|Love 4 Apex| Lando Norris

🏎 17 - Fear and Bravery

The next morning, Rose found herself sitting at a small café tucked away in one of Singapore's quieter streets, waiting for Franco. The tension in her stomach hadn't eased since she agreed to meet him the night before. Her mind raced with questions: What was she going to say? How would he react? Would this conversation only make things more complicated?

The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, accompanied by the soft clatter of dishes and the low murmur of voices in the café, but Rose barely registered any of it. At the corner of her eye, she noticed a few people glancing in her direction, whispering, and a small pit of unease settled in her stomach. But she brushed it off—this was Singapore, people knew who she was here.

She stared down at the table, fidgeting with the napkin in front of her, her mind elsewhere. The espresso she had ordered sat untouched, her nerves too unsettled to even consider taking a sip.

Moments later, she heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Franco walking toward her. He was wearing a casual white t-shirt and jeans, but his confident stride and the look in his eyes made him seem as composed as ever. Rose's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as she straightened in her seat.

"Hey," Franco said, flashing a small smile as he sat down across from her. His presence was as overwhelming as she remembered. He looked at her intently, his gaze unwavering.

"Hey," Rose replied, her voice steady but lacking the usual warmth. She could feel the tension between them, palpable and unavoidable.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Finally, Franco broke the silence.

"Thanks for meeting me," he said, his tone softer than she expected. "I didn't want things to stay... unclear between us."

Rose nodded, taking a deep breath before responding. "Yeah, I think we need to talk about it."

Franco leaned forward slightly, his eyes searching hers. "About last night... I'm not going to pretend I haven't had feelings for you, Rose. I've always respected you, admired you—not just as a driver but as a person. This isn't just about the moment for me, and I don't take any of it lightly."

Rose's stomach twisted at his words. She knew this was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made everything feel even more complicated. She looked down at the table for a moment before meeting his gaze again.

"I didn't mean to lead you on," she said quietly. "What happened between us... it felt right at the time. But when I woke up the next morning, it didn't. It's not about you, Franco. It's about me. I'm not in the right place for this."

Franco's jaw tightened, but he kept his self-control, though his eyes flickered with hurt. "I get that," he said after a pause, his voice quieter now. "But I don't understand why you're pushing me away. We had something real, Rose. I could feel it. Even if you don't want to admit it, there was something between us."

Rose shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of how to respond. She wasn't ready to admit it to herself, let alone to Franco. "It's not that simple," she finally said, her voice soft but conflicted. "I don't know what I want, Franco. Last night was... it was intense. But I'm still figuring things out. I wasn't expecting any of this."

Franco's expression softened, though the tension remained. "I get it. You've got a lot on your plate, I'm not blind to that. But don't shut me out just because you're unsure. I'm not asking for everything right now—I just want you to be honest with yourself. With me."

Rose bit her lip, her thoughts swirling between Franco's steady presence and the unresolved tension she felt with Lando. She didn't know what to say, or even what to feel.