the IT girl

New Horizons

The days in Greece passed like a dream. Lando and Lily spent their time exploring the quieter parts of the country, away from the paparazzi and the chaos of their public lives. It was just the two of them, moving at their own pace, rediscovering the joy of simply being together.

As the week came to a close, Lily seemed more at peace. She had started to open up more about her past, and with every story she told, Lando felt like he understood her in a deeper way. He admired her resilience, the way she had built her life after such a difficult upbringing.

Their last night in Greece was bittersweet. They sat on the balcony of the villa, watching the stars reflect over the sea, knowing they would soon return to their fast-paced lives. The serenity of Greece had given them space to breathe, but there was an unspoken understanding that things would be different once they left.

"Do you ever think about what happens after this?" Lily asked softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Lando glanced over at her, his brow furrowed. "After what?"

"This." She gestured to the view around them. "The races, the media, all of it. Do you ever think about what life will be like when it's just... us?"

Lando considered her question. "I do, sometimes. But I'm not in a rush to figure it all out. Right now, I'm just enjoying every moment with you."

Lily smiled, but there was a lingering sadness in her eyes. "It's just hard to imagine it sometimes. I've spent so much of my life in front of cameras, on runways, pretending to be someone else. I don't even know what life would look like without all of that."

Lando reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "I get that. But you don't have to figure it out on your own. We'll figure it out together, yeah?"

She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Yeah. Together."

The next day, they packed their bags and said goodbye to Greece. As they boarded the flight back to Monaco, the calm of their time in Athens seemed to slip away, replaced by the reality waiting for them. There was a race in just a few days, and the pressure was already mounting.

Lily had a photo shoot lined up for Vogue the moment they landed, and Lando was set to meet with his team for pre-race preparations. They were back to the whirlwind.

When they arrived in Monaco, the familiarity of the city brought both comfort and anxiety. It was home, but it was also where the world's eyes were always on them.

Lando dropped Lily off at her apartment before heading to the track for a quick meeting. As he drove through the streets of Monaco, he couldn't help but reflect on their time in Greece. It had felt like a turning point—like they had crossed into something deeper. But with their schedules pulling them in different directions, he worried about how they would maintain the connection they'd built.

Lily, on the other hand, was busy preparing for her Vogue shoot. As she sat in the makeup chair, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The shoot was high-profile, and the attention on her had only intensified since her relationship with Lando had become public. She wasn't sure she was ready for this level of scrutiny.

The day dragged on with back-to-back wardrobe changes, camera flashes, and interviews. By the time the shoot wrapped, Lily was exhausted, both physically and mentally. She slipped into her car, leaning her head against the seat as she let out a long sigh. The weight of her career, her past, and her relationship with Lando all felt like they were pressing down on her.

She pulled out her phone and texted Lando: "Shoot just wrapped. I'm wiped. Can't wait to see you."

Lando responded almost immediately: "Come to the track when you're done? I'm still here for a bit."

Lily smiled at his message, feeling a small spark of energy return. She knew seeing him would make her feel better.

When she arrived at the track, Lando was in the middle of a meeting with his engineers. Lily watched from a distance, her heart swelling with pride. He was in his element, completely focused and dedicated to his work. It reminded her of why she had fallen for him in the first place—his passion, his drive, his unwavering commitment.

As the meeting wrapped up, Lando spotted her and immediately broke into a smile. He jogged over to her, his eyes lighting up as he wrapped her in a hug.

"Hey, you," he said softly, pulling back to look at her. "How was the shoot?"

"Long," she admitted with a tired smile. "But it went well, I think."

Lando brushed a stray hair out of her face. "You look beautiful, as always."

Lily laughed, shaking her head. "You haven't even seen the pictures yet."

"I don't need to. I already know," he said, his voice full of confidence.

They spent the next hour walking around the track, talking about their days and catching up on everything they had missed while they were apart. It was a simple moment, but it reminded Lily of why she loved being with Lando. No matter how crazy their lives got, he always made her feel grounded.

Later that evening, as they sat together in Lando's apartment, Lily leaned her head on his shoulder, a sense of calm washing over her.

"You know," she said quietly, "I think we're going to be okay."

Lando glanced down at her, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"This. Us. Everything. I know it's crazy sometimes, but... I feel like we can handle it."

Lando smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Of course we can. We're a team."

Lily closed her eyes, letting the comfort of his words settle over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.