Pit Stop [LANDO NORRIS]

13

AVERY

The drive back to the hotel was quiet, but the kind of quiet that felt comfortable. Like we were both just letting the night settle around us, taking in the warmth of the moment. The twinkling lights of the streets passed by in a blur, the hum of the engine the only sound between us.

Lando's hand was resting on the gear stick, but every so often, his fingers brushed against mine. At first, it was accidental, just his hand moving across mine as he shifted gears, but after a moment, he let his fingers linger on mine for a bit longer than necessary. I turned my hand so that our fingers entwined, and he gave me a quick, amused glance, like he was just as surprised by how easily it felt to be this close to each other.

Then, without even hesitating, he let go to shift again, but within seconds, his hand found mine again, this time not accidentally. I smiled, my heart doing that soft flutter as I watched him out of the corner of my eye, his fingers warm against mine, like everything else in the world had faded away.

There was something so simple about the way he held my hand, no words needed—just us, in the comfort of each other's presence.

When we got back to the hotel, the streetlights were dimming as we stepped out of the car. It felt like we'd only just left the beech tree, and yet here we were, the night already slipping away. I felt a small pang of regret that the evening was over, but at the same time, I didn't want to rush through it. I didn't want it to end too quickly, even if I knew tomorrow was a big day for him.

As we walked towards the entrance, I glanced at him and realized he had this calm, almost serene look on his face. "Are you sure you're okay for tomorrow? I mean, with the race and everything... it's pretty late."

He chuckled softly, his hand finding mine again as we walked toward my hotel room. "Honestly? This is the most relaxed I've felt before a race. It's weird." His voice was light, like he was half-joking but also serious. "I feel like tonight... it just set me up for a good day tomorrow. Doesn't even feel like I've got a race in a few hours."

I blinked at him, surprised by how calm he seemed. For a driver, that kind of peace felt rare, like a fleeting moment between all the chaos. "That's good. I'm glad you're feeling good. I just don't want you to be too tired."

He squeezed my hand, his fingers warm, a little tighter this time. "I'm fine, Avery. Honestly, I can have a nap before the race if needed anyway"

When we got to the door of my hotel room, I felt this little pang of wanting to stay with him, to not have the night end. But I knew we both needed rest for tomorrow. Still, Lando stopped in front of the door, turning toward me with a thoughtful look.

"I don't want to leave," he said quietly, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice. "But I guess... we'll take it slow, right? Don't want to rush things."

I nodded, my heart doing that familiar little skip at how thoughtful he was being. "Yeah, slow sounds good. There's no need to rush."

Then, almost without thinking, he leaned in and kissed me again. This time, it wasn't tentative or gentle like before—it was more certain, like we both knew what we wanted. And once he kissed me, we both just... couldn't stop. We kissed again, this time more urgently, like now that we'd "broken the seal," neither of us could help ourselves. It felt natural, like it was always supposed to happen.

Finally, when we pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine for a moment, his head quickly darting to each end of the hallway, his breath warm on my skin. "Whoops." he chuckled, "Goodnight," he whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I nodded, feeling that sweet, lingering warmth from the kiss, my heart still racing as I unlocked the door. "Goodnight."

He gave me one last smile, then turned to walk away. I stood there for a moment, watching him disappear down the hall. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, smiling like an idiot.

As I laid in bed, I couldn't help but replay the kiss in my mind. The way everything felt so easy, so right. It was like the night had opened something between us, and all I could do was lie there with a huge grin on my face, knowing things between us had shifted in the best possible way.

I fell asleep with that smile still on my face.

The next morning, I woke up to a message on my phone. It was from Lando.

"Last night was perfect. See you soon."

I smiled as I read the message, the memory of the evening flooding back. My heart gave that familiar flutter, and I could feel the excitement of the day ahead growing in me.

As I got dressed in all my McLaren team wear, I couldn't help but think about how today was going to be different. Not just because of the race, but because I'd spent last night with him. Now, it felt like we were more than just acquaintances or people in the same world. We were... a we.

When I walked into the paddock, I felt a nervous excitement bubble up in me. Every time I caught his eye, my cheeks flushed, and I smiled without meaning to. It was like there was this invisible thread between us, pulling me towards him without either of us needing to say anything.

Lando seemed to be doing the same thing, his eyes meeting mine every chance he got, giving me these small, almost imperceptible grins. Every now and then, he'd brush past me in that playful, teasing way he had. It made me feel like he was always just a little closer than he needed to be, like there was this shared energy between us that no one else could see.

By the time the race started, I stood in the garage, my heart pounding. Watching him from here was different—more intense, more personal. It wasn't just one of the drivers now. It was him—Lando, the guy who had made me feel more at ease than I'd ever expected. And as the race went on, every lap he led, I couldn't help but smile. I was more nervous than I thought I would be. Not just for the race, but for him. Watching him out there, knowing how much it mattered to him—it made everything feel more real.

He kept the lead through the first lap, and then the second, and I couldn't help but feel that rush of pride. Every lap he led, it was like I was watching him not just as a driver, but as someone who had become a part of my world in the most unexpected way. And I couldn't wait to see what would come next.