the IT girl

Taking the First Step

The hours seemed to crawl by after Lily had made her decision. She was nervous, more than she cared to admit, and even though she'd tried to distract herself by walking around the streets of Brazil, her thoughts kept circling back to one thing—Lando.

She hadn't sent him a response yet. What was she supposed to say? Yes, let's meet? That sounded too casual. I'd love to see you? Too eager. She groaned inwardly, frustrated at how much she was overthinking a simple text message.

Back at the hotel, Mia wasn't helping either. She was lounging on the bed, scrolling through her phone and casting occasional knowing looks in Lily's direction.

"You're going to drive yourself crazy if you keep pacing like that," Mia said, not looking up from her screen.

"I just... I don't know what to say," Lily replied, running a hand through her hair.

"You already said you'd meet him," Mia pointed out. "Just text him! The longer you wait, the more anxious you'll feel. It's just a coffee or something, not a marriage proposal."

Lily shot her a look but knew Mia was right. Taking a deep breath, she sat down on the edge of the bed and opened her phone again. She stared at Lando's message, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves, before finally typing her response.

Hi Lando. I'd love to meet up. How about we grab coffee this afternoon?

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, then let out a long breath. "There. It's done."

Mia glanced over at her, smiling. "Good. Now we wait and see."

It didn't take long for Lando to reply.

Perfect. There's a great café by the beach. Meet you there at 3?

Lily's heart fluttered at the thought. By the beach. Somehow, it sounded both romantic and casual at the same time. She smiled to herself as she typed back a quick confirmation.

For the rest of the day, she tried to stay calm, but her mind kept running through every possible scenario. What would they talk about? Would it be awkward after she had turned him down before? Or would it feel easy, like they had known each other for longer than they had?

By the time 3 PM rolled around, Lily had changed her outfit twice and finally settled on something simple—a flowy white dress with light sandals. She didn't want to overdo it, but she still wanted to look nice. As she glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, she took a deep breath, steadying herself.

"You look great," Mia said from the other room, as if reading her thoughts. "Just go and enjoy it. Don't overthink everything."

Lily nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. "Thanks, Mia."

She left the hotel and made her way to the café, her heart beating a little faster with each step. The streets were busy, filled with tourists and locals alike, but all she could focus on was the fact that in a few minutes, she would be sitting across from Lando, trying to figure out what exactly this was between them.

When she arrived at the café, she spotted Lando immediately. He was sitting at an outdoor table, looking effortlessly casual in a t-shirt and sunglasses, his messy hair blowing slightly in the breeze. He looked up as she approached, a smile breaking across his face.

"Hey," he said, standing up as she reached the table. "I'm glad you came."

"Hey," Lily replied, smiling back. "I'm glad I came too."

They sat down, and for a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them as they both ordered drinks. The sound of the ocean waves in the distance provided a soothing backdrop, and Lily found herself relaxing, the nerves slowly ebbing away.

"I've been wanting to talk to you since the race," Lando said after a moment, his voice sincere. "I know things have been a bit... awkward between us, but I just wanted to clear the air."

Lily nodded, appreciating his straightforwardness. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it too. I turned you down before because I wasn't sure... and I still don't know if I'm ready. But I didn't want to avoid you forever."

"I get it," Lando said, leaning forward slightly. "I wasn't sure if I should ask you out at all. But the thing is, I like you, Lily. I don't know where this could go, but I want to at least give it a shot."

His words hung in the air, and Lily felt her heart skip a beat. It was the honesty in his voice that struck her most. He wasn't pushing, just laying his feelings out there for her to see.

"I like you too, Lando," she said softly. "But it's not that simple for me. I've been through a lot, and it's hard for me to trust people. It's not about you—it's about me and my past."

Lando nodded, his gaze steady on hers. "I understand. And I'm not asking you to rush into anything. I just want to get to know you better, see where things go—if you're okay with that."

Lily looked down at her drink, feeling a little overwhelmed by the vulnerability in the conversation. But there was something comforting about the way Lando handled it, the way he seemed willing to take things at her pace.

"Okay," she said, meeting his eyes again. "Let's see where it goes."

A smile spread across Lando's face, and for the first time in a long while, Lily felt a spark of hope. Maybe this was the start of something—something that didn't have to be perfect right away, but something that could grow into something real.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking, not just about racing or modeling, but about life. Lando was easy to talk to, and before long, they were laughing and sharing stories, the tension between them melting away. By the time the sun began to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink, Lily felt lighter than she had in months.

As they stood up to leave, Lando turned to her, his eyes soft. "So... when can I see you again?"

Lily smiled, feeling the warmth of the moment. "Soon," she said, surprising herself with how much she meant it.