Break my heart and I swear I'm movin' on with your favorite athlete.
Part 3
By the time we got back to the hotel room and unpacked our food, Lucy was already looking at me with that expression.
I knew that look.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“What is it?”
She took a bite of her food, clearly trying to hide her smile.
“I’m just trying to figure out why Lando seems so interested in you.”
I laughed.
“He’s not.”
“He is.”
“He just has a good memory, I guess.”
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
“A good memory?”
“Yes.”
“You met him for, what, two minutes yesterday?”
“Maybe.”
“And today he recognized you immediately.”
I shrugged, trying to act like it wasn't anything.
“He probably remembers a lot of fans.”
“Sure,” she said, dragging the word out.
I rolled my eyes.
“Lucy.”
“What?”
“You're reading way too much into it.”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
I opened my food and tried to ignore the little smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
Saturday
Saturday morning started far too early.
I was barely awake when Lucy pulled the curtains open, letting the bright Budapest sunlight flood into the room.
I groaned and buried my face into the pillow.
“Close them.”
“No.”
“Lucy.”
“We have to leave in twenty minutes.”
I lifted my head just enough to look at her.
“Why did you let me stay up until two?”
“You were the one who wanted to watch a new Movie”
“And you encouraged me.”
“I encouraged you because i love you. That's different.”
I dropped my head back onto the pillow.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
Unfortunately, she was right.
Twenty-five minutes later, we were finally on our way to the track.
The closer we got, the more crowded everything became. Fans everywhere, flags hanging over fences, people wearing team shirts and caps, the occasional engine roaring somewhere in the distance.
I could already feel the excitement building.
This was my first time experiencing a race weekend like this.
And somehow, after yesterday, it felt different.
Maybe because Lando had recognized me.
Twice.
I tried not to think too much about it.
It didn't mean anything.
He was a driver. He met thousands of people every weekend. Remembering a fan he'd spoken to twice wasn't exactly impossible.
Still, when we walked into the circuit and I caught sight of a McLaren sign in the distance, I couldn't help but smile.
Lucy noticed.
Of course she did.
“You're smiling.”
“No, I'm not.”
“You are.”
“I'm excited.”
“For the race?”
“Yes.”
“For Lando?”
I looked at her.
“Don't start.”
She laughed.
“I'm just asking.”
We found our seats and settled in for FP3.
The next hour passed in a blur of noise, cars and commentary.
Every time Lando appeared on the screens, Lucy would glance at me.
I eventually started ignoring her.
After the session, we decided to walk around for a while before qualifying. We grabbed something to drink and wandered through the fan area, stopping at a few stalls.
I was looking at some caps when I heard a voice behind me.
“You again.”
I froze.
I knew that voice now.
I turned around.
Lando was standing a few feet away.
This time he wasn't with a huge group. Just one or two people from the team, who were already walking ahead of him.
I smiled.
“Starting to think you're the one following me.”
He laughed.
“Could say the same thing.”
“I'm supposed to be here.”
“So am I.”
“Exactly.”
He nodded toward the cap in my hand.
“Shopping again?”
I looked down.
“Maybe.”
“You already bought a shirt.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You remember that?”
“Obviously.”
There was something about the casual way he said it that caught me off guard.
I smiled.
“I didn't realize you paid that much attention.”
He shrugged.
“I remember things.”
“Apparently.”
He smiled.
For a second, we just stood there.
It wasn't awkward.
That was the strange part.
I had expected it to be.
I'd met him for barely a minute on Thursday, then again yesterday. There was no reason for talking to him to feel this easy.
“So,” he said, “are you here all weekend?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded.
“Race tomorrow?”
“Obviously.”
“Grandstand?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled.
“Nice.”
“What about you?”
He gave me a look.
“I think I'm going to be working.”
I laughed.
“Right. Forgot about that.”
He shook his head.
“I'll try not to have too much fun.”
“I'll be sure to cheer extra loudly.”
“Appreciate it.”
Someone called his name from further down the walkway.
He glanced over his shoulder.
“I should go.”
“Yeah.”
He looked back at me.
“See you around?”
“Probably.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Then he walked away.
I watched him disappear into the crowd before Lucy slowly stepped into my line of sight.
She was grinning.
“No.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was just going to say that was cute.”
I rolled my eyes.
“He's just being nice.”
“Sure.”
“Lucy.”
“What?”
I shook my head and started walking.
She followed me, still smiling.
Qualifying came around faster than I expected.
We found our seats again, and the entire atmosphere changed. The crowd was louder, more nervous.
When the cars went out for Q1, I found myself holding my breath.
By the time Q3 started, I was completely invested.
Lando crossed the line.
The grandstand erupted.
I jumped to my feet with everyone else, cheering before I even knew where he'd ended up.
When the result appeared on the screen, I smiled.
“Not bad,” Lucy said.
“Not bad at all.”
She looked at me.
“You're definitely happy.”
“I'm happy for him.”
“Of course.”
I nudged her with my shoulder.
“Shut up.”
After qualifying, we didn't immediately leave.
We wandered around the circuit for a while, taking everything in.
Eventually, as we were making our way toward the exit, I noticed people from McLaren moving through the paddock area.
I wasn't really paying attention until I heard someone shout.
I turned.
Lando was standing there.
He had changed out of his race gear and looked noticeably more relaxed.
“Hey.”
I smiled.
“Hey.”
“How was qualifying?”
I nodded toward the track.
“Pretty good.”
“Pretty good?”
“You did well.”
He laughed.
“I'll take it.”
We stood there for a moment.
Then he glanced toward Lucy.
“Hi.”
Lucy smiled.
“Hi.”
I looked between them.
“This is Lucy. My best friend.”
“Nice to meet you.”
He looked back at me, a small grin playing on his lips.
“And what’s your name, stalker?”
I let out a laugh.
“Y/N.”
“Y/N,” he repeated, like he was making sure he remembered it.
“Yeah.”
He nodded.
“Good to know.”
Lucy gave me a look that I immediately recognized.
The kind of look that meant she was trying very, very hard not to say something embarrassing.
I quickly stepped in.
“So, what are you doing now?”
“Nothing too exciting.”
“Lucky.”
He laughed.
“Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”
I looked at him.
“Okay.”
He hesitated for half a second.
“What are you doing tomorrow morning?”
I frowned slightly.
“Coming to the race?”
“Obviously.”
He smiled.
“But before that.”
I shrugged.
“Probably getting breakfast. Why?”
He glanced toward the paddock.
“Would you want to come by the garage?”
I stared at him.
“The garage?”
“Yeah.”
I wasn't sure I'd heard him correctly.
He nodded.
“I could get someone to let you in for a bit. Show you around before everything gets crazy.”
I looked at Lucy.
She looked just as shocked as I felt.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
I laughed nervously.
“I don't want to cause any trouble.”
“You won't.”
He said it so easily that I almost believed it immediately.
“I mean, I've never been inside a garage before.”
“I know.”
I looked back at him.
“How do you know?”
He shrugged.
“You told me yesterday.”
I blinked.
Right.
I had mentioned it.
Apparently, he really did remember things.
“I'd love to,” I finally said.
His smile widened.
“Okay. Good.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Can you give me your number?”
For a second, I just stared at him.
Then I realized what he'd asked.
“Oh. Yeah.”
I took out my phone and unlocked it.
I gave him my number, and a second later, my phone buzzed.
Lando.
I looked at the screen.
He'd sent me a simple message.
Lando
I laughed.
“You just put your own name?”
“So you know it's me.”
“I think I'd figure it out.”
“You'd be surprised.”
I smiled.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket.
“I'll text you later with the details.”
“Okay.”
He started to walk away, then turned back.
“And wear something comfortable tomorrow.”
I looked down at myself.
“Why?”
“Lots of walking.”
“Oh.”
He smiled.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
I watched him walk away.
Only when he was completely out of sight did Lucy turn toward me.
She was silent.
I already knew that look.
“What?”
She stared at me.
“You just gave Lando Norris your number.”
I laughed.
“He asked for it.”
“And he invited you into the McLaren garage.”
“I know.”
“Tomorrow.”
“I know.”
She grabbed my arm.
“Do you understand how insane this is?”
I started laughing.
“Yes.”
“No, you don't.”
I shook my head.
“I really don't.”
She looked at me for another second before grinning.
“This is going to be a very interesting Sunday.”
I looked down at my phone.
His name was still sitting there on the screen.
For some reason, I smiled.
Maybe Lucy was right.
Maybe tomorrow was going to be interesting.
Sunday
Sunday morning felt different.
I couldn't quite explain why.
Maybe it was the sunlight coming through the café windows, or the fact that Budapest seemed quieter than it had all weekend. Maybe it was just the excitement of knowing we were going to the track soon.
Whatever it was, I felt… happy.
Not forced happy.
Not the kind of happy where I had to remind myself that I was supposed to be enjoying myself.
Actually happy.
Lucy and I sat across from each other at a small table by the window, slowly working our way through breakfast.
I was halfway through my pancakes when Lucy suddenly smiled at me.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You're staring at me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you're weirdly happy.”
I laughed.
“I'm allowed to be happy.”
“I know. It's just…”
She tilted her head.
“I haven't seen you like this in a while.”
I looked down at my plate, a small smile still on my face.
“I guess I'm just having a good weekend.”
“You are.”
She took a sip of her coffee.
“And you haven't mentioned Michael once.”
My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
I thought about it.
She was right.
I hadn't.
Not yesterday.
Not Friday.
Not Thursday.
Not even when we'd been walking around the city at night.
I hadn't thought about him.
Not really.
And strangely enough, realizing that didn't make me sad.
It made me smile.
“I didn't even notice.”
Lucy smiled softly.
“Exactly.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“I think that's a good thing.”
“It is.”
I looked out the window.
For months, everything had somehow reminded me of him.
A song.
A restaurant.
A stupid inside joke.
Even things that had nothing to do with him.
And now I was sitting in Budapest, eating pancakes before a Formula 1 race, wearing the McLaren shirt Lucy had practically forced me to buy, and the first person I thought about when I woke up wasn't Michael.
It was the race.
The garage.
And, admittedly, the fact that I was going to see Lando again.
I smiled to myself.
Lucy caught it immediately.
“There she is.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“That smile.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don't start.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
She laughed.
“I was just going to say that you look happy.”
I looked down at my coffee.
“I am.”
There was a quiet moment between us.
Then I added,
“And I think that's the first time I've said that without feeling like I have to convince myself.”
Lucy reached across the table and squeezed my hand.
“I'm glad.”
I smiled at her.
“So am I.”
My phone buzzed on the table.
I glanced down.
A message from Lando.
Morning. Still good for the garage?
I stared at it for a second before smiling.
Lucy leaned across the table.
“Is that him?”
I turned my phone toward her.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh my God.”
I laughed.
“It's just the garage.”
“Sure.”
I shook my head, typing a reply.
Definitely. See you soon.
I put my phone down.
Lucy smiled at me.
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you're finally having fun for yourself.”
I looked at her.
Maybe she was right.
For the first time in a long time, I wasn't trying to get over someone.
I wasn't trying to prove I was okay.
I wasn't looking back.
I was just looking forward.
And for once, that felt like enough.
