Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟹𝟶 ♡ Almost (Sweet Music)

Almost (Sweet Music) By Hozier

The paddock was alive with its usual buzz on a Friday morning—the hum of generators, clattering of gear, voices blending into a chorus of excitement and tension. It was the start of the COTA weekend, and the crew rolled up together, feeling the electric energy of the venue. Fans crowded at the gates, camera lenses snapped from all directions, and the air was thick with anticipation.

Lana, Nat, Theo, Lando, and Max made their way through the bustling crowd, a sea of engineers, team members, and excited fans all creating a wave of activity. Lana looked over at Nat and Theo, leaning in slightly and whispering, "Brace yourselves."

Nat raised an eyebrow in curiosity, but before she could ask, Lando smoothly grabbed Lana and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close to his side. She gave Nat and Theo a knowing look—her "See?" expression was met with wide eyes and barely hidden amusement.

Nat stifled a laugh while Theo whispered, "Oh, I see how it is," giving Lana a teasing grin. Lana only shook her head with a bemused smile, adjusting herself slightly in Lando's embrace, trying to play it casual even though her cheeks warmed under the closeness.

They made their way further into the paddock when a loud, cheerful voice rang out across the chaos. "Landana!!" The unmistakable Australian accent turned every head in their group, their expressions a mix of amusement and confusion.

There, grinning widely as ever, was none other than Daniel Ricciardo, arms open as if he were presenting them on a game show. Lando's arm around Lana tightened instinctively, and the entire group exchanged glances, amusement dancing in their eyes.

Lana, raising an eyebrow, laughed, "Landana?"

Daniel winked, his grin unrepentant. "Yeah, just testing some new couple names. Gotta get one that sticks, you know? Gotta keep the fans entertained."

Theo nudged Nat, whispering, "That's a... unique one," making Nat giggle.

Lana rolled her eyes playfully before gesturing to Nat and Theo. "Danny, you remember my friends, right?"

Daniel's eyes lit up as he looked between them, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He took Nat's hand with an exaggerated flourish. "Enchanté, Nat," he said, over-emphasizing his French accent, making Nat laugh while giving a playful curtsy in response.

Lana, ever observant, noticed Theo's posture shift—his jaw tightening just slightly, eyes narrowing for just a heartbeat. She smiled inwardly, finding it both amusing and a little endearing. Theo might be a chill guy, but there was definitely a hint of protectiveness whenever another guy showed attention to Nat.

After a few more laughs, Danny clapped Lando on the shoulder and gave Lana a grin before excusing himself to continue his rounds. "See you two lovebirds later—Landana out!" he called over his shoulder as he headed off.

They laughed and shook their heads, watching him walk away. With that, Lando led them all toward the McLaren hospitality, his arm still loosely around Lana's shoulders, as the group continued their way in.

Free practice sessions rolled on smoothly throughout the day, and Lando's McLaren looked strong on the track—he was consistently clocking in impressive lap times, and spirits were high. Lana watched from the garage, her eyes flicking between the monitors and Lando's car zipping around the circuit. Nat and Theo joined her, the three of them cheering on as the engineers huddled over their screens and the McLaren team buzzed around in a perfect rhythm.

Lando's performance during practice made it clear he was a contender this weekend, and the positive energy was infectious. They all knew this weekend could hold something special for him.

Saturday arrived, and with it came the intensity of qualifying day. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, and the McLaren hospitality was a mix of focus and adrenaline. Lando was getting ready for the sessions, his eyes more serious than usual, his demeanor a little quieter. Lana could tell—he was feeling the pressure.

She stood beside him, leaning against the counter, watching as he went over some data on the tablet, his brows furrowed in concentration. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Hey," she said softly.

He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers. There was an unspoken question there, a flicker of uncertainty that made her heart clench.

"Lando," she started, her voice steady, "you've got this. You've been fast all weekend, and you're in the zone. Trust me—no one's taking that pole from you today."

He held her gaze for a moment longer, the corners of his lips twitching upwards, the tension in his shoulders loosening slightly. "You think so?" he asked, his voice low, almost vulnerable.

She gave him a warm smile, squeezing his arm. "I know so. Just go out there and show everyone why you're the best."

His eyes softened, and for a brief moment, it felt like it was just the two of them—no cameras, no crowd, no expectations. Just Lana and Lando. He nodded, a determined glint returning to his eyes. "Thanks, Red."

"Anytime," she said, her smile widening.

And just like that, Lando delivered.

Qualifying was electric. Lando was on fire, setting sector times that had the crowd roaring, the papaya of the McLaren standing out against the Texan sky. Each lap was more aggressive, more precise than the last, and as the checkered flag waved, there it was: Lando Norris on pole position.

The McLaren garage erupted in cheers, team members jumping and shouting in celebration. Lana watched from the back, her heart swelling with pride as she joined in the cheering. She couldn't help but catch a glimpse at where Ferrari placed, but she didn't let that distract her from what was right in front of her. She caught Lando's eyes through his helmet visor as he pulled back into the garage, and she gave him a thumbs-up, her grin wide and genuine.

Lando climbed out of the car, greeted with applause, and pulled his helmet off, his eyes immediately searching for her. When he spotted Lana, he broke into a wide smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

As he made his way over to her, the noise around them faded into the background, and for a second, it was just Lando and Lana again—him, fresh from the car, adrenaline still pumping through his veins, and her, standing there with that unwavering belief in her eyes.

She wrapped her arms around him in a hug, not caring about the cameras or the media capturing the moment. "Told you," she whispered in his ear, her voice full of warmth.

He chuckled, pulling her closer for just a moment longer before stepping back, his smile never fading. "You really did."

It was the beginning of a promising weekend, and, for the first time, it felt like they were truly in this together.