Summary: Y/N and Lando were best friends who had become friends with benefits. Y/N knew it was a bad idea. Digging herself further into a hole of hurt for when it ended. She didn't know where to go from there, only knowing that Lando's lingering on her mind like he never left. Inspired by Tate McRae's new song Horseshoe
Warning(s): Angst, heavy drinking, crying, mentions of smut, mentions of insecurity, mutual pining, fake relationships, fluff
I got it, I promise
Just broke down on the plane
I wrote down my feelings
But they won’t go away
And I drank on Monday
Then straight through Saturday
That’s all they were.
Friends. With benefits.
She should’ve known. She should’ve said no at the start. She should’ve said it was a bad idea. She should’ve stopped it before it even started. All she could think of was how she should’ve, should’ve, should’ve.
She asked herself why she just couldn’t push the pain away. Why she couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she sat on the plane, on route back home from another out of town presentation for work. Maybe it was the jetlag, or the long hours she spent in a conference room finally catching up to her. Y/N knew none of it was true. She knew it was Lando.
Everything she had done, the way she had felt. The way things ended before they even began. That was on her for getting attached. She knew what she signed up for, and yet she still failed to follow the one rule they knew would mess everything up.
Y/N fell for Lando.
Deep down, she knew she was never going to be it for him. How could she? When he had the most beautiful women on his roster. She was just her. Just another girl that knew Lando. Nothing more.
As soon as that plane landed, she knew she just needed to push everything out. Push it all away, and go her own way. Even if that meant shutting people around her out. She couldn’t let herself give in to hearing the guilt or pity from those around her.
So she did what she does best; she shut down.
She was in the middle of a crowd, in the heart of downtown Monaco. She was in a part of the city she didn’t know, in one of the many nightclubs that she’s never seen, with people she has never met, completely obliterated out of her mind. She was letting a man she didn’t remember the name of, kiss down her neck and feel up her body to keep her from spinning back into reality. The reality of where she was alone. The reality of thinking about her feelings, and how they crushed everything inside of her.
So, drinking throughout the week, going quiet on all of her friends and family, and finding new cocktails to try until the sun came up seemed like the better option.
It took a good amount of weight to get the guy, who was sucking on her neck like it was his lifeline, off of her as she pulled out her phone that was buzzing like crazy. She squinted her eyes at the brightness, seeing that someone was calling her, but her vision was too blurry to see who it was. She hits the green button instead.
“Hello?” she slurs out, stumbling away from the crowd to hear the person better. She grumbles when she can’t hear them enough, having to plug out her other ear to see if it’s any help. “I can’t hear you, gimme a second,” she mumbles out, almost tripping over her own feet as she locks the door behind her as she occupies one of the unisex bathrooms.
“I said where are you? I’ve been calling you all night!” Charles’ voice booms through her phone, making her smile to herself.
“Charlie! I didn’t know it was you calling, how’re you?” she chuckles out, her eyes drooping lightly as she is struggling to keep them open due to the amount of alcohol in her system. She can hear his engine turning on through the phone, making her frown. “Where are you going, Char? It’s late!” she scolds playfully, causing him to sigh.
“I’m coming to get you, wherever you are. That’s why I need you to tell me where you are, cherie,” he says slowly to her, making her hum and shrug her shoulders.
“No clue.”
Charles almost stops in his car at her words. He furrows his eyebrows. “You don’t know where you are? How far did you get tonight? How drunk are you?” he says, making her pat her painted nails on her chin.
“I stopped counting after the Patron came into the picture,” she laughs, Charles shaking his head.
“Send me your pinned location, and do not move. I am going to come get you, okay?” he says, his voice firm. She nods to herself.
“You got it,” she says, before blinking a few times to try and focus her eyes enough to send her pin to Charles. “I did it, I think. I guess we will see.”
Charles keeps her on the line as he drives, letting her drunk self ramble about whatever comes to her mind, and right now it was about him and Alex’s wedding plans. Once he pulls up to the club location, he lets the valet workers know he will just be a few minutes before darting inside. He squeezes around the crowd of bodies, heading towards the bathrooms where she was, knocking on the door while saying her name.
The door opens slowly a few moments later, a drunk and smiley Y/N popping into view. She throws her arms around Charles while saying how happy she was to see him.
“Let’s get you home, yeah?” he says while picking her up to carry her out. She shook her head.
“Not home,” she groans as she throws her head back. “I get too sad there. I don’t like being alone.”
Charles sighs before nodding. “I’ll bring you somewhere else then,” he says softly. He usually would just bring her to his place, knowing Alex would have everything set up for her as they did the week prior, but his family was staying over, and he had no extra space for her to crash.
“Where are you taking me?” she says softly, a yawn leaving her lips as he straps her into the passenger seat.
“I can’t take you home, my family’s visiting. So I’m going to bring you to another friend of yours. I just gotta call them, yeah?” he says, and she nods with a hum as she closes her eyes.
Once he got into the car, he drove off and looked over at her somewhat sleepy state. “You going to tell me why you’ve been so sad lately?” he asks her, and she immediately shakes her head. Y/N hasn’t spoken to anyone about the sudden flip. Or why she has suddenly stopped answering phone calls, texts, anything. Only a few could truly get a hold of her, but for all Charles knew, she had become a ghost.
He sighs before deciding to leave it, grabbing his phone from the cupholder to call Lando, and putting his phone up to his ear. It rings for a few moments before the other line picks up.
“Hello?” Lando’s groggy voice answers.
“Hey, are you able to help me out?” Charles sighs.
“With what? Did something happen?” Lando says, sitting up slowly in his bed while running a hand through his hair.
“Ran into a little trouble with Y/N, and I’ve got the family staying at mine. She says she doesn’t want to be at home alone right now. Can I bring her to yours?” Charles explains. “I know it’s late and you’ve got other stuff going on, but you’re the only other person I can think of who’s in town right now that she won’t say no to.”
“Is she okay?” Lando’s voice changes to complete concern as he throws on a hoodie quickly.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just completely plastered out of her mind,” Charles chuckles dryly, seeing that she was dozing in and out of slumber. “I know you were just busy earlier this week with her being in town, so I didn’t know if she was still there or not.”
“No, she’s back out of town for work. Yeah no, you can bring her here. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Charles nods. “We’re like five minutes away.”
With that the two hang up the phone, Charles looking over at Y/N once more, only to frown when he sees tears falling down her eyes as her eyes close.
If only she would open up to him. To anyone at this point.
Once Charles pulled up to the front of Lando’s building, the man was already standing outside, hands in his pockets as he nodded at Charles. Charles put the car in park, getting out and rounding the car to help Lando with getting Y/N out of the car.
“She’s been in and out since we started driving,” Charles says as he helps straighten Y/N up and set her into Lando’s arms. Lando wraps one arm around the back of her knees and the other holding her waist as he nods at Charles. “She started crying, though. I don’t know why, I just wish she would say something to someone. Anyone at this point.”
Lando frowns in confusion, looking down at her flushed face, seeing the dried tears on her cheeks, a few streaks painted with her mascara, her lips in a light pout as her eyebrows stayed furrowed.
“Yeah, I don’t know what’s been going on. Maybe I can get her to say something in the morning,” Lando mutters softly. Charles nods back before giving a thankful smile back to Lando.
“Keep me posted, yeah?” he says, Lando hums in agreement.
He turns back around and heads back up to his apartment, the elevator ride silent as he stared down at her sleeping state. “What is going on with you, love?” he sighs, seeing her eyebrows twitch slightly as she stays fast asleep.
Once he’s back into his apartment, he brings her into his bedroom and lays her down on his spot, before going to grab her a change of clothes. He also doesn’t hesitate to grab some of the makeup removing wipes he kept in case, and bringing them back out with the change of clothes.
He leans over her softly, pushing her hair away from her face. “Y/N,” he whispers softly, watching her face contort only slightly. “Hey,” he says a bit louder to catch her attention, only causing her to groan. “We’ve got to get you out of these clothes. I’m going to change your clothes, okay?” he says slowly, making her frown.
“No,” she groans out when her eyes flutter open, then frown at the sight of Lando. She tries to push his arms away. He frowns at her. “Y/N you can’t stay in those clothes-”
“Don’t want you,” she says again, turning her head away from him slowly. “Leave me alone.”
“You need to get out of these clothes, and then I’ll let you be? That work?” he says, instead of pushing to argue and ask her why. He knew better than to test drunk Y/N.
She frowns before nodding slowly. He nods back before helping her strip away her miniskirt and corset top, putting them to the side as he pulls one of his hoodies and pair of sweatpants onto her figure. “Can I take off your makeup?” he asks cautiously, and she nods as her eyes stay closed.
Lando softly presses the pad onto her skin, rubbing softly so he didn’t hurt her. She stays still as he does so, the frown on her face stays permanent.
Once he finishes, he throws them away and looks back over at her. She’s laying on her side, staring at him through squinted eyes. “Why did you have to do what you did?” she asks him sleepily, making him look at her confused.
“What did I do, love?” he asks her softly, going to sit on the edge of his bed in front of her. She stares up at him, tears brimming at the edge of her lashes.
“Why did you make me fall for you?” she says so softly, Lando almost thought he imagined it. His entire demeanor froze. Before he can press her once more, her eyelids flutter closed and she falls asleep quickly after that.
Lando’s head began to go awry, unsure of where to start with every single question that rang in his mind. He would definitely be asking her tomorrow, they had a lot to discuss.
He pulls the covers over her figure, caressing her cheek lightly before walking away and turning off the light, and shutting the door softly. His feet padded down the hallway, going towards the guest bedroom. He crawls underneath the covers, laying on his back, but only tossing and turning for a while after. Her words never leave his mind.
Lando didn’t remember falling asleep, but it seems he did so as when his eyes opened, the sun was barely poking through the blinds. He pulled himself out of bed, deciding to go check on Y/N and grab her some pain meds with water. He knew she would definitely be passed out still, as she slept most of the day after a long night out. So she wouldn’t notice him leaving the meds and water for her until she woke up. He grabbed the cold bottle from the fridge, grabbing the pills from the cabinet and headed towards his room.
He padded back towards his bedroom, softly opening the door and looked up towards where her sleeping figure would be starfished in his sheets. His entire body froze.
His bedsheets were made, her clothes and shoes were not where they were the night before.
His bed was completely empty. She was gone.
You just said you needed space to get your head right
Sleepin with another girl’s what you meant by it
We were movin different ways
Won’t you say? Won’t you say?
Y/N sat in the back of the yacht with Alex, sipping on wine while Leo sat in her lap. Her gaze outlooking the ocean view in front of them as they sailed out deeper into the blue waters around them. No clouds in the sky, the sun slowly coming to a halfway point just before sunset.
Some of the other racers were there with their girlfriends as well. Most of them were in the back of the boat or standing at the top with Charles, talking while he drove the boat. Y/N had to practically be dragged into coming on by Alex and Charles when they mentioned Lando and his new girl would be coming.
She knew Alex wouldn’t let her have to see them together, but Y/N also knew it was better to get used to seeing them together. She knew it would be best in the long run.
Alex still kept the pair of them secluded, knowing how overwhelmed Y/N has gotten in more chaotic crowds lately, not fully ready to be around everyone in that aspect just yet.
“How’re you doing?” Alex asks softly after taking a sip of her wine. Y/N pats Leo’s head softly before nodding as she keeps her gaze in front of them.
“Best as I can be.”
Alex sighs before nodding curtly. “Have you spoken to him?” she asks, knowing full well Y/N didn’t have to ask who she meant.
After she woke up confused in Lando’s bed, she freaked. She couldn’t be there. She shouldn’t be there. Her head pounding, eyes still screaming for sleep, and his insides churning with every step she took. She couldn’t stay, she needed to leave as fast as she possibly could.
Once she left, it truly dawned on her that she needed someone. Someone who wasn’t going to ask questions until it was right. Someone who would listen with no judgement.
So when she found herself, looking like an absolute hungover mess in front of Charles’ apartment that next morning, he didn’t pry, he just nodded and let her come inside to sit and talk with Alex. Alex never judged her, she just listened. She gave her input when Y/N asked. Let Y/N break down in front of her.
Y/N knew she couldn’t keep breaking herself like this. Falling down the rabbit hole, spiraling.
It had been a few weeks since that day, Y/N knowing what she needed to do after she finally came clean to Alex. Alex had spent almost everyday getting Y/N back into her normal groove, helping her completely restart and reset.
When Alex asked that, Y/N expected herself to freeze and have a few tears fall. She only felt her heart stutter and chest tighten at the possible thought of him at all.
Y/N shakes her head, looking down at the wine in her glass. “I don’t really know what I would say. I don’t think he will ever realize, if I’m honest.”
“Realize what?”
“How much it killed me inside,” she admits, looking back up at the oceanview. “How much I gave myself to him, knowing I would never be that one he wanted. But it was the attention he gave me that told me deep down maybe I could become that one he needed. It killed me inside because I think I always truly knew I never would be.”
Alex hums with a nod, wanting to hug her friend tight, but she knew to do otherwise. Y/N wasn’t much for wanting sympathy like that. It was who she was.
Y/N shakes her head, running her tongue over her teeth. “I just can’t help but always think back to that day. How it ended. How I found out the real reason. I wish he would’ve just told me. Instead of saying what he said.”
Alex sighs, swashing her wine around in the glass. “I know,” she sighs. “He misses you. I can tell you that much.”
Y/N huffs, shrugging. She kept quiet, knowing it was better than what she wanted to say. Her mind stuck on how things had gotten this far. How she knew this girl was going to be the one to stick around. Even if Lando would tell her otherwise when she talked about it.
“We’re nothing special. I haven’t touched her like I touch you if that’s getting you so worked up, love,” he explains while shoveling another bite of his food into his mouth. It brought her relief. Not that she had to worry about it, because that’s all they were. Friends.
She knew about this girl. She’d been in and out of the picture for far too long, but it seems that she was here to stay. At least that’s how it looked. How entranced Lando seemed to be by her. How obsessed this girl was with Lando. Y/N could feel the pushing away even when he didn’t realize he was pushing away. Up until the conversation came into play.
“I think we should take a breather. From this, I mean,” he says, causing Y/N to frown, her heart pounding as her ears began to ring. Had she done something? Did he catch onto her feelings?
She was laid in bed next to him, on her side facing towards him. He was laying on his back, his eyes looking up at the ceiling as if he caught his breath and his hands scratching through his curls. Instead of arguing, she just nods. “Oh, yeah, that’s fine,” she sputters out softly as she slowly sits up, going to bend down and grab her clothes. Lando reaches out for her arm with a frown. “You don’t have to go. Not now,” he says, making her chest tighten.
She wanted to stay. She wanted to stay so bad, she practically craved it. But it was better for her to not push into the wound any deeper than she already had.
Instead she gives him a soft smile, the best she could muster, and squeezes his wrist before prying his touch off of hers. “I don’t think so,” she answers, and he looks between her eyes before nodding. Y/N goes to grab her clothes, beginning to throw them on in a quicker manner than she usually would. Then again, she usually would just cuddle up to Lando after he helps her clean up, but she knew better than to give herself that.
“It’s just because I need to clear my mind. Have it fully focused on the rest of the season,” he stutters out, sitting up in his spot as his covers slide down from his abdomen to his lap. He then frowns. “Not that you’re a bad distraction or anything! That sounded bad, I meant it like-”
“I know, Lando,” Y/N laughs dryly, going to grab her keys and bag next to his dresser. “I got what you meant.”
Lando frowns, but nods as he looks slightly relieved at her words. “I’ll see you this weekend, yeah?” he asks her slowly, and she nods with a hum. With that, she leaves his room and scurries down his hallway as quietly and quickly as she can to put on her shoes. She feels the way her eyes begin to burn as she leaves his apartment, so many questions and scenarios popping into her head.
Thinking of how she could’ve messed this up, or how she should’ve just never went through with this idea from the start.
Her answer was crystal clear a few days later.
It was the tweets she saw first, then came the pictures, and then the videos. Lando with the girl, with her. The one he vowed wasn’t serious. Based on what Y/N could see, it looked incredibly serious. The way he held her, smiled at her, looked at her.
It was the same way Lando looked at Y/N when she was the one in his bed. Underneath him in his sheets.
She had to tell herself it was for the best, that maybe this was the end of the road for the pair of them. She was leaving to go across the world anyways for a few months for work, it was the only thing that made sense.
She was never made for Lando.
She was only a temporary placement till the real one came.
“I’m going to grab us some more wine. Do you want the same?” Alex asks, a soft smile on her lips as she offers her hand for Y/N to give her the empty glass. Y/N smiles lightly back at her before nodding. Alex walks inside the boat, Y/N scratching behind Leo’s ear, who was fast asleep on her thigh.
“If only, Leo. If only I could be seen that way,” she sighs softly, looking at the cute dog. She smiles to herself before looking back at the sun that was now setting. “Someday.”
Lando had gone inside the boat to grab himself another drink, seeing Alex popping open another bottle of wine, smiling at her warmly. “I wonder how much of that brand Charles keeps in stock for you,” he jokes, making her chuckle as she pours into one glass.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she answers before filling up the next glass. Lando eyes the two glasses, knowing who the other one belonged to. His heart aches to see her. To talk to her. He didn’t know how.
“Is she doing better?” he asks slowly, his tone cautious. He sees Alex freeze only slightly, before inhaling a breath. She nods.
“She’s not wallowing away in nightclubs every night, so yeah I’d say so,” she answers back, putting a cork into the bottle. “She’s hurting.”
Lando sighs with a shake of his head. “I just,” he starts. “I wish she would just talk to me. Tell me what happened. What I did wrong.”
Alex looks at him, seeing the genuine confusion and slight hurt in his expression. “I think maybe you need to backtrack on your history with each other. Even the more intimate sides. Yeah?” she says, seeing his eyes widen at her last sentence.
“You know?” he says softly in shock, and she hums with a nod.
“You guys weren’t good at hiding it for one thing,” she shot back, making him rub at his face as he tried to cover a laugh with a cough. She smiles in amusement. “For two, she told me.”
Lando stays silent, only nodding at her words. “You know she asked me something the night Charles dropped her off at mine.”
Alex looks at him, waiting for him to continue.
“She asked me why. Why I made her fall for me? I know she was drunk, but she seemed so hurt when she said that. She was crying too,” he explains, his eyes searching around as if he was trying to make it all make sense.
Alex shrugs softly. “Like I said, I think you need to think back through all of your history. Look at it from her point of view. Look at how you ended whatever you had, and how it looked to her,” she hints, before grabbing the two glasses, walking away and back out to where Y/N and Leo sat.
Lando stood there dumbfounded, trying to figure out what Alex meant. He didn’t have much time to decipher, as his name was being called by the girl waiting for him.
He looked back out the windows, seeing Y/N’s silhouette taking sips of her wine, before he turned back to join his friends.
So who am I to cry tonight?
Such a lucky girl, I know
But where should all my sadness go?
Where should all my sadness go?
Baby, I’m upset, can’t you notice?
Baby, I want back into your focus
Y/N thanked the florist as she took the bag filled with many different types of flower bouquets, per the request of Alex for the bridal shower, as she had been stressing about not having the right flowers to accent some of the decor at the place.
Her heels clicked quickly as she walked fast down the sidewalks of Monaco, her eyes locked on her phone as she tried to make sure she was heading in the right direction.
As she rounded a corner, she bumped into something hard causing her to fall back and the flowers to fall onto the ground. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going, I should’ve-”
Y/N looked up at the familiar voice, seeing that he was knelt down in front of her, grabbing her bags filled with the assortments to give to her. His head shot up mid-sentence, causing him to freeze when he saw her. The pair sat frozen in front of each other, Lando sputtering out sounds rather than words.
She looked absolutely breathtaking, her skin glowing and the dress accenting her figure as he drank in her entire presence.
She wore a pastel colored milkmaid dress that fell just below her knees, the corset top accentuating her curves, which made Lando's heart quicken. Her hair was down in loose curls, darker now, which he knew meant her natural color was growing out. She looked so effortlessly beautiful, he swore she was surreal.
“Lando.”
He snapped out of his daze, staring back at her before standing up quickly. He held his hands out for her to take, helping her stand up slowly. She muttered a soft ‘thanks’, muttering another small one as he handed her the bags. “I’m sorry. I really should’ve watched where I was going,” he explains, and she nods with pursed lips.
“It’s okay. I should’ve had my head up too. Not fully the one to blame,” she says back quietly, making him nod.
“Those for Alex’s shower?” he asks, and she hums with a nod.
“Said something about needing more choices to help with accents or something.”
He chuckled and nodded at her words, putting his hands into his pockets. “Sounds like her.”
The pair stare back at each other, the tension they once had slightly beginning to show its face. Y/N takes in a sharp breath before nodding curtly.
“I’ve gotta go,” she says quickly after a quiet few moments, brushing past Lando. Before he can think about his actions, he calls after her. Y/N freezes, turning around partially. Lando turns to face her, his eyes showing a little bit of shock and hope. He spoke once more, seeing that she was already antsy to leave that area as fast as she could.
“It was good to see you,” he says, wanting to say more, but not knowing what to say. Y/N nods slowly before turning back around. She scurried up the stone steps, heels clicking away as Lando waited until she was no longer in his view.
That’s when Lando truly realized the feeling he had in his chest. The longing and need he had for her for far too long.
He missed her.
There he was. Standing loud and proud, tears streaming down his face.
The one thing he had worked so hard to accomplish, he had finally done it.
Lando Norris was Champion of the World.
She had grown up seeing how much he put himself through to be where he stood now. Every late night, every school dy missed, every tear he shed when times got tough. She had seen it all. It didn’t occur to her that she had tears of her falling, until she felt one drop onto her collarbone, making her try to wipe them away without smearing any of her makeup.
Y/N didn’t know how she ended up being brought out to Abu Dhabi, but deep down she was so proud for Lando. She really didn’t understand how she had been dragged out to celebrate with everyone.
Here she stood, in the back of a fancy nightclub in Abu Dhabi, supporting a glass of champagne given to her by Pietra, as she watched everyone dance and scream out the lyrics to Sweet Caroline. Pietra had disappeared to the other side of the crowd, dancing around and laughing with the girl Lando had brought with him. The same girl that had been in the picture for longer than she wanted to admit.
She took a small sip of the drink in hand, swirling the liquid around as she looked down at it.
This was a bad idea. Everything about it was.
Lando probably was asking why she was invited. He probably didn’t want her there just as much as she didn’t want to be there.. After everything, she was just baggage he couldn’t get rid of.
At least that’s what she was telling herself.
She was trying to conjure up a plan to Irish goodbye this place, but as she was about to slowly walk her way towards the entrance, she felt a hand on her forearm. Her head whipped over to catch the eyes of Charles. He gave her a small smile and curt nod.
“You weren’t thinking of leaving, were you?” he asks, as if he was able to read her mind. Her eyes widened only slightly as she shook her head a bit too quickly.
“What? No, definitely not! Just looking around the place is all.”
“You’ve never been a good liar,” He hums with a smug smirk, shaking his head. He took a sip of his own cocktail. “Your eyes were scanning for the quickest way out of here. I know that expression anywhere.’
She shot him a playful glare before setting down her now empty glass on a side table.
“I just don’t think I should be here. I can’t be here,” she sighs, her eyes looking at her crowd of friends singing loudly around the new world champ. Charles frowns at her words, looking between her and Lando.
“Why not? You deserve to be here just as much as Max or Keegan do. I’d even add Pietra in that mix.”
“But we haven’t really spoken. It’s been months, Char. Especially after the fact I ran out of his apartment, still drunk may I add, the morning after you brought me to his place.”
Charles winces at the memory, remembering how embarrassed she had been when showing up at Charles’ door the next morning, completely disheveled. “So what if you guys are going through a tough patch right now? Some of the strongest bonds go through even worse.”
“That’s the thing though,” she cuts in shortly after, her eyes leaving Lando to look at Charles. “He doesn’t seem to care enough to notice. A part of me really hoped he’d just gain up enough courage to chase after, or track me down to figure out why I’m so upset.”
Charles’ eyebrows fall at her words, knowing how hard it is for her to admit it.
Admit that she missed him. Even if it was in her own way.
She wanted Lando to miss her too. Miss her enough to notice and corner her to figure out what he had done wrong.
“I can’t really say that, though,” she laughs dryly. “Not when I’m the one who avoids him like it’s my job.”
“But you don’t. Not completely.”
She frowns at him, so he continues.
“He’s been in the same room with you how many times since this whole thing? My boat for one thing. He could’ve asked Alex to give you guys a moment or two to talk. He texted me the morning after I brought you to his place, asking if I could make sure you were okay. He could’ve come after you because he knew where you’d wind up. Or even when you literally ran into him on the way to the bridal shower. He could’ve followed, and he didn’t.”
Y/N feels her chest tighten at his words, knowing he was right.
“So yeah, you deserve to feel this way. Especially when you gave him enough opportunities to notice,” he explains, nodding at his own words before shrugging. “Then again, I can also see why he didn’t. He also knows you well enough, that when you hit a low time in your life, or when you shut down, to also give you time. Give you that space, until he knows when he’s able to push and pry.”
Y/N takes in Charles’ words, realizing that he was right.
Lando had been walking on eggshells around her, but not in a negative way. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to see it.
“I suppose,” she mutters. “But at the same time, he lied to me. And didn’t even care to realize it. He told me he needed space. Needed space to clear his head, and focus on the championship. Only for him to sleep with another girl, and date her completely under my nose.”
Charles nods. “I’m not saying how he ended what was happening between you two was smart, I’m just saying I think that maybe he was so cooped up in everything that he didn’t realize that he didn’tnotice how upset it made you until it was too late. So maybe he realizes it now, but is giving you space until he knows he can pry into it.”
“I doubt he knows,” she finds herself saying without thinking, Charles chuckles.
“Oh, cherie, he knows,” he answers back smugly, and she scoffs.
“How would you know he does?”
Charles sighs. “Because he told me.”
She frowns. “What? When? What did he say?”
“That day on the boat, he stayed after all of you had left. He sat there looking pretty distraught, so I asked him what’s going on. He said he’s pretty sure you stopped talking to him because you put two and two together,” he admits. “He said that Alex kind of hinted at it him needing to figure out where he went wrong, and he realized in that split second. He asked me if he was right, and I told him he needs to talk to you. His answer was that he was going to give you time.”
Y/N stays silent, just nodding as she takes in his words. They stayed quiet for a while, just observing as Y/N’s mind was going back and forth.
“Can I say something?” she asks a few moments later. He gives her a knowing look.
“Always.”
Y/N picks at her nails, her eyes locked on Lando, who was now being cast up into the air and bounced around by his buddies.
“He’s got me so fucked up, that I miss him,” she admits. “I can’t even try seeing another guy. I’ve tried. I know Lando and I never were really a thing, but I’m still fucked up by him.”
Charles pulls her into his chest for a tight hug. “You didn’t have to have a label for it to be something real. You guys shared something real. Something raw. It’s going to have you fucked for a while.”
She nods into his embrace before pulling away. He looks down at her. “What’re you wanting to do?”
“I don’t know, truly. I think I just need to get some air for a bit,” she answers, making Charles give her a warning look, as if telling her to not just leave again. She laughs dryly before patting his chest.
“I got it. I promise.”
With that she squeezes past the group of people, and goes out onto a back patio where it was much quieter. Only a couple people were outside, but on the opposite end of where she stood. The breeze felt like a cool rush to her overheated body, the city buzzing below her, but quiet enough for her to just enjoy the peace she was somewhat feeling.
She didn’t know what to do. What to think.
She of course missed Lando. More than anything, she wished she could just erase everything that happened leading up to this. Erase the agreement she made that afternoon so long ago. Keep the friendship bond tight.
Now, reality has set in. The bond was strained, barely hanging on by a thread.
A puff of breath leaves her lips as she looks at the fireworks going off miles away from where they all were.
She and Lando had been through so much. From karting together when they were six and seven, to living together in London as she helped promote Quadrant with him and Max, to moving out to Monaco for her own job, to helping Lando out when he moved out there for his own career, to now. She wasn’t sure if she could let that go, but she also didn’t know what there was to salvage.
“Uh oh, you and thinking doesn’t tend to end too well.”
A voice says from behind her, with a chuckle leaving a moment after. She turned to face them, smiling softly as Max came to join her. He takes in her facial expression, reading the true emotions behind her eyes. If anyone was good at reading her every move, it was Max.
Sure, he was mainly behind the scenes when things began to unfold between her and Lando, but he noticed her little crush long before she even knew herself. Same for Lando, even though he never will admit it. He nudges her knee with his own. “Why so quiet? What’s brewing in that mind of yours?”
Y/N chuckles, shaking her head lightly. “What isn't brewing should be the question,” she shot back. He eyes her knowingly with a slow nod.
“I see,” he hums, eyeing her up and down as he tries to read her a bit more. He could tell she was questioning everything. “If it makes you feel any better, he misses you too. More than he will admit to anyone.”
Y/N stares out towards the horizon. “I miss him too,” she breathes out finally, Max letting a light grin slip knot his face. “But I don’t think it’s good for either of us. Not after everything.”
Max frowns, seeing the war going on between her eyes, seeing how she begins to fidget with her hands. “I got a journal, when it all started happening. I wrote out everything. How I felt, seeing if it would help me cope, or at least move on, but they won’t go away,” she explains. Max just looks over at her, letting her talk it out.
“I always wished he’d notice me. Then when we hooked up that first time, I was dumb enough to agree to it. Because I thought that meant he did notice me,” she says, a dry chuckle left her lips at the end. “Only for me to realize he saw it as nothing more. Saw me as nothing more.”
“Y/N,” Max sighs, his face softening as her eyes water. She smiles sadly at him, shaking her head and squeezing his arm.
“It’s okay, Max,” she says, eyes glossed over with tears threatening to fall. “I’ll be okay. Go celebrate with him, he needs his best friend there,” she says before she slowly begins to walk back inside.
“He needs you more.”
Max’s words make her freeze for a moment, closing her eyes to keep the tears from falling. She keeps herself turned away from Max, saying nothing as she begins to pad back through the sliding doors. She squeezes between the bodies of people dancing and prying their ways to join the celebration.
She doesn’t notice the way Lando’s eyes follow her. How his eyes falter, doing a double-take, as he watches her try to leave. He especially doesn’t miss the way the lights flashed on her cheeks, showing the fresh tears that were falling. How she put up a fake smile to people that greeted her as she excused herself through them. He noticed how upset she looked. He noticed how she was trying to stay out of his way, to let him get the spotlight he worked so hard for.
How come he didn’t feel like it?
He was supposed to feel on top of the world.
Yet, for the longest time, he felt that something was missing. Someone was missing.
It was Y/N. It’s always been her.
Lando noticed. He always noticed. Especially now.
He looked down at Keegan and his brother, tapping them to put him down. They nodded happily as they set him down. He looks at them, his eyes soon darting over to Max, who just came back into view.
He frowns slightly, as if asking him a question with his facial expressions.
Max gives him a knowing look, and that look spoke enough for Lando to know where he was at.
Y/N.
“Where is she going?” Lando asks Max.
“Where did who go?” His brother asks, Lando only focusing on Max’s answer.
Max looks at Lando once more. “Mate,” he trails off, Lando immediately starting to turn around to go towards the direction she went off to.
“She said you need to celebrate yourself tonight,” Max shoots out as he grabs Lando’s wrist to softly pull him back with his friends. Lando turns back to them, seeing the confusion on a few faces. He looks at Max, who is pleading for him to stay here.
That was the thing though.
Every time he noticed, he let her walk away.
Every time he knew she was upset, he didn’t go after her.
He knew the house had burnt down a long time, but now he was finally seeing the moon.
Lando looked at Max.
“I’m going after her.”
He didn’t give them a single second to protest, whipping back around and walking through the crowd of people that were trying to get his attention. His focus was only on one thing, and that was her.
Once he was out of the building, he looked down both sidewalks, trying to figure out which way to go. He sees a valet worker just ahead of him, immediately going up to him. He gives him a small grin. “Have you seen a girl leave here? She was wearing a maroon dress with straps? It was all lace? Her hair might’ve been back in a bun,” he asks softly. The man smiles softly and nods.
“She went down that way. Turned just before the traffic walk,” he says, pointing to the right, down towards where the stoplight intersection sat. He nods quickly and thanks the worker before he scurries down the pavement, his shoes thudding with each step he took.
He turned down the way he was directed, his eyes searching through the people as he excused himself in between each person, looking for any sort of sign she was nearby.
“Please,” he mutters to himself, looking over the couple of heads in front of him.
He huffs when he still couldn’t find her, coming to a halt as he’s met with the docks leading to all the yachts and boats in the marina, as well as the quiet buzzing of people walking around the little park area on the other side of the dock entrance. He decides to walk down the dock, looking down each aisle for the familiar figure that belonged to the only girl he wanted to see that night.
Lando swore his heart stopped for a split second when he caught her at the end of the dock, where there was an outlook towards the rest of the ocean. She was sitting down, heels ditched and fallen to the side of her next to her clutch.
Her arms were behind her, letting her weight lean back onto her palms as her feet swung back and forth slowly in the water.
Lando lets a sigh of relief leave his lips, making his way down the aisle, towards her.
When the sudden sound of someone walking towards her came about, she whipped her head back with a look of scarceness but then went to a softer look of surprise. Her mouth gapes just slightly, as her eyebrows begin to furrow.
“Lando?” she asks softly, standing up from her spot to fully face him. He stops just a few feet from her, his face holding nothing but longing and something else she couldn’t quite place. “You’re supposed to be celebrating. Why are you here?”
“Because you’re here.”
That answer throws her off, making her heart stutter just slightly. She shook her head.
“I don’t understand,” she mutters back. “You shouldn’t be here, this is your night. You should be with everyone, enjoying your win.”
He shrugs. “Well, I’m not. I can’t.”
“Why? You’re friends, your family, your girlfriend are all probably worried sick. I don’t get why you just left-”
“Because the one fucking person I want there celebrating with me, right by my side, is standing right in front of me,” he snaps back, making her eyes widen at his sudden outburst. She shook her head, crossing her arms.
“You don’t know what you’re saying-”
“Oh, I do.”
“No you don’t-”
“How’re you going to tell me I don’t know what I’m saying when I do know-”
“Because you’re not thinking clearly, and you’ve been drinking-”
“Not enough to understand how I feel about you, and why you’ve been ignoring me-”
“I haven’t been ignoring you-”
“Yes, you have, Y/N!” he shouts back in complete exasperation, throwing his arms up in the air. Y/N bites down on the inside of her cheek, looking at Lando as he looks back at her with frustration all over his face. “You’ve been ignoring me for months! I’m tired of not knowing what I can do to fix this, or to mend whatever broke, because I miss you dammit!”
“It’s not that easy. You don’t understand-”
“Then let me understand! I can’t fix things, or help you if you don’t fucking talk to me,” he pleads, taking a couple steps towards her. He huffs before running a hand through his hair.
“I know I fucked up, okay? I know I did. But I can’t fix things, if you don’t tell me what’s going on-”
“I fucking love you! Is that what you wanted to get out of me?” she yelled back at him, Lando’s face fell as his arms collapsed to his sides. She runs a hand over her face, pacing a little as tears begin to gloss over her eyes. She closes them for a moment. “Dammit, Lando,” she whispers, loud enough for him to hear her.
“What?” he croaks out. “You– what?”
“I love you, Lan,” she squeaks out, her voice shaky as she looks at him fully now. Tears were streaming down her face, one hand on her hip while the other rubbed the back of her neck for a second. She scoffs to herself, pacing a bit more. “I thought you finally noticed me. That night, when we hooked up. I thought you saw me. I thought that-” she bites her bottom lip and begins to quiver. “I thought that maybe if we kept that going, that it meant you’d finally notice me.”
Lando’s heart broke at her words.
“Why the fuck would you think it would take for us hooking up, for me to notice you? I’ve always noticed you, Y/N.”
She shook her head. “No. You didn’t.”
“I did, I do-”
“No, because if you did, you wouldn’t have lied to me, Lan!” she shot back, her voice shot from pure exhaustion. “You told me you needed space to get your head right. But sleeping with another girl? Is that what you meant by it?” she points out, watching his face contort into pure sadness and guilt.
“It wasn’t like that, I swear-”
“Then what was it like?” she shoots, walking another step towards him. “You should’ve just been honest from the start. You made me think I did something for you to move the way you did. If you wanted her, you should’ve just told me.”
Lando gulps slightly, looking down at her, his eyes flickering between her own as they stood inches from one another. He watches another tear of hers fall down her cheek, and onto the dock below them. “The worst part is, I still have so much love for you. I’m still so in love with you, it fucking hurts. It hurts,” she whimpers, her bottom lip quivering.
He stays silent, letting her get it all out. Y/N steps away from him, going to bend down and grab her stuff before she slides past Lando’s figure to pad her bare feet down the dock. She sniffles, tears blurring her vision.
“You know what? No,” Lando says as he shakes his head, turning around to follow her. She stops when she hears his words, frowning.
“What do you mean no?” she asks.
“I mean No. You don’t get to walk away, not again. I won’t let you.”
“Lando-”
“Don’t. You’re going to shut me out again. I’ve gone far too fucking long with not talking to you. Not looking at you. Not getting to see you after every hard race or training. I’m sick of this,” he admits, Y/N frowning as she looks up at him.
“You don’t realize how much this has killed me too,” he says softer this time. He stands in front of her. “You don’t realize how much it hurts me when I know I fucked up and can’t talk to you. I broke up with her that night after the time on Charles’ boat. Her being here is on her and her publicist. Not me. I fucked up. I know I did truthfully. So now, I’m going to fix it. Fix what I did to us. Because dammit, Y/N,” he trails off, shaking his head as he laughs bitterly. He puts his hands on his hips. “I love you too. More than life itself. More than this championship I’ve spent my whole life working for. None of that matters if I don’t have you next to me.”
Y/N looks between his eyes, lip quivering. “Lan,” she mumbles softly, watching how his own eyes begin to tear up.
“Let me love you like I’ve been waiting to do. Let me prove to you how crazy I am about you. Let me fix this between us,” he pleads. He takes her face into his hands, Y/N sniffling as she locks her eyes with his own. “I won’t stop proving that it’s always been you. Just give me this only chance.”
Y/N stays quiet for a moment, seeing nothing but raw emotion in his face. Alcohol gone from his system entirely as she can see how real he was being.
“Okay.”
Lando’s eyes lit up, taking her words in. “Yeah? Okay?” he asks her, a soft chuckle leaving his lips. She nods, slowly slithering her hands up to hold his wrists as his hands held her jaw.
“One chance, Lan.”
Lando wastes no time pressing his lips onto hers in a sloppy, but passionate kiss. Tongues and teeth clashing, as they’re both filled with so much need and want. The two craving the touch from one another for far too long.
When they break apart, it’s far too short for them, leaning their foreheads against one another’s.
“That’s all I need.”
Y/N lets a real smile fall onto her lips, Lando smiling wider at her once more before kissing her again. This time it’s slower, but more heated, a soft whine leaving Y/N’s lips. Lando lets out a groan at her noise, breaking apart once more as he bites his own lip. “Should we go celebrate with everyone?” she mutters against his lips, and he shakes his head.
“I’d rather take you back to mine and celebrate that way. You’re the only one in that room that I really wanted to spend this with.”
Y/N pulls away, turning to walk back towards the entrance of the dock with her hand out towards him. “Lead the way,” she says, Lando not wasting a second more.
My Apologies for going MIA, I've been in and out of the hospital with health issues and have been pretty sick because of what is going on, so I haven't had any time to write or edit.
When I'm home, I'm trying to sleep as much as I can and take care of myself first before I try to write and edit.
I had surgery done a few days ago, and will hopefully be feeling a bit better within the next couple of weeks, but for now, I appreciate the patience. I know it's been a bit, but taking care of myself comes first.
I love you all, and I hope to see you friends soon ❤️
Summary: Y/N's tired of Lando forgetting she exists. Or only coming around when he needs her. So she decides it's time to let him go, especially when one big mistake he makes has her realize he never cared at all
A/N: Wrote this while listening to You and I by PVRIS
I know it's warmer where you are
And it's safer by your side
But right now I can't be what you want
Just give it time
It was snowing.
The clouds were as dark as the night sky, nighttime beginning to bloom, as snowflakes fell softly in Glastonbury. It was a colder evening, the wind not helping the chill that was coming across the quiet town as the streetlight began to turn on.
You could hear the wind pattering lightly on the windows and the soft murmurs of people walking by outside, with light laughter as they conversed. There was frost around the edges of each window of the shop, signaling the drastic temperature difference from outside to inside.
Y/N had a light frown on her face, humming to herself to keep her thoughts distracted as she wiped down each table in her bakery. She then began to shut all the blinds, turning the sign over to say closed before going behind the counter to set up everything she would need the next morning.
She had been open for a month, being quite successful in the slightly smaller side of town. She couldn't have been prouder of herself. She needed the positivity after everything.
Everything with Lando.
They had been inseparable since they were seven years old, competeing with one another on the karting track; the rest became history. Especially after finding out they lived on the same street.
She had always been there for him, especially when he got pulled up to race for McLaren. He had always been there for her when she pulled away from Karting, and realized she could make a pretty mean Battenberg cake and an addictive Dundee cake.
But as his fame grew, their friendship had started to dissolve. Lando liked to say otherwise, but Y/N knew it after she was the only one keeping contact and making the plans.
Half the time, she was left on read.
She remembered when she had brought it up after he swore he'd be there when she finally graduated from the University and the Culinary. Had it put into his calendar to make sure he wouldn't miss it.
"Don't give me that, Lando. You were in Ibiza, partying it up with Martin Garrix. It was all over Max's story," Y/N sniffled, walking away from him while she wiped her eyes. She turned on the faucet to rinse the frosting off the knives.
He sighs. "I just forgot, okay? I'm sorry. I'm here now, doesn't that count for something?"
She shook her head, keeping her focus on the silver. "You're only here because you were coming to visit your parents anyway. You didn't even notice you forgot until Cisca announced that they were leaving for my party."
Lando stayed silent at that. He had never looked so confused, and Cisca had never been so upset at Lando than in that moment.
"I'm sorry, okay? Let me make it up to you. I swear it won't ever happen again. I promise."
She always believed him. After empty promises and more empty promises, which were followed by flowers or visits to her favorite bake shops. She always forgave him.
Even when he'd disappear, or go ghost on her. She forgave him every single time.
It made her insides sour every time something went ignored, but it also made her emotions show less and less each time. It was like wind, as she would put it; you couldn't ever see it, but you could feel it.
She was just that good at hiding her emotions, especially when it came to Lando.
Cisca knew why, deep down, she also knew Y/N knew why. Y/N loved Lando with everything she had, and if that meant ignoring how he treated her like she mattered less and less in his life, it was the love that made her blind.
Until the one day she finally let the love she felt be pushed aside, putting herself first. Putting what she needed first.
"You're sure he's coming?" Cisca asked the girl, Y/N nodding with a bright smile on her face as she straightened out her dress. She was scurrying around her bakery, getting ready for the grand opening.
She had to make sure it all went according to her plans.
"We were talking about it just two days ago. He said he put everything aside just to be here."
Cisca nodded, a light furrow in her brows as she decided to leave it be, putting on a big smile for the girl as she squeezed her arms.
"Let's finish up everything before you open. What else do you need help with, love?" she asks the girls sweetly, soon stepping in wherever Y/N directs.
Y/N's parents had made sure the new bakers had everything they needed, her mom checking to see that they had everything correct in inventory, while her dad did the heavy lifting.
The bakery smelled warm and like fresh pastries. There was a light scent of frosting or something sweet, some hints of cinnamon coming in and out as the cinnamon tarts finished in the ovens.
Y/N had looked outside to see a good number of people, all excited or peeking in to see what was to offer.
She felt her heart racing nervously, as she hoped everything would turn out alright, hearing everyone working like bees behind her as she picked at her nails.
A light hand was on her shoulder, squeezing just a second after. "How you feeling, my love?" her mom's voice says softly next to her. Y/N shrugs with an unsure smile.
"What if people don't like what I have? What if this doesn't turn out like I was hoping?"
Her mom frowns, rubbing her back softly. She gestures to the outside. "Look at the number of people who are waiting. They are waiting for you. You're going to be hit around her, darling. The people around here who know you already loved you before, and they will make sure your name gets out there."
Y/N smiles at her mom, laying her head on her shoulder as she lets go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding in.
"I don't think he's coming," Y/N says, her mom not needing to connect the dots on who she was talking about. She grimaces, pursing her lips.
"I think it's time to let him go, honey," she sighs. Y/N's lip quivering. Her mom was right. He didn't care. Not anymore.
She nods. "Why don't I hate him for it? For all of it?" she mumbles. Her mom sighs, a sad smile adorning her face as she runs a hand through her daughter's hair.
"Because love makes us crazy, Y/N. You love him enough to look past his behavior," she admits, making Y/N's heart squeeze. "But now, you need to love him enough to let him go. Let him learn what living without you on the back burner is like. You deserve more than that."
Y/N didn't text or call after that day. She would type messages, saying stuff like "After everything I've done for you, you can't support me for once?" or others like "I've never said no when you've begged for me to be there for you. I ask for you to be there for me just this one time, and you can't even put your parties aside". She deleted every single one, knowing that saying nothing was the better decision.
Even if she could feel her heart cracking, the more she realized that Lando only kept her around for his convenience. He had the money, the fame, the girls.
Y/N was never going to be what he wanted. She couldn't keep telling herself that maybe one day he'd change. If he was going to keep treating her like she wasn't something he needed, she'd make sure he knew she wasn't in the back waiting for him anymore.
She unfollowed his socials the weekend after. She completely deleted him from her life.
It hurt. Everything in her ached, and she craved for him to reach out again. Deep down, though, she knew she wouldn't give him the time of day.
When he did reach out again, it was a couple of weeks after her grand opening of her bakery.
Lando
Hey pretty ❤️
It's been a while lol, I haven't heard from you
I've been a bit occupied, but I miss your snide messages and funny jokes
Y/N?
Everything ok?
Read at 3:40pm
He tried calling her a few times after seeing she was reading his messages, and choosing not to respond. Lando had never felt more confused than he did in that moment, trying to think back as to what he could've done wrong.
He looked back into his calendar, seeing if there was something he had missed. His thumb freezes, and his heart drops to his ass.
September 1st : Y/N's Bakery Grand Opening 11a DON'T BE LATE
"Fuck," he curses out, running a hand over his face and then into his curls. He pressed the call button again, letting out another set of curses when he went straight to voicemail.
"Y/N," he says softly, taking a seat on the edge of his couch as he rubs his temple. "I'm so sorry. Fuck, I didn't even realize. I'm sorry, I have no excuse. I can't believe I missed the biggest day of your career. Please pick up."
The line beeps after that, making him hang up and try calling again. He's met with her voicemail once more.
"Y/N, pretty girl, please pick up the phone. You have every right to be upset with me. I don't blame you for any of it. Please pick up the phone."
It beeps once more. Lando calls again, only to be met with a weird sound, followed by a robotic voice.
"I'm sorry. The caller you are trying to reach is either disconnected or unavailable."
He ends the call, throwing his phone onto the couch cushion.
"Fuck."
And it's cold when we're apart
And I hate to feel this die
But you can't give me what I want
Just give it time
It was around Christmas time now, and the silence from Lando was both deafening but also refreshing in a way for her. She knew she was doing the right thing by cutting contact.
She was ready to go home, especially after the busy day filled with a school of younger kids coming in asking for every pastry on the display in front of them.
Y/N wiped the remaining flour onto her sweater, closing up the lid before squatting down to make sure the baker's small fridges were stocked with what they'd need for early opening.
The door chimed, signaling someone was walking in, making her shoot up and put on a fake, warm tone as she turned around.
"We're closed for the evening-" she stops in her tracks, smile dropping, and her entire body tensing up. Her heart rate increased, her cheeks heating up in a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Was hoping to talk to the owner, actually," his deep voice said sheepishly, an unsure look on his face.
Lando wore a soft-looking, black trench coat with a white knit sweater underneath it. It looked like the one she had gifted to him two years ago, seeing the small logo on the corner of his chest, and the black seam down the middle of the sweater, where the zipper was.
He wore a pair of light-washed jeans. He had on a black beanie that supported the Quadrant logo, a black scarf around his neck, and his nose was a light pink from the cold weather outside.
She snapped out of her daze, crumpling the cloth in her hands and setting it on the counter behind her as she turned away from him.
"We're closed. Try again tomorrow," she says in a shorter tone, not even trying to turn to face him again. She hears him sigh, his footsteps walking slowly towards her figure behind the counter.
"Please?" his voice sounded defeated as he pleaded with her. She stopped what she was doing, looking down at the countertop, her shoulders rising and falling as she let out a deep breath.
Y/N wanted to give in. She wanted to let him talk things out, hear him say every apology in the book.
At the same time, she knew it wouldn't be any different than the last hundred times. The last hundred times, he apologized. The last hundred times, he made excuses.
Her heart yearned. Him being here, just feet away from her. It was like she was burning inside.
She couldn't. Not after everything she put herself through to somewhat heal from the pain he had caused.
"Please go."
Lando swears his heart twists and squeezes at her words. How she couldn't even bear to look at him is what made his chest tighten. The way her body had tensed up when she locked eyes with him.
Lando then realized how bad he screwed things up.
Instead of pleading anymore, he nods to himself and backs away from her.
She hears the door chime again, before closing softly with a click. Y/N doesn't realize a tear fell from her eye until she feels it fall onto the front of her hand, making her blink them away and finish closing up.
It doesn't take her much longer, making sure to turn off the light before opening the front door and closing it, twisting the key into the lock.
Her arms find themselves wrapping her winter jacket tighter to her body as she turns around, seeing that the snowfall has gotten only slightly heavier since the last time she had looked. She adjusts the beanie on her head before she starts to walk down the quiet streets, hearing the soft holiday music playing in the pubs as she walked by.
The laughter heard from inside sounded warm and inviting, not missing the smells of delicious food and the slight smell of alcohol lingering out the doors as people came and went.
She kept her arms crossed as she turned down the street towards her neighborhood, sniffling from the cold weather hitting her nose.
The laughter, music, and smells of food soon disappeared. The further she walked down the quiet suburbs, the snow falling quietly around her as she kept to herself.
Her mind had begun to wander back to seeing Lando for the first time in weeks.
He looked more tired than the last time she'd seen him. He looked more tan too, like he just came from somewhere warm and sunny. He probably did, knowing him.
The light in his eyes was dim, but he looked refreshed when her eyes locked with his. Just for a split second at least.
She didn't miss the way her heart jumped and pleaded to go to him, how it basically ached when she turned away. Because she knew if she kept her gaze on him, she would've caved right then and there. Her body missed him.
She missed him, especially around this time of year.
"You cold?" he chuckles lightly, looking down at the girl next to him, who was shivering so hard her teeth were chattering slightly.
They were standing outside one of their favorite pubs in downtown Glastonbury, having to wait for the rest of their group of friends to join them for the evening. It was already busy inside, and their reservation wasn't for another fifteen minutes; the pub wasn't letting them go sit early.
The two usually wouldn't have minded, but if it wasn't for Y/N going without her coat, it would've been a different story. She said she didn't need it, as they would get to sit inside right when they arrived.
How wrong they both were.
"No. Not at all, just seeing how long my body can go until I get frostbite," she jokes back, Lando laughing at her snide remark before grabbing her by her waist.
"C'mere, darling," he chuckles, opening his giant coat to pull her into it. He doesn't waste any time wrapping the front of his jacket around her, Y/N snuggling herself closer to his warm figure.
Her arms wrapped around his torso as she practically melted at how inviting his body was for her own.
"Better?" he mutters into her ear softly, and she nods with a hum. He giggles lightly as he kisses the top of her head, keeping her wrapped up in his coat and embrace, the pair still talking about anything and everything as they wait for their friends to arrive.
Y/N is greeted by her cat once she steps inside her small home, being kissed by the warmth as she shuts it behind her.
She shrugs off her jacket and removes her beanie, kicking off her shoes as she picks up her cat. She showers him with kisses as she walks with him in her arms, towards her kitchen to start dinner, setting him down.
Her smile shows up lightly on her face, seeing as he jumped up on the counter not too long after, sitting there, quietly observing as she put a pot on the stove.
As she began to cook up some pasta, her phone began to buzz behind her. She turned to grab it off the table, turning it over.
She frowned as she saw Cisca's name pop up.
Cisca <3
Hi honey love, sorry couldn't make it by the shop today!
So busy getting ready for the holiday party this weekend. Are you still up for coming and helping me bake this weekend? Need a true chef in here
Y/N smiles before typing.
Y/N
No worries, you've got your hands full :)
Absolutely. Can't have anyone burning the house down, now can we?
Cisca <3
I've learned my lesson after that whole fruit cake catastrophe
But good, I can't wait to see you! 🥰❤️
I know things are a bit off between you two right now, but Lando is home. He'll be staying for the party this weekend...
Y/N's heart skips a beat as she rereads the text, deciding if she should skip over a response for that message. Or how to even respond to it at all.
Lando hadn't stayed for this party the last few times she's thrown one. Saying something about a 'brand deal trip' or he was at one of his now ex-girlfriend's parents for the time being instead.
So she was a bit shocked he was actually planning on staying this time.
Could it be because of her?
No.. Why would she even think he'd drop anything to be around her? He hasn't ever dropped whatever he was doing just to see her.
He was probably just doing it because he truly didn't have anything this year to attend.
Cisca <3
Everything okay?
I'm sorry, my dear, I should've mentioned it.
Totally understand if you don't want to come!
Y/N
Everything's great, just tired and cooking dinner! ❤️
Don't be sorry, glad to hear he's able to make it this year. I know how much you've been waiting for him to :)
I'll be there. I'm coming in sweats to start off, then I'll change after all the damage is done
Cisca <3
Oh, good, I was hoping I didn't upset you!
Me too, I've been going bonkers trying to get him to be here. So glad he finally is
Totally fine by me, as I will be dressed the same. If I spill, I can't have it happen all over my new outfit🤦♀️
See you in the am ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Y/N sighs as she sets her phone down, realizing she is going to have to mentally prepare herself for the upcoming weekend.
She decides that the wine in her fridge is much needed tonight, so she goes to grab it and pour it into a glass. After she takes a sip, she catches her cat's stare. She points at him as he meows.
"Don't judge me. I've had a long day," she sighs, taking another sip. "And apparently I'm going to have a very long weekend.
The weekend came a lot faster than she had expected.
Then again, she was completely wrapped up in distracting herself from the upcoming weekend to notice how fast it snuck up on her.
It was early. Early enough that the sun was still hiding far away on the horizon. Cold enough that there was still frost frozen over the windows completely. The snow had stopped late in the night, so a fresh blanket of pearly white lay over the roads.
She drove slowly, not wanting to have a spinout as the roads were still covered enough to be slipping and sliding if she wasn't cautious as she drove.
Her figure adorned a pair of sweatpants that had the Grinch all over them, an oversized hoodie on top, with her slippers that hid her fuzzy sock-covered feet. The radio played silently as the world was still quiet around her, drinking the last of the coffee she had made that morning before leaving.
She knew Cisca would have another cup waiting for her when she arrived.
Her car pulled onto the side of the road, in front of the familiar large house she had known all too well. It had lights strung up all over, and a few Christmas decorations in the front yard.
Y/N made sure she had all of her supplies she brought with her before shutting her door and locking her car, walking up to the front entryway. She knocked first, before turning the knob and walking inside.
It took her a few tries to kick off her slippers quietly, as most of the house was probably sleeping, closing the front door before any more warmth escaped the home.
She walked towards the kitchen, hearing the sound of the small television Cisca had on, and the light clinking of dishes as she hummed to herself. Y/N smiles warmly as she starts to set stuff down. "Good morning," she sings out quietly, making Cisca turn around and jump happily at the sight of her.
"Oh, my darling!" she says happily, pulling her into a tight hug. She helps Y/N shrug off her coat.
"Where do you want me?" Y/N asks lightly, a small smile on her face.
Cisca holds up her finger before turning around to grab something, handing it towards the young girl. Y/N could practically melt at the sight of the freshly brewed cup of coffee waiting for her.
"I love you so much," she chuckles before taking a sip. It was made exactly how she liked it. A little bit of French vanilla cream with cinnamon on the top.
"Okay, now," Cisca says as she claps her hands together quietly. "I have only started the longer roasting stuff first. The other things I haven't started. So I'd say whatever pastries are going to need to sit longer should get done first."
Y/N nods as she sets her mug down, beginning the process, and pulling her hair back into a knot on the top of her head.
The two women buzzed around in the kitchen, sometimes dancing to the Christmas music that would pop on, or laughing about some story that they thought of as they cooked.
The sun had slowly begun to rise, the clouds clearing and making way to let the pretty colors from the light show.
Y/N was giggling at the little comments Cisca would make when the ingredients wouldn't mix the way she wanted them to, giving the young woman a look that says 'help me', in which Y/N had no hesitation in doing.
She and Cisca were too into their baking routine to hear the front door open and shut, the sound of someone padding down the hallway towards the kitchen. "Mom, I picked up those pastry fillers you needed," Lando's voice comes in softly, his head whipping up from the bag in his hands towards the kitchen, only to freeze in his tracks at the sight of seeing her again.
Her focus was on the dough in front of her, going back and forth from kneading it, and then going over to frost up whatever other treats she was finishing.
Lando took the time to take her in, the way her Grinch sweatpants poked out from the top of the kitchen island, and how the giant sweatshirt she was wearing swallowed her whole. He knew she probably didn't realize that the hoodie she was wearing was his, that she had taken years ago. It was his favorite sweatshirt, but he loved how it looked on her.
Her hair was thrown up into a bun, and strands were falling freely around her bare face.
This was the Y/N he fell in love with so long ago. The one who was up at the crack of dawn to help his mom during the Holidays. The one who was so precise when it came to her baking, down to the last detail. The one who could be wearing what she was now, and Lando would want to marry her that split second. This was the real Y/N.
He snapped out of his gaze, only to see his mom was stirring things into her pot, eyes locked on him with a knowing smile on her face.
Lando feels his face heat up at the fact that he was caught, clearing his throat as he walked towards her. "I got you the fillings, and then I figured I'd stop at the other bakery you guys like. So that's the other couple of bags," he says, kissing her on the cheek as she takes the items from him.
Cisca smiles and thanks him, before nodding over to Y/N, who was clearly trying to keep herself busy from looking up at Lando.
Lando knows she probably won't even acknowledge him, but he walks towards her anyway with the bakery bag. He stands to the side of her, a small and hopeful smile on his lips.
"Got you your favorite," he says softly, leaving the bag out of her baking path, remembering how much she despises it when things are set where they don't need to be.
She nods lightly, mixing the frosting to the perfect color needed. "Thanks," she mutters, not looking his way.
Lando knew he didn't even deserve the time of day, so he took what he could get. He squeezed her arm lightly, making her tense, before walking away and up to his childhood room.
Once she heard the door shut, she let out a breath and looked at Cisca. She had a smug grin on her face. "What?"
Cisca just shrugs, pursing her lips. "Oh, nothing," She trails off before setting the dish into the oven, putting it on low. "He was just looking at you like you'd hung the stars."
Y/N shook her head and rolled her eyes, setting the frosting into the fridge.
"I hate to say it, Cis, but your eyesight may be going again," she jokes, making Cisca's mouth drop and laugh, throwing a piece of a pretzel at her.
"Be nice, or none of my shepherd's pie for you!"
Y/N gave her a fake pout, only to chuckle after, and go back to rolling up her croissants, stuffing the chocolate pieces inside. "I'm just saying. He hasn't cared about me for so long. Why would he care now?"
Cisca sighs, understanding where Y/N was coming from. She had noticed the drift and the tension between the pair for a long time. Y/N had every right to have her walls up.
"I'm just saying, dear," she says softly. "Maybe he's had an epiphany. Max said he's been really getting himself together the last couple of months."
"How?"
"Well, for starters," Cisca begins. "He doesn't go out every night like he used to. When he does, he doesn't drink. Says it's not worth the headaches in the mornings. It's also just not something he enjoys doing as much as he used to. He likes spending his time at home."
Y/N nods and says nothing. "Good for him."
"I'm just saying," Cisca says slowly. "Maybe he is changing. For the better, I mean. Because after losing you, love, lemme tell you. He's been really upset lately."
"Well, now he knows how I've felt the last few years," Y/N sighs, looking at Cisca, who is giving her a sad look. "He acted like I wasn't someone who mattered to him. Or when he needed to feel validated by someone who always looked past the bad and saw the good, he'd then pick up the phone," Y/N blinks a few times to keep the tears from falling. "I was there when nobody else was. I was always there whenever he asked, but when I would ask him to do the same, he'd never show."
Cisca nods, knowing each and every struggle Y/N had as they got older, Lando wasn't there as much as he was to pick up the pieces like she was for him.
"Before the money, before the fame, and before all the lies," Y/N says, turning back to her pastries. "He was someone to me. He always was. Honestly, he always will be."
Cisca can see the defeat in Y/N's eyes, watching as she distracts herself by finishing the first round of pastries to go into the oven to bake. Instead of pushing any further, she smiles softly and hugs the girl softly.
"Let's keep these going then, shall we, dear?" she says, knowing that changing the subject would be best.
The two ladies kept trudging on as the morning came on, slowly turning into the afternoon. Cisca had gotten dressed and decorated the entire house, Y/N still not ready at all as she was so focused on making sure every little thing in the kitchen was much to her liking.
Cisca had to shoo and drag her out of the kitchen, making Flo take her upstairs to help her get ready.
As soon as Y/N finished getting ready, she was right back in the kitchen, topping off anything else that needed their final details, guests arriving fairly soon.
Holiday music was playing, as her family had arrived early to see what they could help with, same with Max's family.
Y/n had seen Max pretty recently, as he didn't live very far from her. The two had become much closer than they already were, which they didn't think was possible.
"How're you doing? Is it weird?" Max asks her, leaning over the kitchen island, poking at the sprinkles in the cupcakes she was decorating. She smacked his hand away.
"You and I both know the answer to that one," she says, making him roll his eyes.
"Have you tried talking to him?"
"You mean, has he tried talking to me? Because he sure has. Showed up at my bakery at close on Wednesday."
Max pursed his lips, giving her a sheepish look. "That might've been my fault. I pressured him to go."
She tilts her head, glaring at the man. "So he didn't even make his own decision to come visit? Good to know."
Max groans before letting out a deep sigh. "No, I mean, not like that. He wanted to," Max runs a hand over his face. "He's been wanting to see you since you cut off contact. But after everything, I told him it's best not to. So then he connected the dots, and voila. Getting his shit together."
"And how does this explain Wednesday?" she trails off, washing her hands after finishing her last cupcake.
"Because he didn't know if you'd be ready. He didn't think you'd ever want to hear from him again. He basically was pacing a hole into my floor because he kept saying he didn't want to go, because he didn't think you'd want to see him like he wanted to see you," he admits. "So I pressured him to just do it, and if he left in one piece, that there's a chance you two could make amends."
"I see."
Max nods with a hum. "He misses you. A lot."
She pursed her lips. "He misses the idea of having someone always on the back burner. He doesn't miss me."
Max tilts his head with a frustrated huff. "He misses you. Trust me on that one."
"He can't be what I want, Max. What I need. Just because he's deciding to get his shit together now because I stopped putting up with how shitty he treated me, doesn't mean he gets a pass back into my life again," she admits, picking at her nails and looking down at the heels on her feet. "He can't give me what I want when he didn't even want me till I was gone."
Before Max can argue back on that, Lando's figure pops up in the doorway. The look on his face showed he heard what she had said, but was trying to hide the defeat in his eyes. "Um," he starts before clearing his throat. "Mum wants us all out in the living room for gifts and all of that."
Y/n says nothing, only nods, walking past him and looking forward.
Lando watches her figure disappear into the other room, looking back at Max. Max looks at him with a shocked look.
"I tried, man. I did. You really broke her heart," Max sighs, clutching Lando's shoulder.
He puts his hands into his pockets as they go to join everyone else. "Yeah. I know."
But for now we stay so far
Till our lonely limbs collide
I can't keep you in these arms
So I'll keep you in my mind
Y/N tried her best to keep a smile on her face as the night progressed. Thanking and hugging everyone for each gift she had received. She couldn't help but feel a part of her was missing.
She knew what it was, but didn't want to admit it to herself. Not fully.
Y/N had been the first one to leave that evening, saying she was exhausted from all the baking and cooking, but also had an early day the next day.
Which wasn't true. It was Christmas Day, and she wasn't open on Christmas Day.
She had created the excuse that she had to get ahead on the stock and overflow baked goods to freeze, so she would have her hands full all day. She knew they wouldn't believe it, but nobody questioned it either. They each just gave her hugs, kisses to her cheek.
Max had offered a hand in helping her carry her stuff out to her car, Lando also going to help without a second thought.
Y/N wanted to protest, but knew it wouldn't end well if she did it in front of where everyone could see, so she just let him grab whatever was hers to bring home. It had begun snowing at some point in the evening, the snowflakes falling around them.
"You sure you don't need help bringing this stuff inside when you get home?" Max asked as he lifted stuff into her trunk, and she shook her head.
"I'll be alright. A majority of the appliances will stay in the car. I'll probably spend most of the day tomorrow at the bakery, so this stuff will be going back in there," she explains, while giving him a hug and bidding goodnights to one another.
Lando shuts her trunk, walking up towards her, watching how she immediately looks down at her heels.
"You're always welcome to come spend the day with us. Since your folks leave tonight," he throws out, making her nod quietly. She turns to open her driver's side door. "I um, I got you something," he stutters out, holding out a box in his hands. She whips her head towards him, looking up into his eyes for only a moment, then looking down at his hand. "You can throw it away, or burn it, or do whatever you want to it. I got you this a while back, and I figured I'd still try giving it to you," he scratches the back of his neck. "Even though I've been a real fucking muppet to you."
Y/N debated on just closing the door and driving away, but her heart acts this time. She sighs, slowly, taking the box from his hand and holding it in her small hands. She looked down at it, unsure if she should say anything.
"Merry Christmas, Y/N," with that, Lando turns away and walks back inside, not looking back once. Y/N's eyes stayed on the gift in her hands, not realizing that her fingers were a light red from how cold it was.
She then looks back up at where he once stood, then snaps out of her daze. She slowly slides into her car, setting it in the passenger seat.
Without giving herself another second to think, she turned her key in the ignition and drove home silently.
When she got home, got into her cozy PJs, and her cat was fast asleep by her side in bed, her mind couldn't stop. She couldn't stop thinking about the side glances she caught Lando doing, or how the pastries he had gotten her weren't cold, but warm enough to her liking. Her mind thought about how he made sure to save the end pieces of the Madeira cake, because he knew she preferred it.
Now she lay on her side, the clock on her bedside ticking ever so quietly, the box that Lando had gifted her sitting right next to it, unopened. Untouched.
It had a card taped to the bottom of it, too, her name written out in his handwriting with a heart at the end of it. Y/N groans while putting her pillow over her head, wishing her mind would just stop for the night, so she could sleep.
It didn't take long for her mind to finally listen, Y/N's eyes at some point closing fully for the night.
Y/N was singing to herself as her music played out loud across the bakery, the sweet smells of cinnamon and fudge in the air. It was warm in the shop this morning, the sun shining brightly outside as the light illuminated the inside.
She had her snug long sleeves rolled up past her elbows, a pair of baggy jeans that were her comfiest pair on her hips, hair up in a knot like yesterday where strand were falling out like it was their job.
As she was setting her stuff into the fridge to cool, she set the next batch into the oven while setting the next timer. She heard a knock on the front door of the shop. She frowned as she came up from the back, standing on her tip toes to see who it was, only to not see anyone there.
When she went to open the door, she kept scanning around to see if there was someone she might not have been able to see from where she was.
Once she opened the door, she stepped outside, hold the door open in one hand as she looked down either way of the sidewalks.
It was quiet, only a few people here and there. Before she could walk further to inspect, there was a crumple in front of her feet, making her look down.
She let out a light gasp as she saw the beautiful array of flowers, slowly going down to pick them up. She stares at them in awe.
They had Mokara Orchids, Veronicas, Tulips, Hyacinths, Roses, and many other of her favorite flowers inside of it. It was colorful and smelled fresh. It was exaclty how she loved her floweres sorted, the colors accenting each other the more she looked.
There was a note on the side of them, making her slip it out from underneath the rubber band, unfolding it to read.
I know you well enough that you made the excuse of being here today last night, when we all knew you weren't going to be. I also know you well enough to know you would've actually ended up here in the morning. I know how much it helps your stress levels. I know how this might look after everything, but I wanted you to know things are going to be different. I won't promise it, I will just show it. Here's a little something to keep that smile on your face.
Merry Christmas, love
-LN
Y/N's mouth dropped the more she read it, rereading it a few times over. He didn't add anything hearts or anything extra. No apologies or excuses. Just ownership, and something to show he knew exactly how to keep her going without prying.
For the first time in a long time, Y/N let herself smile. Smile because of Lando.
That fucking scared her.
She didn't spend a ton more time at the bakeshop, wanting to go home for a bit to at least eat some good leftovers from the night before and cuddle up with her cat, falling asleep on the couch with Christmas movies playing on a loop.
Taking her bouquet of flowers home with her, putting them in a vase on the windowsill in her foyer, she smiled softly once more as she read the note once more.
She took a deep breath as she made a decision, going upstairs to grab the familiar box gifted to her the night before, and bringing it back down with her. She sat on her couch with it in her lap, grabbing the note from him first and opening it.
I know I can't fix things overnight, but I'm willing to show how much you mean to me, no matter the timeframe. I'm sorry for not realizing how much I pushed you away. I won't make any excuses. I was arrogant, and let the fame and money get in the way of what mattered most, thinking you'd always be there. When you were gone, it made me realize just how much I do need you. I can't ever take back not being there for the biggest steps in your career; it's something I will regret forever.
I found this for you when I went to Paris last summer. The whole place screamed you. There wasn't a day I was in France where you weren't on my mind. I remembered how much you talked about this place, and how you wanted to visit one day. How this would be the first place you'd stop at. I got something light, because the next time I go, I want you there with me. I want to bring you here when things are right.
If you'll let me, I want to make things right. I want to do things right this time. When you're ready, I'll be waiting.
-LN
She frowned, setting down the note, and slowly opening the box. Deep down, she knew instantly where he was talking about, where he went to.
This place she had dreamt of going to since she picked up Culinary.
As she tore away the wrapping paper slowly, her eyes became glassy. Y/N let out a shocked inhale as she saw what was laying inside.
"Lando," she whispered to herself, holding it in her hands and inspecting it carefully.
There lay a Lady Anne coffee maker, one that she had been wanting in a color and style that the shop in Paris had, but you couldn't order. It was a copperish rose color, not yet rose gold, but not yet fully copper-toned. You could only buy in-store. With it, he had gotten her their Check Mate mug that she had been eyeing for so long.
She couldn't even believe her eyes, not knowing how to react.
Lando had always been good with gifts for everyone, she knew that. But this one was one she couldn't even fathom into words.
His gifts were always things he'd just get her from the list she'd send out, even after he'd always ask her if he could branch out from it, she always turned him down.
Now, she wouldn't even think about giving him a list ever again.
She had maybe mentioned this place a couple of times throughout her entire time in Culinary, not even remembering herself when she could've brought these up.
The items sat in her hands, her mind going a million miles a minute as she sat there, fighting with herself.
How did she know he was really willing to change?
He's tried this method of buying things before. What if he was just doing it again?
Her walls were shaking, and her mind was going haywire.
Instead of overthinking once more, she picked up her phone, and looking for a certain contact, pressing the call button once she found it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Max. How soon can you be here?"
"Probably half an hour. Why?"
"I need advice. Bring P too."
She set the items on the coffee table, the flowers too, still in their vase.
Max stares at them, then back at her.
"So?" he trails off, watching as she plays and fidgets with her hands.
"They're from Lando."
He nods in understanding. "He wrote notes with them, too."
This makes Max's eyebrows raise. "He what? He doesn't write. He barely even likes signing stuff."
Y/N sets the handwritten notes on the table, proving otherwise. Max and Pietra lean over to inspect them, seeing they were definitely in Lando's handwriting. Max leans back in his spot, running a hand in his hair.
"Well, shit, man," he sighs, looking at Y/N. Pietra points at the notes.
"Can I read one?" she asks sweetly. "I promise it's not to snoop, I want to see if I can help."
Y/N nods and slides them her way, Pietra squinting as she begins to read them. Y/N's attention is going back to Max.
"What do I do?" she asks. "He's done this in the past. The flowers, the pastry gifts, and now this. Like I want to believe he's changing, so bad. But I can't be sure. Not after how many times I've been through this."
Max sighs, his look completely serious. He straightens back up in his spot, leaning over with his elbows on his knees, looking back at the stuff on the table.
Then he looks up at her. "You want my honesty?"
She tilts her head, giving him an unamused look. He nods. "I think it's genuine. It's not his way of trying to woo you back," he admits. "It's his way of showing you he remembers the little things, in his own way, I think. Materialistic things are his only way of showing he's trying. So I also think you need to tell him buying things isn't going to work."
"Go on."
"You said he's done this before, yeah?"
She nods, and he gestures at her.
"So tell him that. Tell him how he always comes back to this way of trying to get you back, and you can't trust that. Even if he's actually being genuine. You've got to tell him that buying you stuff isn't going to work. That if he really wants to have you back in his life, he needs to prove it with actions. Not materials."
Y/N nods, taking in a deep breath as she slumps into the couch, her cat coming to lie down in her lap. Pietra sets down the notes and nods.
"He's genuine. The way he crossed some words out was because he wanted it to sound more like him. Not like a broken record."
Y/N feels her heart swell just in the slightest, knowing that deep down she was right, her walls just weren't willing to sacrifice yet.
"When do you think I should talk to him?"
"He's staying here for a bit. I know he's canceled the next few festivals he was going to, so he could be here. Whenever you're genuinely ready," Max explains. "Even if you decided you were ready when he was back in Monaco, he'd drop everything to fly back here to talk to you."
Y/N gives him a look, and he puts his hands up in defense. "I'm serious! He really had changed, Y/N. Like I said, you just need to talk to him. Tell him it's his actions you need to see. He's willing to do whatever it takes."
The girl stays silent for a few moments, before looking up at Max.
"Do you have his number?"
Max smiles softly, nodding. "Yeah, lemme pull it up."
Max and Pietra had left a little after nine that evening, assuring her that everything would be okay. Max assures her that Lando can be patient and go about things on her time, not his.
Y/N was now cozied up in her bed, cat fast asleep on the side of her pillow, television volume low as an old Christmas movie played.
She sat there, finger tapping on the side of her phone as she stared back at Lando's number, which was also staring back at her. Hesitantly, she pressed down on the messaging icon, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
She let her nerves be pushed to the side as she let herself inhale a deep breath, then started to type.
Y/N
Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful. And the gift, I can't fathom words for how grateful I am for it.
But I don't want you to think that buying me things will make me let you back in. I need actions, Lando. Not materialistic things.
She sees that it doesn't take him long to read the message, the bubbles popping up every so often. Like he was typing, then erasing because of how long he was taking to write something back.
Because Lando was doing exactly that. His heart had been pounding the moment he saw her familiar number pop up on his phone. The way her old contact photo brightened his screen more than anything else around him had.
Now that she was on messaging terms with him, he didn't want to say the wrong thing. So he was typing, then deleting, not wanting to push or pry.
Lando
You're welcome, you deserve them. You work hard, and deserve to know that. The gift was something I saw and didn't think twice on because all I thought of was you. You're all that occupies my mind, especially now. I gave it to you because even if you decide this is the end of the road between us, it's something I wanted you to keep.
I won't promise anything, because I know how many of those I've broken to you. Just give it time, give me time. I will be the one who can give you what you want.
Y/N
Don't become someone I, or the world, wants you to become. Become someone Lando wants Lando to become.
With that, Lando stares back at her message. Her words hit him in a way he cannot explain. Because she was right.
He was becoming someone that he didn't recognize. He was turning into what the media wanted him to be. Becoming this fake version of himself is what caused her to walk away in the first place.
And if you and I can keep our love alive, we'll fight
We can meet in the middle, bodies and souls collide
Dance in the moonlight when all the stars align for you and I
Days had passed since their text messages to one another, Lando giving her the space he knew she needed, but was around enough to show her he wasn't leaving. That he was proving to her he was here to stay.
Whether it was a quick stop in the shop with Cisca during her routine in the mornings, or coming into the kitchen during her weekly dinners at Cisca's to see what he could do to help them. He would just be there, not hovering or prying. Just there.
Y/N knew he was on his winter break before the new season started, in which he may have been able to be a bit more lenient on his diet and workout routine. Yet, he never failed to ask her when she was over if she wanted to join on a run or walk.
There were a few times she had said yes, not only shocking him, but her as well.
When they'd go on runs together, they'd keep it silent; the only sounds were their breathing and their feet on the ground below them. Their walks, he'd keep it light, not getting into the nitty-gritty stuff, as he could tell she was fully guarded. He was very cautious about everything he brought up, making sure her body language was less tense when he would start talking.
On New Year's, instead of suggesting going out to pubs, or throwing a giant party, Lando suggested their families get together and celebrate small. Inviting Max's family as well, and making sure Pietra could join if she wasn't with her family.
For Y/N, she could tell he was trying. He was genuine about his motives. This was a different Lando than the one she had known before.
This was the Lando she grew up with. The one that makes her heart flutter.
So that New Year's Eve, they all sat, happily mingling in the Norris household, and playing many fun games with one another. She would often find herself catching some glances at Lando, not noticing the smile lifting on her own lips as she watched him joke around with family.
Sometimes he could feel her looking, turning his head towards her and giving her a big smile when he saw her looking. She would try to look away and hide the grin forming on her lips, but he was too good.
He was so adamant about making her smile, especially on days she looked more glum after a long day at the shop. He'd make sure to at least make her laugh or smile each day he came in from that day on.
He stuck to it.
It was now mid-February, and Y/N was finishing the last of the sales from Valentine's Day, seeing that this was the biggest day she had had since opening week.
The snow was still making itself known during this time of year, falling quietly amongst the streets tonight, making the town light up brighter than it could with the streetlights present.
The door chimed open, making her pop her head up to see the familiar Brit walking inside, as he shook the snowflakes from his jacket and beanie. "I'm going to start locking that door when I'm closing," she tries to joke lightly, writing away her sales and inventory for the next day.
Lando chuckles as he rubs his hands together, keeping them warm as he walks towards her.
"How'd it go the rest of the day?"
She nods. "Not bad. Valentine's Day is the one day when last-minute pastries seem to be on everybody's list. So I'd say we did pretty good," a light laugh leaving her lips as she turns to put her notepad into the drawer.
"Any other plans for the night?" he laughs as he watches her put on her coat, scarf, and beanie.
She shrugs. "Got a date."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yup. My cat is waiting at home, so we can watch Holly Golightly and her cat take on New York City," she answers, giving him a look because she knew instantly where his mind wandered off to.
He rolls his eyes with a smug smile before following after her, letting her lock up.
"Well, I was wondering," he trails off as she double-checks that the door is fully locked. "What if I bought us dinner? Maybe some dessert too? That's if you have room for one more?" he asks, his tone soft and sheepish.
Y/N slowly turns to look up at him, seeing the cautious look on his face, his nerves making him fidget with the sides of his jacket.
Her face slowly turns into a soft grin.
"I think that would be okay," she answers softly, Lando's shoulders dropping from being so tense, smiling ear to ear down at her.
"Amazing," he says, before leading her down the street to pick out somewhere to get their takeout. "What're we thinking?" he asks her.
Once they settle on their takeout of the night, the pair walks back to her home in comfortable silence. Lando is mainly trying to keep his composure, as he has yet to see her new home since she moved out of her parents.
This was a big step. For both of them.
Once they had gotten inside the foyer, Lando took in the soft warmth of her cottage, already being able to see how much it resembled her.
An orange and white striped cat came up to greet them by the front door, meowing lightly at Y/N as they walked between her legs while she took off her jacket and shoes.
"He doesn't bite, I promise," she says when she sees Lando's curious expression. He whips his head up towards her, shaking it.
"Oh, I wasn't thinking-"
"It's okay. Everyone asks that when they first meet him. He's pretty intimidating when he meets someone new."
He nods slowly and follows her down the hallway, watching how delicate she is as she bends down to pick up the kitty. "When did you get him?"
"Once I opened up the shop. Needed a little companion to keep me going the first few months," she says, becoming a bit quieter on the last half. "It was rough to keep the motivation the first couple months in."
He purses his lips, nodding as he listens to every word. "He suits you," he agrees, not noticing the light smile that comes onto her lips as she unpacks their takeout.
"We're a package deal," she chuckles, rubbing his head as he sits right next to her side.
Lando smiles at the pair, nodding. "Seems like a great package if you ask me."
Her head turns to look at him, seeing nothing but genuine adoration in his eyes at the scene in front of him. She smiles at his words, feeling her face heat up as she lets them sink in.
"Come get your servings."
He nods, walking up beside her and grabbing his plate.
The night goes just like that for them. The conversation flows easily, softly. Neither having any nervousness nor doubt in their minds.
Y/N could feel herself letting him in slowly. Letting her walls slowly come down as he talked to her.
Lando was sitting on her couch, Y/N sitting curled up on her recliner chair. Their empty plates now took up space on the coffee table in front of them as Breakfast at Tiffany's played in front of them. Her cat was lying nicely on the armrest behind Lando's head, fast asleep.
"So she's just found out her brother died in the war? Is that why she's tearing apart everything?" Lando asks softly, Y/N nodding at him.
"And the guy she calls Fred isn't her brother. He's her neighbor who knows about her brother?" he asks once more, and she hums with a nod.
"She calls him Fred because he reminds her of her brother in a way. Her brother's name is Fred, so that's where it came from," she explains, Lando nodding as it begins to make more sense.
"Poor girl. Seems like she's already dealing with a lot. I can't imagine how much more that adds onto her."
Y/N agrees. "You just learn to cope with it," she says nonchalantly. "Sometimes you feel so much at one point, that your breaking point just finally snaps. So you either let it snap like Holly, or you let it go."
Lando turns his head to look over at her, seeing that her face was still on the movie in front of them.
He knew that this wasn't about the movie anymore. She was talking about herself now. About how he made her feel after everything.
"And which were you?" he asks softly, knowing he's stepping into a new territory. She turns her head to look at him once again, her eyes beginning to search his own for any signs of joking or unseriousness.
She found none.
"Both."
Lando's face falters just slightly, but he nods curtly at her before turning back to the movie. Y/N can see that his mind wants to ask a million more questions, but he doesn't push. Not when he already made these big steps tonight.
So instead of saying anything, she moves this time.
Y/N gets up from her spot, wrapping herself in her blanket, Lando's gaze slowly turning from the television towards her moving figure. He begins to think she's about to tell him to leave or get out because he overstepped.
Her actions catch him totally off guard.
She places herself over his own figure, letting her own body lie over his. Lando is adjusting himself so they both can lie together comfortably on the couch, his skin arising in goosebumps when her arms wrap around his torso.
They wrapped around him like they belonged there. Like they were the missing puzzle piece. Like she was the missing puzzle piece.
He slowly wraps his hands around her waist underneath the blanket that covers them both, her head tilted towards the TV as it lies in the crook of his neck.
"This okay?" she asks softly.
He takes a moment, still shocked at the scene in front of him, before nodding.
It was the last week of February, and Lando had been a bit busier throughout it.
It was just less than two weeks before the first race of the new Formula One season, in which he had spent most of his day each day training and working out at the McLaren Headquarters.
Y/N knew she wouldn't see him much during then, especially since each of his trainings had meetings following.
Even though he had his stuff, he still made sure to talk to her when he could. Whether it was a few messages, a short phone call, or a quick pit stop into the shop on his way out to Headquarters. He made sure to talk to her.
Y/N had often found herself beginning to wonder. More like overthink, in Max's words.
After this first race week, he would be back at home in Monaco.
Would all that they have been working to fix be thrown away now? Because his life was back to normal? Because reality was settling back into place?
Y/N's thoughts have begun to get the best of her, the closer it got to race week.
She loved race week for him, especially when it was the new season. This year was just different, and she hated that she couldn't just ignore how she was feeling.
So she put on fake smiles and laughs, but slowly began to distance herself again from Lando.
He noticed immediately.
It wasn't until the night before he had to fly out of Australia, that he found himself on her doorstep, ringing her doorbell.
She opened it slowly, putting on a fake smile for him as she saw his figure standing outside her door. "Hey, you okay?" she asks softly, her voice hoarse as if she had been in tears just before he came over.
"Did I do something?" he asks her softly, walking into her house as she let him in.
She frowns. "What're you-"
"You've been off. All week. Like something's bugging you. I know your fake smiles like the back of my hand. Those excuses you were using too, they're your go-to," he explains, making her body tense up. "What's going on? Did I do something?"
Y/N lets down her facade, sighing as she looks down at her sweater. The dampness of her sleeves prominent that they were damp from wiping her tears.
"Tell me what I did, so I can fix this. I just got you back, and I don't plan on losing you again."
Y/N's eyes are glassy as she looks at him. Lando's heart breaks as he sees her walls come down.
"Did we really think that we could just go back to how things were, Lan?" she admits. "After everything, reality is setting back in. You leave tomorrow, and then go back home to Monaco after this. This wasn't going to last."
Lando shook his head at her words, looking at her in disbelief. "Y/N," he says shakily, bottom lip quivering. "Don't do this. Don't shut down again. I told you I was serious about this. All of this."
She shook her head, looking away. "We can't. Lando, it's just not going to work. You're going back to your reality, and I'm already in mine. Our worlds are so different now. They don't fit together."
"Then how come I feel like they do? Like you do? You feel like the piece I've been missing for so long."
"Lando."
"No, Y/N. I know you have your walls up. You're protecting yourself because you're thinking I'm going to hurt you again," he interrupts her, watching her tears fall as she looks over at him.
"I'm sorry," she whispers, shaking her head. "I can't, Lando. We can't."
Lando squints his eyes at her, not noticing the few tears fall from his eyes.
"Y/N, don't-"
"You need to leave Lando."
"Y/N-"
"Please go, okay? Your reality awaits you. You were never meant to be in this life with me. You're meant for the fame, the money, the girls. Not a girl from your hometown that owns a bakery."
"But that's the one I want."
Y/N feels her chest tighten at his words, her heart screaming at her to let him in. To say 'okay'. To take back everything she said. She wanted to so badly.
But her mind was telling her that this was for the best.
So instead of saying anything else, she opens the front door, ignoring his pleads and calls of her name.
"Please go, Lando," she says, her voice sounding broken and defeated.
Lando can tell she's standing her ground, despite the tears falling from them both as he pleads for her to look at him. When she finally locks eyes with him, they're nothing but bloodshot and swollen.
"Please."
Lando curtly nods at her, muttering 'If that's what you really want' before whisking past her and down the front steps to her house. She doesn't waste another second watching him leave her life for good. Leave her life forever.
Once her door shuts, she falls against it, sobs filling her house that she had worked so hard on making her own, feeling warm, now only feeling empty and sad.
She cried until she couldn't breathe, her cat sitting himself in her lap as she sobbed into his fur.
Y/N loved Lando. She loved him so much it burned. She loves him with everything in her, that letting him go is the best thing to do.
When she finally got the courage to stand up from her spot, she set her kitty down and began to pad into the living room where her fireplace sat burning. The sticks snapped and crackled in the flames as she added some more to the pile. She sniffled as she wrapped her arms around herself, her mind going completely blank as she just took in everything that had happened.
It wasn't until she heard a loud knocking on her door that made her wiped her tears, trying to make herself look a bit more presentable as she went to unlock her door.
As she went to look up at the figure, she froze, seeing Lando standing before her with his own eyes bloodshot.
"You may think that I'll break your heart again," he says hoarsely. "But I'll be damned if I let myself hurt you like I did. So no, I'm not leaving. Not when I'm so in love with you it fucking crushes me from the inside out."
She was too stunned to say anything back, Lando looking down at her.
"Y/N, please."
Y/N looks at him as her lip quivers, seeing his eyes slowly losing hope as she looks at him.
Her heart takes hold this time, deciding that she couldn't take any more of this ache in her chest and body.
She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling Lando down to her height and smashing their lips together in an angry and passionate kiss. Lando doesn't waste another second in kissing her back, guiding her body back into her home, and closing the door behind them.
His lips kiss her own repeatedly like a man starved. Like he was starved of her, and he was finally getting a taste of what he needed the most.
Their lips moved in sync, teeth clashing with every passionate kiss they shared, tongues fighting every so often. Her hands wandered over him like she was trying to remember everything about him, like he would vanish if she didn't make sure he felt her touch everywhere.
His own hands were squeezing, grasping, and scratching softly over every part of his body that his hands could reach. Her body melted into his touch, like it was all she craved. Like he was all she ever needed to heal her.
Deep down, they both know they need each other to heal. To mend the broken pieces that developed from what they once broke back then.
Every kiss and every touch was healing. They were mending the shattered pieces that the pair thought they could never rekindle.
Lando lifted her up, wrapping her thighs around his hips with no issue as he led them into the living room. The crackling fireplace was all that could be heard behind their lips smacking, their breaths gasping for one another.
He laid her body down onto the soft blanket she had there from earlier, Y/N letting her nails scrape up his chest softly as she helped him lift his shirt off his body. His lips immediately found hers as he tossed his shirt somewhere in the room, only focused on the girl his body physically and emotionally craved.
Her hands wrapped in his curls, drawing a few slight moans and groans from him as she pulled lightly on the ends.
His lips left her own, trailing down her neck and to her collarbones, leaving nothing but fire in his path as his tongue poked out every so often.
Breathless gasps left her lips at the feeling of his lips on her body, creating a fire inside her each time they touched her skin.
Lando's lips fell down to her belly button, looking up at her, seeing as she was already staring down at him. His hands came into contact with her bare waist. Both hands trailing up with her shirt, his lips kissing upward.
When her shirt fell onto her chest, he kissed between the valley of her breasts, then pressed wet kisses on each breast that was covered by the bralette she wore.
He pushed the shirt fully off of her body, tossing it somewhere with his as his mouth came down to kiss her more, letting his tongue dive into her mouth while his hand went behind her back to unclasp the bralette.
Once she was free, he didn't waste any time tossing it away from reach, breaking away from her lips to look down at her frame.
The way her hair was a mess around her face, her lips swollen from the abuse his own lips did, and how perky her breasts sat in front of him. "I've only dreamt about this for years. Now that you're here before me like this, you're so beautiful."
Y/N's face had started to heat up, and she wasn't sure if that was from his words or how warm it had become next to the fireplace.
"Can I take these off, pretty girl?" his voice low, whils hands hands toyed with the hem of where her panties and sweats sat.
"Yes, Lan," she breathes out, Lando not wasting another second in ripping both layers off of her. His hands trailed up the outside of her thighs before slowly trailing inward when he got higher up her legs.
"Open for me."
Y/N hesitates at first, but slowly lets her legs spread for him, watching his face contort to all sorts of pleasure and adoration at the sight in front of him.
"Fuck," he moans, before he slowly begins to let his mouth trail kisses on each of her thighs. His hands find home on her hips as he moves closer to where she needed his mouth most.
"You mine, pretty girl?" he asks darkly, and she nods as he kisses over her slit. "Say it."
"Fuck- I'm yours, Lando."
He smiles smugly at her words before his mouth wraps around her clit, and he begins to suck on it. Her hips stutter at the feeling of his mouth on her, moaning out his name as his tongue rubs at her clit.
Her hands slither into his curls, trying to keep herself from riding his face, not that he would've minded one bit.
"Shit, Lan. Don't stop," she whimpers as his tongue does wonders, sliding up and down her slit, grazing her hole before going back to her clit.
"I don't plan on it," he mumbles into her pussy, the vibrations doing wonders for her, making her throw her head back against the blankets.
She can't help but let out a light yell when he adds his fingers into the mix, letting them slide in and out of her as his tongue massages her clit at the perfect pace.
Her stomach begins to tighten, her hips stuttering as she gets closer and closer. Lando pinning them to the floor as she moans out his name. "Let it go for me, pretty girl. All over my face," he moans into her, the vibrations sending her completely over the edge.
Her body is on fire as she comes down, her vision lightly blurry when she opens her eyes to look at Lando, who was stripping away the rest of his clothes as he stared down at her.
Lando leans over her a few moments later, pushing her hair behind her ear. A soft smile on his face. "You still with me?" he asks.
She nods lightly, still winded as she comes back to him. "I need words, baby."
"Yes. Yes, Lan I'm with you."
He smiles down at her. "Good. This might hurt to start. You ready?"
"All yours."
He groans at her words before he slowly pushes his cock inside her warm walls. Y/N's mouth drops open at the feeling of the stretch, pleasure beginning to push out the pain as he bottoms out.
Their bodies fully collided, and together as one. Lando's chest heaves lightly as he looks down to where they're connected, as he slowly slips in and out of her. "You feel so fucking good. So tight, just like you were made for me. My missing puzzle piece, pretty girl," he groans out as his pace fastens.
"Faster, Lan. Please."
He doesn't hesitate when she gives him the green light, picking up his pace as their skin knocks against each other. He takes her hands into his own, lacing them above her head as he kisses her passionately. Her lips became addictive to him.
Now that he's had a taste, he will never not want more. Need more.
His pace was now fast and hard, occasionally slowing down to hit a spot in her he noticed she liked, as her walls clenched around him each time he hit it.
He let his forehead fall against hers, eyes opening to meet one another's.
"I love you," she says softly, making Lando's insides explode. He bottoms out in her harshly, letting out a strangled moan as his head falls into her neck.
"Say it again," he pleads, his voice hoarse. "Please say it again."
Y/N takes his face into her hands, kissing his lips softly this time, letting them brush against one another as she speaks. "I love you, Lando. I love you so much."
He moans loudly into her mouth, pressing his lips fully onto her own as his pace speeds up again, faster than he was going before. One of his hands slides down to massage and rub at her clit, causing her to moan against him.
"I'll never get tired of hearing that leave your mouth. Never."
She moans as her response, feeling her stomach tighten once more, Lando's own thrusts becoming sloppy slowly.
"Lan-"
"I know, baby. Let it go f'me."
Her body convulses, and her walls clench around him, which is enough for him to fully let go, his head falling into her neck, leaving lightly kisses there as they both come down.
They sat there for a few moments, catching their breath before Lando slowly slid out of her. They both hiss at the feeling, Y/N suddenly missing how fully she felt with him inside. He throws on his briefs quickly before leaning down to take her into his arms, carrying her to the bathroom to help her clean up.
Once they've both come down fully, and were cleaned up, they were back in front of the fireplace, blankets over their naked bodies.
Y/N had her head on his chest, tracing figures on his body, his arm wrapped around her as he caressed her back softly. "I meant everything I said," Lando says softly, making her tilt her head to look up at him.
"I want this with you. I don't want to live life without you again. I love you, and I want to make this work. We can do this together."
Y/N nods, giving him a light smile. "Okay."
He snaps his gaze down to her. "Yeah?"
She nods. "I wanna try too. I know it'll take me time, but we won't know if we don't try."
Lando smiles down at her, grabbing her face with his free hand to bring her lips to meet his own. "I love you, Y/N."
She smiles softly against his lips. "I love you too, Lan."
A/N: Hi all! I am getting discharged from the hospital today, so I'm sorry for the delay in posting. I'm still trying to edit Get Him Back! and Endgame. Here's this that's been sitting in my drafts for a while. I've been waiting for spooky szn to end, so I could release. Hope you guys enjoyed it :)
Permanent taglist: (please message me if you’d like to be removed!!!!)
So why would you write a part one and then just never post a part two? It's crazy to me that you started another series before finishing the first one
Aw how nice that you noticed!!!! Thank you so much for your concern about my creative timeline. I’ll be sure to run all future updates by you first!
I just like to keep people on their toes, and apparently, it’s working 🤣 I didn’t realize I was on a strict publishing schedule! My apologies.
There’s also a button that you can press where it takes you out of my account, so you don’t have to keep reading!! Be sure to press it if you’re going to send this in my inbox🤗
I write and open up multiple series for my own reasons, and send out IDEAS and DRAFTS for my readers to give me feedback on my newest works
I also have a drafted schedule of when I drop my work, so if my timeline is an inconvenience for you, simply leave my page 😘
There are also some stories that just take a little longer to tell. I like to keep the suspense alive. Consider it like creative cliffhanger; art imitates anticipation.
Again, if you don’t like the way I post or run things on my page, feel free to stop reading or unfollow. We don’t have room for negativity here 🫶🏼
Summary: Y/N works in a lounge in the heart of downtown New York. She doesn’t have much, but the clothes on her back and a best friend that’s family. Little does she realize that a little run in with a certain Mafia boss could change her life.
If it was a good or bad thing is yet to be answered.
A/N: THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT OF SOMETHING I CONJURED UP, SO LMK IF WE WANT ANOTHER PART
Word count: 8.2k
"Y/N, you need to get your ass out on that floor. If I have to warn you again, it's coming out of your pay!"
Y/N just rolls her eyes, turning from her vanity to face her boss. "And if you keep talking like that to me, you're losing your best performer," she chuckles back.
Her boss, Kathy, growls at the young girl's attitude before turning away on her heel. Y/N snorts as she watches her boss stomp her way down the spiral staircase and out of the dressing room. "Five minutes! That's it!" She yells from the bottom of the stairs, heels clicking away in the distance.
Y/N looks back at all the girls who were doing finishing touches on their looks for the numbers tonight, laughing at their bitch of a boss.
"If I had a dime for every time that woman threatened to take away our money, I would be living in the finest condos with the greatest motherfucking views!" Celeste tuts, proofing up her hair as she sprays a can of hairspray into it.
"I think she's just in a mood today. Heard her and the hubby were fighting again," one of the other girls says across the dressing room.
Y/N laughs at the girl next to her, standing from her spot to straighten out her corset. Celeste was her closest friend in this place. She couldn't exactly call it a dump, because this place had history with her.
Sure, it was being picked apart piece by piece and falling apart financially, but this place is what she had always come back to when she had nobody, especially when she set foot into this city.
Celeste was the one who saw how insecure and shy Y/N first was, running into the girl at a rundown diner late one night.
Y/N was incredibly broke, living off crumbs from what she managed to grab from her hometown job before leaving, only having the clothes on her back. Celeste saw how broken this girl was, instantly offering and buying her a plate of delicious food, taking Y/N back home with her. The girls have been close ever since.
Y/N puts her hands on the brunette's shoulders before squeezing. "We all know you could live in a higher place than a condo with how much she threatens us," she jokes, earning a snicker from her friend.
Y/N stood straight before looking at her friend through the mirror, playfully pushing up her rhinestone-covered breasts and winking.
Celeste hoots and pats her friend's ass as she walks away, making her way down the steps. "Go kill the number beautiful!" She yells out, Y/N smiling as she makes her way down to the bottom floor.
Y/N scurries her way by other dancers and workers backstage, going over to the changing racks to get the final props for her number of the evening. She smiles warmly at the sight of her favorite 'assistant boss' who tuts at her playfully, a cigarette in his mouth as he digs into the rack for her.
"Heard you caused quite the commotion in the dressing room with Kathy. Not so smart, little one," he chuckles, handing her a gray boa.
She rolls her eyes with a smirk on her face, shrugging her shoulders. "She was being pissy. It isn't my fault if things are bad at home," she snorts, earning a laugh from him.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" He jokes, making her raise an eyebrow.
"When did I ever learn manners, my dear Bennie?" She pushes, making him nod in agreement before handing her a rhinestone covered pair of sunglasses.
"You're just like my beloved boyfriend, and it's quite terrifying, my dear," he jokes. Y/N just smiles as Bennie pushes the rack away.
"As much as I'd adore to keep shit talking, you," he pauses and taps her hips before pushing her to the curtain-covered stage. "Have a show to perform." He sings before she chuckles and makes her way over there, earning a tap to the ass from Bennie.
She yelps before looking back at Bennie, who just blows out a large wad of smoke from his mouth. She just shook her head, turning back to head over to the middle of the stage and between her other friends.
Y/N instantly blows a piece of her hair out of her face, wrapping the boa around her arms loosely and putting the glasses on the top of her nose.
She took a deep breath, watching as the curtains began to pull away, the bright and warm spotlight coming into view.
She heard the music from the band begin to play, causing her face to brighten up, a large smile on her face as she looks out to the full house of people in front of her.
Y/N finishes wiping off her makeup from the night, taking each piece of rhinestone decor off her face. She grimaced as she finally got the last one off with her tweezers, instantly dropping the tiny sticky stone into a bowl on her vanity.
"What a night, huh?" Celeste sighs, her voice and body coming into a clear view behind the caramel haired girl.
Y/N lets out a tired huff while she nods, putting her stuff into her makeup bag and turning off her vanity lights. "Never been more exhausted than I am right now," she chuckles, the pair walking down the spiral staircase and out of the now quiet and dark lounge.
"You say that every night." Celeste snorts, earning a slap to the shoulder.
The two girls make sure to bid their goodbyes to Bennie and Kathy before heading outside. Y/N was slowly pushing open the heavy, squeaky back door to the parking lot, her conversation with Celeste still carrying.
"You wanna stop over at the diner for some food? Or is Mark on your case again?" Celeste asks, unlocking her car for both the girls to hop into.
Y/N rolls her eyes at the sound of her boyfriend's name. Such a treat he was. "Like I would listen either way. I'm always starving for Pat's waffle fries," Y/N groans, earning a hum of agreement from the girl in the driver's seat.
"I'm glad you said that. I still don't know why you're with Mark. He still fucks anything that has a pussy that walks in his path," the girl tuts, immediately causing her best friend to look away.
"Can we argue about this later? I want me some fried food." Y/N giggles, earning a dramatic huff from Celeste. The two chuckle a few moments after.
"Then let's get the hell out of this parking lot," Celeste chuckles, putting the car in drive, immediately darting out of the parking lot. The music is soon being turned up, too loud for them to care as they drive down the mildly crazy streets of downtown New York.
The girl's walked into the tiny diner, the sounds of forties era swing music playing quietly in the background.
"Sorry, we're all closed up!" A deep voice booms from the kitchen, the doors slowly pushing open to reveal a tall elder man.
"Figured you wouldn't mind taking in two regulars?" Celeste offers, Y/N nodding. He stops in his tracks at the two girls, instantly smiling happily at the two of them before scurrying over to pull them both in for a hug.
"Well aren't you pair of lovelies just a sight for my tired eyes! How could I say no to the two of you! Come sit, come sit," he ushers them over to the high top chairs, going behind the bar as they sat.
"Busy night for you ladies again?"
"When isn't it ever busy?" Celeste jokes, setting her bag down on the table.
Pat laughs before putting silverware and napkins in front of them.
He smiles warmly at them, pointing between the two. "The usuals I'm guessing?" He asks proudly, setting two glasses of ice water on the coasters.
"You read our minds, Pat." Y/N chuckles, the old man nodding before slowly waddling his way back to the kitchen.
Celeste looks back at her friend, watching as she took a long sip of water.
Y/N took in a deep breath after swallowing the ice-cold liquid, picking at her nails as she looked at the ice floating in her glass. The brunette next to her cleared her throat, making her look up and over at her. "What?" Y/N asks.
The brunette rolls her eyes. "You know exactly what I'm gonna ask," Celeste says. Y/N tilts her head innocently with a frown, shrugs her shoulders, acting dumbfounded.
"No, I don't actually. But do tell me," She plays. Celeste shook her head and threw it back before running a hand over her face.
She lifted her head back to its normal position, a more serious expression on her face. "Y/N, come on," she says. "When are you gonna call quits with Mark?"
Y/N immediately darts her eyes away from her friend's hazel ones, the water droplets on the side of her glass a lot more interesting.
"I don't know." She answers. Celeste looks her friend up and down, trying to read into her.
"You and I both know he never respects you anymore. How many times have you and I caught that fuck with other girls in his place?"
"Too many to count,"
"Exactly. So that's an automatic pack a bag and leave in my book babe."
"I don't have anywhere else I could go is my issue," Y/N argues, sighing. She knew it was way deeper than that. There was way more to it than Celeste couldn't handle as well.
Her and Mark have been through a lot of shit together too. Things no couple should have to go through both in general, and as young as they are.
But it was an honest reason she gave her friend.
She wouldn't have any other place to stay, and she didn't wanna crash with Celeste again. Especially since her fiancé is living there now. She couldn't intrude on them.
"Girl, you know you can always come back to stay with me. It's always been an option," Celeste points out.
Y/N huffs. "I know, but I can't intrude on you and-"
"On me and Tristan. I know. But honestly he's just as shocked as me that you're not ripping Mark a new asshole. Or better yet," she takes a sip of her drink. "Leaving the fucker."
Y/N just looks at Celeste with a blank expression, putting her into deep thought.
If Celeste knew how much Y/N wanted to leave Mark, how much she truly wanted to, this argument would be a lot worse. Mark wasn't a good person, and he never was. She hated how he lured her in, not letting her leave.
The way she has tried to leaves a million times before was even scarier to her. She hated how he always made her come crawling back because of things he would say or do.
It's just who Mark was.
"Just think about it for me at least. I know I keep telling you this, but it's because I have seen that man get away with way more than he should. Especially with you." Celeste explains, causing Y/N to snort at how true it was.
"Fine. I'll put some true thought into it," Y/N gives in. Her friend gave her a really look, Y/N groaning before letting out a huff.
She hands up in surrender, raising her brows. "I swear I will. I swear it on our lives," she chuckles, earning a sloppy peck to her cheek from Celeste.
"Good," she starts, just as Pat brings out two large baskets of crispy waffles fries with chives on top, ranch on the side, with two Reese's malts. "But right now we are going to eat our hearts out." Celeste groans out in satisfaction.
"I also made extras, just in case you guys wanted to take it home or were still wanting more." Pat points out, making the girls both blow him multiple kisses as they dug into their food.
"Thank you, Pat! We will be back soon, I promise! Tell the wife we said hello, and we hope she returns soon!" Y/N bids, before she and Celeste make their way out of the tiny diner, leftovers in their hands.
"Alright let's get home. We've got a busy night tomorrow." Celeste says as they hopped into the car.
Y/N groans. "That's right, it's the first Friday of the month. I'm gonna die tomorrow." She whines as the engine roars to life.
"But it's the one night we make the most money in, and quite frankly we both need that." Celeste points out as the car pulls out of the parking lot.
"True, but I always hate doing the solo stuff," Y/N explains. "Like sure, I love my choreography for when I dance to Britney Spears, but I wanna change it up every so often." She finishes.
On the first Friday of every month, the Lounge holds a night where some of the wealthiest and well known mafia and gang leaders come to watch the shows.
Except that the shows are different from the ones you'd see on a regular night. All the girls would be in an opening act to start off the night, introducing the club and the dancers in it.
In between performances, some girls would put on small shows to keep the leaders and groups occupied, mainly so Kathy wouldn't lose money by them leaving. Each girl is given a solo dance, as well as a chance to make more money by offering private meets with some leaders who were willing to pay.
If one liked what they saw on the stage, they had the chance to buy a private session with the girl. The highest amount paid for the girl was the lucky one for the night.
"I think the reason why they haven't changed your choreo during your Britney dances is because you look fucking hot , babe." Celeste chuckles, earning a loud snort from Y/N.
"I'm dead serious! That choreo, I mentally thank Bennie for coming up with. Because not only does it bring in so much money for you, but you look so confident on the stage when you do it," Celeste explains with giggles leaving her mouth. "If I weren't straight, I'd definitely be all over you." She says, causing Y/N to burst into a fit of laughter.
Celeste whacks her friend on the arm, but Y/N just shakes it off, leaning over the center console, looking at her best friend. "I'm happy you feel that way because I'd definitely do the same thing," she chuckles, kissing her cheek playfully.
"Better be," Celeste jokes, the two coming to a stoplight. Y/N laughs as she leans back into her spot, turning her head to look out the window at the bright lighting of downtown.
Instead, her eyes find another pair of eyes in the car next to her, making her do a double take before her eyes stayed locked on his.
Her laugh instantly fades when she can't keep her eyes off him, realizing as he was caught in the same predicament.
His eyes were a deep shade of greenish blue, a dark brown head of curls that looked freshly cut, rings adorning his hands, his lips looking hypnotic, causing her to lick her own.
His eyes dropped to her now wet lips, making him slowly bring his eyes back up to her own.
He was mesmerizing.
He looked young. As young as her, maybe a year or two older at least.
She and him both stared at each other for a while longer, before she found herself smirking at his frozen stare at her, biting her lip a second later.
As soon as the light turned green, YN's eyes left the man in the car next to her, looking forward as they drove away.
She looked back a couple moments later, seeing if she could see him in the rear view mirror, but his face wasn't anywhere to be seen in the cars behind them.
She frowned as she set herself back into her seat, biting her lip in curiosity. "Y/N!" Celeste's voice spoke up, making the girl snap out of her daze and look at her.
"Sorry, what?" She asks, Celeste smirking before shaking her head.
"You didn't hear what I said did you?" She laughs.
She puts a hand on her head before shaking it. "Honestly, nope. Was too zoned out of it," she says, earning a whine from her friend.
Y/N just chuckles, her mind still focusing on the man's face from several minutes before. "We will talk about it tomorrow. I'll be here at like five so we have extra time to get ready," Celeste says, the car coming to a halt.
Y/N nods with a hum before opening the passenger door, an arm softly grabbing onto her own. She looked back.
"Also just think about what I said? I'm thinking about how it'll feel for you mentally," Celeste says, making Y/N give her a small smile.
She nods. "I'll think about it." She assures.
Celeste lets go of her friend's arm, letting the car shut the door. "I love you gorgeous, I'll be here at five tomorrow!" She calls out before slowly pulling off into the night.
Y/N lets her smile fade slowly, her eyes turning into a glare as she looks at the rundown and disgusting old apartment in front of her.
Here we go. She thought.
She lets out a frustrated huff, having trouble scanning her key fob before the beep finally signals it's unlocked a few tries later. She pulls the loud door open, walking inside and towards her mailbox to see what she has in store.
Bills.
Bills.
More bills.
Three eviction notices. Great job Mark. So much for using my savings to pay for this.
She rolls her eyes at the envelopes, keeping them in her hands as she heads up the rusted staircase. She winced at the creaky boards, her foot almost falling into one when she finally made it to her level.
The apartment was rusting from the inside out. The walls going from the beautiful blue they once were, to a molded brownish black.
The staircases and railings were nothing but copper colored and piece falling off. Lights were flickering on any floor you found yourself on.
It was a fucking dump. But it was a roof over Y/N's head.
Six floors later, she was walking down the empty and quiet hallway, hearing loud music or fighting couples as she passed by. Some doors to certain apartments were wide open, due to how comfortable people felt with it, some not really caring who came in and why.
When Y/N finally stopped in front of her door, she grabbed her key, unlocking the front door and turning the knob.
Once she stepped inside, the familiar aroma of marijuana and spilt beers wafted into her nose. She shut the door behind her before throwing her keys on the table. There was a cigarette that looked like it had just been put out not too long ago sitting on the faded wood.
She looked around the small living area, only seeing her boyfriend's familiar bong still bubbling as well as the television on a random channel.
"Mark?" She calls out, rolling her eyes as she calls out and takes off her jacket. She throws her stuff on the couch that's now torn apart, stained with who knows what, soon heads down the hall to their shared room.
She opens the door, only to shut her eyes as she scoffs. Mark was sitting against the headboard, his bottom half covered by their duvet, as well as a nude woman on top of his lap. Y/N immediately slams the door open to scare them both, succeeding as she watches them both jump as she smirks. She laughs bitterly.
Y/N walks over, slamming the envelopes on his now uncovered lap and then crossing her arms. "Three more eviction notices, as well as the bills," Y/N says, her eyes catching the dirty blonde next to him.
She looks back at Mark, then back at her before she points at him. "Just so you know he has Chlamydia."
The girl turns to look at Mark with a horrid face, but only sees the man staring up at his girlfriend, completely infuriated. Y/N wasn't phased one bit by his actions or expressions; this was completely normal. She was more than over it, scoffing as she ran her tongue along her teeth.
She turned around to walk out of the bedroom, turning back for a second to say one last thing.
"That's why I don't have sex with him, so you have fun with that," Y/N says, a smirk on her face as she walks out.
"Places ladies! Places! We open the show in three minutes!!" Kathy yells out, running around backstage.
Y/N and Celeste had shown up to the Lounge a little before five instead of a little after, feeling as though they needed more time to mentally prepare themselves to deal with how Kathy gets on these nights.
Kathy was currently running around like a chicken with her head cut off, trying to make sure everyone was in their right costume for the opening number, as well as getting herself ready for the opening number.
Y/N and the other girls were currently waiting on the stage, curtains shut as they could hear the hums of conversations around the club from behind it.
She wore a black bodysuit with cutouts all over the upper half, which was accented with a rhinestone belt that had straps wrapped around her mid-thighs, along with a pair of black strapped heels to go with it. She had her hair in loose curls, makeup done to the point she looked absolutely stunning, rhinestones decorating the waterline underneath her eyes.
Celeste came to join her, the girls all in their spots for the opening act, Y/N not missing the crazed look her friend had on her face.
She let out a small snort. "Everything okay?" She asked as the girl laid her body over her friend's.
"Fuck no, Kathy is literally up my ass. She literally pulled up my thong because it wasn't high enough. As if I need more things in my ass than Tristan's Dick," Celeste growls, making Y/N snap her head up and look down at the girl with wide eyes.
"Woah! I did not hear what I just think I heard, did I?" She asks, making Celeste snicker.
"If it helps you sleep at night," she chuckles, making her groan in disgust.
"Never want to hear that again." She laughs, but is instantly cut off when Kathy is heard her way over.
"Okay girls, everyone shut the hell up. We're starting in thirty seconds!" She whispers loudly, the crowd behind the curtain starting to quiet down as well.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for the night to come. She prayed it would go over as smoothly as the last time.
They pulled up to the parking lot of the small club they were needed to already have been in over an hour ago. But thanks to one of the boys taking forever in arriving to the meet up on time, they were an hour late.
He was already in a mood about coming here. He had no interest in taking home any women tonight. He had his share the night before.
Yet when his entire crew was invited, it was an automatic invite for him as well.
Surely he could have declined it, but knowing how well his men wouldn't have liked it, he decided to pass. After all, he could go for watching beautiful women dance on a stage for them all to see.
He needed a night like this anyways.
As they made their way up the stairs of the small building, they all talked amongst themselves, but not him. He kept to himself as he found his way around the small building, looking around it and seeing how much the place was coming apart.
Paint chipping, lights flickering and the floorboards creakier than an old door. It was a shithole.
He stayed quiet and in front of the group the entire time, handing his pass to the bouncer at the door before going inside.
"Damn, calm down Norris! I thought you weren't in any hurry or didn't want to take home anyone tonight!" Daniel jokes out, making Lando roll his eyes.
"I'm not. We're late, and I don't like being late. I'm going to figure out if there's anywhere open for us to sit." He grumbles, the boys all looking back at each other as he kept walking.
He was stopped by a woman when he made it to the main lounge area, seeing many familiar people in the room when he looked around.
"Name?" She asks politely, a warm smile on her face.
"Norris."
"We have a table reserved for you and your guests, Mr. Norris," she says nicely, her eyes going to the men who were now visible behind him, and she nods. "If you would follow me, please." She instructs before slowly turning around and walking to the middle of the room.
Lando and his men followed behind her closely, seeing as they were being led to the dimly lit table booth that sat on the right side of the room, closest to the backstage area. She halted in front of the table to turn and face them, motioning for them to take their seats, and the boys immediately all went to sit down.
Lando took his seat at the end of the half-circular booth, nodding to the girl who was still standing in front of them.
She nods back before speaking. "I'll have drinks brought over right away. The show will begin in a minute," she says in the monotone voice Lando's ever heard.
He grimaced at her voice once she walked off, turning his attention to the boys. "I've been waiting for this. The girls," Max groans as he rolls his eyes back. "Not one bad-looking one here."
"I heard we get to bid our way for a private show with one when we find one we like. I'm more excited for that," Alex boasts, making Lando roll his eyes.
"Alright, let's make a bet," Daniel spoke up, the boys all smirking at his words, Lando just sitting there uninterested. "First one to take their girl home gets to lead next week's raid," he says, making the boys all hum in excitement at it.
Lando immediately snaps his head to Daniel, a glare on his face. "You fucking joking? Everyone knows I lead them. End of discussion." He growls, making Daniel roll his eyes.
"Oh come on Norris, let this one be for fun-"
"End of the motherfucking discussion, Riccardio. You know how bad these raids get. We don't bet on them for your fucking convenience." He interrupts, his glare harsh on the blond boy across from him.
"Alright, fine," Daniel rolls his eyes. "First one to take their girl home gets the jet." He says, Lando rolling his eyes.
Daniel takes Lando's silence as a token of saying it's a go, the boys all shaking hands and agreeing to the bet. Lando just stays put. Their drinks were brought over seconds later, the lights dimming soon after they all had their drinks in hand.
The spotlights came on, the curtains began to open, hoots and claps erupting from the crowd of men in the room, including from their table.
Lando just huffs, his drink in hand, as he keeps his eyes on the stage filled with girls. Some girls were lying together on the staircase, while others were perched in splits around the stage, one woman who looked a bit older standing above the pile of girls.
He was assuming she was most likely the bitch who ran the place. She looked like a bitch, which made him assume she could be one. He was always able to tell just by how someone looked, and this woman looked like she was a real hoot.
She had a bright smile on her face as the music slowly began, the girls began moving with the beat of the band in the corner.
Lando watched as each girl stood from the ground, each one in a small amount of clothing, something he always found attractive. He preferred no clothes on the women, honestly. He liked to worship the body of any woman who found themself underneath him, making sure he did whatever they liked.
It was one thing he did way too often, but he wasn't complaining.
He soon sat himself back into the booth and adjusted his position, but soon enough found himself freezing when his eyes landed on one girl in imparticular.
He sat straight in his seat, his eyes staying on her intriguing figure as she moved in delightful ways.
It was the girl from the stoplight.
The bodysuit she wore on her body, the rhinestones that accented her thighs, every single damn thing about what she wore had his eyes scanning her constantly. The way she held the confidence on the stage as if she owned it, it made him feel turned on just by watching how her hips swirled and moved.
She had a smug smirk on her face as she moved across the stage with the rest of the girls, acting as if nothing could take her away from this moment. He could see the joy and positive energy in her expressions and body movements.
The way she moved, how her hands moved up and down on her body, all flowed intriguingly. She knew what she was doing. He licked his lips as he watched her, his eyes switching to many expressions, but his lust overpowering them the most.
One thing he knew for sure was that he wanted to know her. Take her home, and let him mark her as his. In more ways than one. She was beautiful.
"Looks like Norris might take part in the bet after all. Mate's practically drooling over there." Max's voice boomed in, causing the boys around him to chuckle and snicker.
He rolled his eyes at his friend's comment, not daring to take his eyes off of her. Afraid he would miss something, or afraid she would disappear from his eyes.
That's what his mission was. She would not be seen leaving with any of these other men, or giving any of these men a private show later that night.
It would be him, and fucking him only.
He would make fucking sure of it, no matter how much money he had to put down for it.
Y/N ran off the stage as soon as the curtains shut from their first number, darting up the stairs as she began to strip out of her outfit she was in.
She was supposed to be going on as the third performance which only gave her a good twelve minutes to change out of her first number bodysuit, change into her new one, redo her makeup and touch up her hair.
"Tits are flying everywhere, holy shit trinkets Y/N!" Bennie squeals, covering his eyes as she comes up the staircase and over to him, where he stands with the new outfits on the racks.
She looked down and covered her breasts before laughing at his terrified face, the man handing her the change of clothes she needed.
"Sorry Bennie, I'm in a rush!" She called from outside the door as she ran over to her vanity on the other side of the room, stripping down from her suit. Her act was coming up in just a few short moments, her trying to put on the finishing touches. She had to try and hurry and change into the outfit she had chosen to try and lure over the wealthy men out there.
Y/N hurriedly redid and touched up her makeup, brushing through her hair to make it look a bit smoother than the knot fest that it was.
She needed this to go well, needing whatever money she could make from tonight to put towards her savings. Especially since Mark took a chunk out to pay their rent a few months prior.
It took her a tad longer, with Celeste's help, to add the rhinestone accents onto her fit, but it was finally put together. She was definitely going to shine out there, that was for sure.
Her top was made with rhinestones, shining and sparkling brightly with the matching belt that sat and hung at her waist, a pair of nude colored lace panties sitting underneath it. She had a rhinestone garter sitting on her left thigh, her hair staying the soft curls she had done before the performance.
She rummaged through her shoe box by her vanity, letting out a squeak when she finally found the heels she was looking for.
She found herself tumbling around, trying to strap them on as she rushed to the curtains backstage, Bennie sitting there with dresses hanging over one arm as he grabbed his free hand out for her own.
She chuckled and happily took it to steady herself, quickly fixing her heels as the music faded from yet another solo dance.
"Nervous?" Bennie asks, and she scoffs playfully.
"When have you ever known me to be nervous, Bennie?" She says, pulling up her top.
Bennie gives her a smug grin and winks at her before squeezing her arm. "You've got this sweetheart. You're always a queen out there." He fawns, making her laugh.
She made her way to her place, getting into her position for her performance, and shook out the small nerves that were now fully coming in. She knew she had nothing to worry about, but she just wanted this to go right.
Lando sat in his booth with his eyes focused on the glass in front of him, zoning out from Max's conversation. He was getting impatient now. The only other reason he was here was for that girl.
He wanted to know her. He was intrigued by her.
He tapped against his scotch softly, jaw clenching before running a hand through his hair.
Soon enough the older lady was back up on the stage with yet another costume change, spotlight bright and shining down on her as she smiled brightly towards the crowd.
"Up next is a crowd favorite, and one of our top dancers," she starts, only to receive hoots and hollers around the room. "Here is my number one star of the night with all her rhinestones and diamonds," She says before exiting the stage, curtains opening a few moments after. "Miss Y/N."
Many more hoots, whistles and hollers boomed throughout the room when the spotlight shined down on the girl.
She held a white feather boa over her collarbones, covering her mouth and nose with it as she winked to everyone in the room. The music was soon heard blaring through the audience, and she ripped the boa away from her body and face.
Lando swore he felt his throat swell up at the sight of seeing her again, her confidence radiating off of her even more than the opening act.
The rhinestones on her body made his pants tighten just a little, seeing how well it went with her toned skin. The heels added more attention to her legs.
He felt jealousy and anger coursing through his veins as he heard and saw some men already putting money on her, Lando instantly looking around for their waitress. He finally sees her returning with their drinks, allowing her to set them down before he spoke up without his eyes leaving the stage just yards away from him.
He points over to her. "Whatever the highest bid is, I'll triple it." He says to the waitress, making her frown.
"Sir that's an awful lot-"
"I didn't ask how much because I didn't care for it. I said whatever the highest bid is," he glares at the waitress. "I'll fucking triple it." He grits, making her slowly nod before leaving the table.
"Damn Norris, possessive much?" Max chuckles next to him, earning an elbow to the ribs. Lando hears him groan out in pain, making him shake his head.
Y/N finished her routine, a bright smile adorned her lips as she hurried off the stage with the loud cheers heard from behind her. She bent down to grab her feather boa, wrapping it around herself with a smug, toothy smile when she saw her best friend cheering her on next to Bennie.
She took the boa off her shoulders to wrap it around Celeste, hearing the playful laughs from her as she poked her best friend in the stomach. "If that noise doesn't mean you were successful, then I don't fucking know what else you have to do." Celeste trails off, walking away with Y/N to the changing rooms.
She laughs as she unhooks the sheer rhinestone belt from her hips, setting it on her vanity table nicely. She bends her hands behind her back to try and unhook the top, wincing when she feels the rhinestones hooking and pinching her skin as she moves it around.
"I felt so natural up there. I'm nervous to know what the top bid was." She answers, watching as Celest goes around her back to help her carefully take the top off.
She feels it finally loosen, instantly bringing her hands up to cover her chest as Celeste sets it next to the belt. "Let's just hope it isn't some perverted old man." She tuts, Y/N shrugging her shoulders.
"All those men out there are old and perverted. It doesn't make any difference. At least they're helping with my savings."
Celeste raises her brow. "For a new place, I'm assuming?" She trails off, making Y/N bite her lip. She wraps her robe around her before walking away to the outfit rack to choose a new fit to wear for her private show.
Celeste follows behind her friend. "Did you not just catch him, again, may I add, with the same chick you caught him with two weeks ago? Why are you still there?" Celeste ponders, causing Y/N to sigh as she is pushing the hangers.
She saw an arm come up and stop her wrists from searching for an outfit, her shoulders slumping as she huffs. "Cel-"
"No. I want a real reason as to why you're still there. He does nothing but steal from you and manipulate you," Celeste admits. "Not to mention what he does when he is mad-"
"He doesn't mean to do it-"
Celeste points at her. "That right there! That's his manipulation talking! He shouldn't get physical with you, Y/N/N," Celeste pleads out, giving her friend a saddened look. She slowly shook her head at Y/N.
"Tristan and I have cleaned and organized the guest room at our place specifically for you. We both want you to get out of there, Y/N," Celeste pushes, causing her best friend to give her a sad smile.
"I told you I would think about it," she answers, Celeste sighing and crossing her arms.
"Which I don't believe you will actually do." She answers.
Just as she was about to answer back, she saw the familiar older woman coming up to them. Her face was stern and straight, with no sign of emotion.
"Y/N," Kathy announces, heels clicking on the floor as she gets closer.
"What is it?" she answers, Kathy now halted in front of them both with her arms crossed.
"Your performance was great, per usual," she starts off, Y/N rolling her eyes mentally.
"So—?" Y/N trails, Kathy huffing at her attitude.
Kathy's eyes turn into slits, furrowing her brows. "Which means the profit you made from tonight was higher than what you've made in months," she tuts. "Which can definitely benefit me and this place."
Y/N furrows her eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Kathy keeps her expression stern and hard with her next words. "It means that ninety percent of tonight's profit made will be taken in to help benefit this place. To turn it around. Make it look better and more welcoming." She explains.
Her eyes widened. Ninety percent? It's always been twenty percent, no matter the profit amount made. "Kathy, it's always been twenty percent! You can't just up mine up to ninety! That's not fair in any way!"
Kathy glares at her. "Are you questioning my authority?" She snaps.
She glares back at her. "If telling you that taking most of the money I make, to benefit yourself, might I add, is bullshit, then yes. I am." She shot back, stunning Kathy slightly.
"You think that I take it for myself? I've never done that, you're insane." She gasps, causing Celeste to scoff.
"Well none of our profits you've taken have gone into this place like you've said in the past." Celeste snaps, Kathy letting out a growl at Celeste's words.
"Last time I checked, you had nothing to do with this conversation," Kathy shot, pointing towards the door. "Don't you have a performance to get ready for?" She sneers, Celeste rolling her eyes and flipping Kathy off. Y/N smiles proudly, seeing the shocked expression on her boss's face.
She turns back to look at Y/N, a slightly calmer expression on her face. "Ninety percent. End of discussion." She snaps, turning on her heels and walking away from Y/N without another word.
She lets out a frustrated huff, angrily rummaging through her hangers of outfits. Highest profit she's made in months? How much did that truly mean?
Enough to make Kathy bump up the profit percentage, that's for sure. She thought.
She lets a small smile come onto her face when she finds the perfect outfit, seeing there was a pair of matching heels to go with it in her overflowing box of shoes.
It was a normal laced bra that had sparkles and rhinestones decorating the entire top, with a couple of straps covered in more rhinestones hanging along the valley of each breast. Her bottoms consisted of a Brazilian-style pair of panties, the straps being shiny gold, while the main fabric had rhinestones decorating it.
It had a shiny gold waist belt sitting just above her belly button, the same type of rhinestone straps adorning her belly button, and the sides of her hips.
She had a couple of suspender straps sitting and hanging down to mid-thigh, her deciding to add some shiny matching gold garters on each thigh to hook the suspenders onto.
Y/N found her pair of nude strappy heels to go with it, touching up her hair and makeup once again to make sure she was looking as nice as she could. She grabbed a snack from her bag, needing to eat something to keep her energy going. She sat there patiently, opening up her phone to see multiple messages from Mark.
They were always the same. Apologies that turned into victim blaming, and then shaming her for not answering, to threatening messages when he still receives no reply. It always happened the day after she caught him pulling the same shit.
He would get mad at her the night it happens, then try to get her to say everything is okay the night after.
She huffs as she turns his notifications on silent, not wanting to deal with him anytime soon. She was having a somewhat good night. She didn't need his messages to ruin it.
Y/N looked up into her shining vanity mirror, her eyes leaving her own in the reflection, seeing Bennie standing just a few feet behind her with his arms crossed and a tape measure around his neck.
He pushed up his glasses slightly before walking towards her. He pursed his lips watching her expression soften and sadden, seeing her pick at the velvet on her robe.
"Why so glum, my sweet sugar plum?" He jokes, seeing her scoff with a chuckle at his words. Bennie lets a grin come up to his face as he takes a chair and sits next to her, seeing that she was still avoiding eye contact.
Bennie pokes her arm with a grin, causing her to stop her fidgeting actions and turn to look at him with a now emotionless face.
"What's going on in that head of yours?" He asks, seeing her debate with her mind on what to say.
She was quiet for a few moments, and then finally shrugged. "Kathy's a piece of shit for one." She chuckles, Bennie pursing his lips to keep from laughing.
"I thought we already knew this." He states, making her giggle.
"We did. She's just even worse now." She admits, making him nod.
"Care to spill?" He asks softly.
She bites her bottom lip. "She just thinks that she can take the money we make without consequences. We make the money up on that stage, and she takes more of it than she needs or deserves. It's fucking ridiculous." She rants, Bennie pursed his lips.
"How much is she taking tonight?" He asks.
"Ninety percent." She admits, Bennie's eyes widen in shock.
She hums with a nod when seeing how surprised he is, watching his expression change into multiple different emotions.
They're both quiet for a few moments, Bennie sighing before putting a hand on her shoulder. "Her and I usually go over the profits when we close up, so I'm gonna see how much I can get from yours." He explains, making her frown in confusion.
"How are you going to do that?"
"She won't need to know. I make the final decisions anyways. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get as much as I can give you." He says, and she nods with a small smile.
"This is why I love you Bennie. It is what we all think. You deserve her job more than she does." She chuckles, causing him to smile and laugh at her words.
As he is about to answer, another one of the workers comes in and points behind her. "Miss Y/N, your client is waiting in room six." She says sweetly, and she nods as she mumbles a 'thank you'.
She turns to Bennie. "You're gonna kill it, Y/N/N. I'll keep you updated." He says as she nods.
Y/N stood up and took her robe off, heading out of the dressing room and towards the hallways of private rooms. She took a few deep breaths, finally halting in front of the door.
She puts a smug grin on her face as she turns the knob, walking in and seeing the red lights very dim. She could see the figure on one of the couches that were faced away from the door, Y/N shutting it quietly behind her.
She slowly makes her way over, then bends down to wrap her hands around his neck and scratch lightly down his chest.
His hair looked like it was a dark chocolate brown, almost, his button-up only having a few buttons at the top unbuttoned, a couple of silver chains adorning his chest. She let her lips linger on a spot behind his ear, the seductive music playing softly in the background.
She watches as his hands trail up from her fingers and up her arms as he slightly turns his head to her. "Come sit." He instructs, one of his hands patting his lap for her.
She takes her hands off of him, letting one hand trail on the couch as she comes around the couch, her long legs strutting both slowly and seductively.
His head was down towards his lap, so she couldn't see his face just yet. Y/N placed herself in his lap slowly. She brings her hands to wrap around his neck, her thumbs caressing his jawline as he brings his own to trail up her thighs and sit low on her hips.
"Let me see that handsome face," she mutters softly, her voice as smooth as silk. He lifts his face up for his eyes to finally meet hers, her eyes widening in shock as the smile is wiped from her face.
He had a smirk on his face at her reaction, her caress movements freezing as she looked at him in shock. "It's you," she sighs, causing him to nod, letting his fingers slip underneath the straps of her panties.
He watches her face contort slowly, hearing a slight gasp leave her mouth from his touch, making him chuckle.
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part five here Part seven here
The tension had become thicker than ever once they had gotten into that car.
They both tried distracting one another with heartless flirting and conversation, their patience wearing thin the closer they got to the hotel.
Lando led Y/N back with him to his hotel room, not wasting any time to pull her inside by her waist. She let out a light chuckle at his excitement, letting the door shut behind them.
Lando's hands began to roam, his eyes boring into her own as the two slowly backed further into the large room.
His hands inched up from her thighs, to her hips, to her waist, wrapping around her back as he dug his fingers lightly into her lower back. He pulled her into him as much as he could, Y/N's breath hitching at the sudden pull.
Her hands ran up his abdomen, towards his chest, her fingers splaying across the crook of his neck and jawline.
"You have no idea," he mutters darkly as his eyes pour into her own. "How long I've been craving this. Craving you."
Lando's mouth let out a couple pants as her thumb ran across his lower lip. He kissed it lightly, his eyes never leaving hers. He took her neck in one of his hands, leaning down to finally lock his lips with hers, only for her to pull back teasingly.
He smirked, chuckling darkly at her as she smirked up at him, their lips brushing. "I think I do," she plays back.
His mouth opened again to try and catch hers, only for her to do the same move again. He shook his head. "Don't play, baby," he mumbles lowly. "i don't want to have be so mean the first time."
Something inside her jolted with excitement at his words, her thighs clenching together out of reflex.
"What if I want you to be a little mean?" She taunts, Lando groaning as he bites his lip.
"You're playing with fire," he hums softly, bringing her lips closer to his own, only for her to pull back once again. He clenches his jaw.
"Y/N," He trails off in a warning tone. "Don't start. I want to take my time with you."
"We've got all night."
He smiles at her, his insides ready to burst at the seams at her words.
Where has she been, and why had it taken so long for Monica to bring her around him?
He had to force himself to push that part in his mind away, knowing the answer was clearly obvious. Not that Lando wouldn't have tried to steal her away from the man she had been stuck with for so long.
"I don't want just all night," he starts. "I want all day. All week. All month. All year."
Y/N lets out a moan as his hands begin to trail lower, stopping at the hem of her skirt, letting his hands caress teasingly at the skin there.
"I want you all the fucking time, pretty girl. So yeah, I will be taking my time tonight."
With that, he gives her no room or time to react, pressing his lips hard onto hers. Tongues meeting, teeth clashing, Y/N moaning into his mouth as he took claim on her.
Her hands went up into his curls, pulling at them, noticing how it caused him to grip her tighter, her thighs in a bruising hold as he kissed her like his life depended on it.
Lando grabbed behind her thighs moments later, wrapping his legs around his torso, Y/N wrapping her arms around his neck as their lips moved in sync. Her head was bent down as she was leaning over him from being in his arms.
Her pulse began to quicken as he pulled away from her lips, trailing kisses down her jaw, kissing down her neck, and letting his tongue poke out every so often.
He attacked her collarbone as her nails ran through his scalp, earning groans from him as he sat them down on his bed with her in his lap.
Once his teeth nipped on a spot in the crook of her neck, her entire body twitched, goosebumps arising on her skin as she let out a gasp. He began to suck on the skin there, making her throw her head back at the feeling. "Fuck, Lan."
He growled into her neck before smashing his lips onto hers.
"I love hearing that roll of your lips," he mutters into her mouth in between kisses. "It's like music to my ears."
His hands trailed down to her ass, squeezing it tightly before pushing her to grind down on him. Y/N choke out a moan at the feeling. Lando chuckling.
"Screw that. Hearing those pretty sounds are music to my ears."
Y/N let out a slight chuckle, but let out another moan as she could feel him hardening in his trousers.
She grabbed his face to kiss him once more, biting his lip to be a tease first, then dipping her tongue inside his mouth to battle with his own. Their kisses began to get sloppier and more heated, her movements begin to fasten on his lap.
"Lan, I want more," she whimpers against his mouth.
He nods. "I'll give you whatever you want, honey."
With that he doesn't waste another second unlacing the back of her top, pulling the strings out from the back to make the process faster. The cooler air met her bare nipples, Lando's mouth immediately finding home on them both.
Y/N threw her head back as her shaky hands begun to unbutton his top as quick as she could. He didn't hesitate to rip it the rest of the way off, their bodies on fire as they came in contact skin to skin.
Something in them both went off after that.
Y/N broke Lando away from her breasts, looking up at her as if he was in a daze.
"Fuckin' shit, you're beautiful."
Y/N smiled down at him, heat rising to her cheeks.
"Lay back."
He didn't waste any time, doing as he was told. Y/N stood up from his lap, slowly pulling down her skirt, Lando watching her every move as if he was trying to memorize it all.
She wore a pair of white lace panties to match her outfit, Lando letting something out between a moan and groan.
"You know how to drive a man absolutely insane."
Instead of saying anything further, she let her nails slowly run up his thighs as she kneeled in front of his figure. Her fingers slowly undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants, pulling them down his legs.
The obvious tent in his briefs was not ashamed, Y/N looking back at Lando, who looked like he was already ready to combust.
As soon as her hands teased him over his briefs, he threw his head back with a hitched gasp. She took that as a sign to pull his briefs down, his cock springing up to slap up against his lower abdomen.
She grasped him softly in her hands, pressing a kiss on his tip teasingly, hearing the way growls left his mouth as he tried to contain yourself.
"Fuck," he moans out as she slides him all the way down her throat in one go. "Baby, you keep doing that, this is going to be a lot shorter than the both of us want."
She hums around him, giving him an innocent look. His eyes darkened quick as she sped up her pace around his cock, spit and drool falling from her mouth. His hand dragged into her loose strands at the feeling, soon stuttering his hips when she began to tease his tip again.
He grabbed her by her hair, pulling her mouth off him, a hiss leaving his lips as she looks at him with swollen lips. Lando pushes her down onto the mattress, grabbing her by her ankles and pulling her hips to the edge of the bed.
"Your little games are going to get you in trouble one day, darling," he says lowly. "But right now, I need what I've been craving since I saw you in that fucking garage."
"And what is that?" she taunts. He smirks up at her, getting down in front of her and wrapping his arms around her thighs.
He ripped her panties in half, making her gape at him.
"Those were expensive! And my favorite pair!" she whines out.
He shrugs. "I'll buy you the whole fucking line in every color if I have to."
His eyes never left hers as he slowly kissed down each of her thighs, kissing the crevice where her thigh met her pelvis. He smirked at her, his eyes glimmering up at her in the low lighting of the room.
"Because right now I need to know what it feels like to have these pretty thighs wrapped around my head."
Before she can respond, his mouth immediately starts licking and lapping up at her clit. She lets out the loudest moan Lando has heard leave her lips from that night, loving the way her nails began to scratch and pull at his curls.
He pushed her hips down to prevent her from squirming in his touch, watching her stomach contort and the muscles in her stomach going quick as she panted and moan out his name.
He could tell she was getting closer to her climax, the way her thighs began to shake as she tried to squeeze his head in between her legs.
"Fuck, Lan," she gasps out as he pushes a finger inside of her while drawing figure eights on her clit with his tongue. "I'm so fucking close. Right there."
He hums against her, hearing whines leaving her lips as she tries to grind against his face. His tongue moved up and down her slit in fast motions, occasionally poking inside of her before going back to doing tricks on her clit.
The way her thighs trembled in pleasure around his head, Lando couldn't get enough.
Lando would love to have her ride his face.
That would be for a different time.
She began to breathe faster and faster, her moans becoming more breathless as her climix began to reach its peak.
"Let go for me, baby," he groans. "Come all over my face."
Y/N does just that, his name followed by a few curses leave her lips as she freezes in her position, coming down from her high.
Lando stands from his spot between her legs, eyeing her. Her eyes opening to look up at him. "You got one more in you?" he says, making her smile up at him.
"I've got more than one."
He chuckles darkly before leaning his body over her own. "Oh, I know," he says, playing with her bottom lip. "This is just the start. We're going all night, baby."
With that, Lando lines himself up and pushes into her. Breathless moans leave both of their mouths as he lets her adjust, slowly thrusting in inch by inch.
He takes one of her hands into his, lacing them above her head, his other hand going to pinch her nipple as his lips find hers.
"Keep going," he says against his lips, Lando not wasting a moment more as he began to quicken his thrusts. Y/N moans against his mouth as he slams into her, her insides twisting with pleasure as he moves inside her.
Her nails scratch down his back, legs wrapping lowly around his hips as she pulls him impossibly close.
She breaks their messy kisses to look down at where they're connected, Lando using his hand that was messing with her breasts, wrapping it around her neck to make her look up at him.
"Look at me," he says, his mouth parting as he watches her face contort into pleasure as he squeezes lightly. "I could get used to this. Watching how much I can make you fall apart."
She bit her lip, her eyes barely able to stay open.
"You're mine, Y/N. You're all mine," he moans, kissing her lips in between words as his thrusts began to hit that spot deep inside of her.
"All yours, Lan. I'm all yours."
He moans against her lips once more at her words, slithering his hands down to her thighs to press them down into the mattress as he fucked her deep.
Y/N's head threw back into the pillows, his name leaving her lips as his head began trailing kisses down her neck and finding hom there as they both felt their stomachs starting to tighten.
"I'm-"
"I know, baby. I know."
Her hand find his hair once more, pulling his head back to lean their foreheads together as her walls began to clench around him.
"Fuck," Lando trails off at the feeling. "Where do you want me, pretty girl?"
"Inside. Come inside."
He lets out a loud groan, biting his lip. "You really want me all to yourself, huh? Want me to fully claim you, yeah?"
She nods, his thrusts soon becoming sloppy as her hips meet his own, her insides convulsing as she reaches her high, Lando following shortly after. He kisses her passionately as they both come down, Lando's thumbs rubbing up and down her thighs as they laid there catching their breath.
His head falls onto her chest, the pair laying there comfortably for a few moments.
Lando gets up shortly after, looking down at Y/N who's eyes are closed as she comes down.
When she opens her eyes, Lando is walking back towards her, briefs thrown on lazily, a damp cloth in hand as he cleans her up slowly. "Not too much?" he asks her softly, she shook her head with a small smile.
"Just enough."
He chuckles, helping her stand up, legs still shaking as her feet meet the floor.
"Good," he says softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Because we're taking a shower, and then there's no stopping tonight, baby. We've got a long night ahead."
kikagomes Everything about you is absolute tea babe 😘😍
ynln I learned a thing or two from someone 🤗
kikagomes Making me blush stoppppp 😛🤭🤭🤭🤭
ynln Always lover 😘😘😘
alexandrasaintmleux *Looks up how to be Y/N L/N*
ynln *Looks up how to make Alexandra Saint Melux fall in love with me* 🤩
charlesleclerc MINE!!! DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
user CHARLES LMFAO THAT WAS A JUMPSCARE 💀🤣
user IS THAT LANDO NORRIS IN THE SECOND PHOTO
user Y/N if you don't tell your children what happened with the divorce, I swear 🤧
monicabby Suddenly my clothes are on the floor
monicabby Tell that man over there that it's my turn 😩😩
ynln You always get dibs bby 😤🥰
monicabby HEHEHEHEHE
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caption : Baddest engineers on the F1 grid
tagged : ynln , monicabby
user Uhhhhh… what???? Is Y/N working for F1???!
ynln So good I love 🤩
user Y/N IS WORKING FOR F1??!?!?!?!😢
user SLAYYYYY OKAY
lando Tell the one on the left to call me😍😍
user WOW SHE REALLY SAID SCREW JOE LEMME GO WORK IN F1🤣
monicabby It’s how we do 😛
The girls had settled on girls' night after the weekend in Mexico City, a successful weekend for each of them. They were mainly celebrating Y/N, not only for being free of Joe, but also for starting her new job with Mercedes the upcoming weekend.
She lay back on the sand, hair damp as it lay out on the towel underneath her, sunglasses sitting nicely on the brim of her nose.
"So Y/N," Alex starts up, setting down her water bottle. "How did your Saturday evening after dinner go?"
The girls all hummed in excitement and interest, turning their attention towards her as they all were laid out, soaking up the sun before it fully set.
Y/N laughed lightly, shaking her head.
"What's there to tell?"
Kika gasped. "You know exactly what there is to tell!" she giggled.
"Did you guys go all night, or what?" Monica chimes in jokingly.
Y/N bit her lip, hiding her smile as her cheeks began to heat up.
Monica sat up from her spot, whipping off her sunglasses as she stared at her best friend. "You did, didn't you!"
Kika, Carmen, and Alex all shot up with shocked gasps and sounds leaving their mouths. "What! Before race day? You freaking animals!" Kika laughs.
Y/N shushes their multiple words filled with excitement, each one louder than the last. "Will you all quiet down if I tell you?"
They nodded with smug smirks.
"Yes, we did-"
Monica squeals out an 'I knew it', but shuts up when Y/N gives her a look.
"But we also talked all night, too, in between," she says sheepishly. "Talked about things big and small. But yeah, we couldn't stop. I'm surprised he pulled through for the race," she finishes jokingly, her mind making her body get all hot and bothered thinking about their entire night together.
He wasn't kidding when he said he wanted to go all night. Y/N had never been more sore than the morning after their fiasco, wearing one of his oversized sweatshirts with her outfit the next day during race day. Because the top she would've worn couldn't have covered all the marks he had left along her chest and stomach.
"What're you thinking? You've got that deep thought face on," Monica trails off, eyeing her best friend.
"Nothing bad, if you're thinking that," she says quickly. "I'm just surprised."
"Surprised by what? That could mean a million things in this conversation," Alex snickers.
Y/N smiles to herself. "I'm just surprised to be talking to a man who isn't afraid to let me be me," she giggles. "He never failed to make me think I was anything but equal. He honestly made feel like I was higher than he was."
"Because you are, but besides the point," Monica jokes, earning a playful shove.
"I told you," Kika sings. "He is so entranced by you, he's going to make it known to you and the world. When you're ready for that."
Y/N laughs. "Well we've already been slyly posting one another."
Carmen gives her a knowing look. "His post sure didn't say sly on his story Saturday night."
They all burst into a fit of giggles, making her groan as her face heats up. Monica then squeezes her best friend's arm lovingly. "All seriousness though, I'm glad you're happy. Finally doing you," she says with a serious face, Y/N giving her a sad smile.
"Thanks to you, if I'm honest. You believed and pushed me to finally take those steps, so I have you to thank for where I'm at and what I'm becoming."
They all awe at the pair of best friends, Monica kissing her friend's temple as they pull it in for a side-hug, turning back to the girls.
"We've got a girls' night out ahead of us, ladies! Let's pack it on up and head back to the boat to get ready," Monica hoots, the girls all cheering as they finish their drinks before cleaning up their spots on the beach.
They all talk and laugh together as they make a quick stop to grab some takeout to bring back, settling for pizza and different varieties of chips and dips.
Music blasted throughout the boat as the girls took their time getting ready. Y/N was currently in front of the girls with two different outfit choices as Carmen and Alex helped her put them together.
"I think the creamy white colored dress needs to make an appearance," Carmen says as she looks at them, pointing to the long dress.
Y/N holds it up, eyeing it over her figure in the mirror, tilting her head as she imagines it. "Hair up or down?"
"Up," Alex answers while the girls agree. "It accents the neckline! Lemme do the hair."
Y/N chuckles with a nod as she goes to finish up her makeup, slowly sliding the dress up her legs. Alex helps her with the zipper on the side, telling Monica to grab the pair of strappy heels she had pictured to go with it.
Once she's all done, the other girls all finish getting ready and making sure everything looks good before they each pile off the boat and out into the Monaco harbor.
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user WOAH HELLO THANK YOU MOTHER
monicabby Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy?
lando That was my line 😣🤧
monicabby Cry about it
ynln Hey now you two, play nice
monicabby yes Mommy
lando yes baby
user AYO???! LANDO SAID WHAT?!?!?!
user Soooo are Lando and Y/N confirmed??? ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING???
kikagomes Truthfully speechless. You’re gorgeous
alexandrasaintmleux Absolute Art. You are the art, love.
They all chatter as they watch the sunset finally over the horizon, making their way to the first stop of the night ahead.
It was a cute little bar spot, looking almost like a Greek speakeasy of some sort. It was the kind of place seen in a movie like Mamma Mia. It had a very open interior, with no doors or walls on the backside, where the patio sat, offering more seating and overlooking the water.
They all took a seat at the outdoor 360 bar, ordering their specialty cocktails of the evening.
"So what do you get to start on for the upcoming race weekend?" Monica asks as Y/N thanks the bartender for her drink.
"They want me to look over the data analysis first, and then look over the driver mechanics of the car. See if there's anything to add or take out to help with techniques," Y/N explains, taking a short sip of her drink.
"Such as?" Monica trails off curiously, causing her best friend to smirk at her smugness and shake her head.
"Classified information, love," she jokes, Monica rolling her eyes playfully before nodding.
"You caught me."
"I'm really excited. Yeah, I'm a bit nervous because I can hear Joe's voice in the back of my head saying what we all know he is thinking as we speak."
Moncia's brow raises slightly. "Speaking of, have you heard anything from him?"
Y/N tilts her head with a look, showing her all of the unanswered messages in her phone from the man.
Monica scoffs as she reads them, seeing how much worse they get as she reads on, then freezes, mouth agape and gasping. She shoots her head up at Y/N. "He sent you a video of him fucking that girl?" she gapes, making the girls all snap over to their conversation.
"Who?" Carmen asks.
Y/N palms her face, Monica showing them Joe's immature messages.
Kika looks over at Y/N. "You are a way better person than I," she snorts. "I would've posted that shit anonymously already."
"Trust me, I'm still debating."
Monica shrugs. "I'll do it. Main account and all."
"Mo, absolutely not."
She groans before handing her phone back to Y/N.
"Or even better yet, send him back something with the same energy," Kika adds, tipping her glass towards Y/N. She snickers.
"Yeah, like that would go well with either guy in my life at the moment."
"I guarantee you Lando would have no issue wanting to show what's his," Alex chimes in.
"Or better yet, what Joe lost," Carmen adds. The girls all chuckle.
"Not happening."
"I'm just saying," Kika trails off as she mixes her drink around with her straw, lifting it to her mouth. "Lando would not think twice if he saw what Joe was sending to your phone."
Y/N shrugs, deciding to change the subject to what they were going to do later in the week, not wanting to keep talking about the fact that she might think about that as an option.
monicabby just posted on their story!
caption : cat
tagged : ynln
user KITTTYYYYYYYYYY
user AGH SHE NEEDS TO BE A CAT MOM NOW
lando How can someone look so fucking good
monicabby Because it’s Y/N, duh
user Kind of sad she never addressed what happened with Joe :(
user HAIR THEORY AGAINNNNNN
user She looks so happy like it’s crazy
joeyb_9 Wow, so this is why she's not responding. Cool.
The night went on, and the more the girls traveled, the more tipsy Y/N and them had become.
They were in their fifth spot of the night, three hours in, dancing with one another on the outdoor dancefloor. She finally felt completely at ease, her body feeling light.
Y/N took a deep breath. trying to catch them as she sat down in their booth. She smiled as she watched her girls dancing freely, spinning one another around or dancing on each other with laughs, acting completely and happily careless.
She opened her phone for the first time that evening, smiling as she saw a couple of messages from Lando, then frowning as she saw several missed calls and text messages from Joe once more.
Lando
You look absolutely fucking irresistible, i cannot wait to see you tomorrow
Are you having a good time? Let me know if you and the girls need me to drive you guys home
Her heart swelled at his messages, the pain and tightness in her chest disappearing as she reread them.
Instead of entertaining what Joe was saying, she kept his messages unanswered, muting his contact. She went back into her messages with Lando, typing quickly.
Y/N
You sure know how to make a girl flustered over the phone
Having the best time :) I needed a girls' night. Might take you up on that offer
That is, if it stands for just me
He reads her responses almost immediately, typing shortly after.
Lando
I'm just speaking the truth, pretty girl. You make it very easy to fall for you
Say the word, and I'm there
Y/N bit her lip, looking up at her girls, debating whether it was too early in the night to call it in. Her phone buzzed once again.
Lando
That dress is coming off in front of me tonight either way
Whether it's you stripping it off or me ripping it off
Y/N clenched her legs out of habit, biting her lip to prevent the light hitch in her breath from escaping. She was beginning to think about how much easier it was becoming for her to choose if she was going to call it early.
She crossed one leg over the other, looking back over at the girls, seeing Kika making her way over to the table to join her.
"Are you coming back?" she whines, her tipsy slurs making an appearance as her drink sloshes lightly in her hand while taking a seat next to Y/N.
She shrugs with a bright smile.
"I'm thinking I may call it a night. The drinks are hitting me now," she lies sheepishly, Kika's eyes narrowing.
"Y/N. Spill."
She snorts at Kika, sighing before looking at her friend. Kika's face changed quickly, eyes wide and a bright smile adorning her lips.
"Is it Lando?"
She nods., and Kika bites her lip while nudging Y/N.
"Go!" she giggles. "I'll hold them off."
"Are you sure?"
Kika nods her head while shooing over in her direction. "We're literally seeing each other tomorrow with the boys. I assure you we will all live."
Y/N laughs. "Well then, with that, I'm going to head out. You guys going to make it back alright?"
"Oh yeah. We've left here in worse conditions than this. Alex left with a missing shoe, and I lost my phone. This is nothing."
She hugs Kika goodnight before she gets back up to distract the girls, Y/N slipping away from the scene and outside as she texts Lando to pick her up.
Lando
Jokes on you, I'm already outside, baby
Y/N smiles widely, looking up to see his car parked out in front of the club, seeing that he was talking to the security sat outside at the entrance, creating small talk as he waited patiently for his girl.
She approached the pair, slowly letting her hand lace with his own, letting him finish his conversation with the man.
It's not much longer till he finishes talking to him, bidding him a goodnight before turning to walk with her.
He turns to look down at her, doing a complete double-take as he drinks in her entire figure in front of him. Seeing her in person in this dress was doing something to him a lot worse than seeing it on the phone.
"Fuck," he mutters as he looks at her. He raises her hand up to make her do a twirl, whistling lowly as he takes her in. "Way better in person. I don't think I want to rip this one."
She chuckles at his words, letting him drag her along the sidewalk and to his car. He opens the car door, wrapping his hands around her hips from behind as he plants a couple kisses on her temple.
He helps her inside the low car, making sure she's in all the way before closing the door and scurrying over to his side.
Once he's put the car in drive, he sped off, immediately placing his hand on her thigh. His hand was warm over her skin, the fabric of her dress not doing much to cover it.
"Did you enjoy being out with the girls?" he hums, thumb rubbing up and down on her inner thigh.
She nods with a hum, placing her hand over his own. "It was nice. Really nice. I needed a whole day like that."
He smiles, looking over at her. "I couldn't stop looking at what they'd post. Every time you came up in a story or full post, I couldn't look away."
"Oh yeah?" she chuckles, and he squeezes her thigh.
"Especially with that fucking dress. I don't have anything appropriate. Not a single thing."
"Well, good thing you get to take it off me tonight."
He bit his lip, seeing that the light was turning yellow, then to red, his car coming to a slow halt. Lando doesn't waste another second to grab her by her jaw and smash their lips together in a passionate, sloppy kiss.
She moans into his mouth as he groans into hers, pushing his tongue through her lips and tasting as much as he could before that light turned green.
"You gonna let me ruin you, hm?" he hums in between kisses. She gasps as his hand that sat on her thigh rises, stopping right where she needed him most.
"Only you."
He chuckles, bringing his thumb to her bottom lip, toying with it when they break apart. "You make it so hard to not pull this car over."
She smirks, her eyes looking into his own with a playfully innocent look.
"So do it, then."
Something in his mind short-circuits at her words, before he can react the light turns green, Lando snapping back as best as he could and speeding off.
Before he knew it, he was going off-road, taking them to a more secluded spot of Monaco where the streetlights didn't reach, and people didn't dare go when the nighttime hit.
He puts the car in park, turning it off as he turns his body towards hers. His eyes were completely dark, pupils dilated. Y/N's entire body shivered as she looked back at him.
Hiiii friends 🫶🏼
I wanted to hear from you, I miss you all!!
After I finished my ongoing series “Endgame”, I wanted to see what you guys wanted another part to ;) let me know if there’s a fic I didn’t add onto the poll you want to add into the mix!
I love you all, and I’ll see you soon!!
Which fic would you want another part for?
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part four here Part six here
"Are you sure about this, Mo?" Y/N asks, her tone unsure as she looks at her best friend. Monica gives another warning look, shaking her head.
"If you ask me again, I'm throwing you into the harbor," she jokes, making Y/N laugh as she grabs the last of her bags. "It'll be nice not to live by myself on this big old thing anymore."
"I can't believe you even live on here," Y/N says in awe as they bring her stuff into the main cabin.
Monica shrugs, a light smile adorning her lips.
"It's the perks of working for the team. Per Andrea and Zak," she sighs. "They paid for this; I do pay for some of it to contribute. Oh, there are a few others who have one on the harbor, too."
Y/N was exhausted. The last forty-eight hours had been filled with nothing but up and moving all over. From leaving Vegas, to packing up whatever she could manage from her and Joe's, to dropping it at Ja'Maar's, to now having it all packed up two days later, being shipped across the ocean.
When George had picked up the phone a couple of days prior, he hadn't been happier than the moment she suggested taking him up on his offer.
He had helped her set up a meeting with Toto Wolff, as well as making her send in an application with everything she could muster to find to send with her resume. She was meeting with Toto after this upcoming race weekend. George had invited her to come sit in hospitality and watch the race, meet the crew, and even meet Toto before dealing with the real deal interview.
So, for now, she was setting up home base in Monaco with Monica. At least until everything had become fully set for her.
That was even if she got this job.
Even though George and Monica had assured her she has it in the bag, her nerves still couldn't help but be in the way.
Monica lived in one of the nicer boats seen on the Port Hercule harbor, Y/N, not missing the McLaren symbols on parts of the boat's hardware. The waves rushing up lightly against the boat were heard from the open windows around them, Y/N just taking it all in.
"So," Monica trails off, turning around to face Y/N with her hands on her hips. "I think we unpack what we can, sleep for a bit, pack for Mexico City, and then go pick up some good food and have a quiet night in?" she suggests, Y/N letting a moan out with a smile.
"You've read my mind."
"Good, because you're going to need as much energy as possible before seeing Lando again."
"Monica," she groans out, falling back on the bed behind her as she hides her face, heat rushing to her cheeks. Monica lets out a snicker.
"Come on, let's get things moving babe!"
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ynln I should be bitter, but baby right now, I'm bittersweet
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user WHAT ARE YOU HINTING AT DID YOU BREAK UP WITH JOE
monicabby Baby so prettyyyyy🥹😍
kikagomes Monaco looks SO good on you 🤩❤️
user Monaco???? Is she staying there now???
user Wouldn’t shock me if she’s been cheating with Lando…. Probs why Joe cheated too he doesn’t seem like one to cheat first💀
alexandrasaintmleux Girl’s only boat trip soon I miss you ladies 🥰
user Sooooo what’s the sitch??? Are y’all done? 👀👀👀
user Guys leave her be! She clearly is not wanting to talk about what happened between her and Joe for a reason
user YOURE GLOWING. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS Y/N😭😭🩵🩵🩵
user Queen STAYYSSSS unbothered 😙😌❤️
lando has started following you!
lando wants to send you a message!
Y/N bit her lip to keep her smile from cracking wider at the notifications, turning off her phone and setting down as she lay back on the boat with Monica next to her.
Music played softly in the background as they soaked up the sun.
"I don't know how I'd ever be able to leave if this was what I came back to everyday."
"So don't leave," Monica giggles. "We could be roommates again like we were! Imagine how much fun we'd have," she swoons, taking a sip of her drink.
"I don't want to intru-"
"If you even think about finishing that sentence, I'm seriously going to push you in."
Y/N snorts out a laugh, shaking her head.
"I can't even begin to thank you. For everything you've done for me these last few days," Y/N says on a more serious note, opening her eyes to turn and look at her best friend. Monica looks at her with a sad smile. "I think I would've been stuck with him for another year or two if you didn't make me see the bigger picture."
"Oh, love," Monica says in a sweeter tone, taking Y/N's hand and squeezing it. "I've always got you. You deserve this future you've always dreamt about. It's about time you did something about it. Even if I helped nudge it a bit."
Monica straightens up, wrapping a towel around herself. "Now," she begins before finishing the rest of her wine glass. "We need more wine and good food. What're we feeling?"
Y/N hums as she sits up. "Pizza or pasta. I need some good greasy food right about now."
Monica points at her. "This is why we're practically siblings. I was thinking some big bowls of pasta."
The pair threw on some comfier clothes, still making sure they were on the cuter side, as they would be walking up and down the streets of Monaco.
monicabby just posted on their story!
caption : Bestest friend in the world 😌🫶🏼
tagged : ynln
user So are her and Joe broken up??? 💀👀
user Is she dating Lando now?????😬
lando She is absolutely breathtaking
user She’s glowing different now 🥺🥺🥰🤩
user I love this for her, screw Joe
"Lando is really obsessed," Monica chuckles, handing her phone to Y/N.
She reads Lando's comment that he swiped up on Monica's story with, making her heart flutter and her smile brighten. "Cute," she chuckles lightly.
Instead of saying anything more, she hands her friend the phone back quietly.
"Okay, so the order is put in for the food. You okay with waiting until it gets done to grab? I'm just going next door to grab us some wine," Monica asks, showing an unsure expression on her face.
Y/N shoos at her with a smile and nod. "You grab us a couple of bottles, I got this."
With that, Monica nods curtly before heading out the door. Y/N finds a small table by the pick-up spot, and the quiet hum of people talking, chefs cooking, and dishes clunking around in the back is heard.
Y/N sighs as waits, peoeple watching for a bit, then taking her phone out of her pocket.
She almost regrets opening up her socials, as she sees the comments on her most recent post. Seeing that most were asking about Joe and saying she probably cheated first, or others were more positive, saying that he didn't deserve her.
She finally decided to open up Lando's follow notification from earlier, also pressing 'follow back' on his icon.
"Well, I must be one lucky man if I'm seeing you in front of me."
A familiar voice says in front of her, causing her to slowly look up.
"Lando."
He smiles down at her. "Hi, pretty girl."
She grins at him as he points to the seat next to her. "This taken?"
"By you."
He takes a seat, Y/N feeling at ease as she sees him in much more comfortable clothing than the last time they had seen one another. He was wearing a pair of lighter-washed baggy jeans with a sweatshirt that read QUADRANT on the front, his black hat backwards on his head.
"You look comfier," she jokes, watching him nod at her.
"And you look prettier," he shot back. "I like seeing you like this. Natural."
Y/N chuckles nervously as she is suddenly conscious of her probably frizzed out curls and sunburnt freckled face.
"I feel like I look like Monica Gellar from Friends."
He raises his eyebrows. "Not even close. Her hair looked like she was struck by lightning in that episode," he laughs, making her smile in shock.
"I didn't think you'd get that reference."
"Oh no, I've seen it plenty of times. I knew exactly what you meant," he says, smiling warmly at her as he nods. "But seriously, you look gorgeous. I like your curls. You look more relaxed."
She nods with a shrug. "Probably because I am."
"How're you doing with all that?" he asks, Y/N seeing his facial expressions showing nothing but genuine concern for the girl in front of him.
She nods, an unsure huff leaving her lips. "I'm managing. It was hard leaving, didn't really go like I planned. Then again, that was in hopes he wouldn't have been there."
Lando's expression hardens. "Did he do something to you?" he asks in a lower tone, Y/N's eyes widen as she shook her head quickly.
"No! No, he didn't, I mean, he kind of nudged me hard when I told him off, but no, nothing like that. He just said some rude stuff to Mo and I. Nothing out of the norm for him."
He rolled his eyes and scoffs, rubbing at his jaw.
"Fuckin' prick," he mutters more to himself, then looks back at her. "I'm glad you're okay. Doing better."
She nods, giving him a small smile. "Me too."
"Are you coming to Mexico City this weekend?"
She nods. "George invited me out."
"George, huh?" he smirks, making her give him a knowing look.
"Don't even."
He puts his hands up defensively. "Hey, I meant it as I know he's been dying to get you to work for Mercedes ever since he met you," he laughs. "Guarantee you'll be hired before the interview with Toto even happens."
Y/N laughs at that. "Good one."
He gives her a look this time, a smile adorning his features.
"Now it's my time to tell you to not even start with that."
"Oh whatever."
The pair laugh before Lando speaks up once more. "I had to make sure you were coming, because I don't know how else I would've been able to ask for your number."
Y/N tilts her head. "I'm right in front of you as we speak."
"Yes, true," he snorts. "I also had to make sure I'd see you again to give you a hard time for leaving my Direct Messages on read. My ego is a bit bruised."
"You're welcome."
His mouth gapes wide open as a playful gasp leaves his mouth. "Wow, rude."
Y/N pokes the inside of her cheek with her tongue. "Gotta give you a bit of something to chase, don't I?"
"Darling, you don't have to make me chase. You've got me stuck on you now. I'm not leaving," he giggles, and his words made her insides burst out with something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Her smile softens as she stares at him. Lando smiles back at her. She was about to say something back to him, only for Monica's name to be called out. Their order of food sat nicely on the pick-up table.
Y/N stood up to go grab it, turning back to see Lando standing as well, back over at the table.
She walked up to him, his eyes only focused on her. Her free hand gains the courage to grab his hand in her own and squeeze it softly. Lando does not take a moment to reciprocate the same action as he laces their fingers together.
"So I'll see you this weekend, then?" He asks her softly, their faces close to one another as the tension begins to increase, like it had in Vegas the weekend prior.
She nods, her eyes having an excited glint in them. "You might."
His eyes squint daringly. "I might, huh?"
Her lips purse as she hums with another nod. As she begins to walk away, she unlaces their hands. "Goodnight, Lan."
The man swears he feels his chest tighten at the way his nickname rolled off her tongue, needing to hear her voice in more ways than one.
He didn't miss the way her hips swayed as she left the small restaurant, a small smile on her lips as her curls bounced lightly with every step she took.
His entire demeanor froze in that moment, mentally groaning.
As much as Y/N loved getting to travel all over, she was over flying for the next week.
She and Monica had to board an early flight the next morning to be out at the paddock on time for Monica, so she could get some of the data collected for the upcoming race.
Monica had told her she didn't need to join for the Media and Press day, and that Y/N could take the time to sleep the jet lag off as best as she could. Y/N did exactly that. She turned her phone off, letting Monica know she would be incase the girl tried to reach her, sleeping almost all day in their shared hotel room.
When Friday had come around, she was more refreshed and ready for the upcoming weekend ahead. She had mainly spent the majority of Friday in the Mercedes garage, talking with George and meeting Kimi, as well as having George introduce her to the rest of the crew.
The more time she spent getting to know everyone, the more at ease she felt, and the more herself she began to feel.
When they would ask her what she was looking at doing in Formula one, she didn't hesitate to tell them what she was looking for, as well as why she was looking for it.
The way they'd give her advice on how she could handle certain scenarios, as well as how open Toto would be to hearing some of her ideas and suggestions, made her feel much better about when the time came for her to meet him.
She had seen Lando a few times as she walked around the paddock; if not with George and Kimi, she was with a few pitcrew members, waving lightly with a smile on her lips before going back to her conversation.
Lando would smile to himself, seeing how easy it was becoming for her to fit in, knowing she wouldn't have any problem getting a job here.
Saturday had rolled around quicker than they thought.
oaY/N had been sitting in Mercedes hospitality talking with George's girlfriend, Carmen, when he had appraoched her.
The girls looked up at him. George greeted Carmen with a kiss to her cheek and his hand resting on her back. He smiled back at Y/N. "Someone wants to meet you," he says to her, Y/N's eyes widening.
"George," she trails off slowly.
"Y/N, I promise you, he's not scary. He's been hearing all over the grid about how great you are. Even the entire pit crew raved to him about you after yesterday."
"What if he ends up not liking-"
"Hush. Come on, he's in the office upstairs," he interrupts her, dragging her with him towards the stairs.
"Am I dressed appropriately for this? I don't want him to think that I'm unprofessional and-"
"Y/N."
She looks at him as they stop in front of an office door. "He knows you're here right now to support. Not for a job interview. He's not going to care, especially with how driven you are."
She takes in a big breath before rolling her shoulders back, gathering herself as much as she can.
"Ready?" George asks her softly.
"As much as I can be."
He nods at her with a proud smile before knocking on the door, turning the knob as they enter.
Toto stood behind his desk with a tablet in hand, glasses on the bridge of his nose, as he wrote something out on the tablet with a pen, muttering things to himself as he wrote.
"I brought someone for you," George announces, making the man shoot his head up.
Y/N was nervous. Her stomach was in her ass, and she was shocked she wasn't sweating.
That was until a giant, warm smile made its way onto his face.
He set his tablet and pen down, putting his glasses on his head. "Ah, you're Y/N! You're the one I keep hearing so much about!" his voice booms happily, as he rounds the desk, taking her small hand into both of his own, squeezing it tightly as he smiles proudly down at her.
"That's me," she chuckles nervously. "It's nice to finally meet you, Mr. Wolff."
He shakes his head. "You call me Toto. None of that professional name stuff."His hands leave hers as he motions for her to sit down. She looks back at George, and he nods before making his way out of the office, shutting the door softly.
She turns to face Toto once more.
Toto took a seat in his chair, pulling his computer open as he began typing. He still wore a warm smile on his face.
"You're quite the talk on the grid, no?" he jokes, making her shrug her shoulders with a smile.
"Is that good or bad?"
He laughs. "Very good. Everyone says nothing but great things. Your friend at McLaren, especially."
Y/N smiles to herself, knowing she would forever be grateful for Monica.
"We've been through it all. She knows me best."
"So I've heard. You both went to University together? Same program and everything?"
She nods with a hum. He smiles wider.
"I hear you're very smart with the engineering mechanics. Especially in racing."
"Absolutely," she beams. "I grew up around racing, my dad used to do it, and I was more interested in being around the garages on weekends than hanging out with friends. I wanted to learn everything there was about cars and racing."
He looks over at her, nodding with a knowing smirk.
"Why did it intrigue you?"
"I'm not really sure where to start with that one," she jokes. "I tend to go really into detail when I start talking," she adds.
Toto stops typing on his laptop, her words making him fully eye her, turning in his chair to face her. He laces his hands together in front of him, grinning and nodding towards her.
"I'm all ears."
She smiles widely.
Yeah, she was going to be alright.
Monica was standing in front of the McLaren garage, headset around her neck, with her arms crossed as she talked with George and Lando.
It had been almost two hours since George had sent Y/N in with Toto, not hearing or seeing them since then.
"Did she seem nervous? Did he seem like he wanted to talk with her?" Monica sputtered out to George. He nods.
"He was the one asking for her and wanting to meet her as soon as he heard about her," he answers. "She was nervous, but I mean that's normal. Especially when going to talk to Toto."
"I just hope he didn't eat her alive, and now she's hiding from us all. She does that when things don't go as planned."
"Mo, she's going to be fine. If anything, I think maybe it might be a good thing?"
"We don't have to keep asking questions," Lando speaks up, pointing down the paddock. They turned to face what he was pointing at.
Y/N was walking out in front of the paddock with not only Toto, but Daimler as well. They were all nothing but bright smiles, laughs and shaking hands with Y/N before letting her walk off as they turned to walk back into the garage.
She turned back to look down the paddock, her eyes finding the three of them already staring back with looks of curiosity. It didn't take her long to make her way towards them, a bright smile stuck on her lips as she walked down the paddock.
Once she was in front of them, they all began to bombard her with questions.
"Guys," she starts with a chuckle, hands up to calm them down.
"Well?" Monica asks.
She stares at them.
"I start training next weekend."
Lando's eyes lit up, George began cheering, and Monica immediately pulled her in for the biggest hug while squealing in her ear.
"Oh my gosh, you did it! You fucking did it, I'm so proud of you!" Monica cries out, pulling away from her best friend to look at her.
"I couldn't have done it without you, let's be real."
Monica scoffs playfully. "I just pushed for you to do things for you. You did the rest!"
Y/N gave her a look, but couldn't respond because George had pulled her in for a big bear hug. "Welcome to the team! Oh my gosh, this is going to be great! I knew you could do it, what'd I tell you? He's not as scary as you thought."
She laughs. "He was scary, yes. But no, he truly is the nicest. We sat there and talked about how my dad used to race, and then he took in some of my ideas I had. He wrote down a lot of stuff."
George nods as he pulls away. "That means he likes you. He doesn't just take anyone's advice. Not even Daimler."
"So I've learned," she chuckles.
She turns towards Lando, who is smiling down at her proudly.
"Looks like I'm going to be seeing you more then?"
Y/N nods, and he smiles even wider as he pulls her into his arms tightly. "Congrats, pretty girl. I'm excited to see what you've got," he mutters into her ear with a chuckle, pressing a kiss into the crook of her neck.
She chuckles at his words, her fingers running through his curls, pulling back from him.
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caption : Someone come get this man
tagged : georgerussell
user AHHH I LOVE THIS FRIENDSHIP BLOSSOMING
user Y'all I'm so depressed, this new era without Joe is not it
Instead of being out at clubs and bars for the night, the friendgroup had settled on going out for a night out to dinner before race day.
Monica, Kika, and Alex had made sure to help Y/N get all done up, picking out her outfit, what to do for makeup, and everything else. When it came to her hair, she scrunched her nose in the mirror, looking at them in the mirror.
"Let's keep it natural. The curls are okay," she says softly, Monica looking at her knowingly, nodding at her words.
"I'm glad you're letting them come back out. I've always told you they look so pretty on you."
Y/N smiles, looking down at her lap as she straightens out her outfit.
She slips on a pair of kitten heels, borrowed from Alex, putting her phone in her clutch. Singing along with the girls as they finished getting ready in the hotel room.
monicabby just posted on their story!
caption : GET IT GIRL HELLO 😩😩😛😘
tagged : ynln
user And suddenly my pants are on the floor??? 🤔
user Is she single now????
kikagomes Hottie ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
user OMFG SHE'S SLAYING IT DOWN 🤩🤩🤩
lando Her curls 😍
Monica furrowed her brows at Lando's comment, her mind not taking long to figure out exactly why Y/N had become so much more okay with being more natural.
It was because of Lando.
She smiled even more, her heart filling with joy that she had finally found someone. Someone she knew would love Y/N for her.
They had met the boys downstairs in the lobby not too long after.
Y/N didn't hesitate to find Lando's, her smile widening as he looked her up and down. He bit his lip as he walked towards her, taking her hands into his.
"Do I look okay?" she asks softly, Lando seeing she was actually looking nervous about her outfit.
"Does the fact that I'd rather skip dinner and bring you back upstairs tell you anything?" he mumbles back to her, not missing the slight hitch in her breath as his lips brushed against her ear.
She cleared her throat to look back up at him. He nods reassuringly to her. "You look absolutely beautiful, Y/N."
Y/N smiles. A softer one, he had only seen a select handful of times. Lando presses a kiss to the side of her head, Y/N's stomach erupting in butterflies at his actions, his hand slipping from hers to wrap around her waist.
They began to join the rest of the group outside, seeing them all piling into two giant cars. They followed suit into the first SUV, Lando having her grab his hand as she stepped up and in.
Lando caught her trying to cover her backside, as her skirt was a bit on the shorter side. Lando immediately stood in front of her to block anyone from seeing anything. He looked around to make sure nobody could catch anything of her as she stepped in, not taking too long to hop in after her.
Once they had gotten settled in, Lando had taken a seat in the back, right next to her this time. His body froze when she willingly grabbed his hand, lacing it with her own, laying it on her thigh as she held a conversation with Carmen, who sat in front of them.
He immediately relaxed as he began rubbing his thumb over her hand, his own heart beating faster as he watched her. Soon, they were heading off towards the restaurant.
Lando had gotten into a conversation with George during the ride there, not missing the occasional squeeze from her hand as they both did their own thing, but still acknowledging each other in their own silent ways.
Once they had gotten to the restaurant, Lando had turned towards Y/N as their friends began to pile out, Y/N turning her gaze towards him.
"Everything okay?" she asks.
She didn't really get much time to finish what she was saying as Lando put his hands on both sides of her neck, pressing his lips onto hers.
A light whimper had left her lips, causing him to let out a light groan at the sound of her, letting his teeth pull at her bottom lip as he pulled away from her.
Y/N's eyes fluttered open, completely flustered by his actions. He let his thumb rub the skin along her jaw.
"I had to do that before going in and sitting there, knowing I couldn't do anything with how pretty you look," he chuckled softly against her lips.
"Yeah," she whispers hoarsely, before clearing her throat. "Probably a good idea, mhm."
He presses one last chaste kiss on her lips before pulling her dazed figure behind him, helping her from the car.
Lando made sure that she didn't have to worry about covering her lower half, standing in front of her figure to keep her more comfortable.
Their hands stayed laced together the entire time as they were guided towards their table with everyone else, the man making sure she was seated next to him.
Y/N's mind was running a million miles a minute, her brain still trying to recover from Lando's lips. His touch wasn't helping either, as his hand sat on her thigh in a comforting manner as he talked with Charles and Carlos.
Y/N tried to listen in on what Kika was talking about with Monica, but her focus could only stay with the kiss she shared with Lando, and his hand that sat high up on her thigh.
Her insides were burning as she bit at her lip harshly, trying to nod at whatever her friends were saying.
It didn't occur to her how zoned out she really was until Monica waved a hand in front of her face. Y/N snapped out of it. "Sorry, what?"
"I said, Did you want to share that bottle of wine? They have our favorite," she giggles, not letting her friend's flustered state go unnoticed. it would be a discussion for later.
"Yeah," she hums with a nod. "That sounds wonderful, actually."
Monica pulls her head back, smirking smugly before slowly trailing her eyes to Lando, then back to Y/N, then turning to face Alex and Kika.
The night went on, Y/N's state had become looser and more at ease with Lando's touch.
It just hadn't gotten much easier for the burn and desire she was feeling in her stomach. Especially every time his hand rubbed up and down her thigh, squeezing lightly.
He would check in on her every so often, making sure she was okay and that she was comfortable, Y/N humming and nodding, not being able to trust any words to leave her mouth if she tried.
It was when Lando had stood up, letting her know he was going to the restroom, that she let out a sigh.
"Girl, you have been on edge all night. What is happening?" Kika says quietly.
"Lando, is what is going on," she mumbles out, the girl's all swooning and smirking.
"How so?"
"Well, first off, he has been nothing but a gentleman all night. Then the way he makes sure I am covered getting into and out of the cars,' she sputters out. "Then the bigger fact that he just full-on kissed me before we walked in here."
The girls gasped, excitement all over their faces. "How hot is that? I'd love for Pierre to just grab me and kiss me," Kika jokes.
"But now all I want to do is kiss him, and I told myself I need to let it be a slow burn," Y/N groans, running a hand through her hair. "The thing is, I don't want to. I need more of him. I need it all."
Monica shrugs, sipping her wine. "So do it."
Y/N tilts her head. "You're supposed to tell me to let him chase."
She shook her head, swallowing her drink. "That was until I realized how in love he is with you already."
"What do you mean?"
"He's the reason you're letting your hair be natural again. Something you haven't done in a long time."
Y/N goes quiet at that.
"The hair theory is real, love. And Lando is that realness you needed. So do it. Go after him," Monica says.
Kika and Alex agreed immediately. "You won't regret it. We can promise you that."
Y/N contemplates in her head for a few moments before nodding.
"She excuses herself from the table before slowly making her way towards the hallway where the restrooms were, turning the corner.
"In that case, I think I might call for a car early," Y/N jokes, Monica shaking her head as she waves her phone.
"I'm already ahead of you."
"Monica!"
The girls all laugh at Y/N's flustered state. "It's about time you go after him. I'm just making it easier," Monica says nonchalantly before putting her phone down.
She points behind Y/N. "Better do it now. He's walking back."
Y/N nods, slowly, taking a sip of her wine. Lando's hand softly comes up behind her chair as he sits back down, looking over at her with a small smile.
"Everything okay?" he asks her, and she nods.
She looks back at Monica, who mouths 'five minutes', Y/N rolling her eyes as she hides her smile.
Lando kept his arm around her chair as he talked with Carlos, his fingertips brushing over her bare shoulder softly. Y/N could feel her nerves coming into play, but she pushed them down.
Lando had been driving her crazy. Ever since he laid eyes on her, something in her knew that there was just something about him.
She turned to face him, making sure he wasn't in the middle of a conversation, using her fingertips to turn his chin to look down at her.
His eyes darted to her lips for a second, then looked into her eyes.
"You want to get out of here?" she asks softly, his smile widening at he looked at her.
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part three here Part five here
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caption : ❤️
user Here for you girly!
user I'm siding with mom in the divorce
user Joe isn't worth it, you've got it!
user You're too pretty for him anyway 🥰
As soon as they got to their next destination, Y/N swore each one bigger than the last.
Lando stood outside the car door, ready to help Y/N out, a smile adorning his lips as she happily took his hand to step out. She had lightly overstepped, almost slipping, but Lando's other arm was already out around her waist to help her.
Her eyes looked up to see a few scattered fans around the new spot, her chest tightening, and her heart doing light flips at his touch on her hip.
"Lando," she said softly as he helped her down. "Fans are watching."
He shrugs. "And? I'm being a gentleman and helping a beautiful girl out of the car."
She wanted to argue and tell him about what the tabloids were already saying for her tonight, more particularly about Joe, and how she didn't want to add more. Instead she stayed silent and nodded with a light smile.
It was a harmless act after all, and Joe was the one who was across the country hooking up with another girl.
Her entire demeanor started to feel slightly uneasy at the thoughts of what he was doing, even if part of her didn't care.
Another part of her did.
Once they got into the building and found their home base for this round, Y/N excused herself quickly and walked straight towards the bathrooms.
As soon as she entered, she set her stuff down and looked in the mirror.
She closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths, letting them fall slowly from her lips as she let herself relax. The music boomed outside the room, changing to something a little slower, but still upbeat.
Once she had collected herself enough to go back out, she grabbed her clutch and headed towards the door.
When she left the bathroom, she saw the familiar head of curls leaning against the wall just a little further down, his eyes looking over at her on a more serious note.
"Everything alright?" he asks her slowly as she approaches him.
She looks up at him and nods quickly, beginning to walk towards the crowd to find their group of friends.
"Monica filled me in," he states behind her. "I also saw the media. He's not right in the head for doing what he did. Dick move if you ask me."
Y/N came to a halt and turned to face him, unsure of what to say. Lando looks at her and can tell she doesn't know what to respond with, he nods in understanding and smiles down at her.
"You don't have to explain. When the timing is better, I'm all ears."
She frowns. "I was not expecting that."
He chuckles. "Because I'm not an asshole," he jokes, making her crack another smile as her eyes lock with his. "And I also want to make sure that this girl I met earlier enjoys her time away before going back to reality."
"The girl whose name you never got?" She shot back with a laugh, making him roll his eyes playfully. He nods.
"Yeah, that girl."
She nods slowly, tongue poking at the inside of her cheek. "It's Y/N."
He laughs before offering his hands out to her. "I know."
Her eyes widen slightly in shock, letting him take her hands in his own, slowly pulling her along behind him.
Her eyes locked with the man in front of her, completely entranced by how he was holding himself. She wasn't expecting the reaction he gave her after finding out about Joe; she thought he would get upset or even act like he never knew her.
The way her held himself kept her intrigued, and she wasn't sure if she should be.
Lando took both of her hands into one of his own now, using his free hand to do his handshake with Charles as they found the group. Alex turning to see Y/N, her eyes looking down at their hands, then back at Y/N.
Alex smiled smugly, raising an eyebrow at the actions. Y/N shook her head, giving her a look, and mouthed 'he's being nice'.
Alex shook her head and pointed at their hands. "That's more than being nice," she says softly. Y/N stays quiet, feeling a squeeze on her hands, and so she turns back to Lando, who is turning to face her.
"What's your go-to drink of the night?" he asks her.
"Jack and coke."
He nods and squeezes her hands one more time before letting them go. "I'll be back."
She nods as he disappears into the crowd again, heading towards the bar. Y/N feels her heart jump when a pair of hands grab her shoulders.
"He is obsessed with you!" Monica squeals as she turns her best friend around. Y/N rolls her eyes.
"I doubt it. He probably is just pitying the poor girl who just found out her boyfriend has been cheating on her."
Kika looks at Monica, and they look back at her.
"He came to find you for a reason," Kika says, Monica nodding.
"He went all on his own, we didn't push for him or anything."
Y/N looks at the girls. "Just don't overthink anything. Enjoy the night, and do what Y/N wants! Not what Joe, or the media, wants her to do. Do you," Alex reminds her.
She thinks about her friend's words, knowing deep down that they weren't wrong.
Y/N needed to finally choose herself in this life. Make decisions that she wants to make. Joe made his, and she needed to remember that.
Soon she nods, taking in their advice. She looks at Monica, handing her phone over. "Keep it away from me. I'm done seeing what the media has to say."
Monica proudly takes it with a curt nod and toothy grin, stuffing it into her clutch.
user Omg Y/N and Lando in the same room someone pinch me
user I hope Y/N is doing okay :(
alexandrasaintmleux I love you all 😍🥰
user I would strive to be apart of their friendgroup omfggggg
user Y'all SLAYING Vegas
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caption : Can’t get better than this 😘
user Y/N LOOKS SO GOOOD
user This is the PRETTIEST GROUP BFFS IVE EVER SEEN
user Joe doesn’t know what he just lost like wtf 😬
user I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL
user Pretty girrrrllllls😍😍😍
Y/N hears a club techno remix of Madison Beer's song Yes Baby come on, pulling the girls out towards the dancefloor as she rolls her body slowly to let herself loose.
They happily follow her out into the crowd, dancing with her, the lights and energy around them making it easier to get in rhythm.
Monica spun Y/N around with a chuckle leaving their lips, the girls danced up on one another as Y/N finally let her body roll with the beat of the music.
She didn't have a care in the world. The more she realized that there was more to life than following orders from a man who didn't care about her like she thought, the more she was okay with taking Alex's advice.
Choosing herself and never looking back.
She knew that once she had gotten home, she'd pack up her things and leave for who knows where. She just knew she would feel at peace once she shut that door for good.
Another part of her could also feel a want for more. Something she wasn't exactly sure about. For tonight, she knew she wouldn't think twice about it. Reality would come back at her in the morning.
When she opened her eyes, she was met with the girls dancing around her and gliding together like they had been doing, laughing as they moved their hips.
Her eyes and body were scanning for something more. Someone, in this case.
Y/N's eyes froze when she saw exactly who she was looking for. He was standing with the other guys in their section, talking with them eyes watching the crowd in front of them as they laughed.
It didn't take long for his eyes to feel her stare, causing him to scan and find her in the crowd.
She took a deep breath before squeezing past the girls, walking towards him, not missing the way the girls hyped her up as they realized where she was headed.
Lando's focus was completely on her as soon as he found her, zoning out of whatever George was telling him in that moment.
It didn't take long before she was in front of him, her siren eyes pulling him towards her instantly. Y/N puts her hands out in front of her for him to take, Lando smirking down at her and taking them into his own with no hesitation.
Y/N pulled him further out into the crowd, their eyes never leaving one another's.
Once they had gotten far enough into the middle of the dancing crowd, it was Lando who made a move this time. He slithered both of his hands snugly around her hips, Y/N letting hers trail up to his neck.
They moved their bodies against each other, following in line with Madison Beer's song in the background.
Y/N's insides were on fire. They were burning with something more than just desire in that moment, and she could tell he was feeling it just as much as she was.
He took one of his hands from her waist, placing it on her jawline enough that his hand somewhat held the back of her neck, making her look all the way up at him as he pulled her as close as he could. Their faces were now inches away from one another, Lando smirking as he heard her breath hitch at his touch and grip on her.
"You have been driving me crazy, you know that?" he says softly. Y/N can feel his breath against her lips. She bit her bottom lip to partly hide her smile.
"Sorry."
He chuckles darkly, taking his hand that was on her jaw, sliding it to sit on her neck, shaking his head. "No, you're not."
Her eyes dart down towards his lips, then look back up at him. She shrugs. "I'm not."
He smiles like the Cheshire Cat, squeezing her neck just light enough for her to let out a gasp at the feeling. "I need to know you. All of you," he says, letting out a low growl when her nails dig into the curls at the nape of his neck. "We can figure out the mess together later. I'll do whatever I've gotta do to keep you around."
Y/N looks up at him, seeing that there was nothing but truth behind his eyes. She decides to play a bit more, smirking up at him while taking his chin between her fingertips.
"What would my boyfriend think?"
Lando bit his lip, clenching his jaw as he saw the playfulness behind her eyes. "Your ex-boyfriend, lost you the second I laid eyes on you," he shoots back lowly, now dragging both of his hands to her hair, pulling it back. "He would've needed to worry about whether you ever came home after meeting me."
Y/N's eyes closed at the feeling, never having felt this way before. Lando knew exactly what was making her tick, without even fully knowing her. His words, his tone, his touch. All of it made her body melt.
"Open those pretty eyes for me," he says softly, making her slowly open them to look at him. He was smiling down at her in a smug way. "I'm gonna give you everything you deserve. He's the least of my worries."
Y/N looks between his eyes, seeing the genuine look behind the playful glint, making her nod at his words.
"Am I allowed to kiss you, pretty girl?" he asks in a softer tone.
Before she can answer, she hears her name being called, causing the pair of them to snap out of their own world that they had created.
She breaks away from Lando, turning to see the girls walking up to them both, Monica trying to hide her smirk that couldn't stop forming. Kika and Alex are smiling widely with no regrets.
"Sorry to interrupt," Kika says knowingly. "But we've gotta steal her away real quick. Girl things you wouldn't understand."
Lando clenches his jaw before rolling his eyes. He grins down at Y/N, squeezing her waist before letting her go with the girls. "You know where I'll be," he says to her. Y/N smiles back at him before walking away with her friends.
Once they were in a more private area of the club, they turned around and began to squeal and freak out at Y/N.
"He's obsessed with you! Did you see how he was looking at you?"
"Tell us everything he said!"
"Are you going to go back with him to his hotel tonight or what?"
"Girls, chill!" Y/N laughs out, putting her hands up to quiet them down. "We didn't get to do too much, because some girls I know interrupted the moment," she snorts, eyeing them all.
Monica put her hands up in defense. "We had to! Make him chase you a bit more. Not that it's needed because he's basically ready to take you down to the wedding chapel-"
"Mo!"
"I'm just saying," she groans. Y/N looks at Kika and Alex.
Kika nods while Alex sheepishly agrees. "I mean, I've never seen him look and go after a girl like he has with you. He's hooked on you," Alex explains, Kika humming in agreement.
"He is going to make sure you know just how much he wants-no- needs you around," Monica says.
Kika presses her arm. "What did he say to you?"
Y/N feels her face heat up, thinking back to their hot moment just moments before. How his body felt against hers, his touch, everything.
"He basically said I was his the second he laid eyes on me, and that Joe would've had to worry if I came home or not, if we were still together," she explains, the girls gasping and clapping in excitement.
"He said we can worry about the mess later, and that he wants to give me what I deserve."
"I told you he's obsessed!"
"Go back to the hotel with him!"
"He is smitten!"
Y/N rolls her eyes as she laughs at their bombarding comments, letting them freak out all they want.
"Okay, okay, enough," she giggles out. "Are we done interrogating?"
"For now," Kika says slyly, glinting her eyes at Y/N. The girls talked about a few more things for the night as they walked back to the boys, Y/N seeing that they were all sitting down on the couches now as they talked to one another.
Lando's eyes snapped up when he saw the girls joining one by one, his smile widening at the sight of Y/N, who was already looking down at him. He straightened up in his seat.
She halts in front of him, letting one of his hands slide up from the back of her knee to the top of her thigh, where the hem of her dress sits.
"All good?" he asks her, and she nods.
"Yeah, just girl stuff."
Lando nods before squeezing the back of her thigh, tugging lightly to signal for her to sit next to him.
She sits down right next to him, Lando taking her leg that brushes against his own, placing it in his lap as he caresses the skin there. His legs were spread out in front of him, Y/N's insides fluttering as something lower pulsed inside her.
They both entered into the conversation being had, occasionally contributing to the topic as they all took a break from the chaos the club was becoming as the night went on. Lando's hand never left Y/N once.
To Y/N, this was different. She wasn't used to someone showing affection towards her, regardless of where they were out at.
Joe didn't like to show her off. He would act more embarrassed than proud having her on his arm. He avoided everything about it. She knew that there was a difference between being private and being avoidant. He was doing the latter.
Lando wasn't afraid of it one bit. He owned it, nothing in his actions or expressions showing a single sign of hesitation or embarrassment.
She knew that they probably had the possibility of not being shown in the tabloids the next day, but she knew that the photos of them arriving in the SUV together were going to cause people to talk. Regardless if they had the rest of the group in the car with them.
That's just how the media was, no matter who it is.
The British man looked over towards Y/N, seeing that she was staring at the group, but her mind was elsewhere, eyes zoning out.
He squeezed her leg softly, caressing the skin, watching her shake back to where she was. "You're overthinking again," he mutters, making her let out a huff.
"No, just thinking."
He fully emerges in turning to look at her. "About?"
"The stuff you already know."
He smiles at her. It was a smaller one, but nothing less than genuine.
"Would it make you feel better if I said that no matter what we see online tomorrow, that I meant everything I said?" he says, making her look at him. He nods. "You're worth it. The chaos. People will always talk, no matter what we do. But I'll walk with you next to me proudly, regardless."
"Lando," she says softly.
"I'm serious. I have a good feeling about you. We know the truth behind the scenes. Let them talk," he chuckles. "We will forever stay living rent free in people's minds."
She laughs at that, making him smile ear to ear.
"Reality tomorrow," he affirms, and she nods.
"Reality tomorrow."
It wasn't much longer that the group had stayed at the club, deciding to call it a night, almost two hours of dancing, drinking, and bad karaoke later.
They all piled back into the SUV, sleep and the effects of alcohol coming into view for most of them.
Y/N and Lando had talked to one another quietly on the way back, mainly asking each other the easy questions, and sometimes talking about the harder things, but Y/N noticed how each time she talked, Lando had done nothing but listen.
He didn't look like he was half-assing; he looked like he actually was taking in every word that left her lips.
Once they had arrived back at the hotel, Lando helped her out once more, hands on hips to keep her steady, waiting for the others as they all walked inside.
Lando walked with Y/N and Monica back to her hotel room, soon halting in front of the door as Monica swiped the keycard.
She looked back at the pair, raising her brows. "I'll um," she trails off slowly, a tired smile on her lips. "I'll give you guys a minute."
With that, Monica steps inside her hotel room, leaving it open a crack so Y/N wouldn't be locked out. Y/N turns back to look up at Lando, who was already looking down at her.
"Will I see you soon?" he asks, and she smiles lightly with a nod.
"I think I'd like that."
Lando nods before leaning down, taking her chin in between his fingertips, and turning her head to place a soft kiss on her cheek. He lingers there for a moment before pulling away.
"Goodnight, Y/N," he says lowly, eyes darting down to her lips one last time before backing away and walking down the hall.
Y/N bit her lip, heart beating fast as she still feels the tingle that his lips left behind. She sighs to herself before shaking her head. "Fuck it. Reality tomorrow."
With that, she scurries down the hall to catch up with Lando, calling his name softly. He turns around to see her walking quickly up towards him. He frowns slightly, but he doesn't have a moment to ask her if something was wrong.
Y/N had placed one of her hands on his cheek and one on the back of his neck, pulling him down to have his lips meet hers.
Lando didn't take long to kiss her back with just as much passion on his end, bending down and wrapping his arms around her lower half as she arched into him.
Their lips moved in sync, teeth clashing, tongues fighting. She smiled against his lips, Lando chuckling as he kept kissing her repeatedly. His tongue lightly grazed her lower lip, Y/N letting him in not too long after that. Y/N's insides were going insane, feeling as though fireworks and butterflies were buzzing all over her body.
Kissing Lando was something she never wanted to live without again.
She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
That's what scared her most.
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landonorrisupdates Sooooo y'all??? Lando was out with friends last night, and I kept getting messages that he was seen up close with this brunette girl.
He looked so happy tho awwww, but do we know who she is??
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user The way he is looking at her omfg stahpppp
user OMG THAT'S Y/N L/N!!! She's dating Joe Burrow!!!
user **WAS dating Joe Burrow. He literally has been getting exposed for cheating on her. So if she's close with Lando, who cares? At least we know he won't do the same
user Wow.....She sure moved on was fast 😬😬😬
user Yeah that's Y/N L/N!!!! Poor girl, she's already going through it after learning about her boyfriend's scandal. Let her be
user This is gonna be insane if she dates Lando after Joe did what he did..... Good for her
Y/N yawned as she waited in line for Monica to finish checking them in for their flight back to Ohio, her iced coffee not doing much to keep her awake.
She wasn't very happy about bouncing back to reality this morning when her alarms went off, not wanting to have to face Joe when she gets back home.
Of course, she had woken up to several media outlets not only doing articles and reels of Joe, but about her and Lando as well. It didn't take very long for people to start speculating and putting rumors out there.
She decided to put her notifications on silent, not wanting to entertain anything being said. What she didn't miss were the several messages and missed calls from Joe fairly early this morning.
Joey
I'm sorry
I wasn't thinking
I swear it wasn't what it looked like
Can we please talk when you get home
I really am sorry
Are you kidding
You didn't take very long moving on
I fucking knew you were slimy
What the fuck were you thinking
We need to talk.
She never responded back to him, only turning on her read receipts for him to see she saw his messages. Just like he did to her.
Y/N didn't have the energy to deal with his back and forth, especially when he was the main one at fault. Their relationship was long over the second he thought it was okay to bring another girl into their shared home.
Especially if she wasn't the first one he took back there.
Once they made it through security and towards the waiting area for their flight, Y/N slumped in her chair and huffed.
Monica gave her a soft and sad smile. "You alive over there?"
Y/N lets out a short laugh. "Would it help my case if I said no?"
"Not in the slightest," Monica chuckles back lightly. Y/N groans while rubbing her face.
"Well, as soon as we're alive enough, we're packing up whatever you can grab and getting you out of there," Monica confirms. "Not sure where we will go from that point, but you're not staying there a second longer than you have to."
"I talked to Marr, and he said we can stay with him while we figure out everything," Y/N yawns out. "He told me they should be gone by the time we land. So we can drop stuff off at his, then head to Joe's to pick up my stuff."
Monica nods slowly, taking in the updated plans.
"You ready for it?" she asks cautiously, giving Y/N a soft but genuine look of curiosity.
"I don't think I ever will be, but I'd rather deal with this sooner than later," she chuckles dryly.
The flight felt long by the time they had taken off, Y/N trying to sleep through it as best as she could. She had to mentally prepare herself for whatever obstacles were about to be thrown her way.
They took a car out to Ja'Marr's, setting their stuff from Vegas inside his place, making sure to keep it out of the way.
Then headed to the one place she dreaded the most.
It was quiet on the ride there, her heart beating harder and faster the closer they got. Once they turned down the familiar road, Y/N's face frowned then her eyes widened.
"I thought you said they'd be out," Monica trails off slowly, Y/N shaking her head in shock and confusion as they stared at Joe's familiar car sitting in the driveway.
"Yeah, they're supposed to be," she mutters. "Ja'Marr said that they had meetings to be at all day."
Monica gives her a look that Y/N couldn't quite read, only seeing that she was just as curious as her friend was. The car halted outside of the house, the pair getting out of the car on each side before slowly walking up to the front door.
Y/N put the combo into the key lockpad, hearing the soft little jingle it made as it opened for her. She peered in quietly, the house sounding dead quiet, quieter than it ever had been.
She shut the door behind them, keeping her shoes on as she immediately went up the staircase and towards their once shared room.
She had a sick feeling in her stomach as she walked in, seeing the bedsheets still messy, her mind having to halt itself from imagining what could've happened. She didn't even want to go near it.
"Where are your other bags?" Monica says in a hushed tone as she headed straight for the shared walk-in closet.
"On the ground underneath the second rack, where all of my jackets are hanging up," she answers, before heading into their bathroom to grab anything that was hers.
Her eyes darted over and did a double-take as she saw the bracelets and chain she had gifted to him for his birthday were sitting discarded in the corner of the bathroom counter. It made her lip unintentionally wobble, more in anger than in sadness.
She decided to take off any of the remaining jewelry she had on that he had given to her, setting it right in front of his own.
Her hand turns off the bathroom light, heading to where Monica sat on the floor of the closet, folding and packing up stuff. She handed her friend the supplies she bagged up from the bathroom, having her put in in the bag.
Y/N turned back around to head back out into the bedroom and towards her nightstand, only to freeze slightly when she saw his eyes dark and staring down at her.
Instead of saying anything to him, she rolls her eyes and walks over to pull open the drawer to her nightstand.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" he says in a warning tone, his eyes not failing to follow her figure as she grabs everything out of her side.
He begins to stalk towards her as she still remains silent.
"You're really going to ignore me? Seriously?"
She purses her lips as she slams the drawer shut, turning around to go hand Monica the stuff in her arms to pack away.
"Oh of fucking course she is here," he scoffs, Monica snapping her gaze him glaring hard.
"You have no fucking right to be speaking to me," she spat. "You're lucky she talked me out of coming after you, you piece of fucking shit."
"You're the fucking one to talk! You probably pressured her to be all up on one of your boys, just to put your names out there!"
She glares at him, before raising her brows, scoffing, and shaking her head.. "You are so fucking dense," she growls. "Has it ever occurred to you that she's allowed to make her own decisions? Or are you just that far up your own fucking ass that you still make decisions for her?"
Joe's gaze hardens at her words. Monica tilts her head with a sarcastic pout on her face. "Or are you moved on to controlling your new cute little blonde friend?"
"It was a fucking mistake, alright?" he shouts back, Y/N biting her lips shut harshly to the point she could taste the metal in her mouth.
"She meant nothing! You don't know the half of what I'm going through! Y/N and I have gone through too much for me to just let her leave!"
Y/N whips her head around, speaking to him for the first time.
"You don't get to make that decision anymore!" she burst out, making him snap his head away from Monica, and look at her.
Y/N pointed a finger at him. "You lost that privilege the first fucking time you laid hands on another woman in the way you're supposed to be with your damn girlfriend! You don't get a say in if I stay or not, I'm fucking done with your toxic shit, Joe!"
He scoffs. "Oh, so now you are, huh? Because all of a sudden, some other big-time rich athlete shows you the slightest bit of attention? Says some fuck shit you have been dying for me to say? Give me a fucking break!"
"It's not about him! It's about me! It's about choosing me after years of being your stupid fucking arm candy, thinking that the way you treated me was fine in the first place!" she screams back, watching him flinch back slightly in his steps. She stepped forward once more.
"I'm choosing myself. I'm going to choose my fucking path. I'm going to make my own damn decisions without someone telling me to sit pretty the rest of my life, or worse, sit here in a toxic fucking relationship that should've ended ages ago. Someone like you!" She pushes, watching his nostrils flare.
"I really hope he fucking breaks your heart," he scoffs, talking about who they all knew he was secretly insecure about. "I hope he fucking messes you up to the point you disappear. You're nothing but someone's toy. I hope that racing ruins you."
With that, he walks past her, Y/N flinching as he gets closer, afraid he might try to do something, only for him to bump her body hard enough to make her fall to the ground as he walks out.
Monica scurries up quickly to be by her friend's side, shushing her shaking figure, seeing the completely shocked expression on her face, holding back the tears that glossed over her eyes.
"Hey," Monica whispered quietly, rubbing her shoulders as she kneeled in front of Y/N. "You want me to put mouse shit in his shoes? A fish under the seats of his car? Say the word and I'll go do it right now."
Y/N snapped out of her daze, shaking her head as she sniffled.
"No," she says quickly, wiping the stray tears that had fallen. "Let's just finish this and go."
Monica looks at her with a saddened expression before nodding and going back to grab whatever Y/N needed her to get.
Monica had brought whatever bags she could muster up downstairs to the front door, ordering them a larger Uber to take back to Ja'Maar's. Y/N checking to see if there was anything else she would need.
She stopped in the kitchen, grabbing the last couple cans of her energy drinks from the fridge, knowing she and Monica would have those finished by the time they reached Ja'Maar's.
She turned to see Joe sitting in the living room, his eyes on her own in a darkened expression.
"When shit doesn't go your way, I won't be here to pick you up," he says lowly.
Y/N purses her lips, nodding slowly as she glares at him.
"Good thing you won't be the one I call for."
Joe's eyes squint at her own, twitching a few times before he rolls them away from her, shaking his head.
As she turns to walk away, she halts and faces him one last time.
"I hope you figure your shit out, Joe. You're too grown to be acting like you peaked in high school," she says before walking away from him, and out the front door with Monica and her things.
Monica lets the door slam shut loudly, giving Y/N a satisfied grin before helping her bring the bags towards the van in front of them.
Once they had gotten everything packed up into the back end, they both hopped into the backseats. Y/N didn't hesitate to take her phone out, taking in a deep breath as she begins searching for the one number she made sure to keep in case she needed to use it.
This was the case.
"Who're you calling?" Monica asks, Y/N, putting the phone up to her ear.
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part two here Part four here
Y/N cheered and clapped with a large smile on her face as she watched the trophy ceremony, Monica standing right next to her.
They stood below with everyone else, Monica turning towards her friend in excitement while grabbing her shoulders. "We're going out tonight!"
Y/N looked at Monica with a knowing side eye and groaned. "Mo, I didn't bring anything to wear for going out around here," Y/N lied.
Monica pulled Y/N along as they tried to avoid the chaos before it dispersed. "Y/N you could pull off wearing a bedsheet as a dress, and you'd be on the cover of Vogue the next morning. Don't even start."
Y/N snorted at her friend's comment as they walked over towards the McLaren garage.
"Fine," she whines out, earning a triumphant squeal from Monica. She turns to her friend and squeezes her arms. "I've gotta go to debrief for a bit, and then we can head back to my hotel and get ready. That's okay with you?"
Y/N nods with a small smile. "Do what you gotta do."
Monica chuckles and salutes her friend before scurrying her way over towards the conference room, Y/N deciding to pull out her phone.
She saw she had a notification, only letting her shoulders lightly deflate when she noticed it wasn't from Joe. It was from her NFL app. She hadn't heard anything from Joe all day, which she shouldn't even be surprised at that.
When she had opened the notification, she had noticed it showed the final score between Cincinnati and LA. Her mind mentally winced when she saw that they had lost terribly, also catching a few highlights from the game.
She didn't miss the videos that showed Joe getting sacked three different times in the first half of the first quarter. She knew he was going to be pissed off.
Her fingers only hesiatated slightly, seeing the last message in their chat was from her, wishing him goodluck.
That was hours ago, and he had yet to even read her message.
Her fingers find themselves sliding back into their messages, seeing that his Do Not Disturb was still on, even for her, which was rare. It was only ever turned on for her when he was pissed off at her or had played a terrible game.
She had a sneaking suspicion it was probably both for her.
Another sigh left her lips as she began typing.
Y/N
I saw the highlights from the game today. Don't blame yourself, you did what you could do.
It's not your fault, you did the absolute best you could ❤️
Read at 9:16pm
Y/N rolled her eyes, knowing this was him being petty.
She usually wouldn't have thought much about it, but she knew his mannerisms like the back of her hand.
Usually, if he was pissed off about the game, he would always type back something to her, even if it was a single-worded text or an emoji.
When they fought, he would ignore her regardless, then come out of the woodwork like nothing happened. Which was exactly what he was doing.
He was mad at the game, sure. But he was mad enough at her still to leave her on read, as well as put her notifications on silent.
"You lost?"
Her head whips up at the deep British voice, snapping out of her daze as her breath caught in her throat. Her chest burned again like it had earlier in the evening.
She shook her head as her eyes caught the light smirk on Lando Norris' face. "Just waiting for someone."
"Who would make a pretty girl like you wait outside like this?"
She felt her face heating up at his comment, trying to bite her lip to keep from smiling. Instead, she cleared her throat and nodded towards the conference room.
"Waiting for a friend."
He nods with a hum, eyeing her skeptically.
"Who's your friend?"
She raised her brows. "Her name's Monica. She is one of your guys' Mechanical Engineers."
Lando points at her with a knowing nod, wiping his face with the towel around his neck as he sets down his helmet. "Oh, yeah. I know Mo. She's best one we've got."
Y/N purses her lips and smiles lightly in acknowledgment.
"How d'you know her?" he asks once more.
Y/N shrugs.
"We went to college together and graduated in the same program. Have been inseparable ever since," she explains, watching his face contort into slight shock.
He smirks lightly at her. "Oh, you're into engineering too?"
She nods. "Graduated with a Master's."
He hums with a nod. "Wow, so you know how this stuff works behind the scenes? That's a first for me."
Her eyes squint at him. "What does that mean?"
He palms his face with a groan. "Sorry, that came out totally wrong," he sputters out. "I meant that I've never met a girl who's gorgeous and knows her way around all of this. All the technical and mechanical stuff."
She hums at him slowly, seeing his ears turn bright red, she guesses maybe from the heat.
"I'm digging myself a deeper hole," he chuckles more to himself. "I just mean I like that. I like that you understand what goes on behind the scenes. Engineering and all."
She chuckles at him before nodding. "Got it," she says softly. She nods at the door to the conference room. "You should be heading in there, too then, shouldn't you?"
He shrugs while walking closer to her with a grin. "They can wait. They can't start discussing anything without me anyway."
Y/N tries to hide the smile that's slowly spreading onto her lips, her face heating up once more as she feels her heart beat just a tad faster.
Her mind came back into action as she got a quick flashback to Joe, who she knew was probably in a shit mood after losing to the Chargers. The boy whom was also her boyfriend. She cleared her throat, nodding at the room next to them.
Y/N hums with a knowing smile on her face, clearing her throat.
"Well, I would like to get out of here sooner rather than later, and I cannot do so until Mo is done," she explains before pointing to the door once more. "So I think it would be best for you to head in there."
He pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue as he looks down at her. He nods in agreement.
"I suppose you're right," he shoots back, walking towards her. He smiles down at her as he now just inches away from her figure.
"It was nice meeting you..." he trails off, as if hinting at wanting her name. Y/N catches on and nods at him with a smirk.
"It was nice to meet you too," she says instead, Lando catching onto her little game she was playing at. He chuckles lightly before shaking his head and reaching out a hand to lightly squeeze her own, then heading inside the conference room.
Y/N hadn't realized her face had heated up once more, biting her bottom lip to stop a bright smile from forming on her face.
Y/N takes in a couple deep breaths, trying to get her heart to slow down from how fast it was going. It made her frown to herself.
It's just from the heat and humidity. Nothing serious, maybe sitting down will help.
She keeps thinking to herself, telling her mind that she's probably just overheated, finding a chair to sit down in as she scrolls through her phone. Her eyes don't miss the stats shown from tonight's game, mentally flinching as she sees Joe had been sacked three times in the span of the first half of the first quarter.
She had to mentally snap herself out of her daze, thinking back to Joe. Her boyfriend, to be exact. She had a boyfriend.
So why was Lando making her insides churn?
It wasn't much longer that she had to wait, watching Monica practically slam the door open and walking quickly over to Y/N and grabbing her hand.
"Do we know where we are going?" she asked.
Monica shrugged as they weaseled their way through the crowd to leave the paddock. "All I know is that we're all meeting at JEWEL, and then we will see where the night takes us."
Y/N scoffs playfully as she lets Monica drag her through the crowd.
"Oh boy."
ynln just made a post!
liked by 27m users
ynln Did someone say Vegas night out???
tagged : monicabby
load more comments
user OMG PERIODDDDDDD 😍
user Where's Joe???
monicabby SOOOOO Good!!! We're in for an absolute TREATTTTT 🤪😋
ynln Don't tell me tequila Mo is going to be coming out tonight...
monicabby Absolutely
ynln Send help 😟
user I am OBSESSEDDDDD WITH YOU 🤯
user Y'all, what if she and Joe did break up?????
user Guys Y/N does not have to post Joe all the time?? She's got her own life too
user I am in LOVE with this fit
joeyb_9 Wow ok cool
Y/N lets out an annoyed sigh as she deletes Joe's comment, knowing this was him just being petty.
She had reached out several times and even had called him a couple of times. Only for him to decline them both and leave her on read when she sent more messages once they made it to Monica's hotel.
Instead of letting it get the best of her, she let Monica help her get ready and help pick an outfit, as well as do her hair and makeup.
They made sure to take photos in the hotel lobby, and especially in the chauffeur they were taking on their way to the first destination of the evening.
"I saw what he said before you deleted it."
Y/N looks over at Monica, shrugging nonchalantly as she looked out the window.
"If he wanted to be that way, so be it. I'm not going to entertain any more of his tantrums," Y/N says softly, keeping her gaze on the buildings they passed by.
Monica grabs her best friend's hands, giving her a look that Y/N knew all too well.
"Y/N-"
"Mo, don't even start."
"Because deep down you know I'm right," Monica says with a pointed look. "You deserve better. He does not deserve you. You need to break things off."
Y/N shook her head. "It's not that easy."
"Oh, but letting him treat you like you're worse than the shit on his shoe, is?" Monica shot back, making Y/N roll her eyes.
"Just please, Y/N/N," she pleads lightly, making her look at her best friend with a softer expression. "Think about finally putting yourself first, for once. If he's going to act this way for you simply wanting to live your own life, then he's not for you."
Y/N looks back and forth between Monica's eyes, sighing defeatedly.
"Mo," she says lightly. Monica then lightly smiling as she leans back, seeing that they're almost to the club.
"Besides," Monica starts. "What he isn't doing, European men will do without question. I think you should dip your feet into that pool."
She puts her hands up in defense. "I'm just saying! Why do you think I ended things with Jordan? He was acting the same way."
Y/N rolls her eyes and looks out the window, seeing that they are nearing the club entrance. "Besides," Monica says once more. "European men do it better, love," she sings out as their car comes to a halt.
Y/N frowns at her as they step out of the car. "What does that even mean?" she asks as Monica states their names to the security guard, before he nods and lets them walk past. Y/N smiles and thanks him as they pass by.
"Mo, what does that mean?" she asks once more, the music becoming louder as they walk further in.
They walked into the giant two-floor arena that was the club, DJ remixes booming loudly over them with strobe lights going all over, people dancing up against one another in the crowd in front of them.
"Monica," she says once more, grabbing her friend's wrist to have her turn to look at Y/N. "What do you mean by European men do it better?"
Monica sighs and gives her a knowing look.
"I mean that they do it better," she explains. "Everything they do, they're confident and know what they want, and they're not afraid to go after it. I think you need a guy who isn't afraid to let you be you, and also show you that they aren't like the insecure man you're dating."
Y/N looks at her, Monica looks back. "I want you to be happy! Joe doesn't make you happy. Find yourself a man who does, Y/N/N," she says once more. "I also heard Lando is intrigued by you. It wouldn't hurt to see what he can give you."
"Monica," she tries once more, tugging on her friend's arm.
Monica huffs before turning to her friend once more. "If an American man won't do it, there's a European man who will," she says. "They know what they want and do whatever it takes to get it. Then they'll never let it go because they want to show it how much it deserves."
"By 'it' you're meaning me."
"I mean anything and anyone, yes, you too. But they don't mess around. I think you need a guy like that," she says, then smugly smiles. "I know Lando would do anything to have you, especially."
Y/N's eyes widen in shock. "I knew you knew something!" Y/N says while Monica shrugs.
"Let's go, we've got some people to meet," Monica changes the subject as they guide their way upstairs and towards the large VIP section that is closed off for them.
Y/N saw a vast majority of the drivers on the grid in front of them, some with their significant others, as well as plenty of the crew members from different teams with drinks in hand.
Monica came up to a very gorgeous pair of girls, kissing them both on both sides of their faces.
"Was beginning to worry you may have ditched," one of the girls says with a laugh, taking a sip of the drink in her hand. Monica chuckles, shaking her head as she motions towards Y/N.
"I was trying to convince her to come out, actually," she says, before she squeezes Y/N's arm and motions back to the two girls. "Y/N, this is Kika and Alexandra. But we call her Alex. Kika is dating Pierre Gasly, and Alex is with Charles."
Y/N smiles at the girls warmly. They both smile widely back at her, Kika pulling her in for a quick hug before kissing her cheek.
"You are just absolutely breathtaking! Where have I seen you?" Kika squeals out, making Y/N laugh and shrug.
"Good question."
Monica rolls her eyes playfully before she speaks up once more. "She's dating that American Football player, Joe Burrow. They're like the royal couple in sports. She was also featured in their ALO campaign with Joe and then she was featured in Sports Illustrated."
Alex's eyes lit up, and she pointed at Y/N. "That's where I've seen you! Oh my gosh, you are absolutely beautiful! Your style and social media are my inspo," she says with a bright smile on her face.
"We literally rave about your social media posts. She is not wrong, I need you to teach me everything!" Kika says, making Y/N nod and chuckle.
The girls had stuck by her side the entire time the first half of their evening, making Y/N feel welcomed in with open arms.
She had ended up meeting the rest of the guys on the grid, and even starting another conversation with George after Monica had her meet his girlfriend. Once the girls had heard how George was trying to convince Y/N to put her degree to work and join the team, they all had practically begged her to think about it.
"You have to, mon amie! I need to see you again!' Kika pleads, the other girls nodding and telling her the same things.
Y/N had never felt this welcomed in a long time, realizing how much more positive this environment had been over the sports environment.
When she had met some of the WAGs in the NFL group, she had gotten judgmental looks and snide remarks, making her regret ever deciding to put herself out there to make friends within the sporting world.
Sure, she had made a select few friends in the Cincinnati friend group, but even then, she knew they were friendships that wouldn't last.
How she was feeling now with all of these girls and their boyfriends, she had never felt more at peace and included than she did now.
Even if she was just here tagging along with one of her best friends, they still made her feel like she belonged.
"At least think about it! I think you'd be an amazing fit with the team, and you could keep George in place," his girlfriend jokes, making her smile and nod slowly.
Y/N had finally let herself let go for the evening and enjoy a night out on the strip.
Their group was currently on their way to their next destination, having visited two more clubs prior, Y/N feeling lighter after Monica got a few drinks in her.
All she knew was that they were headed to this exclusive nightclub known as OMNIA. It often took weeks to reserve a VIP section off here, but being who she was with, she wasn't surprised that they were able to close it off.
Y/N had now been forced, not that Monica really needed to pull her leg about it after meeting them, to walk with the girls and dance with them at each club they found themselves at. She had found herself opening up to the girls more as the night progressed, even if Monica had helped with it.
They now sat in OMNIA, one of the biggest clubs she had ever been to, and she had seen many in her lifetime.
The girls all sat together talking, Y/N nursing another cocktail in hand as she felt a bit lighter, talking to the girls about her argument with Joe.
Kika frowned. "Oh, honey, he does not deserve you. You need to break things off like, yesterday."
Alex nods. "If he isn't going to let you put yourself first, he's not for you."
"I've been telling her the same thing," Monica nods and points to the two girls. "She deserves a guy who will treat her like the queen she is."
Y/N sighs and shrugs. "It's more complicated than that."
"More complicated than choosing your own happiness?" Alex says, raising a brow. "Trust me when I say, it may be super hard at first. But once you've chosen yourself and living the life you want, you're going to never look back."
The girls nod in agreement with Alex's words.
"Trust me, I was in your spot before I finally chose the life I wanted. I have no regrets," Kika adds in, making Y/N nod slowly.
"So please," Monica also cuts in. "Think about giving yourself the happiness you deserve. Stop letting his decisions deceive what you want."
Y/N looks at all of the girls before nodding slowly with a sigh.
"I'll think about it. Genuinely, I will."
They all smile widely. Monica speaks up this time while standing up. "I am going to go get more drinks."
Alex stands with her. "I'm gonna come help you. I don't trust that you'll have hold of them all."
Monica squawks at her in astonishment, and Alex just nods as she pushes her friend along lightly. "Yeah, I went there. We remember the mess in Monaco."
Monica lets out a snort and laugh at the memory as the two went towards the bar.
Just as Y/N was going to start talking to Kika again, her phone began to buzz like crazy. She frowned in confusion as she pulled it out of her clutch.
She had several messages not only from different Cincinnati WAGs, but a few from their group chat as well. There were also a few from Tee and Ja'Marr, but the one that shocked her most was the few from Joe's mom.
Her heart began to beat fast, thinking maybe Joe had gotten hurt, immediately opening his mom's messages first.
Robin
Honey I'm so sorry
I'm trying to get in touch with him right now
I don't know what would make him do this
I'm here for you
Y/N furrowed her brows in confusion as she read them, then goes to see what Ja'Marr and Tee had said.
Marr
Y/N I tried to get him to knock it off
I'm so fucking sorry, you don't deserve this
Tee and I got you, whatever you do don't look at the media
Call me asap when you see these
Tee
Y/N/N I'm so sorry
I'm fucking livid, Marr and I are trying to straighten it out
Don't look at any media
I know you won't see these till later
Call Marr when you see these
"Everything okay?" Kika speaks up, seeing the different emotions on the girl's face in front of her.
Y/N shakes her head in confusion. "I don't know. My friends back home are telling me not to look at the media."
Kika nods and pulls out her phone. "Lemme look," she states before typing quickly on her phone and scrolling around. Y/N looks at Kika as she searches through her phone, soon her eyes widen and she freezes her hands from going any further.
Her eyes slowly rise up to Y/N. "They're right. Don't open up anything."
Y/N shakes her head before going back onto her phone.
"Y/N," Kika warns, but Y/N doesn't listen. Y/N scrolls through her feed, her eyes earch each post for whatever was so unnerving for her friends to tell her to not find.
It didn't take long.
TMZ just made a post!
liked by 18m users
TMZ Trouble in paradise???
Cincinnati Star Quarterback, Joe Burrow, was seen locking lips and leaving with a mysterious blonde woman. The pair had ended up going back to his shared home with long time girlfriend, Y/N L/N.
The woman Burrow was seen getting cosy with is still unknown, sources say.
Read the article in our bio for more!
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user Oh noooo poor Y/N omfg 🥺
user MY LIFE IS OVER, I WILL NEVER BELIEVE IN LOVE AGAIN
user I'm never trusting another single man again after this 🤧🥲
user Y'all, maybe they were already broken up??? I mean, she wasn't at his game today....
user She literally posted about him yesterday, I doubt they were broken up
user She is allowed to have a life outside of Joe. He definitely cheated on her. I cannot believe this
user Joe nooo, I lost so much respect for you😭
Her entire body went rigid, and her hands went from being completely frozen to shaking slightly.
She didn't know how to feel in that moment, Kika letting out a sigh as she rubbed her friend's arm up and down. "I come back with the goods!" Monica sings out, immediately freezing at Y/N's state.
"Who died?" she jokes, only to immediately snap out of the joking manner at the look Kika throws her way.
Monica and Alex set the drinks down on the table, Monica not hesitating to go into serious mode as she sits next to Y/N.
"What happened?" she asks. Her brows furrow as she sees her friend stay completely frozen in her spot. Monica bends down to grab her phone from her hands, scrolling and looking at what Y/N had been eyeing.
Monica's expression had gone from confusion, to sadness, to shock, to complete anger in a matter of seconds.
She looks back at Y/N, who downs the drink she had been sipping on, setting it on the table and grabbing her new glass, the girls brought over.
Monica hands her friend back her phone before taking her own out and typing furiously. "I'm gonna fucking kill him."
Y/N shook her head as she grimaced at the taste of the liquor in her mouth. "Not worth it," she mutters as she puts her head back, preventing any tears from falling and ruining her makeup.
Monica looks at Y/N. "Y/N he fucking cheated on you! I'm gonna fucking rip him apart!"
She shook her head once more, giving Monica a warning look.
"He fucking cheated on you, Y/N. How can I not blow up his phone and cuss him out?"
She shook her head. "Just not right now. I can't."
Monica sighs, seeing the completely drained look on her face, then nods slightly after. "Okay," she confirms, then nods once more. "Okay. Here's the deal. You listening?"
Y/N nods. "We're going to have the best night ever, yeah? We're going to drink our hearts out, and we are not going to let this poor excuse of a man ruin it. He is not worth any more of these tears love," she affirms, wiping her best friend's tears away.
Alex and Kika agree, the three girls standing up in front of her, and pulling her up. Monica bends down and grabs their drinks.
"Oh, honey," Alex says softly. Y/N lets out a small sniffle before shaking her head. "Nope. I'm not going to let him ruin my night. Not right now," Y/N says.
"I couldn't agree more," she says. "To shitty men and a girl's night in Vegas, yeah?"
Y/N nods with a small smile, looking at the girls. The girls are giving her lighter and hopeful looks.
The girls had made sure to help Y/N enjoy her night after the devastation going the internet, making sure she truly enjoyed herself.
Y/N had felt herself finally letting go a bit more, something falling free on her shoulders. The weight that she didn't even know was there, all of a sudden, didn't feel heavy anymore.
She didn't know if it was because of the alcohol or because she knew it would make it easier for her to leave Joe behind and do things for herself.
Either way, she would come back to reality when she touched back down in Ohio.
For now, she was with new friends in Vegas, a slight buzz going in her system, living a life she felt most like herself in.
They now sat around in the VIP section with Pierre, Charles, and George, laughing hard at a story the boys were telling. Y/N wiped tears from her eyes after laughing so hard at Pierre, who had snorted out his drink at Charles and George's bickering about how the story really went.
The boys had snapped their gazes up, pointing to someone behind Y/N, eyebrows raised in excitement. Charles gulped his drink before he spoke.
"Ah, look who finally decided to join us! Did you get lost?" he jokes, making the group laugh and Y/N turned to see who it was.
Her heart and stomach began doing what they did earlier that evening after talking with a certain British man in the McLaren garage, seeing him smile brightly at their group as he let out a chuckle.
Lando Norris didn't hesitate to take a seat right next to Y/N when he joined the group, keeping his gaze forward towards the boys.
"I just had a few extra things to take care of before leaving."
They all rolled their eyes playfully before turning their attention back to the men who were backtracking on the story they were telling before he walked in.
Y/N's eyes kept darting over towards him, noticing how relaxed he looked. How good he looked.
Lando sat next to her with his legs spread, elbows on his knees as he leaned forward to listen in on George, his hands laced in front of him as he smiled, his teeth biting softly into his bottom lip.
He was wearing a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, Y/N not missing the bracelets that adorned his wrists. He had black slacks adorning his legs. She especially didn't miss the shining piece of silver hanging around his neck, dangling brightly in the club lights around them.
She had to mentally pull her gaze away from him, turning back to listen to George and Charles bicker as Pierre sat there in tears, laughing so hard.
Monica had sat back and observed her best friend's little staring game at Lando, a knowing smile on her lips.
She nudged Kika lightly, pointing between the pair across from them.
"I think we should conjure up a little plan, no?" Monica mutters softly, the pair staring at Lando and Y/N, now catching Lando gaze over at Y/N with a certain look in his own expression.
Kika smiles widely, nodding as she leans to Monica next to her. "They'd be good for each other. I think we should try to get the rest of the group in on it."
They both nod in agreement before turning back, Pierre wrapping his arm around his girlfriend before speaking up after the other two finish their novel of a story.
"Let's finish up here, then head to the next spot?" he offers out, most of the group nodding with agreed hums.
Y/N stands up and looks at the girls. "I'm going to go freshen up, then I'm good to go."
They stand and nod, Kika walking towards her. "I'll come with, I've gotta check on my lipstick and makeup."
Y/N chuckles with a nod, the girls all following behind as they create small talk towards the bathrooms. Y/N laughed as she turned to see Kika hyping her up with a video, making her smile widely into the camera flash.
Once they make it to the bathroom, they all help each other with making sure outfits are still intact, lipstick isn't smeared or faded, and makeup isn't looking oily.
kikagomes posted on their story!
caption : I'm obsessed with her omg 😱🥰
tagged : ynln
user STOP SHE LOOKS SO HAPPYYYY
user Does she know about Joe???
user Has she seen the media?
user Poor girl I hope she is okay
user I love this collab like HELLO
Monica smiles widley at Y/N as she helps perfect her lip combo, putting the cap back onto her lipstick.
"You doing okay?" Monica asked, Y/N looks at her friend and sighs lightly. She nods hesitantly.
"Is it bad if I'm not that upset about it?" she asks softly, Monica giving her a sad smile before shaking her head and opening up the lipgloss.
"Not one bit," she admits, handing the stick to Y/N to use. "If anything, it meant that deep down you had been disassociating from this relationship long before it was coming to an end. It doesn't make you a bad person."
Y/N pursed her lips, rubbing them together before handing the gloss back.
"I just thought maybe things could've worked out, you know? I never thought we would ever get to where we are," Y/N looks down. "Or were. I know you don't really care for him anymore, it's just weird to say it in the past tense."
Monica wraps her arms around her shoulders, looking at her in the mirror. "I may have been saying that you two should've been done ages ago, but that doesn't mean I still won't be here. You guys went through a lot together. I know that," she explains, hugging her tightly. "I'll still be hear to help pick you back up," she chuckles, making Y/N smile lightly. "And find you a man that'll treat you right," Monica adds, watching Y/N's eyes roll.
She pats her arms before trying to slip out from underneath them. "There it is,"Y/N chuckles at her comment.
"It's true!" Monica laughs, watching Y/N shake her head with an amused look. Monica motions to Alex and Kika.
"We're finding you a man, aren't we?"
They both nod with wide smiles, the girls all grabbing her and walking out of the bathroom. "You'll never even remember who Joe was after we find you the love of your life!" Kika jokes, making Y/N chuckle slightly.
"Good luck with that."
They find the boys moments later, seeing them all talk and laugh with one another by the entrance of the club, waiting for the girls.
Y/N's eyes don't fail to immediately find Lando chuckling carefree at something Pierre was saying, playing with one of the bracelets on his wrist as he talked. Y/N felt her insides flutter as she took his entire figure in from where she stood, not realizing why she had such a pull towards him.
"Let's get a move on!" Kika laughs out to the boys, immediately finding home under Pierre's arm as the group began to walk out to the car that was outside waiting for them.
Lando's gaze fell onto Y/N figure, smiling warmly at her as he motions for her to go before him. She chuckles at him before she continues to walk in front of him.
"So this was why you were in such a rush to leave our conversation?" he jokes, making her eye him with a look. A small smile on her lips.
"How'd you know?" she shot back, making him smile even wider at her.
"Well I'm glad it's not the last time I got to see you tonight."
She furrows her brows. "Why's that?"
He looks at her. "Because I want to keep talking to you."
Before she could try to muster up something to say, they halted in front of the large SUV, Lando not hesitating to stand by her side and offer his hand for her to take while climbing into the large car.
She looks at him with surprise. He shrugs, Y/N slowly sliding her hand onto his, noticing her fingers beginning to tingle in his hands. He wraps his hand fully around hers as she steps up and inside, finding an open spot in the backseat with Monica.
Monica's smirking when Y/N sits down, making her frown with a smile.
A/N: What do we think? What do we think she should do?
Also, what is life rn, because the first full draft for this chapter got deleted... after I spent hours on it... So we had to try our best and remember what I'd written before everything was deleted. Crying lmao
Permanent taglist: (please message me if you’d like to be removed!!!!)
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part one here Part three here
"Absolutely not."
Y/N rolled her eyes as she turned off the kitchen faucet, wiping her hands on the hand towel. "Joe, don't start."
He stood across the kitchen island from her, his hands on the edges of the countertop as leaned on them with an annoyed look on his face.
"She's going to try and get in your head," he shoots. "You and I both know she is going to. She's gonna tell you exactly what you want to hear, and that it's easy peasy to weasel your way into a job there."
"First off, it's not her trying to get into my head if it's something I've already been looking at doing. Did you forget that we were in the same engineering program in college?"
"No. I remember how she'd also try to seduce the professors into getting her decent internships in racing."
Y/N's eyebrows furrowed. "You think that because she made a joke about flirting with a professor to give her a passing grade on her midterm. The professor that was a woman, might I add."
Joe rolled his eyes. "Either way, it wouldn't surprise me if she did so to get to where she is. You can't make your way into working for Formula One that quickly."
"You can when it's all you're working towards, and you grow up around the racing sport. Keep in mind that she and I both grew up with dads who raced."
Joe says nothing this time, only straightens from his stance and turns away from her to walk towards the living room. Y/N follows.
"What if she's right? What if I can create some connections to get there?" Y/N pleads. "Joe, please. I'm not happy. I want to make a living for myself. I didn't just get my degrees for them to collect dust and sit pretty. I worked my ass off for them for a reason! It's time for me to do something I want," she explains in a softer tone, looking at Joe, who just scoffs at her words.
"Yeah I guarantee you I know what kind of connections you're going to get."
She squints at him. "Excuse me? Is that really all you got from what I just said?"
He turns to face her. "You heard me, didn't you?"
She scoffs at him, putting her hands on her hips. "You really think that low of me? Seriously? Joe, you've known me for almost two decades! Have I ever put myself out like that?" she asks rhetorically.
"You sure put out for me, and look where that got you."
She froze, looking at him with hurt in her eyes. His nostrils were flaring slightly, his eyes staring hers down.
"You're fucking kidding," she says on a much quieter tone. Her feet were slowly making their way towards him. He stands his ground, so she scoffs and purses her lips.
"Yeah, well, if that's what you think," she snorts. "Then you've made it pretty damn easy being with you, considering you only keep me around for your own fucking insecurities. Because you're too damn afraid to trust your girlfriend to make her own living because you know you won't have any control over her."
His gaze only faltering slightly, he bites his lip harshly as he crosses his arms. "That's not true."
"Oh, but it is, isn't it? You're so fucking insecure that your own girlfriend will become just as or even more successful than you are," she shoots back. "Considering the fact it would be so easy because you haven't been healthy enough to play a full season! Isn't that right?"
Joe's face turns bright red, pointing a finger at her as he gets closer to her. "You watch your fucking mouth!" he shouts back, stopping just inches in front of her.
"It's the truth!" she shot back. "You're going to sit here for weeks on end saying I can't make it in my field, saying that I'll only become successful sleeping my way up, and that I'm only meant for your pretty fucking statue? Give me a break, Joe!" she throws back at him.
"I'm not lying, am I? It's what most women have done to be where they're at! Trust me, I've seen it! You'd be one of them, falling right into the trap because you're that fucking dense to fall for it!"
"You're fucking disgusting," she says back to him, harsh glare on her face as her eyes were glossed over with tears.
He laughs bitterly, shaking his head as he walks away from her and grabs his keys. "Go fucking cry about it to Monica then. If I'm such a bad guy."
He opens the garage door. "I'm going out," he mutters angrily before slamming it shut, and for the first time in days, she flinches at the sound. She lets her tears fall down her face, crying silently.
Las Vegas was shining brightly, despite the sun having set.
This city never knows what sleep is. Colors, lights, and all sorts of music were playing loudly as the pair of friends made their way towards the paddock entrance.
As she and Monica made their way into the paddock, Y/N staring around in awe.
This place was everything.
From the paddock garages, to the suites, to the pitcrews, to the cars. Y/N didn't know where to look.
She had only ever dreamt of being here since she was little, wanting nothing more than to be in the element she knew best.
She didn't fail to see the select few cameras that were pointed her way, knowing that she'd wind up hearing about her attending a race all over socials later. Especially the fact that Joe was playing today, she knew she was bound to hear about it.
After their huge fight, the couple barely talked unless it was small talk. More on Joe's side, he would barely even look at her.
He didn't come home until the next evening after their fight, only going straight to their master bathroom and taking a shower.
She still tried to post things online, making it look like their relationship really was sunshines and rainbows. She knew that this weekend it would cause a bit of curiosity as she was at every single game of his. She never missed one, but she wanted to do something for herself for once. Even if it was going to cause some people to question what was going on between her and Joe.
Not that she really cared in that moment.
"So what do you think?" Monica asked, a smug grin on her face as she sees the shock all over her friend's face.
"Mo, it's fucking amazing," she says in slight awe. The pair walked through the paddock, interviews taking place, and cheers could be heard in the distance.
"Yeah? Well, just wait till you see where we're going," she trails off, grabbing Y/N's hand and pulling her along.
Y/N kept looking around the place, more so her eyes falling towards some of the garages where all of the equipment lay. She watched as some of the crew members were getting geared up for the race, while others checked the details of the cars to ensure everything was in place.
It was the way her eyes couldn't find one place to stay, she had to take in everything.
This was where she wanted to be.
Monica finally came to a halt as they came up in front of one of the garages, Y/N hearing her name softly being called which causes her to whip her head towards her friend.
Monica motions to what stands in front of them, Y/N's eyes immediately lighting up.
There she stood in front of the most well-known garages in Formula 1. It was the one she grew up loving, one she would always cheer for regardless of how they were doing each season.
"Too bad Lewis isn't here anymore, but I knew you'd want to come see it either way," Monica says lightly, a proud smile on her face.
Y/N walked further into the Mercedes garage, her eyes shining bright as she took in the environment. "This is just," Y/N couldn't find the words as she looked into every single detail and piece inside.
Y/N squatted down slowly in front of one of the cars, taking in the front-end aerodynamic design, not missing every single little thing that went into it.
Monica stood proudly with her arms crossed as she watched her friend look around the car, seeing that not only was she studying the car as someone who loved F1, but also as someone who studied everything needed to know about how these cars function.
"I know you deal with this stuff all the time, but how can you just not sit here and take in the work you guys do? I mean, the airflow channels going to the underbody must be insane, and then don't even get me started on bodywork," Y/N rambles, now mumbling more to herself as she scans and walks around the car.
"You just get used to it, believe it or not. I was the same way my first month in. My first whole season, actually."
Y/N looks up at her with an amused grin. "Oh, I remember," she chuckles. "I think you made my phone short-circuit at one point because of how much you were blowing up my inbox."
Monica laughs before nodding her head to walk further around the garage.
"You sure you're not going to be in trouble being in another garage? Aren't you supposed to be working on the data analysis from earlier?" Y/N frowns, making Monica shrug.
"I had most of it done before I came to get you. I also told them to call me over when it's time to get set up. We're fine," she explains, shooing at her friend playfully,
The pair kept talking as Y/N looked around the garage, taking in whatever she could before they'd have to head to Monica's side of the tracks.
Just as the two were going to leave, she heard someone calling her friend's name behind them.
The pair turns around, Y/N feeling her heart stop and her chest tighten just slightly. Monica smiles warmly as George Russell approaches them.
"Trying to steal more of our ideas again?" he jokes, squeezing her arm softly as he greets her. Monica rolls her eyes.
"What ideas? I like ours better."
"Just admit you want to join the dark side, it's okay."
Monica scoffs playfully. "I'll stick to being one of the top contending teams, thank you."
George puts a hand on his chest, pretending to be offended. "Okay, ouch. She came with fire this weekend," he groans, his eyes darting over towards Y/N, who stands there with her eyes switching between him and the garage around them.
He smirks smugly, nudging Monica's elbow with his own before pointing at her friend. "Who's this?" he asks, causing Y/N to snap from her daze and look at George.
She feels her insides flipping upside down as Monica motions towards her.
"This is my friend, Y/N. She's obsessed with racing just as much as I am. We met in college when we were in the same engineering program."
He raises his brows as he shakes her hand, pointing at her once more. "This is the one friend you always talk about?"
Y/N looks over at Monica with a smug expression. "Wow you love me that much?" she jokes, making Monica chuckle and nod.
"Believe it or not, yes. I love you very much," she shoots back, looking back over at George. "And yes, she's the one I always talk about. I've been trying to get her to work with me since we graduated."
George looks over at her. "Why haven't you?" he asks out of true curiosity.
Y/N shrugs with a sheepish expression, putting her hands on her hips. "It's not that I don't want to, it's a bit more complicated than that."
Monica gives her a knowing look.
Complicated meaning Joe wouldn't approve.
"You have a degree in engineering, yeah?"
"I have my Master's for it."
George shrugs before crossing his arms. He nods down at her.
"I'd hate for whatever your complications are to stay in the way of you joining us out here. I can tell by how Monica has talked about your smarts, that you should be out here doing what you know best," he explains.
"I may not know you well, and vice versa, but I know enough from that one," he points at Monica with a chuckle. "And from what I know, it sounds like you should be putting that degree to work."
Y/N rolls her eyes with a smile. "I don't even know where I'd start with working my way into an environment like this," Y/N admits, making George look at Monica, then back at her, then around the garage, then finally looking back at her once more.
"What if I said I'd be able to help with that?" he trails off, making her eyes widen and her body go still.
"What?"
He nods with a hum.
"I can't ask that of you first off-"
"Well good thing you're not asking."
Monica looks at Y/N, who is signalling her friend to help her out. "I told you. These racers are persistent in getting their way. Spoiled they are."
George smacks her arm playfully. "You're also the one who has told me everything to know about this one. I am just biting the bullet and giving her an opportunity."
He looks back at Y/N. "What do you say? You trust me?"
"i don't know you."
"You know the sport, though?"
"Well yeah," she sputters, not realizing how her answer before had sounded. "Like yes I know who you are, but I don't know you like that."
"That is fair, but you can ask Monica, or anyone around here. I'm a pretty trustworthy individual."
Monica nods while giving Y/N a knowing look. "He's got me on that."
Y/N sighs. "I just don't know if my complications would work with it," she explains. "I want this, yes. That's always been out of the question. I just can't ask that of you, even if you're not asking."
She gives George a look as if pleading for him not to pry, the man looking down at her before he slowly softens and nods.
"Well," he starts off, walking over to grab something from the desk, writing something down, and walking back to the pair. "If you change your mind and want to see what you can do, here's my number."
Y/N takes it slowly, looking back up at him from the note he set in her hand. He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I think Toto would love to have someone like you on the team."
With that, he bids the girls goodbye and heads off down the paddock, Y/N looking down at the note in her hand as Monica looks at her friend.
"I know you won't, but just at least put some real thought into it," she starts, seeing the look Y/N was about to muster. "I know you're worried about Joe and what he will think, but do something for yourself for once. If he can't support your career and your life, then he isn't for you, Y/N/N."
Y/N sighs before folding the note and putting it in her pocket, looking around the garage.
Once Monica had shown Y/N around the rest of the paddock, it wasn't much later before she had been called back to the McLaren garage to get ready for race time.
Monica halted in front of the famous orange garage, putting a hand on her friend's arm. "I'll be right back, okay? I've gotta take care of a couple of things."
Y/N nods and motions her off. "Do what you gotta do. I know my way."
Y/N had watched from the back of the garage as her friend walked away. She kept her eyes on the other members of the crew buzzing around the car, putting a few things to the test before having the drivers get seated.
Her eyes had only left the cars for a split second when she felt someone breeze past her, mumbling a light 'excuse me' as their hand brushed her elbow, only for her to do a double take.
Lando Norris had walked up towards the countertop table where his helmet sat, taking a deep breath before sliding it on.
As he strapped it together, his eyes wandered around the garage. From the outside of the garage, where cheers could be heard all over, to his car that was getting the final finishing touches, to the people who stood in the background in the garage that watched what unfolded in front of them. His eyes only glazed past her own, but then froze only slightly. You would've blinked and missed it.
His eyes came back to hers, his motions slowing down as he looked at her. She didn't miss the way his eyes slowly made their way up and down her figure, before they locked with her own one last time, then turning around to get into his car.
Y/N let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Her stomach churning lightly, making her wonder if the dinner she had eaten before coming had sat wrong.
"Alright," Monica's voice boomed, making her snap out of her daze, and whip her head towards her friend. "Let's get you up to hospitality, yeah? It's gonna be a bit chaotic and loud down here."
"If I'm allowed to, I'd like to stay and watch. I don't mind the chaos," Y/N says with a grin. "You know I thrive better in it."
Monica's smile widens. "Glad to see you're fitting right in. I'm telling you, this is where you belong babe."
Y/N rolls her eyes with a laugh, crossing her arms. "Yeah, yeah, so I keep hearing. Go do your thing, I'm good here."
Monica laughs before saluting and disappearing into the crowd of crew members, Y/N's eyes going back over to Lando, who was sitting in his car getting strapped in.
The cars had roared to life not a second later, some people jumped at the loudness of them, while she just stood there unfazed. If anything, the smile on her face widened.
She found Monica's eyes as she scanned the room, seeing her friend was giving her a knowing smirk while shaking her head. Monica just knew.
Deep down, Y/N knew it too.
This was where she was meant to be.
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ynln In my element ahhh 🏎️💨
tagged : monicabby
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user Wait she wasn't at the Bengals game???
user Girl you never miss a game of Joe's. What is happening 😫
user What about Joe 😭😭
monicabby SO hot 😮💨 looking like you're glowing rn
monicabby Proud you came out 😘
ynln Thanks for the invite love 🥰🥰❤️
user She's still following Joe, so they didn't break up y'all
user Guys she's allowed to do her own thing, her life doesn't need to revolve around Joe
user Y'all need to stop assuming the worst. She has a life too
Summary: Joe and Y/N have been the iconic dating duo since they could remember, from being high school sweethearts to her supporting him all the way up into the big leagues. Y/N has always prioritized Joe's life over her own.
When she takes a weekend to join a friend of hers and gets the job offer she has only ever dreamed of, things between her and Joe get rocky. She decides to put her own dreams first, leaving Joe behind and moving to an entirely new continent. What could happen?
Warning(s): angst, insecurities, toxic relationships, smut (in later chapters), fluff, fighting, yearning/pining, cheating
Part two here
"Joe, have you seen my letterman jacket?" Y/N calls out from the shared closet. She can hear him trailing out a hum as he tries to think of where he may have seen the piece of clothing last.
"I found it!" he yells back, his voice getting closer as he speaks. Y/N began fixing her hair one last time as Joe entered the room, jacket in hand.
He comes up from behind her, a small grin on his face as he helps her put the jacket on to finish her look for gameday.
"Also I think you mean my jacket?" he trails off playfully, looking at her in the mirror, she rolls her eyes with a small smirk.
"The one you said I could wear, remember?" she giggles back as he kisses her head.
"Yeah yeah, I hear you," he chuckled into her hair, squeezing her hips one last time before walking away. He turns back to her once more as he hears the call of his name.
"Don't forget I've got that meeting tomorrow with my job coach," she says, making him frown.
"Why?"
"So then they can help me find job opportunities in engineering," she explains. "Mainly for racing."
Joe chuckles. "Goodluck with that," he mutters before turning from her once again, she frowns and turns to him.
"What's that mean?"
He sighs before turning back to look at her with an uneasy expression. "Most of those jobs won't hire women, so your selection is limited. That's all I'm saying."
She squints at him, her chest tightening at his words.
"Hey, don't take it to heart, okay? I'm just being honest," he says right after, walking up to her and squeezing her arm. "I also just don't think you have what it takes. You've gotta discipline yourself enough."
Y/N feels her insides churning at his words, knowing it's better to not fight him, as this conversation has gone nowhere in the past. It always wound up with her in tears, and him leaving for the evening to 'take a breather'.
"Whatever you say," she mumbles, walking past his figure quickly and out of the room. "Let's go, or you'll be late."
She hears him let out a 'fucks sake' followed by a loud and frustrated huff.
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user PRETTTYYYYY
user I love them so much omfg
user This is the royal couple and everyone knows
monicabby Who that in the first photo 👀🤩🤩
ynln Making me blush or whatever 🤗
user I love them so much
tiannarobillard Looking SOOOO good 🤧❤️
ynln I miss youuuuu 🥹
user If they break up I will never believe in love again
Once Y/N had made her way towards the suite, she was happily greeted by Joe's parents as well as a few other family friends.
She and Joe had gotten into another argument in the car, Y/N sensing his odd behavior as they both bickered back and forth. The way he had become defensive so quickly, talking about how she wasn't made to be anything more than something that sat pretty for him in the stands.
That made her heart drop to her ass, throwing a snide comment along the lines of how she can't 'sit pretty for someone who hasn't played a full season in two years'. Joe had caught the sound of her comment, clenching his jaw as they came to a harsh halt in the parking spot.
He didn't even do their traditional handshake and kiss before he headed towards the locker rooms. Her mind was still stuck on it as she sat with the group, every so often pitching into the conversation.
Once the game started, she had put on her best facade she could muster, keeping her game face on as she cheered Joe and Cincy on.
Y/N had never missed a moment, stressing throughout each play, yelling at refs when they threw three too many penalties on one drive. It always drove her nuts.
The game ended with the score being a tad too close for any fan's liking, and she knew Joe would be reacting the same way.
She hugged his parents goodbye as they parted ways, Robin squeezing her shoulders tight before pulling away. "Take care of him tonight, yeah? We both know he is going to overthink about what could've been better."
Y/N gives her a knowing look with a nod. "Already ahead of you."
Once she leaves to join the other WAGs outside the locker room, creating small talk with a few of them, she doesn't miss the way her phone kept constantly buzzing.
She had put it on Do Not Disturb during the game, so she had not noticed it turned off post game time.
She pulls her phone own with a furrow in her eyebrows, seeing multiple texts from Monica, and then two from Joe.
Monica
Ok so I know it's game day and you won't see these till later
But I need you to take off being Joe's number one fan next weekend
Because you're coming with me to the Vegas GP 👀🥰
End of story
Call me later and we can discuss deets!! Love youuuuu 😘
Joey <3
Don't wait up for me, I'm going out with some of the boys.
Wilson's girl is bringing you my keys to get home.
Y/N bit her lip to keep it from quivering, knowing this was his way of not wanting to talk out their situation, and he was avoiding it.
She lets out a huff, putting on a fake smile when she sees Logan's wife heading their way with the familiar set of keys with a tiger keychain on it. A keychain she gave to him when he got drafted.
"Logan told me to hand these to you from Joe. He said some of them are going out to decompress from the game," she says sweetly, Y/N giving her a nod and a small hug.
"Thank you."
With that Y/N made her way towards Joe's car, unlocking it and getting into the driver's seat. She lets out a frustrated groan as she adjusts the seat, sniffling while pushing the start button on the car, the engine roaring to life.
As she drove home, she kept the music off and took in the sunset across the horizon, her mind drifting elsewhere.
Drifting towards the life she could have.
She knew that it would probably mean that Joe wouldn't be in the picture.
It scared her in more ways than one. He had always been around, and she had always been around for him.
He was the one thing that was keeping her from choosing her.
Once she had arrived home, showered, and did her nightly routine, she sat with her back against the headboard while her eyes stared at the messages across the screen.
She knew this was going to blow up in her face. Joe would not be happy, and she would never hear the end of it. Because deep down he knows that if she chooses to live her life for herself, he's out the door.
Y/N hesitated for a split second, then began typing.
Y/N
I saw your messages just now. 🥲 Sorry for the delay
A/N: Hi friends :) I'm back! This start to the new series is short, I knowwww! But they are going to be longer as time goes. This will turn into an F1 love story don't you worry :)
I hope you guys enjoy the ride that this is about to become. See you very soon!!!
Permanent taglist: (please message me if you’d like to be removed!!!!)
A/N: I'm somewhat back :) slowly but surely am trying to get the motivation to finish up what i've got conjured in my drafts for you all. Bear with me, friends. For now, here's this <3
Permanent taglist: (please message me if you’d like to be removed!!!!)
