𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 | 𝐋𝐍𝟒

𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

The plates were cleaned—mostly by Lando, who insisted "he made dinner so he'll clean".. The kitchen was calm again.

They were both a little quieter now. Softer.. She yawned as she walked into the living room, stretching her arms above her head, spine arching slightly. Lando watched her from the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck.

«Im tired..I think I'm gonna go to bed» she said, voice low.

«Yeah, me too» he replied, eyes dropping to the floor like it suddenly had secrets. «It's late.»

«Goodnight, then» she said, almost awkwardly—like she didn't want it to be goodnight at all.

«Yeah. Goodnight.» He gave her a faint wave, then turned toward the stairs, every step heavier than it needed to be.

She disappeared into her room, and he into the guest room. But when he closed the door behind him, he didn't move.

He just stood there in the middle of the room.

The bed was made. Clean towels stacked neatly on the chair. The hoodie she gave him clung awkwardly to his arms, too tight at the elbows.

He stared at the sheets. Then the door. Then the wall.

What the fuck was he doing?

He didn't want to sleep in here. Not alone. Not tonight. Not after everything. And before he could talk himself out of it, he left.

Barefoot, hoodie still clinging to his arms, he padded down the hall and slipped into her room like he belonged there.

Except... she wasn't in bed.

There was rustling from the bathroom, So he just sat down on top of the duvet, hands on his knees, staring at the wall like it would explain what the hell he was doing.

Then the door clicked open and She stepped out.

Hair pinned back lazily, skin dewy from her routine. Her clothes were changed, now she was wearing pajamas that were barely there—white cotton tank top, tiny matching shorts. She was barefoot. Comfortable. Beautiful in the way that made his heart ache.

She froze. He froze.

«Well» she said, arching a brow. «Hello again»

He stood up like he'd been caught stealing. «Can I sleep here?»

Her mouth opened. Then closed.

She blinked once. Twice. Her cheeks flushed the same way they had earlier in the kitchen «Sure.»

He let out a breath. Almost too relieved. Then immediately fumbled, «I mean—like—it's not weird or anything. We already, um, slept together. Not like slept slept, but like—we've shared a bed before, so it's not—»

«Lando» she said, holding back a smile, «I get it. You don't have to explain.»

«Oh. Right. Yeah. Cool.» He rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. «I'll just... yeah.»

She walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed in without another word.

He tugged the hoodie off—finally giving up on the sleeves—and tossed it somewhere near the chair. Now just in shorts, he turned to get under the sheets...

Only to catch her staring.

«That hoodie was uncomfortable as hell» he said, deadpan.

«Mmhm.» She turned away, face half-hidden by the pillow, lips barely holding back a smile. «Sure that's why.»

He slid in beside her, the distance between them wide and electrified.

The room was quiet again.

Except for their breathing. And except for the fact that neither of them was really sleeping.