Pit Stop [LANDO NORRIS]

9

AVERY

It's well past midnight now, and somehow, Lando and I are still sitting in the hot tub, submerged in the warm water. The night's quiet, almost eerily so, with only the distant hum of the hotel's air conditioning and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. We've talked about everything—racing, family, silly childhood memories, and even the things that make us anxious. We just... kept talking. It's like there's this effortless flow between us, no pressure, no need to impress, just real. And it's... nice. A little scary, too, because I didn't expect to feel this comfortable, this open with him.

The conversation's slowed down now, but it's not uncomfortable. We're just both staring out into the dimly lit pool area, enjoying the silence but also knowing it's time to call it a night.

"Well," Lando says with a small smile, stretching his arms over his head. "I guess we should probably get some sleep."

"Yeah, I should probably go back to my room," I agree, though I don't want to. I'd stay here with him all night if I could, but that's not realistic. Not with the way everything's changing between us.

We both stand up from the hot tub, and I feel a bit like I'm stepping out of a dream. It was so easy with him, and now there's this strange tension in the air. Like we've crossed some invisible line, but we're not quite sure how to handle it yet. The walk to the hotel lobby is quiet, but not awkward. At least, I don't think it is.

When we reach my hotel room door, there's this weird pause, like neither of us knows what to do next. It's as if everything we've said tonight is hovering in the air between us. I glance at him, trying to find something to say, but all that comes out is, "Well... this is it, then."

Lando smiles, but it's a little strained, like he's wrestling with something. "Yeah. I guess so."

There's this beat of silence, and then, without really thinking about it, he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek. It's quick, but it sends a little shock of warmth through me. His lips linger there for just a moment longer than expected, and when he pulls away, he looks at me with this unreadable expression.

"Good night, Avery," he says, his voice softer than usual. "Sleep well."

I nod, trying to keep the smile from spreading too wide on my face. "Good night, Lando."

He hesitates for a second, like he's going to say something more, but then he just turns and walks down the hall, leaving me standing there, my hand still resting on the doorknob. The moment is still hanging in the air, and I feel this little flutter in my chest, like I've just stepped into a whole new world that I wasn't expecting.

I finally open the door and step inside, my head buzzing. I close the door behind me and slide down to sit on the bed, my mind racing. That kiss. That sweet, unexpected kiss. My hand touches my cheek, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

It's too late to be up thinking about this, but sleep is nowhere near my mind. I replay the moment over and over in my head, each time the warmth of his lips lingering there. I can't stop smiling, even though I'm also a little nervous about what this could mean. Is this the start of something? Or was it just... a moment?

Eventually, I drift off, though I don't sleep well. I wake up way too early, feeling like I barely got any rest, but it's not the exhaustion that has me groggy. It's the excitement—and the nerves.

The next morning is like every other day at the paddock, except it's not. The sun's barely up when I walk into the hospitality area for breakfast, already buzzing with the team getting ready for the day. There's a lot of energy, but I'm a little slower to jump into it today. I keep thinking about Lando, and I can't shake the way he looked at me last night, the way he kissed my cheek. I'm still on that high.

I spot Lando across the room, sitting with Oscar, their heads bent low over some strategy notes or whatever it is that drivers and engineers talk about. I don't think they've even noticed me yet, but when Lando looks up, his eyes meet mine for just a moment. He gives me this small smile, barely a flicker of something, but enough that my stomach does that little flip. I smile back, though it's quick, almost instinctive. He looks away quickly, and I know—without him saying a word—that we have to keep this under wraps, at least for now. No one can know about us yet. Not the team, not the media.

I move through the room to grab a coffee, trying to act normal. My heart's still racing a little from that glance. But as I pick up my cup, I can feel his presence behind me. I turn around and there he is, walking toward me with that same quiet, warm smile.

"Morning," he says casually, like nothing happened last night. Like it's just a regular day.

"Morning," I reply, my voice a little more breathless than I intended.

We stand there for a moment, just exchanging glances, and then I feel the need to break the tension. "I, uh, I'm kind of late for a meeting with the marketing team," I say, knowing it's not true, but I need an excuse to walk away before I embarrass myself.

Lando's eyes twinkle as he nods. "I'll catch you later, then. Good luck with that."

I smile. "Thanks." And I turn to walk away, but I swear, even as I go to grab my bag, I can feel his gaze on me. It's like he's still there, even when he's not.

The day goes by in a blur of meetings, briefings, and prep for the race. Every time I look across the room, I spot him. Lando's always nearby, usually laughing at something with Oscar, but whenever our eyes meet, there's that secret exchange. That little smile. That little flicker of something more.

And then, in the middle of the day, my phone buzzes. It's a message from Lando.

Lando: "Hey, you looked pretty cute this morning. Just thought you should know."

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I read it, my heart skipping. I glance around the paddock, making sure no one's looking at me. The last thing I want is someone seeing me blush like a teenager.

I quickly type back:

Avery: "You're distracting me. Focus on the race."

A second later, he replies:

Lando: "Distracting? Me? Never. But hey, we should probably talk later. Got some ideas."

I chuckle quietly, even as my heart leaps again. I feel this giddy excitement bubbling up inside me, and even though we have to keep things on the down low right now, I can't help but let myself imagine what this could become. 

It's not like we've even really talked about where this could go, but I can't stop thinking about it. Every little glance, every message from him makes me feel lighter. And as much as I try to stay focused on the day, all I can think about is the next time I'll see him.