Free Now- Lando Norris

11. Complications

By the time his mum had returned from the hospital cafe with his coffee, Lottie was fast asleep again. Lando's back and neck were beginning to hurt from the weird angle he'd spent most of the night laying at, but she looked comfortable with her head rested against his chest and he didn't dare try and move into a more comfortable position in case he disturbed her. His mum just raised an eyebrow at him as he twisted awkwardly to take the cup of coffee she was holding from her, trying desperately not to move so much he disturbed Lottie, and then settled herself into the chair that was pulled up beside the bed.

"So then..." Cisca said quietly, giving him a pointed look as she settled into the chair. "I feel like there's a lot you need to tell me."

"There's nothing to tell you." Lando shook his head, carefully sipping on his coffee. He somehow doubted there was enough caffeine in there to make him feel even remotely more human, but it was worth a try.

"Why did you change your flight home?" Cisca asked.

Lando froze for a moment, coffee cup in hand and still halfway lifted towards his mouth. It wasn't the question he had been expecting her to ask. He'd been preparing to bat away questions about his friendship with Lottie and what he was doing spending the night in hospital with her. He hadn't anticipated his mum going straight in for what was really bothering him. It was the subject they usually danced around because no one knew what to say.

"I wanted to get home." He shrugged. "Tell Dad I'm sorry, alright. I didn't really think. I was tired and I was just thinking about getting out of there as fast as possible. I kind of forgot he was there."

"You wanted to get home that badly, and yet you've ended up here." Cisca raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't." Lando sighed. "We're not having this conversation. We're friends, I was worried about her. That's all."

"Well, whatever it is, it's really wound your sister up." Cisca chuckled.

"Doesn't take much." Lando agreed, rolling his eyes. "She doesn't need to worry about it. I do keep telling her this."

"And what about you?"

"What about me?" He looked blankly at his mum.

"Should I believe you when you keep telling me I don't need to worry about you?" She asked quietly. "Because you keep telling us all that you're fine, but you really haven't been the same since the end of last year."

"I don't want to talk about it." Lando sighed.

"You say that every time, but it's clearly still bothering you. You can tell me that you're fine all you like, but we all know it's not true. I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine." Lando sighed again, repeating the phrase for what felt like the millionth time, trying to keep his frustration in check. "I'm angry with myself that I bottled it last year and I've only got myself to blame, but I'm fine."

"I'll say again, this really doesn't sound like it's fine." Cisca pointed out.

"Can you just leave it, please?" He asked her, sipping at his coffee again. "I don't want to talk about it, and I really don't want to talk about it here and now."

"Fine, I'll drop it." Cisca agreed reluctantly. "For now, anyway."

"I'll go back to Monaco if you carry on." Lando warned.

Cisca gave him a pointed look. "Something tells me you wouldn't be able to stay away if you tried."

"Shut up." Lando rolled his eyes at his mum, but he could feel himself blushing at her words, which he knew wasn't helping his case. The knowing look his mum was giving him made it clear that he'd been caught.