The Finish Line Kiss - Lando Norris

✦˚₊‧⁺˖ chapter 15 ˖⁺‧₊˚✦

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Zoe lay sprawled on Charlie's couch, her legs dangling over the edge, staring blankly at the ceiling. London's gray light filtered through the windows, giving the room a muted, somber tone that matched her mood. She felt hollow, like her chest was carrying a weight too heavy to lift.

Charlie sat in the armchair nearby, watching her with concern. He'd been quiet for the past few minutes, processing everything she'd just unloaded onto him.

"So, that's it," Zoe finally said, her voice hoarse from holding back tears. "I'm avoiding him. Completely. If we don't talk, there's no chance I'll slip up and ruin everything."

Charlie frowned, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Zoe, that's not sustainable. You're both going to notice, and it'll hurt more in the long run."

She let out a humorless laugh, covering her face with her hands. "I know! I know that, Charlie. But what am I supposed to do? Magui's made it clear she'll make my life hell if I say anything. And Lando... he's so happy right now. I can't destroy that for him."

Charlie sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're not destroying anything, Zoe. Magui is the one wrecking things, not you. And honestly? I think you're giving her too much power over you. She's bluffing, and you're letting her win."

Zoe shook her head, her hands dropping to her sides. "You didn't see her, Charlie. She wasn't bluffing. She knew exactly what to say to make me doubt myself. And what if she does convince people that I'm just jealous? That I'm trying to ruin their relationship? It'd kill Lando to think I'd do something like that."

Charlie stood and crossed the room, sitting down next to her on the couch. He nudged her gently with his shoulder. "Zoe, you're overthinking it. You care about Lando, right?"

"Of course I do," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"Then trust that he knows you better than that. If you tell him the truth, he'll believe you. But if you keep pulling away, he's going to think it's something else... something worse."

Zoe closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. She hated how right Charlie was. She'd been avoiding Lando to protect him, but in doing so, she was also hurting him.

Zoe shook her head, her voice tight. "You don't understand, Charlie. Even if Lando believes me, it doesn't end there. Magui will make it a circus, and I'll still be the one holding the match. I can't—no, I won't—be the one to shatter his world like that."

Charlie sighed, leaning back against the couch. "You're not shattering anything. You're protecting him from someone who doesn't deserve him. But if you're set on this, Zoe, then what? You'll just keep ghosting him? That's not fair either."

Zoe rubbed her temples, her head pounding. "I don't know, okay? I don't have a perfect plan. I just know that telling him... it feels like opening a door I can't close again. And I can't face what's on the other side."

Charlie looked at her for a long moment, his face softening. "You're scared," he said quietly.

"Terrified," she admitted, her voice cracking.

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "You're stronger than you think, Zo. But I get it. You'll figure it out when you're ready. Just... don't shut him out completely. He's your best friend, even if things are messy right now."

Zoe gave a small, exhausted nod, but deep down, she wasn't sure what the right path looked like anymore.

Zoe's phone buzzed, the sound cutting through the heavy silence in Charlie's flat. She absentmindedly reached for it, still lost in her thoughts, but froze when she saw the name flashing on the screen.