From the Past - Lando Norris

Thirty-Five: Family

I wake up feeling a kiss on the top of my head and lift my head seeing Lando smiling down at me, "Morning," I whisper wrapping my arms tighter around him.

He groans squeezing me tight, "Morning," he whispers back. Neither of us wants to get up. Life has felt nonstop recently, "what do you want to do today?" He asks running his fingers through my hair.

"This"

"Yeah?" He asks pressing his lips against the top of my head, "What if we order food and stay in bed all day? How's that sound?" He asks.

"Like a dream"

He grabs his phone and hands it to me so I can order breakfast. I show him the option for the cafe we met up at when we first started talking again and he tells me his order. I order matcha, a coffee for Lan, 4 pancakes, and a side order of fruit. I try to pay but he clicks submit order before I can argue, "Lan, you pay for everything," I point out sitting up.

He leans on his elbow grabbing my arm, "I like paying for you. I have money now let me spoil you," he says pulling me back down.

I turn onto my stomach and look at him with a small pout. He kisses it away instantly as he wraps his arms around me, "My parents want to see you again," he whispers in my ear.

"They are coming to town?" I ask happily.

He links his fingers with mine and plays with our hands, "No I was thinking we could visit home. I'd love to see your dad," he tells me.

"Really?"

"Of course. I was also thinking we could tell them we are together," he whispered gauging my reaction.

"Really?" I ask again making him laugh, "Sorry...." I chuckle, "But I would love to. My dad has been begging me to come home."

"We could go before the Miami Grand Prix. I can book tickets this weekend," he says smiling his famous smile. He pulls me back into his side and wraps himself around me.

"Lan..." I whisper rubbing his back as he lays his head on my chest. He hums his response and I sigh, "My dad might not be the happiest about seeing you again," I point out.

"What?" He asks lifting his head with wide eyes. It takes him a second to realize why, "He knows you're my photographer right?" He asks.

"Yeah. He follows my pages. He may or may not have called me when he found out and said to be careful around you."

I can see the hurt in his eyes. My dad was like a second dad to him as a kid, "I get why he would be hesitant. I'll just have to show him how serious I am about you. I'll make it up to both of you," he says as the door rings. He gets up and goes to the door as I smile to myself. The large bag he's carrying makes my stomach growl. He sits beside me handing me my matcha. I kiss his arm as he pulls out the food.

These are the moments as a kid I wished for especially the part where Lando is involved. We both sit on opposite sides of the bed facing each other as we talk and eat, "I saw you were going to photograph Carlos in Miami," he says as I nod my head with a strawberry in my mouth.

"Rebecca messaged me on Instagram asking for a photo shoot," I tell him as he smiles, "What?" I ask.

"Nothing. I just like that you're friends with all my friends," he says grinning at his food.

I hold out the fruit cup for him and he takes a piece of honeydew, "I'm just happy your friends took me under their wing. Formula One is overwhelmingly fun."

He starts laughing to himself, "Wings taken under their wing," he says as I roll my eyes and he continues laughing, "Come on that's funny."

"You're insane," I laugh.

"See"

"I still can't believe you call me that," I say taking a sip of my matcha, "And I can't believe Max still calls me shrimpy," I add.

"Your biggest red flag is liking seafood," he tells me finishing his food.

"It's near a fish," I quote trying to impersonate his voice, "That was a spot-on impression," I defend as he stands up to throw the trash out.

He starts walking out of his room, "You're lucky I love you," he says making me widen my eyes as I stare at him walk away. When he finishes throwing our trash out he walks down the hallway realizing what he said.

"What?" I say with a breathless laugh.

"I....it just slipped out, ya know?" He says as I sit up on the bed, "We have known each other for so long and...." He rambles as I softly smile.

"Did you mean it?" I ask walking over to him. He licks his lips before looking into my eyes. I place my hands on his cheeks as he finds the words to say.

"Yeah...I do," I smile sliding one hand to his chest before pressing my lips to his. His hand drops to my waist pressing my body against his as he deepens the kiss. He slowly pulls his head back, "Do you?" He asks sounding nervous.

I caress his cheek with my thumb, "Of course, I love you," I say with a soft giggle. He kisses me again walking me back so my legs hit the bed. He lays me down crawling on top of me, his arms keeping him up as he hovers above me. His hand moves under my shirt touching the bare skin on my waist.

"Say it again," he whispers against my lips.

"I love you"

His kiss is intoxicating our hands all over each other. Our lips move desperately as if we can't get enough. Hours later I lay naked under the sheet lightly tracing shapes on his bare chest. He tangles out legs together resting his head on top of mine, "I hate that we have to hide," he whispers.

"I do too."