy."

Clara rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile. "I'm not watching them! Just... observing," she shot back, trying to play it cool. Lando chuckled, shaking his head. "Right, right. Just don't get too invested in their little moment." Clara shrugged, but in her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease about Coco and Jimmy.

"I'm not invested at all, I'm just curious," she replied, returning her gaze to Coco and Jimmy. She had never seen Coco act like this before; it was so weird for Clara to witness. "What are you curious about?" Lando asked, joining her in staring at them.

"Nothing, just leave it," she said, setting her menu down and turning to Lando. His green eyes looked amazing, and she felt a flutter of something in her chest as she met his gaze. "I guess I'm gonna be stuck with you tonight, since those two are only paying attention to each other," Clara sighed, watching as Coco and Jimmy laughed loudly together, Coco's arm hooked around his.

"What's so bad about being stuck with me?" Lando teased, inching closer, their eyes locked in a playful stare. "Take off those sunglasses, so we can do this properly." Clara suddenly realized she hadn't taken them off yet.

Lando chuckled as she removed the shades, and she found herself laughing too. "Okay, okay, now it's a fair fight," she said, feeling a rush of excitement as they continued their playful standoff. Clara leaned slightly forward, her heart racing as she challenged him with a smirk. "You think you can handle me without your shades?"