Tangled in Trophies- Lando Norris

34. Just freinds

Evangeline stood at the baseline of the well-lit indoor tennis court, her tennis racket gripped firmly in her hand as she prepared for her next serve. The sound of the ball striking the strings echoed in the quiet air, the rhythmic thud grounding her in the moment. Her mind had been a whirlwind of events since arriving back in London, but the practice felt grounding—something tangible she could focus on.

She had an upcoming match in a few days, and her training was rigorous. Every serve, every volley, every backhand felt essential. She wanted to be sharp, to prove herself on the court, especially after the whirlwind of travel and distraction that had come with the F1 paddock and the dinner with Lando.

"Alright, Evangeline," she muttered to herself, taking a deep breath. "Focus."

The ball bounced twice before she tossed it into the air and slammed it over the net with practiced precision. She could feel her muscles flex as she moved across the court, adjusting her position for her next shot. She liked the feeling of being here, of her body in motion, her mind distracted only by technique, form, and strategy.

The sound of her phone chimed on the bench beside her. She paused mid-rally, tucking her hair behind her ear as she grabbed it.

It was a text from Olivia:

"Hey, you free for a call later? I need a tennis break from all the drama."

Evangeline smiled faintly and typed back quickly:

"Of course. I'll cool down after practice and give you a call."

She slipped the phone back onto the bench, finishing her set and wiping the sweat from her brow with her wristband.

Later that evening, after cooling down and showering off the day's sweat, Evangeline made her way to her couch with a warm cup of tea and her phone. She dialed Olivia's number, leaning back and pulling her hair into a loose ponytail.

The phone rang for a moment before Olivia picked up. Her voice came through bright and familiar, full of her usual energy.

"Hey, Evangeline! Took you long enough," Olivia teased. "How's the tennis world treating you?"

Evangeline chuckled. "Busy as always. But it's good. Staying focused. I've got this upcoming match—nothing too crazy, just training, you know? The usual."

"Of course. You never slow down," Olivia said with a laugh. Her voice took on a softer, more thoughtful tone after a beat. "How've things been with the F1 stuff? You seemed pretty swept up in that whole Lando thing."

Evangeline froze for a moment, gripping her tea cup. She took a sip to buy herself time.

"It's fine," she said casually, her voice light, attempting to keep the conversation neutral. "He's just a friend, Olivia. Nothing more. We've had a few conversations here and there, but really, it's nothing. Just friendship."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Olivia's voice came back, sharp but gentle.

"Are you sure about that?"

Evangeline hesitated. Her tone was confident, but her words felt heavier now.

"Yeah, Olivia. I swear," she said quickly, trying to keep her voice light. "I've got tennis to focus on, remember? Nothing but tennis."

Her best friend sighed on the other end. There was a slight edge to her voice as she continued.

"You haven't been in a proper relationship since Ben, though, Evangeline," she said. "Not since two years ago when he cheated on you and you pretended not to know, just to get out of it and 'focus on your tennis.'"