Chapter Text
Singapore – The Morning After
The first thing she noticed was the light. Soft gold, spilling through the half-open curtains, glinting off the skyline outside.
The second thing was him.
Lando was still half-asleep beside her, hair a perfect mess, one arm draped lazily over her waist, his face nuzzled into her neck. His breathing was slow, even, peaceful. For once, there was no noise, no cameras, no headlines, just the quiet rhythm of being together.
Lotte smiled into the pillow.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken up this… content.
He stirred when she moved slightly, eyes blinking open, voice rough with sleep.
“Morning.”
“Morning, champion.”
“Mmm. I like how that sounds.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Too late.”
He reached for her hand, fingers tracing lazy circles on her skin.
“This doesn’t feel real,” he murmured.
“Maybe that’s why I don’t want to leave this bed.”
“Who said you have to?”
She laughed softly, kissing the corner of his mouth.
“You have a flight. I have a company to run.”
“Details.”
They kissed again. Unhurried, tender. The kind of kiss that didn’t demand anything; it simply was.
*****
A knock broke the quiet.
Three sharp raps, followed by an all-too-familiar voice.
“Mate, you alive? You promised a run and coffee before we fly!”
Lando froze.
“Oh, for fu—”
He leapt out of bed, grabbed his joggers, and hissed, “Stay here!”
Lotte, now very awake, was already laughing into the duvet.
“Lando, it’s fine.”
“It’s Martin.”
“I gathered.”
He cracked the door open a fraction.
“Morning.”
“You look like hell,” Martin said cheerfully, holding two coffees. “Late night celebrating?”
Lando’s face was blank. “Something like that.”
Martin frowned. “Why are you whispering…”
Then a soft voice from behind him, syrupy with faux innocent:
“Lando, is that room service?”
Martin’s eyes widened.
Lando swore under his breath.
He turned slowly, and there she was, Lotte. Standing in the doorway wearing his orange McLaren T-shirt, hair tousled, coffee cup in hand like she owned the place.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Martin grinned like Christmas had come early.
“Oh. My. God.”
“Martin,” Lando groaned.
“No. Nope. You do not get to shush me right now. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for this?”
Lotte was pink but smiling.
“Good morning, Martin.”
“Good morning, love birds”
“Absolutely not,” she said, laughing. “And you’re not telling anyone.”
“Who would I tell? Half the paddock? Zac? Max? Your board of directors?”
“Martin,” Lando warned.
“Fine, fine! I’m thrilled, but I’ll keep it quiet. You two owe me a beer though. Or an entire case.”
He handed Lando the spare coffee, winked, and started backing out.
“Enjoy your recovery session.”
The door clicked shut, and Lando groaned again, dragging a hand over his face.
“He’s never letting me live this down.”
“He’s happy for you.”
“He’s going to be unbearable.”
“He already is.”
They both laughed until they couldn’t stop.
*****
Room service arrived not long after. Coffee, pastries, fruit, and pancakes that neither of them touched for at least ten minutes.
Lando stole bites off her plate. She stole his strawberries.
“We should talk about… logistics,” she said eventually, curling up on the bed with her mug.
“Romantic,” he said dryly.
“If we’re keeping this quiet, we need to be consistent.”
“So… in public, you’re the sponsor. At races, I’m the driver.”
“Exactly.”
“And privately?”
“Privately…” She smiled, brushing her foot against his leg. “You’re mine.”
He grinned.
“That part I can do.”
They fell quiet for a moment, comfortable.
Then she said it, casually, but with a glint in her eyes.
“By the way, I’ll be moving to Monaco next month.”
He nearly dropped his fork.
“Wait…what?”
“For security reasons. And tax. It just makes sense.”
“You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
His grin spread wide, boyish and bright.
“You’re moving to my neighbourhood?”
“Don’t get too excited.”
“Too late.”
He leaned over, kissed her quickly.
“You have no idea how happy that makes me.”
“Really?”
“You’ll see. I’m going to show you all the best places, little cafés nobody knows, private beaches, the quiet roads along the coast. We’ll go for drives with the roof down. No cameras. No noise. Just us.”
She smiled, warmth rising in her chest.
“That sounds perfect.”
“It will be. I promise.”
He reached for her hand again, thumb brushing her wrist.
“We’ll make it work. No matter what.”
“I know.”
He kissed her one last time before murmuring,
“You know, this morning’s looking pretty good for a guy who used to come second.”
She laughed against his lips.
“You’re insufferable.”
“And you love it.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
The laughter softened into another kiss. Slow, content, sunlight filtering through the curtains as the city hummed quietly below.
For the first time, the world outside could wait.