THIRTY-FIVE

Song of the chapter: The Climb by Miley Cyrus

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"I guess the word is out." I say, sitting down at Lando's kitchen table back in Monaco, placing two cups of coffee on the table. The cast had been removed earlier this morning, and I was already trying to find the limit in what I could do with the broken wrist. Carrying two coffee cups was definitely the limit right now.

"I guess it is." He says, still looking at his Instagram. Somehow a picture of the two of us kissing in London last week ended up online. Even if I felt like we were the only two at that spot at the moment, we clearly weren't. The picture got posted online yesterday, and went viral almost immediately.

"So what do you want to do about it?" I ask, not even sure what I'd like to happen going forward.

"I have no idea. Maybe just sit this out, and confirm whenever the storm lays down?" He suggest and I simply agree.

"I'm not sure if things will calm down though. Not with me coming to Bahrain with you next week." I state, and Lando seems to overthink what he'd just proposed.

"Well, then there's always the idea to just come forward with it." He suggests. We aren't even worried about our families, I had met his while we were in the UK. And my mom met him over FaceTime. It's not as real, but at least she knows what is happening.

"We could also just not comment? And just wait until it pops up in an interview?" I suggest, and we both settle on that. I was not planning on leaving Lando's apartment for most of this week. He was planning on spending a lot of time on the sim and I just wanted to be close by. Still not able to fully do everything on my own. There's just too many things that are very hurtful for me right now. 

Our relationship had soon become the worst kept secret between the drivers, with me being added into this massive double date group chat. Holding all the couples of the grid. I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed when I got added, but right now they all seem like a great group of people. 

"I do have to do a massive stint on the sim, got any plans?" Lando asks as he's finishing his coffee and getting up to go to his sim.

"Charlotte's coming over if that's alright?" I ask, realising I hadn't even asked him. And this is still his house. Maybe I should've asked if it was alright before inviting her over. 

"Yeah that's fine, as long as you don't interrupt me too much." He says giving me a quick peck on the lips before leaving the room. It doesn't take long after that before Charlotte knocks on the door.

"You need my advise?" She asks as we sit down on the huge couch.

"I do," I say pulling my iPad out. "I know how you're great with photography and everything, and I just need a kind of unbiased opinion on these." I pull up the possible images for the tour posters. Even if it's still early, the first tickets are about to go on sale within the coming weeks.

"These are beautiful." Charlotte says scrolling through the assortment of pictures. "I would go with the action shots, rather than the studio photos. They pull you in a bit better." She explains, pointing at her top three.

"Thanks, then I can send those to Ava. Because Lando's help was useless." I say with a small laugh. "He just kept saying all were beautiful."

"Boys" Charlotte chuckles, making me laugh as well. "So how are you handling your relationship being somewhat public now?"

I sigh. "It's not the first time. I can handle it, it's just a shame that we didn't get the chance to make it public ourselves. Now it's just like; look what I saw. I hate that people think it's okay to put pictures of people they don't know online. They don't even realise what the impact can be. But I guess that's what I chose for when I became famous." I rant, knowing very well that Charlotte wasn't alway happy with being in the spotlight either.

"I know, the audacity they have is freaking annoying." Charlotte says calmly, very aware that that is what I now need. The time to rant my frustrations. 

"It's just frustrating." I say, my blood boiling at the thought.

"You need to get out of the house." Charlotte states after I've finished ranting some more. "We're going to go for a walk and then hopefully you're a bit more calm." I just nod, taking my coat from her and saying a quick goodbye to Lando. Although, I'm not completely sure it registered, so I send him a text as well.

The walk through the busy Monaco streets seemed to do its job. While I was still ranting about my frustrations with the different media outlets to Charlotte, I seemed to calm down a bit. Getting my thoughts lined out a bit. Charlotte just pointing out obvious frustrations every now and then, to help me get everything in place.

When we eventually end up back at Lando's place, we say goodbye as she walks in the direction of her own house.

***

"Are you ready for this?" Lando asks as I'm buttoning the final button of my blouse.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I say, looking out the window. The special drivers hotel overlooking the Bahrain track, where testing will be happening this week.

"Even if it is testing, there'll still be a whole lot of media." He says, as I grab my phone and room key. The first time we hadn't gotten two separate rooms.

"I know, let's just get it over with." I say taking his hand in mine, pulling him closer to me. Placing a small kiss on his lips. Together we walk out the room, my hand still in his, but I don't care anymore.

Today is the first time we'll actually be surrounded by media, since we're together. We decided it was the perfect moment to officially go public. Wanting to take the stress off everything. Lando would be able to go into the season with a clean slate, while I could focus on the ticket sales of my concert without being bothered with questions about my dating life.

We get into the car Lando was offered by McLaren, driving the short distance to the track. I don't think it was even more than five minutes. But it meant five less minutes surrounded by media and fans. We get out of the car, a lot of fans already at the track entrance. We spend a lot of time signing things. While most of the people were there for Lando, some even asked us to go on pictures together, or asked me to sign things as well. It was a pleasant experience for sure.

Sadly, we didn't have time to get everyone their pictures or signatures, because Lando had to report at the garage. We both scan our passes to enter the gates to the paddock. Our hands quickly joining again once we've passed the gates. Giving the final sign to the media that we are indeed dating.

Lando wastes no time introducing me to the many people working on his side of the garage. While there's just as many working on Oscar's side of the garage. Daniel being replaced as Lando's teammate, starting this season. I try my best to register as many names as possible into my mind, but I'm bound to make mistakes with the many new introductions. Although some people seem vaguely familiar to when I was in the garage back in Austin.

Austin seems like an eternity ago. I can't really wrap my head around the fact that it's barely been half a year since then.

"It's okay, don't worry." Lando says to me, I must've looked worried then.

"I know, I was just thinking." I say taking in my surroundings. I know the backstage of a concert looks hectic, but this is much more sophisticated.

"You should do that more often, it looks cute on you." He says, grabbing my hand again and showing me around the paddock once more. Before we end up in front of the Red Bull hospitality. The one where both Max and Daniel are probably located, with Daniel being a Red Bull reserve driver for the season.

Lando scans the building from the outside, as do I, locking eyes with Daniel who's quick to come outside. "Hi guys." He says a vibrant smile on his face. He had told me he felt at home here, and you can really tell.

"Hi," Lando and I say in unison, before Lando continues to speak. "Can you look after Aimee while I'm in the car? She seems a little lost." Lando says with a small chuckle.

"It's just a lot to take in." I admit, scanning over all the people roaming around the paddock.

"Of course." Daniel says, before we say goodbye to Lando and Daniel decides it's time for a tour around the paddock. Showing me all the ins and outs I need to know, before settling on one of the stands to watch a big part of the testing.

Once we realise Lando's not coming out of the pits, we make our way back to the McLaren garage. Daniel dropping me off there, Lando immediately wrapping me in a hug.

"I love you so much!" He says. "Oh and congrats by the way." He says nonchalantly.

"Congrats?" I ask, not understanding what he's talking about.

"Your tour." He says, holding his phone up. "It's already sold out."

I take his phone in my hands, scanning over the Ticketmaster overview page. Every single concert saying no more tickets are available. I squeal in happiness. I had hoped it would go good, but I hadn't expected this. Hence this is why I hadn't looked at my phone, on which I had multiple missed calls and texts from Ava and my parents.

A bright smile on my face, I place both hands on Lando's cheeks, before pulling him in for a kiss. "Oh my god." I say once we separate again. "I've got a freaking sold out tour." I yell, many people looking at me like I'm crazy, before Lando wraps me in his arms.

I couldn't be happier in this moment. It felt truly perfect.

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edited 6/12/2023