My Brother's Teammate | Lando Norris

Anticipation

The soft light of the morning filtered through the curtains of the hotel room in Zandvoort. The distant hum of the city and the occasional hustle and bustle from outside drifted in through the window. But inside the cozy room, there was a quiet stillness - a calm before the storm that was race day.

Lando stirred first, blinking awake to the feeling of Alexis' warm body pressed against his. His arm was wrapped around her waist, and he could feel the rhythm of her breathing, slow and peaceful. Her hair was splayed across the pillow, messy in the way that made him smile.

He ran his thumb lightly across her bare shoulder, enjoying the soft warmth of her skin. Alexis shifted, her head tilting toward his chest as she began to wake up, the smell of the sea and the racing engines mixing in the air.

"Morning." Lando whispered, his voice raspy from sleep. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. She looked so effortlessly beautiful, even in the early morning light.

"Hi." She replied, her voice low and sleepy, but full of affection. She stretched, reaching for him without opening her eyes, and Lando chuckled as she draped an arm across his chest.

She nestled her face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in. "So, pole position, hey? What do you think it means for today?" Her voice had a playful edge, but there was admiration there, too. She knew how much that P1 meant to him.

Lando grinned, his hand sliding down to her waist, where he gently traced small circles. "I think I need one of those pre-qualifying pep talks from you before every session now. Seriously, that was pure magic." He said, his tone a teasing mix of gratitude and boyish mischief.

Alexis laughed softly, her fingers tracing the line of his collarbone. "So, now it's my responsibility to get you on pole every race weekend?"

"Absolutely," Lando said with exaggerated seriousness, his eyes sparkling as he met hers. "I mean, you saw the results. I qualified on pole for the second time in my career. You just might be my lucky charm."

She grinned, her lips curling up into a mischievous smile. "Maybe I am."

Lando lifted his head slightly, looking down at her with his signature boyish grin. "Guess I'll have to keep you around, then. Wouldn't want to mess with a good thing, right?" His fingers gently tugged on a lock of her hair, pulling it between his fingers like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Guess not," Alexis replied, her smile softening. She turned her head to kiss him on the cheek, lingering just long enough for him to feel the warmth of her lips, before asking, "How are you feeling though? For the race?"

"I'm feeling good. Zandvoort suits our car, and we've got a great shot today. Besides," He added, his voice suddenly quieter, more sincere, "It'll be nice having you there, watching me from the garage. It always helps to know you're cheering me on."

Alexis felt a little flutter in her chest at his words. She'd always known how much racing meant to him, how much every little detail counted, but hearing him speak so earnestly about it was enough to make her heart swell. She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips, savouring the tenderness of the moment.

"You've got this, baby." She said softly, her words a mix of warmth and unwavering confidence. She brushed a hand against his cheek, the way she always did when she wanted to reassure him, grounding him in the way only she could.

He responded with a soft smile, his eyes glinting with gratitude. "Thank you, Al," He murmured, his fingers lightly grazing her hand. "I'm gonna do everything I can to bring home a win for the team at McLaren... but also for you."

Alexis sat up slightly, leaning back against the pillows as she looked at him, her gaze full of warmth and affection. "You're already winning, Lando," she said with a soft smile. "The pole position's a huge deal."