Tangled in Trophies- Lando Norris

40. Catch ups

The morning sun spilled into Evangeline's London apartment, casting golden light over the sleek, modern interior. Her home was cozy without being overly extravagant—dark rugs underfoot, beautiful wooden furniture, and soft, plush throws on the couches. The space felt personal, like her—a mix of clean lines, warmth, and comfort.

She stood by the counter, stirring cream into her coffee, when her phone buzzed. She glanced down and saw Lando's name light up on the screen.

Her heart did a quick flutter, but she picked up casually. "Hey, Lando."

"Hey, Evangeline. Hope I'm not catching you at a bad time," his voice came through, smooth and easy.

"No, not at all. What's up?" she asked, leaning against the counter with her coffee in hand.

"I was wondering if you'd be up for a quick catch-up before Monaco. I've got a few things I wanted to discuss with you," he said.

Evangeline paused for a moment, glancing over her coffee cup. "Sure, come over. We can have coffee while we talk."

"Perfect. I'll be over in about an hour," he said easily.

"Great," she said with a smile, setting her mug down. "You can meet Mavis while you're here, if you'd like."

"I already know about Mavis," he said with a knowing chuckle. "I've got her reputation on record. Everyone says she runs your life."

She laughed, picking up her coffee again. "You're not wrong. She's a queen, though—don't be intimidated by her charm."

"Noted," he said, grinning. "I'll be on my best behavior."

She took a sip of her coffee as they fell into easy chatter about travel plans and his racing schedule. Lando was always so comfortable in conversation, so unguarded, that it made even the most casual chat feel natural.

"I'll see you soon," he said, the conversation drifting easily to other topics.

An hour later, the knock came at her door, smooth and quick. Evangeline was already ready, having set out two mugs of coffee on the table. She had a light sweater on and looked casual but sharp as she opened the door to find Lando standing in front of her.

"Hey," she greeted, smiling warmly.

"Hey," he said back, stepping into the apartment with that effortless grin of his. His green eyes caught the morning light, and his curly hair was perfectly messy in that way only he could pull off.

"Make yourself at home," she said, gesturing to the living room and setting the coffee on the table.

His gaze took in the simple, modern design of the apartment before settling back on her. "You've got a nice spot here," he said, slipping his sunglasses off.

"Thanks," she replied with a smile, sitting on the couch across from him as he lowered himself onto the seat beside her. "I figured it would be easier to chat here before Monaco."

He took a sip of the steaming coffee. "Yeah, I've got some thoughts about the weekend. But first..." he said, setting the mug down and looking at her. "Mavis. I'm sure she's just as intimidating as people say."

"Oh, she is," she said with mock-seriousness, her smile playful as she leaned back. "You'll meet her soon enough. Just don't let her sit in judgment over you—she has that effect on everyone."

Lando laughed at her response, shaking his head. "I'll be careful then."

After a few minutes of casual conversation, Evangeline glanced at him thoughtfully. "Hey, you want to go for a quick drive in the Ferrari while you're here? Thought you might like to see it in action before we get into Monaco prep."

His eyebrows raised, and she could see the curiosity in his expression. "Yeah, sure. That sounds great."

Moments later, Evangeline grabbed her keys from the counter and gestured for him to follow. Her home was cozy, with its combination of warm wooden furniture and dark rugs underfoot. Lando couldn't help but take it all in—a neat, elegant, personal space that somehow felt perfectly her.

When they stepped into her garage, the shiny cherry-red Ferrari 330 GTC glimmered under the sunlight. The powerful curves and iconic design of it always looked as sleek and stylish as it sounded.

"There she is," Evangeline said with a proud smile, running her hand along the polished hood. "Ready for a spin?"

"Absolutely," Lando said, sliding into the passenger seat.

The engine roared to life as Evangeline fired the ignition. The sound was pure music, and before they knew it, the car was gliding smoothly down the narrow London streets. The wind whipped around them as they sped through, and Lando couldn't help but smile as he felt the pull of the car's power beneath them.

As they approached a quiet area near her neighborhood, Evangeline gestured back to her London townhouse. "Mavis generally hangout in my room if you'd like to meet her before you leave," she said casually.

"Sounds good," Lando said, gripping his seatbelt as she took a turn with a practiced ease.

When they pulled back into the driveway later, Lando stepped out and followed Evangeline toward her front door. Mavis was already waiting by the upstairs window, her bright green eyes peeking at them as they approached.

"Mavis," Evangeline sahouted up the stairs of the house ,smiling warmly as she opened the door.

" I guess we'll have to go to her" Evangline chuckled before leading Lando up the stairs where her bedroom resided.
As evangline opened the door, Mavis jumped on top of the girls red bedding, the sleek black cat was beautiful—small, well-groomed, and as commanding as her reputation implied. She was graceful and unbothered, staring at Lando as if sizing him up.

Lando chuckled. "Hey there," he said, waving lightly at her.

"She's not as intimidating as you think," Evangeline said, crouching to scratch behind her ears. "She just wants to ensure the house is properly maintained."

Lando laughed again, a genuine, easy sound. Evangeline had a way of being calm, cool, and easy, and it showed even with her cat.

After a few minutes of introductions and petting, they shared a quiet moment, the sound of Mavis purring in the background.

"Monaco's going to be exciting," Lando said. "I think this trip is going to be a good way to clear the air."

"Yeah," Evangeline said with a small smile, "but it's good to have coffee and moments like this before it all gets too chaotic."

And for a moment, with the sound of Mavis in the air and the memories of the sleek roar of the Ferrari in the driveway, the moment felt light.

Simple, calm.

And neither of them could shake the thought that there might be more beneath it.