The evening light was soft and fading as you sat quietly in the bustling lounge, surrounded by the buzz of the race weekend, engineers poring over data, team members exchanging quick updates, fans snapping pictures just beyond the glass walls. It was a world of speed and precision, yet here you were, feeling oddly out of place.

Lewis was there, as always, a steady presence amid the chaos. You’d admired him for years, not just for his undeniable skill on the track, but for the way he carried himself with calm confidence, the kind of man who seemed to hold the world steady in his hands.

You glanced at him from across the room, tucked into a corner, looking relaxed in his casual clothes. Dark eyes met yours, and without hesitation, he rose and made his way over. He didn’t need to say anything; you already knew he could tell something was off.

“Hey,” Lewis said softly as he settled beside you. “You alright?”

You shrugged, voice low. “I’m fine. Just tired”

He studied you for a moment, eyes sharp but patient. He knew that wasn’t the full story, but he didn’t press. Instead, he offered a small nod. “Want to get some fresh air?”

You didn’t hesitate. The noise inside had started to feel overwhelming, and the idea of stepping away with just him was a comfort you hadn’t realized you needed.

Outside, the air was cooler, the hum of the circuit replaced by the quiet calm of a nearby garden path lined with softly glowing lamps. The night wrapped around you both like a blanket, intimate, safe.

You stopped walking, the tension in your chest tightening again. Lewis stood close, his presence steady and reassuring.

Without a word, he pulled you in. A real hug, his arms wrapping fully around you, firm but gentle, his hand coming up to cradle the back of your head. He drew you close enough that you could feel the steady beat of his heart, the reassuring strength of someone who knew exactly how to hold space for another’s pain.

You let yourself lean in, the weight of everything slipping from your shoulders just a little. The kind of hug that could make someone cry, not from sadness, but because it was the kind of comfort you hadn’t realized you were desperate for.