Tangled in Trophies- Lando Norris

33. Debates and decisions

Evangeline sat cross-legged on her sleek, minimalistic couch, her phone in her hand. The soft glow from her Instagram post illuminated her face, casting shadows that danced along the walls of her London apartment. She had just shared a photo of herself at dinner with Lando and the other drivers from the night before—a candid smile, a glass of wine, and the soft, warm glow of fairy lights from the restaurant.

It had received a few hundred likes in the first five minutes. She knew the fans would swarm it with speculation, though. Everyone always did. That was fine, though. She'd been careful not to include anything that could spark rumors, but a part of her wondered if her own presence in these social circles would always lead to scrutiny.

Now, with her phone resting lightly on her hand, her thumb hovered just above the keyboard. She stared at the blank message input, debating.

Should she text Lando?

The thought lingered.

It wasn't the first time. Their conversations felt easy enough, but every time she found herself with his name in her messages, her stomach twisted. Every time, she thought about the delicate balance of their friendship, their shared industry, and the growing tension beneath the surface of their interactions.

What if I cross a line?

Clara had warned her about this. Her PR manager had been endlessly supportive but always practical. "Don't give the fans or the media any reason to misinterpret," she had said during one of their many strategy meetings. "You're still building your brand, Evangeline. Stay professional."

Her heart tugged at her as she thought about Clara's voice. It wasn't just about avoiding media speculation, though that had been a concern. It was about not losing herself, not losing the dynamic of what this could mean with Lando—however small, however fragile.

Her phone buzzed again. Another notification. She glanced at the screen: a direct message from one of her followers. Something innocuous. But her focus drifted back to her own hesitation.

Evangeline exhaled slowly.

She knew Lando was... different. That much was certain. She felt his presence, his attention, his wit—she felt him pulling her into a world that was both thrilling and terrifying. That dinner from the other night, the shared conversations, the glances between them—it was easier to convince herself that it was just harmless friendship.

But what if it wasn't?

What if reaching out to him meant risking the very thing they were building? What if making this more personal would hurt them both professionally? Could she truly afford to give in to whatever this connection was without consequences?

God, this is so stupid, she thought, squeezing her phone tighter.

She brought her knees up to her chest, staring blankly at the glowing screen. The temptation was real. She thought about how easy it would be to ask him how he was, if he was free sometime, just to chat. But there would always be that edge of fear—the question of what it would mean.

Did she want to risk their friendship becoming a question mark? What if this became more? What if this turned into an actual entanglement, with feelings that couldn't be untangled again?

She put her phone down on the coffee table with a sharp exhale, trying to focus on something else.

The sound of the city outside her window—a distant hum of cars, the occasional laughter of someone walking down the street—felt grounding. She could hear herself overthinking, her emotions tangled up in what-ifs. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to silence them.