The wine tastes more like habit than anything else by now.

You sit on the old wooden bench in your aunt’s garden, a half-full glass in your hand while the voices of your family blur together around you.

The string lights hanging overhead cast warm pools of light across the patio. Somewhere, someone laughs a little too loudly.

Your cousin is sitting beside you.

Just a few days ago, you were at a Gala with Lando . Now he’s in Barcelona for the race, and you’re here.

Thinking far too much.

“So?” She asks, lightly bumping her shoulder against yours. “How was it? I saw the pictures.”

You raise an eyebrow. “How was what?”

“The Gala you went, you idiot.” The grin on her face says everything.

Social media. Paparazzi's Someone is always taking pictures.

Then her expression softens. “And I saw that his ex was there. Luisa…how was that for you?”

There it is. The question that has been hanging unspoken between you and Lando for days.

You take a long sip of wine. Too long.

“Well, at the Gala, and, no…I’m not stupid. I knew that she’d be there, and I can’t lie…I’ve looked her up often…” The words come out easier than they should. “I thought someone that pretty can’t also be nice…”

You let out a dry laugh before taking another sip. “But she proved me wrong. When she walked up, said ‘Hi’…her soft tone, dark hair, and those beautiful brown eyes…” You stare into your glass. “That’s a hard pill to swallow, you know. A tough act to follow.”

When you look up again, she's staring at you in confusion, almost alarm.

She knows you. She knows your confidence. Your quick wit. The way you usually command a room without even trying.

But she doesn’t know this version of you.

“I had a huge lump in my throat because she’s got it all.” You slowly shake your head. “We even talked over Cosmos and laughed until the bar closed. And now…even I know what made him fall for her.”

For a moment, nobody says anything. The wind rustles the leaves above you.

Then she gently places a hand on your knee. “Hey, listen. You’re p-”

You immediately shake your head. “I thought meeting her would make me worry less…but damn, it scared me half to death. There’s no way she doesn’t still have a piece of his heart.”

The words hang between you. You blink. Once. Twice. And only then do you realize what you just said out loud.

“Damn…” A bitter laugh escapes your lips. “That’s a hard pill.”

Without warning, she reaches over, grabs your wine glass, and pulls it from your hand.

“Hey!”

“No.” She places it out of reach. “I think you’ve had enough.”

You let out a loud sigh, rest your head against the wall behind the bench and close your eyes for a moment. “She’s smart, but she’s funny…humble but with money. She has smooth skin like honey…and she’s easy on the eyes.”

Your Cousin rolls her eyes. “Oh God. {{user}}. Please stop.”

“Said she likes my tattoos.” Your eyes begin to burn.

Maybe from the alcohol. Maybe from your thoughts. Maybe from both.

You stare up at the dark sky. “And the worst part…” Your voice drops to a whisper. “The sad truth after meeting her last week…we’d probably be friends in another life.”

“{{user}}. Lando loves you. Everyone can see that.”

A painful smile appears on your face as your eyes meet hers. “No. Not everyone. Maybe them.” You vaguely gesture toward the house, toward your family. “But his fans don’t like me.”

You swallow. “Every day I get new comments saying he was happier with Luisa. That they were a better match.” Your gaze falls to your hands. “Even those TikTok edits. The ones with comments like, ‘Right person, wrong time.’”

The memory cuts deeper than you would ever admit.

“I see that stuff all the time. And eventually you start wondering if maybe everyone else sees something you don’t see. I’m not good enough for him.”

Her brow furrows as though she’s just heard something completely absurd. “You know what's crazy? That you think some random comment on tiktok knows more about your relationship than the two of you do."