"What if we're better as a team?" Lando asked, his gaze softening.
"We're better as rivals," Rose replied, her heart pulling her in two directions.
In this world of speed ambition friendship and love, every race could change everything-on and off th...
As the steam finally dissipated and the water ran cold, they reluctantly pulled away from each other, breaths mingling in the humid air. Lando leaned his forehead against hers for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"I think I promised you breakfast," he murmured, his voice still husky from their shared moment. Rose's laughter was a light, airy sound, and she playfully nudged him.
"Then let's actually make it this time," she teased, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Wrapped in fresh towels, they moved back to the kitchen, the air now filled with a comfortable warmth that had nothing to do with the shower. Lando was back to his original plan—whisking eggs, chopping vegetables, while Rose hovered by his side, sneaking pieces of fruit from the cutting board.
"Hey, those were for the smoothie," he protested with a grin, catching her hand mid-snatch.
Rose merely shrugged, popping the stolen berry into her mouth. "Consider it a chef's tax," she said with a playful wink.
They worked in tandem, moving around each other with an ease that spoke of how in sync they were. Lando flipped pancakes while Rose set the table, occasionally brushing against him as she passed by, the light touches sending sparks through him each time.
Eventually, the food was ready—a spread of fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, pancakes drizzled with syrup, and freshly blended fruit smoothies. They sat at the table together, plates piled high, the sun filtering through the windows and bathing the room in a soft, golden light.
Lando watched as Rose took her first bite, her eyes closing in appreciation. "Okay, I'll admit it," she said with a grin, "you make a mean breakfast."
He couldn't help but smile back, a warmth blooming in his chest. "I'm glad you approve, Miss Chef's Tax," he teased, reaching over to steal a piece of her bacon. She swatted his hand away, laughing.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
For a while, they lingered at the table, the easy banter gradually fading into a comfortable silence. The sunlight streaming through the windows cast a soft glow over the remnants of their breakfast, but neither of them seemed eager to clear the plates away just yet.
Lando watched her from across the table, his smile slowly fading as he noticed the change in her expression. Rose's gaze had drifted away, her laughter dimming into something more thoughtful. Her fingers traced slow, absentminded circles around the rim of her glass, her shoulders slightly hunched as if she was carrying the weight of something heavy.
"Hey," he said softly, leaning forward, trying to catch her eye. "What's going on?"
At the sound of his voice, Rose blinked, as if pulled from her thoughts. She looked up at him, the warmth in her eyes from moments ago now replaced with a flicker of hesitation. The tension in her posture didn't go unnoticed, and Lando's playful grin faded into concern.
