𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄!

SPINNIN'
𝟐𝟓. 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭

Gianna had spent the past few days in a quiet rhythm, the comfort of her home wrapping around her like a blanket. She'd found solace in the simple things—her notebook, where her thoughts spilled out in a mess of words and melodies, and the books she'd been reading, which allowed her to slip into another world for a while. The beach, too, provided some relief, the sound of the waves and the salty breeze helping to clear her mind. But mostly, she stayed at home, her thoughts turning inward.

The events of that weekend in Imola—the man who had followed her, the fear, the confusion—kept playing over in her mind, a cycle she couldn't seem to break. She tried to shake it off, telling herself it was in the past, but it had left its mark, deeper than she realized. And the worst part? The memory wasn't entirely new. It had happened before, a year or so ago, and she had kept it to herself.

Back then, when things between her and Lando had been falling apart, she hadn't told him. She had never let him know about the time she'd been followed, the same sinking feeling of being unsafe, the fear that had gripped her. She had kept it inside, bottled up, believing it was something she could deal with on her own. And now, after everything that had happened—after finding each other again, slowly rebuilding whatever they had—she didn't plan on telling him.

She couldn't, not yet. Not when things were still fragile. It felt like a piece of her past she had buried, and she wasn't sure she wanted to dig it up again. She had learned to handle it on her own back then, and she figured she could do it again.

But every time she looked at Lando, the worry gnawed at her. She could see how much he cared, how hard he tried to be there for her. She knew he would want to know, that he'd feel guilty for not being there, even though it hadn't been his fault. And yet, a part of her felt like she couldn't let him in on this piece of her past, afraid it might weigh him down, afraid it might make him see her as fragile in a way she didn't want to be seen.

The silence of her home was both a comfort and a burden. Every moment she spent by herself only brought the weight of those unspoken memories closer to the surface.

She set her notebook down and stared out the window, watching the sunlight shimmer on the water, but her mind was elsewhere. She was trying to figure out how to live in the present, without the past haunting her. But the more she tried to push it away, the more it seemed to rise up. Maybe it was time to talk to someone, to open up. But not yet, not with Lando. Not until she was sure.

She sighed and pushed herself off the couch, walking over to her bag to grab her phone. Maybe a call to Callum or Aurelia would help clear her head. Just talking about something—anything—else. Maybe then she wouldn't feel like she was carrying all of this alone.

The phone buzzed in her hand, interrupting her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Lando's name on the screen. She smiled faintly, but her hand lingered before answering. Could she really keep pushing him away like this? Could she continue pretending everything was fine when it wasn't?

With a soft exhale, she swiped to answer.

"Hey, darling," Lando's voice came through, warm and familiar, though there was a slight edge to it—something she hadn't heard in a while. "How's your day been?"

Gianna paused, not quite sure what to say. "Good," she replied, keeping her voice light. "Just been at home, you know? Writing. Reading."

Lando's tone shifted a bit, more attentive. "Anything new? You've been quiet lately. You okay?"

She didn't know how to answer. How could she tell him she was still wrestling with the past, with things she'd never shared? Instead, she nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind. But I'm fine. How about you?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, as if Lando was weighing his words. "You sure?" he asked. "You've seemed a little... distant."

Gianna swallowed, biting her lip. "I'm okay. Just... processing things. You know how it is."

Lando didn't respond right away, but she could hear the sound of him shifting, probably making himself more comfortable. "I get it," he said softly. "But if you need to talk about anything, I'm here. You don't have to keep it all to yourself."

Her chest tightened at his words. The truth was, she wanted to tell him, wanted to unload everything that had been building up inside her. But part of her wasn't ready. She didn't want to risk making him feel guilty, or worse, seeing her as weak.

"I know," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be okay. I promise."

Lando let out a small sigh. "Alright. I'm always here, Gianna. Don't forget that."

"I won't," she replied quietly. "Thanks, Lando."

The conversation ended soon after that, and Gianna put the phone down, staring at the screen. The weight she'd been carrying still felt heavy, but for a moment, just a brief moment, she felt a little lighter. Maybe, in time, she would be ready to share. Maybe she'd have the strength to let him in on everything she'd kept hidden.

But for now, she just needed to breathe. And maybe, just maybe, she could start living without the constant weight of the past on her shoulders.

Later that evening, as the last remnants of sunlight faded from the sky, Gianna was finishing up a quiet dinner at home. The house was still, her thoughts a little calmer after her conversation with Lando, though she could still feel the weight of the past hovering in the background. She had been trying to distract herself—reading, jotting down lyrics—but something about tonight felt different.

A sudden knock at the door startled her. She set her book down and walked over, curiosity piquing as she swung the door open. Standing on the other side was Lando, a soft smile on his face, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

"Hey, darling," he said with a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes yet, but there was something reassuring in his presence. "Ready for a night out?"

Gianna blinked, surprised, but smiled back. "A night out? What do you mean?"

Lando stepped forward, offering the flowers with a small, teasing grin. "I've got a surprise for you," he said softly. "I know you've had a lot on your mind, so I figured we could get away from everything tonight. Just you and me."

Her heart fluttered at the thought, though her mind tried to convince her to stay grounded. "I wasn't expecting anything. What's the catch?"

"No catch," Lando replied, shaking his head, his eyes sincere. "I just thought it might be nice to forget everything for a few hours. No racing, no music, just a quiet, peaceful evening. If you're up for it."

Gianna felt the weight of his words settle in, and before she could respond, he added, "Go get ready. I've got everything planned. Just you. No distractions."

Something in his voice made her heart soften, and for a moment, she could almost forget everything else. The tension in her chest eased, and she gave him a small nod. "Alright, let me change."

A short time later, Gianna emerged from her room, dressed in a simple but elegant black dress. It was a shift in atmosphere for her—a quiet elegance that matched the simplicity of the evening Lando was trying to create. She found him standing by the door, looking handsome in a button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up, his usual smile now genuine and a little more carefree.

He looked her up and down, his eyes softening. "You look stunning," he said with an easy grin, his voice full of affection. "Ready to go?"

Gianna smiled, the unease of the past few days easing away for the first time in a while. "Ready."

They left the house and made their way to Lando's car. The city seemed quieter as they drove, the bustling streets now a peaceful backdrop to their drive. Lando didn't say much, but the quiet was comfortable, not awkward. Gianna could feel the tension from earlier fading as they passed by the familiar sights of Monaco.

As they arrived at the destination, Gianna's breath caught in her throat. The restaurant was tucked away in a small corner, lit by soft lights that cast a golden glow over the street. It was understated and elegant, a cozy bistro that felt far removed from the chaos of the world around them.

Lando helped her out of the car, his hand resting lightly on her back as they walked toward the entrance. There was a quietness to the evening that felt almost sacred, as though they were stepping into a space meant only for the two of them, away from everything.

Inside, the atmosphere was calm, the soft hum of other diners in the background, but nothing that threatened the peace. They were seated at a small table near the window, where the streetlights outside cast gentle shadows on their faces.

For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply enjoyed the ambiance, the food, the presence of one another. Gianna found herself relaxing in a way she hadn't been able to in days, the weight of the world slowly melting away. Lando looked at her from across the table, his eyes softer than usual, his smile a little more tender.

As the evening progressed, they talked about small things—their plans for the summer, how much they both missed the simplicity of quiet moments like this. Lando seemed lighter, more himself than he had been in a while. Gianna could sense the weight of the past few weeks lifting from his shoulders, too. There was no pressure, no media, no racing. Just the two of them, enjoying the moment.

When the dessert arrived—an indulgent chocolate mousse—Gianna smiled at Lando, who was looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite place. It was a look that felt almost as though he were seeing her for the first time, as if all the worries of the world were put aside for just one evening.

"I'm glad we did this," she said, her voice soft but steady.

Lando took a slow breath, his gaze steady on her. "Me too, Gianna. I know things haven't been easy... but I'm glad we're here now. Together."

Gianna's heart fluttered at his words. She didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, she knew that whatever came next, they'd face it side by side.

As the evening drew to a close, they walked back to the car, hand in hand. It was a simple gesture, but to Gianna, it meant everything. When they arrived back home, Lando stopped her before they could go inside.

"Gianna," he said softly, his fingers brushing against her arm. "Thank you for tonight. I needed this... I needed you."

Gianna smiled, her heart swelling with warmth. "I needed this too," she whispered back. "I needed us."

And with that, Lando pulled her into a gentle kiss, one that felt like it carried the weight of all the things left unsaid. It was slow, tender, a promise without words.

As they finally pulled away, Gianna knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it as they always had—together, no matter how tough things got.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Gianna felt at peace.

#AUTHORSNOTE

a smaller chapter because my babies deserve a good day in their heavy lives tbh.

Thanks for reading and don't be a silent reader, I love to read your thoughts!

J