Florence stood on the balcony of her apartment, the crisp evening air brushing against her face as she stared at the city lights of Madrid. The past week had felt surreal. Between the victory against Atlético Madrid and the quiet dinner with Lando, she felt like her life was on the cusp of something bigger—something unknown.

But it was also terrifying.

Her phone buzzed on the table beside her. It was a notification from a sports news outlet.

Headline: "Real Madrid Star Florence Alvarez Linked to F1's Lando Norris: Rekindled Friendship or Something More?"

She sighed, rubbing her temples. Despite their efforts to keep things private, speculation about her and Lando had grown louder.

Before she could overthink it, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Carlos.

Carlos: Busy tomorrow? I've got an idea.

Florence smiled. Carlos had become a surprising constant in her life lately, his easygoing nature a welcome break from the pressure.

Florence: What kind of idea?

Carlos: Just trust me. Pick you up at 10.

She hesitated for a moment before replying.

Florence: Fine. But if it's embarrassing, I'm blaming you.

The next morning, Carlos arrived outside Florence's apartment, leaning casually against his car. He grinned as she walked out, dressed in jeans and a sweater.

"Ready?" he asked, opening the passenger door for her.

"Do I have a choice?" she teased, sliding in.

"Not really."

As they drove through the city, Florence tried to guess their destination, but Carlos refused to give anything away.

Eventually, they arrived at a quiet go-kart track on the outskirts of Madrid.

"You're joking," Florence said, her eyes widening as she stepped out of the car.

"Not at all," Carlos said, smirking. "Thought you could use some fun. Besides, I need to see if you've still got that competitive streak."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."

They spent the next few hours racing around the track, laughing and trash-talking like old friends. Carlos was a natural, his skills honed by years of professional racing, but Florence held her own.

By the time they finished, both were breathless and grinning.

"Okay, I'll admit it," Florence said, leaning against the railing. "This was a good idea."

"Told you," Carlos said, tossing her a bottle of water. "You've been wound up lately. Thought this might help."

She nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. "It's just... a lot. The media, the pressure, Lando..."

Carlos raised an eyebrow. "Lando, huh?"

She sighed. "It's complicated. We're trying to keep things low-key, but people are already talking. And I don't know if I'm ready for everything that comes with this."

Carlos studied her for a moment before speaking. "Look, I've known Lando for years. He's a good guy, but he's also in the spotlight just like you. If you're going to do this, you both need to be all in. Otherwise, it's going to get messy."

"I know," she said quietly.

"But," Carlos added, his tone softening, "if it's worth it, you'll find a way to make it work."

Later that evening, Florence found herself thinking about Carlos's words. She knew he was right. If she and Lando were going to navigate this, they couldn't afford to be half-hearted.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Lando.

Lando: Thinking of you. Hope you're okay.

She stared at the screen, her chest tightening.

Florence: Can we talk?

They met at a quiet café later that night, the hum of the city fading into the background as they sat across from each other.

"What's going on?" Lando asked, concern evident in his eyes.

"I've been thinking," Florence began, her hands gripping her coffee cup. "About us. About what this means."

He leaned forward, his gaze steady. "And?"

"And I want this to work," she said, her voice firm despite the doubt lingering in her mind. "But it's not going to be easy. The media, our careers—it's a lot to handle."

"I know," he said softly. "But I also know that I don't want to lose you again."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words.

"I've spent years focusing on my career, and I wouldn't change that," he continued. "But being around you again... it feels like something I've been missing. And I'm willing to fight for it if you are."

Tears pricked her eyes as she nodded. "I am."

A slow smile spread across Lando's face, and for the first time in weeks, Florence felt a sense of peace.

They sat there for hours, talking about everything and nothing, their fears and hopes laid bare.

As they walked out into the cool night air, Lando reached for her hand. She hesitated for a moment before letting their fingers intertwine.

For better or worse, they were in this together.