« so american »

𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪 𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕖

{ lando's version }

_

Riley was having a girls night so I decided to have a boys night. I sat at the table, waiting for Charles and Max to show up as I scrolled through TikTok. Most of my FYP was edits of Riley and I was happy I had a fake account so I could save them without getting caught. The current one I was stuck on was one to Micheal Jackson's Chicago. It was the part that went like 'I was surprised to see that a woman like that was really into me' and it flashed a picture of Riley from one of her Instagram posts to a picture of me into the actual edit.

It was pretty on point. I was surprised that she could be into me. If she even was. But the caption got me. i want his girl more than i want him. i could treat you better. And the editor tagged her. It was silly and I thought about sending it to Riley but then I remembered how she acted the last time she saw an edit of herself and thought against it.

"There he is. Surprised we could pull you away from the American beauty."

I rolled my eyes but got up to greet them both before we sat down. "It's not like either of you aren't exactly the same and worse with your girlfriends."

"Yeah, but at least we're dating them."

I flipped Max off. "I have a plan."

They both looked surprised but Charles got the jump.

"So speak."

"I'm not doing it in Singapore." I held up a hand before they could speak against it. "Riley is modeling for the new Quadrant drop and plus, since we're all going to Miami. I figured I would do it there. It's more personal and I have time to spend with her if things go well before the season gets crazy again."

"I hate that it's actually a good idea."

I smirked at Charles which only earned me a face that was going to end up in a lecture. I mentally cursed myself for being such an arrogant shit as I sat back for mom and dad to do their little back and forth.

"You have thought about the consequences?" Max started. "If she says no, that makes things weird for the rest of the trip and the season. There's also a possibility it messes with her work."

"I have thought about that. But, if it doesn't work out, I have a plan lined out. If she doesn't want to work at McLaren, then I know she can get a job at Redbull or Mercedes. They both love her."

Max frowned and Charles jumped in. "And if it does work out, that puts her at the mercy of the fans and the media. Lots of people, especially since she hasn't been around it like that, crack under that pressure."

"Riley works in the media part of it and neither of you have seen her stand up to a news channel, she will scare all of them into not saying anything. As for the fans, I'm going to be there to reassure her and she has the other girls who go through it as a support system."

"You've really thought this out..."

I shrugged, trying to play it cool as if I didn't spend hours coming up with exactly how I was going to ask her out.

"I'm proud of you, mate." Charles shook my hand. "You are a different man than the one I had a conversation with months ago."

"Now that we got that out of the way." Max waved down the waiter and ordered food for us all. "Let's hear this master plan on getting her to be yours."

_

"Lan!"

I looked up to see Riley running toward me with the biggest smile on her face. I put my helmet down, raising an eyebrow as she came up to me almost bouncing with excitement.

"Yeah?"

"TikTok time."

"Oh, hell no." I started to walk away and she grabbed my arm. Those eyes pouted at me and I could feel my resolve slipping. Damn her and her ability to make me fold. I groaned. "Alright, yeah."

She jumped up and down doing a little squeal of excitement. "You've seen the disco trend, right?"

"That's the arm one, right?"

She nodded. "I'm doing that with all the drivers. You're going to go first and then finish it. So I'll find you again to do it."

I sighed and gestured for her to get on with it. I didn't see why we couldn't do both now but it was her thing. She knew what she was doing.

She went to set up the phone. "Just remember the arm motions."

"I know them, Riles."

I got a stuck out tongue and I almost broke a smile as she hit the start button and ran back over, giving me the nod on when to start. I copied all of her motions, leaning toward her and I found myself smiling to match hers. Not by force but just habit. Like she was there to break the false anger I had at doing this. Before the next part started, she stopped me.

"Okay, that's it. Thank you!"

"The other part?"

"I'll come back to you after I get the rest of the drivers and I'm going to get all of them."

"Have fun with that."

She threw a smile at me from over her shoulder as she ran toward the Ferrari garage. It made me smile at how comfortable she felt walking into every garage and asking all the drivers to do this stupid trend with her. And everyone would say yes. They all loved her. I mean, it was hard not to. She was so full of energy and always knew how to make anyone fold to her whims. Perfect for her job and just being a good person helped. That and having the older guys on the grid practically adopt her.

I snorted as I grabbed my helmet. Maybe some of that good energy would rub off on me and I wouldn't completely fuck up this session.

________________________________________________________________________________

a/n: i wanted some cute moments for you guys so when everything happened in the next chapter, you weren't as mad at me. aha... ANYWAYS love it or don't :p