She's back ~ L. Hamilton

109. | Here We Come

I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by half-packed bags and a growing mountain of clothes, shoes, and equipment. The suitcase was open in front of me, looking too small for everything I needed, but I was trying to make it work. I folded each item carefully, as if somehow the order of things might make the weight of the next few weeks feel less heavy.

It didn't.

I was supposed to be excited.

The US Open.

One more chance to prove that I could still hold on to the title I had spent my whole life chasing. But instead, all I felt was this persistent, gnawing tension, like something was missing.

Marco. My uncle. The one who had always been there, pushing me forward, keeping me grounded.

And then there was Lewis.

I couldn't stop thinking about him, even though I was supposed to be focusing on the match.

I heard the familiar sound of the door opening, and a moment later, Lewis was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with that relaxed, effortless air he always seemed to have.

I could tell he was watching me with that quiet intensity, like he was waiting for something—maybe for me to acknowledge him, or maybe for me to say something first.

"Hi" I say

"Hey Laney"

"I'm going to New York, I'm going to compete in the US Open"

"And You're leaving already?" His voice was casual, but there was a slight edge to it, a little more softness than usual, like he didn't want to push, but at my words a small smile broke out along his lips.

I looked up at him, pushing a strand of hair out of my face. "Yeah. Got a flight to catch"

He walked in, closing the door behind him with that familiar quiet click, his steps light as he came over and sat down next to me on the floor. He leaned back against the couch, his eyes never leaving me.

"Do you want company?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper, like he was testing the waters. "I was thinking maybe I could come with you. To the Open"

I froze for a second, my hands stilling mid-fold. The thought of having him there, by my side, somehow felt both comforting and impossible at the same time. I didn't answer right away, trying to gauge what it would mean for both of us.

It was such a simple offer. Maybe he thought it was. But I could feel the weight of it in every inch of my chest.

Then, reality hit me. I swallowed, glancing over at him. "You'd miss the second-to-last Grand Prix if you came with me"

I watched his expression shift, a quick flash of hesitation crossing his face. His lips pressed together, but he didn't argue. He knew it, just as I did. The racing calendar meant everything to him. He couldn't possibly miss it, not with how close the points are between him and Daniel.

"Yeah," he muttered, his gaze lowering to the ground for a moment. "But maybe it's worth it, just this once"

I shook my head, a soft laugh escaping me. "I can't let you do that, Lewis. It's too much. The race is important to you."

I watched him nod, that usual easy confidence flickering a little. He stood up, walking across the room, then turned back to face me.

"You could come to Vegas with me. Watch the race there" he said, shrugging nonchalantly. "It's just a quick stopover on your way to New York. No big deal."

I nodded, trying to keep the relief from flooding my chest.

"That sounds great" I replied, then added, "But—" I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. "I don't know, Lewis. I can't exactly go to Red Bull right now, You know things are... complicated with Daniel"

The air between us shifted. The tension in the room grew thick as I said his name.

"Well" he drawed out, "you could always come into the Mercedes garage" he tried to make it sound casual and spontaneous, but it was very very far from that.

I let out a shaky breath. "Well, you know I've only ever been in the Red Bull garage with Daniel. You know what this means for me, for us—if I go with you to Mercedes..." I trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.

I felt the heavy weight of it—the consequences, the media, the fallout. This would be a public statement. The world would know. Lewis and I would finally be out in the open. No more hiding. No more pretending that we weren't... something.

He didn't flinch. He didn't look away. Instead, he leaned in closer, his eyes locking with mine, like he was daring me to make the choice. "Then let them know." His voice was quiet, but firm, as if he was asking me to trust him.

"You know how Daniel will take it," I said, trying to steady my breath. "He's already pissed at me. We haven't spoken in a week. I don't want to make it worse. I don't want to be the cause of more chaos in the middle of everything else."

"Then don't," he said simply. "But you don't have to worry about me. I'm with you, Delaney. Wherever you go, I'll be right there. And if the world has a problem with it, that's their issue. And if Daniel has a problem with it he can fu-" he stopped as I raised my eyebrow "-fudge away"

I shook my head, feeling the weight of his words settle into my chest. It wasn't that easy. It was never that easy. Daniel had been my closest ally for so long, and if I chose this—if I let Lewis into this part of my life, into this journey—it would change everything.

"You've nothing to worry about Laney, you'll be with me, no one will say anything in Mercedes to you as long as you're with me. I'm top dog around there"

I glanced up at him, biting the inside of my cheek, a hesitant laugh escaping me. I knew he was trying to make light of the situation, but it was clear there was something else there.

Something bigger.

I hesitated. The idea of going to Mercedes felt both exciting and overwhelming. But the thought of being with him, of not being alone at the Open—of not being alone at all—was enough to make me take a breath and nod.

"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll go with you."

His face softened, and for a second, I saw the warmth in his eyes I hadn't expected. "You sure?"

I nodded, standing up and walking over to my suitcase. "Yeah. I need a little distraction, anyway"

Lewis smiled, that familiar, knowing smile. "Then it's settled. I'll make sure we've got everything planned for Vegas. We'll make it work, you'll come with me to the Mercedes garage"

I gave him a tight smile, suddenly feeling a little lighter, even though I knew the next few weeks were going to be anything but easy. But at least for now, I wouldn't be doing it alone.

And maybe that was enough.