the IT girl

The Calm Before the Storm

The adrenaline of the race still buzzed in Lando's veins as he and Lily made their way back to the hotel. The streets of Las Vegas were still alive with energy, the sounds of celebration echoing around them. But inside their private car, it was quiet—almost too quiet.

Lily leaned against the window, watching the neon lights flash by, her thoughts a million miles away. It had been an overwhelming night: the podium, the press, the endless camera flashes. Lando had handled it like a pro, smiling for the photos and giving interviews, but she could feel the pressure building.

"You okay?" Lando's voice broke through her thoughts, soft but concerned.

Lily turned to him, giving a small smile. "Yeah, just tired. It's been... a lot."

"I get that," he nodded, his hand reaching out to take hers. "Tonight was intense, but I couldn't have done it without you there."

Lily squeezed his hand, appreciating his words, but there was still a lingering tension in her chest. "It's just... everything's changed so fast. I don't think I was ready for how public all of this would become."

Lando sighed, understanding where she was coming from. "I know it's a lot, and I don't want you to feel like you have to be okay with everything all at once. We can take things slow."

She nodded, grateful for his understanding. "It's just weird. I've been in the public eye as a model, but this feels different. It feels like there's no escape sometimes."

Lando leaned in, his voice reassuring. "We'll figure it out. We don't have to live our lives according to what everyone else expects. We'll do it on our terms, yeah?"

Lily smiled, finally feeling some of the tension ease away. "Yeah. I guess I just need to get used to it."

They pulled up to the hotel, and as they stepped out of the car, the cool night air hit them, a welcome relief from the heat of the day. Lando took Lily's hand, guiding her through the lobby and up to their suite. Once inside, the atmosphere shifted—more relaxed, more intimate. It was just them again, away from the noise.

Lily kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch, her body sinking into the cushions. "I've never been more exhausted," she groaned, rubbing her eyes.

Lando chuckled, sitting beside her. "I don't know how you do it—standing in front of cameras all day, walking runways, photoshoots. I think I'd lose my mind."

Lily laughed softly, leaning against him. "And I don't know how you drive at 200 mph without having a heart attack."

He grinned, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Guess we make a good team, then."

For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the world outside fading away. Lando scrolled through his phone, checking messages and responding to a few congratulatory texts. Meanwhile, Lily's mind wandered to the weeks ahead—the races, the events, the constant scrutiny. It was a lot to handle, but as she glanced at Lando beside her, she knew it was worth it.

"I'm proud of you, you know," she said softly, breaking the silence.

Lando looked at her, a genuine smile on his face. "Thanks. But I'm proud of you too. You've been handling all this craziness better than I ever could."

Lily smiled, her heart warming at his words. "I don't know if I'm handling it, but I'm trying."

They stayed like that for a while longer, just enjoying the quiet and each other's company. Eventually, the exhaustion of the day caught up with them, and they made their way to bed, the night wrapping around them like a protective cocoon.

As Lando drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but feel like things were changing. The attention on their relationship was only going to grow, and the challenges that came with it were inevitable. But lying there, with Lily by his side, he knew they could face it together.

The next morning, they woke up to the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Lando was the first to check his phone, and he was immediately greeted by the headlines. "Lando Norris Secures Podium in Las Vegas—Spotted Celebrating with Lily Ralph After the Race!" The media had latched onto their relationship with full force.

Lily stirred beside him, and he gently nudged her awake. "Hey, you might want to see this," he said, showing her the articles flooding his feed.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and took a deep breath as she read the headlines. "I guess it's official now," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Yeah, it is," Lando agreed. "But don't worry. We'll handle it."

Lily gave him a small smile, trusting his words. "I know. As long as we're together."

Lando pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Always."