Dear Lando - Book Two

𝟹𝟹 ♡ All Of The Lights

All Of The Lights By Kanye West, Rihanna

The sun was out, warming the picturesque streets of Monaco as Lana, Nathalie, and Theo strolled down by the water. The trio had grabbed their coffees from a cozy little café and now found a spot near the marina, the breeze from the harbor carrying the faint smell of saltwater and boats bobbing gently in the background. It was one of those moments that felt almost dream-like, a rare lull where they could debrief from the whirlwind of the past week.

Nat took a long sip of her iced coffee before giving Lana a playful nudge. "So, Lana... you and Lando, huh? What's all that about?" Her eyes glinted mischievously.

Lana groaned, rolling her eyes at her friend. "Come on, Nat, we've been through this. It's just fake dating." She paused, looking out at the water as if it held some answer she couldn't quite find. "I mean... I'd be lying if I said I didn't like him. But it's not like that."

Theo, leaning on the railing beside them, raised an eyebrow. "Not like that? You two have been sharing a bed for weeks, Lana."

"Yeah, but not like that," Lana repeated, shaking her head. "It's all for show. Lando's never made a move outside of when we're in public or when he's had a few too many. Like, sure, we share a bed, but we sleep on our own sides. And on the couch? There's always a whole cushion between us."

Nat gave her a sympathetic smile. "That doesn't mean he doesn't feel anything, you know. Maybe he's just being careful."

Lana sighed, swirling the ice in her cup. "I don't know. I feel like I'm just projecting at this point. Lando... he's different, but he's also just doing his job, right? I don't think he feels anything beyond what's required." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice softer now. "And... I've liked Carlos for so long, you know? It's hard not to have him there, in the back of my mind. This silly crush on him has been a part of my life for so long, it's hard to let go."

Theo reached over, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to have it all figured out right now, Lana. These things... they take time."

Nat nodded, her expression softening. "Exactly. And besides, we're here for you, no matter what. Whether it's Carlos or Lando or... none of them. You deserve to feel happy, that's all."

Lana smiled at her friends, the genuine warmth in their words making her heart swell. Just as she was about to respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out and saw a message from Lando.

"Yacht party tonight," she read aloud, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "We're all going. Apparently, it's happening."

Nat's eyes widened with excitement. "A yacht party?" She grinned at Lana. "Well, I'm definitely in. Theo?"

Theo chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "Do you even have to ask? Of course, I'm in."

Lana smiled, feeling the familiar excitement bubbling in her chest. Maybe tonight would be a good distraction, a chance to let loose and see where things took her.

"Alright then, yacht party it is," she said, nodding to herself as if committing to the idea. 

The music thumped across the deck, bass heavy enough to make the glasses tremble, and the yacht swayed gently beneath the feet of its occupants. Strings of lights were strung up around the deck, twinkling under the fading sunlight, giving the party a lively and almost magical vibe. Laughter and chatter filled the air as drivers, their friends, and a mix of other familiar faces enjoyed their evening, letting loose for a while.

A group had gathered near the drinks table, and as Lana passed, she couldn't help but overhear Daniel Ricciardo engaged in a rather... animated conversation with Max and Azalea.

"So, Az, just humor me here," Daniel slurred slightly, clearly a little more drunk than the others. He held his hands out in front of him, fingers almost touching, with a sly smile on his face. "This big?"

Azalea raised an eyebrow but remained silent, her eyes shifting to Max, who wore an expression that was somewhere between amused and nervous. She tilted her head slightly, giving Max a look that suggested she wasn't about to give Daniel anything. The intensity of her gaze made Max fidget slightly.

Daniel, unbothered by the lack of response, slowly moved his hands apart, exaggerating the distance with wide eyes. "Like... this big?" His face was pure mischief, and it was clear he was fishing for reactions.

Azalea still didn't answer, but instead stared at Max again, her lips curling ever so slightly. Max's eyes went wide as he let out an exaggerated scoff, swatting at Daniel's arm. "Really? This big? Nah, mate, impossible," Max protested, his face reddening as Daniel grinned even wider.

Daniel, unfazed, shook his head. "Alright, starting over," he muttered, bringing his hands back to the original position, which only made Max groan while Azalea shook her head, a laugh escaping her.

The camera of our imaginary scene drifted away from their lively conversation, panning across the deck until it landed on Lana, Nat, Theo, and a few others, lounging around a set of comfy outdoor couches near the edge of the yacht. They had all been indulging in the drinks for quite a while, and their laughter carried above the sound of the waves lapping at the hull.

"Alright, alright," Lana said, her cheeks flushed, her smile wide. She was leaning comfortably against the couch cushions, her eyes flitting around as she took in the people around her. The alcohol had certainly taken the edge off, and she felt lighter—almost detached from everything.

"Who's ready to dance?" Nat suddenly popped up, her enthusiasm taking over as she looked at Lana and Theo expectantly. "Come on, let's move! We need to show these boys how it's done!"

Lana laughed but shook her head. "You go ahead," she said, waving her hand. "I need a minute to digest whatever that weird appetizer was."

Without missing a beat, Nat turned and made her way to the makeshift dance floor—well, a cleared area of the deck—where Daniel was already showing off some ridiculous moves. Seeing Nat approach, Daniel's face lit up, and he immediately extended his hand to her, pulling her into his goofy rhythm.

Lana's eyes slid over to Theo, who was staring daggers in their direction, his jaw tightening. She nudged him playfully. "You know, you could go save her from Daniel's terrible moves if you're that bothered," she teased, her voice filled with amusement.

Theo blinked, seemingly pulled from his thoughts, and quickly shook his head, a sheepish smile appearing. "I'm not bothered," he mumbled, though the way his eyes lingered on Nat said otherwise.

Lana smirked but didn't push further, choosing instead to take another sip of her drink, her gaze wandering across the deck. Just as she did, she noticed Lando approaching the group again, his eyes flicking to Theo for a split second before finding her.

There was something in his gaze—an edge that hadn't been there earlier. He moved closer to Lana, his arm brushing against hers, and she noticed how his posture shifted, standing just a bit taller, leaning ever so slightly toward her.

"Having fun?" Lando asked, his voice casual, though there was a tension there that Lana didn't miss.

Lana smiled, nodding. "Yeah, Nat and Theo are entertaining enough on their own," she replied, her eyes drifting toward Theo, who was now watching Nat with a brooding expression as she danced with Daniel.

Lando let out a low chuckle, his eyes following her line of sight. "Right," he murmured, his voice dipping, and Lana caught the faintest hint of something—jealousy? It was subtle, almost too subtle, but it was there.

She felt her heart skip a beat, the realization hitting her in a way that made her stomach flip. Was Lando... jealous?

Before she could dwell on it too much, the music shifted, and someone shouted for shots. Theo was pulled up from his seat, and the group dynamic shifted once again, laughter and chaos filling the air as the party carried on.

The night blurred on, everyone's inhibitions left far behind, and Lana couldn't help but feel like something was shifting. The way Lando stayed close, the way his eyes seemed to follow her—it was almost like he was staking a claim, even if he didn't realize it. And maybe, just maybe, she didn't mind it.