Behind the Pit Wall: Jamie Albon's Challenge // Lando Norris // F1

Chapter 34: Tangled Emotions

Jamie hurried through the aisles of the store, her heart pounding in her chest. The confrontation with Lando had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She had managed to keep a brave face during their argument, but as soon as she walked away from him, the emotions she had been holding back came crashing down.

She needed to get away, to find somewhere she could be alone and process everything that had just happened. Her eyes darted around the store until she spotted a sign for the restrooms. Without thinking, she made a beeline for the door, pushing it open and rushing inside.

The restroom was empty, the quiet only broken by the sound of her rapid breathing. Jamie quickly locked herself in one of the stalls, leaning back against the door as tears started to fall. She tried to stifle her sobs, but the weight of the confrontation with Lando was too much to hold back.

She slid down to the floor, her arms wrapping tightly around her knees. The cold, hard surface of the toilet stall felt strangely comforting as she let herself cry. All the emotions she had been bottling up for weeks finally poured out—anger, frustration, fear, and the confusing feelings she had for Lando that she didn't want to acknowledge.

Lando's words echoed in her mind, tormenting her. I need you in my life, Jamie. Even if it's just as friends. I can't lose you. The sincerity in his voice had caught her off guard, leaving her conflicted and unsure of what to believe.

She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe that he genuinely cared about her. But Lando had a reputation, and Jamie knew all too well how he treated women. He had always been a flirt, someone who never took relationships seriously. How could she possibly let her guard down around him again? What if he was just playing with her, like he had with so many others? What if she let herself believe in him, only to be hurt in the end?

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe—just maybe—Lando was being genuine. The way he had looked at her in the store, the desperation in his voice... it was different from the Lando she was used to seeing.

But that only made things worse. If he was sincere, if he really did care about her, then that meant she had to make a choice. Either let him back into her life and risk getting hurt, or keep him at a distance and protect herself from the possibility of heartbreak.

Jamie buried her face in her hands, feeling overwhelmed by the decision she had to make. She wanted to be strong, to keep her resolve and stay away from Lando. But deep down, she couldn't deny that a part of her still cared about him. A part of her still wanted to believe that they could be more than just adversaries.

Why now? she thought bitterly. Why, after all this time, do I suddenly have to start liking Lando?

It made her angry—angry at herself for feeling this way, and angry at Lando for stirring up these emotions in her. She had worked so hard to push him out of her mind, to convince herself that he was nothing more than an annoyance. But now, all of that hard work seemed to be unraveling.

After what felt like hours, Jamie finally forced herself to get up. She couldn't stay in the bathroom forever, and she certainly couldn't let Lando see how much he had affected her. She wiped away the remnants of her tears and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

She walked to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face, hoping it would help clear her mind. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she tried to summon the strength she knew she needed.

I can do this, she told herself. I can get through this, and I don't need Lando in my life to be happy.

With that, she straightened up, determined to keep her distance from Lando. She would help Alex with his move to Monaco, but there was no way she was going to join him there. Being in the same city as Lando was the last thing she needed.