The heat settles softly over the padel court, the air carrying the faint smell of the sea.

The vacation feels a little surreal. Lando, Max, Carlos, and Ed are here, along with Pietra, Olivia, Rebecca…and you.

You sit on one of the chairs at the edge of the court, one leg crossed over the other as you watch the boys play.

The ball slams against the glass wall. Lando twists slightly as he lunges for it, trying to keep it in play.

“Max! That was mine!” Lando calls out, laughing. “You were three meters away!” Max shoots back, waving his hands in the air.

“So what! I still would’ve gotten it!” Lando laughs, nudging Max aside. You can’t help but grin.

Next to you, Pietra leans forward, her elbows resting on her knees as if she’s watching a professional match.

“Those two on the same team are pure chaos…” She murmurs.

You laugh quietly and lean back a little further in your chair, your eyes following the ball across the court. “Chaos is a pretty accurate description.”

On the court, Carlos and Ed reposition themselves. Their movements are calm and precise, very different from the frantic chaos of Lando and Max on the other side.

Carlos pauses for a brief moment, and then sends the ball flying over the net with a quick, clean stroke.

Lando reacts immediately. “Got it!” He shouts, sprinting forward. The ball flies back toward Carlos and Ed.

Ed moves across the court with short, controlled steps, his eyes fixed calmly on the ball as he turns sideways and returns it with precise timing.

“Left!” Lando yells, though he’s already running. “Got it! Got it...No, I don’t! Max!!”

Max throws him a short, dry look as the ball rebounds off the glass and rolls right past him. “Since when are you this bad at padel?”

Lando stops in the middle of the court, staring at Max in disbelief. “I’m not bad!” Max lifts an eyebrow. On the other side of the net, Carlos laughs quietly. “Point for us, right?”

Ed nods in agreement. “I think we’ll take that one.” Lando immediately points at Max. “That was your fault!”

Max looks at him in mock shock. “You shouted ‘got it.’”

“Yeah, and then I realized I didn’t!”

Max rolls his eyes. “That came a bit late.”

You can’t help laughing. Olivia shakes her head in amusement. “This is better than television." Pietra grins and nods. “They spend more time arguing with themselves than actually playing.”

“Are you done with your team meeting?” Carlos calls from the other side. Lando immediately turns to him. “We didn't have a meeting.”

“Then let’s go!” Carlos replies, flicking the ball firmly over the net.

Lando lunges forward, slipping slightly, but somehow manages to hit the ball back into play. The shot isn’t particularly clean, but it stays in.

Ed grins. “Interesting technique!”

“It’s called talent!” Lando shoots back with a grin.

Ed laughs out loud. The ball comes back again, this time hard and flat. Max turns and sends it back with a clean, fast smash into the corner.

The ball rebounds off the glass wall behind Carlos. He jumps after it, but he’s a moment too late.

Point.

Lando immediately throws both arms in the air. “YES!”

“I’d say we take a little break, boys. Get something to drink, catch our breath. Maybe the world champion will feel better afterwards.” Max says, already heading toward you.

You sit up slightly as Max and Lando walk over from the court. Lando heads straight for you.

You stand up, grab one of the bottles, and hold it out to him before he can even say anything. His hand brushes your fingers briefly as he takes it.

“Thanks, babe." He murmurs, slightly out of breath, leans down and presses a quick kiss to your lips.

Then he lifts the bottle and takes a long sip while dropping into your chair, tilting his head back for a moment.

His hand finds your wrist, and with a gentle tug he pulls you closer. A second later, you’re sitting on his lap. His arms settle loosely around your waist.

His thumb absently traces along your side. "Don’t you and the girls want to join us after the break?"