Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟷𝟽 ♡ PRIDE.

PRIDE. By Kendrick Lamar

By the time Lana and Lando arrived at the Ritz Carlton in Singapore, the city was still wrapped in darkness. The clock read 4 a.m. local time, but in Monaco, it was only 10 p.m. Still, the long journey had taken its toll. Exhaustion clung to both of them like an unwelcome blanket, and all they wanted was to crawl into bed.

Everyone from the plane had quickly checked in, exchanging brief goodbyes before disappearing into their separate rooms. Lana and Lando, however, had no such luxury. Sharing a room meant enduring each other's company for a little while longer, and in their tired state, neither had the energy for small talk.

The silence between them felt heavier as they walked down the corridor to their suite, the soft echo of their footsteps the only sound filling the quiet hotel. When they finally reached their door, Lana slid the keycard into the slot and pushed it open. But as she stepped inside, she froze in place, her gaze locking onto the king-sized bed in the center of the room.

"One bed?" Her voice was flat, the words laced with disbelief.

Lando, barely awake, shuffled past her into the room. "What'd you expect, Red?" he muttered, his voice carrying a new, playful nickname. But she didn't have the energy to question it.

She blinked at him, still processing the situation. "Two beds," she said blandly, shooting him a deadpan look as she stepped fully inside and closed the door behind her.

Lando shrugged, his eyes drifting toward the small living area in the corner of the suite. Spotting the leather couch, his face brightened with a sudden idea. "There's your second bed," he said, gesturing to the couch with a smirk.

Lana's eyes narrowed as she glanced at the couch, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile. "Perfect. That's where you can sleep."

Lando's expression soured. "I'm not sleeping on that," he replied, his voice colored with genuine offense.

"Well, neither am I," Lana shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.

The room fell into a brief but tense silence as they both stood their ground, neither willing to be the first to give in. 

Lana and Lando both lied stiffly on the bed—each hugging their respective edge of the mattress, as if the middle was a minefield.

The king-sized bed, though spacious, felt oddly claustrophobic as they stretched as far apart as humanly possible. Lana had her back turned to Lando, her body practically glued to the edge, one arm dangling off the side. Meanwhile, Lando lay on the opposite end, staring up at the ceiling with his hands awkwardly crossed over his chest like a vampire in a coffin.

"This is ridiculous," Lana muttered, breaking the silence, her voice muffled slightly by her pillow.

Lando shifted but didn't look at her. "You're the one who didn't want to share."

"I didn't want to share the bed, not the room," she clarified, her tone filled with exasperation.

"Same thing," Lando quipped, clearly trying to provoke her, but his voice was too tired to carry much heat.

A long pause followed, the tension between them broken only by the sound of Lando dramatically scooting another half-inch away from her, as if that extra distance would make all the difference.

"You're gonna fall off at this rate," Lana remarked dryly, though a hint of amusement crept into her voice.

"I'd rather fall off than get any closer to you right now," Lando replied, equally deadpan.

"Good," she said, but the slight twitch of a smile tugged at her lips.

They lay in silence for another moment before Lana's voice cut through again. "You snore, don't you?"

Lando's eyes narrowed, staring at the ceiling. "If I do, you'll survive."

AN

These two are so stubborn it cracks me up