Lewis was visibly thrilled at the thought of having Alice and Emily in his garage. “Double the support, huh?” he chuckled, clearly delighted.

He knew he held a special interest in her—an undeniable romantic spark. All he needed now was to make sure she was moving on from her ex. He genuinely felt for her; no one deserved the kind of heartbreak she’d been through. “Wish me luck, eh?” he said, his voice light but hopeful, and Alice couldn’t help but blush slightly at his enthusiasm.

After that dinner, a part of her realized it was time to let go, to truly move forward. And perhaps, just maybe, life was offering her something new—someone willing to treat her right.

“Good luck, Lewis,” she replied softly, patting his helmet with a smile before giving him a gentle, encouraging hug.

“Will you be here when the race is over?” he asked, his gaze sincere.

“Yeah, maybe with Carmen and the other girls,” she replied.

Lewis hesitated, his voice softening. “Uh… if I win the race, will you… go to dinner with me?” His words hung in the air, his eyes bright with anticipation.

Alice chuckled at his nervousness, her smile warm. “Yes, I’ll go with you. Anyway, I’ll be there with everyone,” she teased, making him laugh.

But her smile lingered, knowing that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.

It felt like a fresh start, the beginning of something new. Alice and Lewis weren’t rushing into anything, but there was an undeniable spark that hinted at something special. The race itself was intense, with Lewis nearly colliding with Lando at Turn 4. But in the end, he crossed the finish line at P2, just behind Max at P1 and Charles at P3.

As soon as he could, Lewis made his way over to where the girls were waiting, his eyes lighting up when he spotted Alice still there. “Hey, you were amazing today!” she congratulated him with a warm smile, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small candy to hand to him.

Charles, noticing the exchange, grinned playfully. “Hey, don’t I get one too?” he teased, holding onto Charlotte, who laughed at her boyfriend’s eagerness.

“Aww, man, we need one too, little star!” Daniel chimed in, joining their little circle with a wide grin.

Alice laughed, pulling out more candies from her bag. “Good thing I have plenty,” she said, handing one to each of them, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.

As everyone savored their little treats, Alice felt an unexpected sense of belonging. The laughter, the teasing—it reminded her of simpler times, moments she’d missed without even realizing it.

“So, did you have fun watching us zoom around?” Lando asked, popping his candy into his mouth, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Alice nodded, glancing at Emily, who was equally caught up in the moment. “I didn’t know racing could be this thrilling,” she admitted with a chuckle. “And terrifying,” she added, remembering the near-collision.

“Terrifying?” Lewis echoed with a grin. “I’d say it was just a little excitement to keep the heart pumping.”

Max, who had been observing from a few feet away, walked over, catching her eye. He gave a polite nod, his gaze lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. “Glad to see you here,” he murmured quietly.

Alice nodded back, her smile polite but guarded. “It’s… different, that’s for sure.” Her voice was steady, but there was a slight tension, an awareness between them that neither could quite ignore.

Charles broke the silence, patting Lewis on the back. “Alright, Mr. P2, where’s that dinner you promised her?” he teased, making Lewis chuckle.

“Ah, yes,” Lewis said, grinning as he looked at Alice. “Ready for that dinner?”

Alice smiled, her earlier nervousness dissipating. “I am,” she replied, her gaze softening as she looked at him. “But only if you promise not to almost crash again.”

Lewis laughed, holding up his hands. “Deal! I’ll do my best.”

As they started to head out, Daniel caught up to them, wrapping an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “You’re gonna love this,” he whispered with a wink. “Lewis knows all the best spots.”

Max watched them go, his expression unreadable as he saw Alice laughing with Lewis and the others. He turned away, but Carmen noticed his clenched fists, a faint frown crossing her face.

In that moment, Alice felt lighter, surrounded by friends and the possibility of something new. It felt like she was finally letting go, finally moving on. The night was just beginning, and for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful.

As they walked toward the dinner venue, Alice couldn’t help but glance over at Lewis with a playful smile. She’d heard through the grapevine—thanks to Carmen and Charlotte—that he’d been a bit nervous about asking her out to dinner.

“So,” she teased, nudging him lightly, “I heard you needed a little pep talk to get up the courage to invite me tonight.”

Lewis’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Well, I might have needed a little… guidance,” he admitted, shooting a mock glare at Charlotte and Carmen, who were trying to hide their grins.

“Oh, no need to be embarrassed,” Alice teased, her smile widening. “I’m flattered that you put so much thought into it.”

He laughed, clearly a bit flustered but playing along. “Hey, I just wanted to make sure I did it right. Can’t mess things up with someone like you, right?”

Alice’s cheeks flushed a little, the sincerity in his words catching her off guard. She softened, giving him a genuine smile. “Well, I’d say you did pretty well, Mr. Hamilton. I’m here, aren’t I?”

He grinned, clearly relieved. “Glad to hear it. Now let’s make this a night you won’t forget.”

As they walked into the restaurant, surrounded by friends and laughter, Alice realized that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something good.

The restaurant was cozy, filled with warm lights and a comforting ambiance that immediately put Alice at ease. She looked around, taking in the welcoming decor and relaxed atmosphere. It wasn’t flashy or over-the-top—just the kind of place that felt genuine. She smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude.

“I love the vibe here,” she said, glancing over at Lewis. “Thank you for bringing me.”

He gave her an affectionate look, his eyes reflecting a softness that made her heart skip a beat. “Only the best for my new bestie,” he teased, pulling out his phone. “Speaking of which… we need to capture this moment.”

They leaned in, their faces close as he snapped a few selfies. They laughed, trying out different expressions—some goofy, some serious—until they found the perfect shot. Alice picked the one she liked best, captioned it “New besties,” and posted it, feeling warmth spread through her chest.

Lewis grinned, glancing at the post. “Besties, huh? I can live with that,” he joked, but the twinkle in his eye suggested that maybe he hoped for something more.

@alicebrown

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liked by lewishamilton , divinemily , daniellriccardio and 1.3 others

alicebrown: we had takeout after dinner🍽️ 😋🫶🏻.#newbesties
tagged: lewishamilton

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daniellriccardio: well that looks delicious 🤭
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user 1 : are you talking about the food or lewis?
daniellriccardio : reply : of course lewis!!

divineemily: 🤭
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alicebrowm: 🤫

Charolettesine: we're stealing you next time🥹
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alicebrown: definitely!!!

user2: her hanging out with lewis omg!nnnnnndmamamsm

user 3: she's so ugly though 😭?

user 4 : whyyyyyyy lewissssss????? You were supposed to be mine!!!!
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user5 : lmao what?

landonorris: charles was asking if you had more of that candy
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charlesleclerc: I DID NOT!
|charolettesine: babe , you're only denying because you're scared your dietician will see it😂

mercedesamgf1: omg!!!!! Welcome to the fam bestie!!!!!💅🏻

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As they sat back down, Lewis ordered a couple of his favorite dishes for them to try. The conversation flowed easily, with laughter punctuating their stories and little teases. It felt refreshing for Alice—light and uncomplicated, like a breath of fresh air after everything she’d been through.

“So… what’s the plan tomorrow?” she asked, sipping her drink.

“Well, hopefully, I’ll be celebrating another podium,” he said with a wink. “But… you’ll still be around, right? Maybe we can grab another dinner after the race?”

Alice smiled, feeling a warmth in his words. “Of course. Wouldn’t miss it. Besides, I have to be there to give you another good luck charm,” she teased, pulling out a small piece of candy from her bag, a tradition that had started by chance and quickly turned into their little ritual.

Lewis laughed, accepting the candy with a grin. “I’m holding you to that. I need all the luck I can get.”

They continued chatting, the hours slipping by unnoticed. By the end of the night, Alice felt a sense of ease she hadn’t felt in a while. The gentle spark of friendship—or maybe something more—felt like the start of something genuine, something unhurried and safe.

As they said goodbye, Lewis pulled her in for a brief hug. “Thanks for tonight, Alice. I really needed this.”

“Me too,” she replied softly, feeling the same.

As she walked back to her place, she couldn’t help but smile, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.