Pit Stop [LANDO NORRIS]

12

AVERY 

The whole day had been a whirlwind, but now that I had a few hours to myself, the nerves started to hit. Lando had been, as usual, extremely vague about tonight. He hadn't said much—just that I should "dress warm." That was it. No details about where we were going, what we were doing, nothing. So, naturally, I was overthinking it.

I stood in front of the mirror in my hotel room, surrounded by the chaos of my suitcase. There were only a few things I'd packed for this part of the season, mostly jeans and t-shirts, a few sweaters. Not really the stuff you'd expect for a "date," at least not the kind I had in my head. I wanted to look nice, but I didn't want to be overdressed or underdressed either.

I tried on a chunky knitted sweater first, the one I thought would be cozy enough for whatever outdoor adventure Lando had in mind. But when I looked in the mirror, I felt a little... frumpy. The sweater wasn't right. I wanted something that felt more me—feminine but not too fussy.

Next, I grabbed a long-sleeve dress that I'd tucked away at the bottom of my bag, thinking it could be cute if I dressed it down with some boots. But when I looked at the dress, I felt like it was a bit too formal. I could already hear Lando joking about me looking like I was headed to a fancy dinner when all he had planned was a simple picnic or something.

Finally, I tried on a black turtleneck with high-waisted jeans and a soft wool coat, my go-to when I wanted to feel comfortable but also a little put-together. As soon as I slipped it on, I knew this was it. I could picture Lando's reaction: a casual, impressed nod, probably followed by a grin. That was exactly what I needed—something I could feel good in, but still be cozy enough for whatever tonight had in store.

The nerves were still there, though. I was excited—excited to finally spend some time with him away from the noise of the paddock and the track—but a little unsure of myself, too. What if it was awkward? What if it didn't go the way I hoped? I shook my head, trying to calm my thoughts. I just needed to relax and enjoy the night. After all, it was Lando.

Then the knock on the door came, and I grabbed my jacket, my heart doing a little skip.

"Ready?" Lando's voice echoed through the door.

I stepped out to meet him, and he looked effortlessly cool as always, his hair a little tousled from the wind, wearing a hoodie, of course, that I couldn't help but admire. There was something about his confidence, even in the simplest things, that always got to me.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound casual despite the nerves dancing in my stomach. "You're being awfully mysterious."

"Am I?" He grinned, flashing that smile of his that never failed to make me weak at the knees. "You'll see soon enough. Come on, let's go."

We walked out into the cold European night, the wind biting at my cheeks as we got into the car. He drove us out of the city, the road twisting and turning through quiet country lanes. My fingers tapped nervously against my knee as I tried to guess where we were going, but I couldn't read him. He was so focused on driving, humming along to some song on the radio, the usual playfulness in his eyes.

After about twenty minutes, the car slowed and turned off onto a narrow, secluded path. "Where are we going?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"Patience," he teased, giving me a mischievous glance. "We're almost there."

I could see the outline of a large tree in the distance. As we got closer, I realized it was a European beech, its gnarled branches stretching up into the night sky. Underneath it, I saw the soft glow of lights, and my heart did a little flutter.