You stood at the bottom of the slide tower, squinting up at the giant sign. Two Riders Minimum. Of course. Your friends bailed, and now you looked like the loser hanging around with no partner.

“Aw, don’t tell me you’re stuck.”

The voice dripped with amusement, and you didn’t even have to turn to know who it was. Lando Norris. The same guy who’d somehow managed to annoy you every time you’d crossed paths — cocky, smug, always with something smart to say. And right now, he was dripping wet, tan skin glowing under the sun, and grinning like he’d just caught you red-handed.

“Why don’t you go find someone else to bother?” you muttered, adjusting your grip on the tube.

He just smirked, stepping closer. “Well, considering you can’t ride alone… and I’ve got no one waiting for me—” he motioned to Max and Pietra, already laughing at something nearby “—I’m feeling generous.”

You groaned. The last thing you wanted was to owe him anything. But the slide was right there, taunting you. And he wasn’t wrong — without him, you weren’t getting on.

“Fine,” you said through clenched teeth. “But don’t talk to me during the ride.”

He grinned wider, like you’d just made his entire day. “Deal. Can’t promise I won’t scream louder than you, though.”

And with that, he grabbed one side of the tube, brushing past you with that infuriating confidence, leaving you half-regretting and half-thrilled that you’d agreed at all. Because if there was one thing worse than not going on the slide… it was going on it with Lando Norris.