No strings attached

25.

We were one of the first people to arrive in the paddock, mainly because Kara couldn't wait anymore.
She was wearing an orange shirt matched with her orange little purse. She was very excited to say the least.
"I can't believe we are actually here" she said enthusiastically.
"We are way too early though, I guess we can just wait in the hospitality" I chuckled. Not even Rhys was here yet so I definitely didn't expect Lando to be here.
"Hi Aimée, good to see you" Eve said from behind the counter in the hospitality.
She was leaning against the counter, her blonde hair was up in a high ponytail but she seemed pretty tired.
"Oh hi, this is Kara, my friend" Kara gave her a little wave. She probably didn't know who the hell she was, but still wanted to be nice.
"Hi Kara, I am Eve. You guys want a coffee? Or something else?" she titled her head a little. "Coffee is fine, thanks" I smiled before sitting down on a little table.

Eve, Kara and I actually had a really nice talk together. She was actually a very nice and funny person. I could see why Lando liked her.
A little while later, Lando also walked in the hospitality. He smiled as soon as he saw us and walked straight up to us.
"Hi guys" he looked at us, but his eyes stopped at Kara. "And you must be Kara" he titled his head a little as he was scanning her with his eyes.
I recognized the look on his face, he used to look at me like that.
"I am, thanks again for the free drinks that night in the club" they both laughed at her joke. The talked for a little while longer while I was talking to Eve. Once in a while, Kara put her hand on his arm as they started laughing.
Why were they laughing so much?
Fortunately, he couldn't stay for very long because he had to go to the garage.

Don't be jealous.

Together with paddock passes, Lando also fixed nice VIP seats. We were standing on the balcony above the garages.
It was time for the last practice session but unfortunately Lando didn't do great.
He crashed against the wall with the side of his car pretty bad.
I couldn't hear what he said on the radio, but I bet it weren't nice things at all.

After the practices, Kara and I walked back to the hospitality. Rhys didn't have time for me, because he obviously had to fix Lando's car.
Not much later Lando also walked in with his trainer. He didn't even look at me, he just walked upstairs to his drivers room.
"Poor Lando" Kara sighed.
Only a few minutes later Jon walked back downstairs, without Lando. "Okay, so if you don't go upstairs right now, I'll kill you" Kara said as she looked at me.
I looked at for a little while, before getting up. She was right, I had to talk to Lando.

I knew where his drivers room was so I quickly walked upstairs.
I knocked on his door a few times before walking in. Lando was sitting on his couch, shirtless.
His arm had a few cuts and bruises. "Are you okay?" I looked from his arm back to his face.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I will be fine" he mumbled a little.
He was probably disappointed with himself even though he shouldn't. "You definitely gave Rhys a lot of work" I tried to joke around but I knew it sounded so wrong. It wasn't funny at all.
"It's not like I did it on purpose Aimée" He snapped a little, he was right. I was so out of line for saying that.
"I'm sorry" I said as I sat next to him. "Do you love him?" he asked all of a sudden.
It was a question I didn't expect and clearly also didn't know how to answer. Did I love him?

So I answered the question by doing what I did best, dodging it. "Why? Do you miss me or something?" I laughed. I expected him to shrug it off, but to my surprise, he didn't.
"Yes I do" He looked at me, he wasn't joking - he was being honest.

I really wanted to kiss him then and there, but I couldn't. I never was a cheater and I wouldn't start now.

——————

It was time for quali - I was so excited for this. Lando's mechanics and Rhys fixed his car right in time for Q1, so I hoped he would qualify high, because it was important in Monaco.

Lando was through to Q2 when my phone buzzed a few times.

Joshy

Your mom is here
At the store

Are you kidding me?

No, she's here
I am sorry
I know you're watching the quali

Fuck.
Ok I am coming

I put my phone away with a sigh. "Please tell Lando I am so sorry but I need to go" I said as I looked at Kara.
She frowned so I showed her the texts. She nodded after she read them, she understood I had to go, even if I didn't want to.
"Do you want me to come with you?" She asked but I shook my head.
I knew how much she was looking forward to this, I wasn't gonna take that away from her.
I quickly hugged her before making my way out of the paddock.

She couldn't have a worse timing.
I felt bad for Lando, hopefully Kara would explain him why I left. Hopefully he would understand.