Lando |124|

My life had always been about speed, precision, and control. On the track, I knew every corner. But this one? It was like a corner I'd never seen before, one that quickened my pulse in ways I wasn't prepared for.

It started in Monaco. The parties, the chaos... none of it was my thing. But somehow, Max convinced me to show up, and that's when I saw her. A flash of dark eyes, a smile that promised trouble. I didn't impress her.

"You're staring at me," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe I like what I see."

He scoffed, taking a sip of his drink, unconcerned. "Does that line work often?"

"I have no idea. It's the first time I've said that."

He tilted his head, looking at me like I was a puzzle missing half the pieces. "You're the type who drives in circles for a living, right?" I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, something like that."

We talked. He had sharp words and an even sharper wit, never letting me have the last word. He made me want to know more. To see if he'd let me overcome the obstacles he'd set for me.

Weeks passed, and she became a constant in my life. Late-night calls. Showing up at races. Stealing my hoodies and pretending not to. I should have been focused on the championship, but instead, my mind drifted to her: the way she laughed, the way she looked at me when I thought I wasn't looking.

Then one night, he walked away. "You're not one to stay put, Lando."

Those words hit me harder than any other crash I've ever had. "You don't get to decide that."

He exhaled, shaking his head. "You live in a world that moves too fast. I don't know if I can keep up."

I leaned closer, brushing my fingers against his. "Then let me slow down for you."

A silence stretched between us, heavy with everything we weren't saying. Then, like on the track, I took a chance: I kissed her. And for the first time, I didn't care about the next curve.