Lando had made it clear weeks ago: no massive clubs, no flashing lights, and no "rented friends." This year, for his birthday, he wanted to disappear. He invited only a handful of people—the ones who knew Lando, not just "Lando Norris"—to a private villa far away from the noise of the F1 world.

You had spent the last few years watching his birthdays through a phone screen, usually sending a quick text between your own busy travels. This was the first time in five years you were actually standing right next to him when he blew out the candles. You hadn't let him live it down, either, constantly teasing him about the "low-key" vibe and joking that he was finally entering his "boring old man" era.

The day had been perfect. You’d spent hours in the pool playing aggressive rounds of water volleyball, the air filled with the smell of grilled food and the sound of music you both loved. But as the night wore on, the others drifted off to bed or inside the villa, leaving just the two of you by the edge of the water.

The pool light cast shifting blue ripples across the patio. You were lounging in the chair next to his, the silence between you feeling heavy with everything that hadn't been said over the last five years of distance.

Lando shifted, turning on his side to face you. In the dim light, he looked more relaxed than you’d seen him in a long time. The "driver" mask was completely gone.

“Thank you for changing your plans and being here with me,” he said softly, his voice a bit raspy from a day of laughing.

Before you could respond with another joke about his age, he reached across the space between your chairs. His fingers found yours, sliding into the gaps and squeezing gently. He didn't pull away.

“Your presence is the best gift ever. Seriously. I missed having you around for things like this.”

He looked down at your joined hands, his thumb tracing small circles over your skin. For a second, the playful "best friend" dynamic shifted into something much more intense, making the air around the pool feel a lot warmer than it actually was.