#sydwritess

Your dating life was a significant flaw that you carried with you throughout your life. The first date went smoothly, filled with wine and late-night walks along the beach. But once they found out that you had a three-year-old baby girl waiting at home...

They never called back.

Taking a break from dating for a while was easy. Giving up as a whole was best in the time being. Down in the small suburban city of Monaco, tucked away in a small aesthetic setting, was a little local book shop you worked at, while your daughter, Lily, was at your brother, Aiden's, house for the day.

It was a slow Monday as you stood behind the main counter, leaning against the wall as you munched on a cookie from the café next door. Suddenly, the bell above the door chimed, signaling that someone had walked in. Quickly wiping your hands, you stepped forward to the computer and greeted the man with a smile.

"How can I help you today?"

He walked up to the counter, tapping his fingers down on the smooth surface as he looked in your direction. "I am... looking for something to read." He sighs, desperation and defeat stirring within his voice.

You chuckle. "You've come to the right place. Are you into anything specific?"

"Biographies, thrillers, horror, fiction, anything but romance."

"Gotcha." You click your tongue, looking around. "Follow me." He walks with you to the corner of the store as you look at the shelves with thought. "Are you into books that you can also watch on TV?"

"You read my mind." He smirks.

"For horror..." Crouching down, you reach for a book that sat in the front of the row. "I can recommend Stephen King's 'It'." Handing it up to him. "And I can recommend 'The Sun Down Motel' by Simone St. James." The second book was sitting next to 'It", you hand it up to him as you stand, meeting his level.

"I like your taste." He smiles, glancing your way before looking down, flipping the book over to read the description.

"I try." You chuckle. There was a long pause. Light chatter was heard from the cafe next door, but the bookstore was quiet. Perfect.

"Uh... what about like- war books? But they aren't real. Like a-"

"Fiction?"

"That." He points, following as you wave him over in the direction of the history section. Stopping at the small history section, you pause, looking as you pull a certain book out from the top shelf.

"'The Things We Can Not Say' is a good one. It follows Eleena during World War 2 and transitions between her and her granddaughter in 2019."

"Good enough for... a friend?" You stand fully, looking at him square in the eyes.

"Depends. Who's your friend?"

"I- uhm..." He trails, looking down at the book. "You?" You finish for him.

"Well, it's not like I'm some history nerd or anything." He blows off, eyes filling with nerves.

"It's okay if you are. Hell, I'm a book nerd."

"I just think World Wars are interesting." He smiles.

"I do too." You start walking out of the aisle to the counter when he stops you again. "What about racing?"

"Racing?"

"Autobiography... racing books."

You turn, looking at the shop. "We don't necessarily get any books. We do get magazines, though." There was a box that sat below the counter. The delivery man arrived at the same time as you did, early in the morning, with a bunch of new magazines and books for the shop.

"Perfect." He saunters back to the front counter. "I think we actually got some new ones today." You placed the box on the counter from the corner of the employee area and grabbed one of each magazine from the four different stacks, laying them out in front of him. "Are you into the sport?"

"Yeah... you could say that. You?"

"I'm not totally familiar, but my brother watches it all the time. Always complaining about the teams or whatever." You wave a hand in the air.

"Really? What does he say? If you don't mind me asking that is."

You laugh. "I try not to listen, but this past year, it's been about how some guy named Lewis shouldn't have switched teams? I don't really know what that means, to be honest."

"Well, I'm sure Lewis feels the same way." He jokes, placing the magazines down by the cash register. "I'll do these for now."

You quickly ring up the books, adding them all together. "29.73." He hands you a fifty-dollar bill. "Did you want to place an account with us?"

"Depends, do I get to be coming in here more often?" He smirks.

"Whenever you'd like. As long as it's store hours."

"Then I'll do it."

"Okay, I'll just need a card number and email." He pulls out his card, reads the PIN off, and then transfers his email to the iPad screen. "And I just need a name."

"Lando."

"Last name?"

"Norris…" he started, his voice trailing off slightly. "Uh, it's Norris… you know, just Norris." He shifted uncomfortably, clearly reluctant to say his last name.

"Okay, you're all signed up. You should receive an email shortly just to confirm everything." You smile, handing his bag over to him

"Great, thank you so much." He smiles, walking away from the counter. You turn your attention back to the large box, picking up all of the new magazines and organizing them into their own stacks. "Oh- what's that cafe about?" He asks, catching your attention. Pointing through the small door to the cafe that connected to the store.

"Just opened. They have some pretty good stuff."

"What's your best recommendation from there? For the Halloween season." He mentions, swinging the bag aimlessly in his hands.

"Pumpkin spice latte. It's the best."

"Great. That'll be my next stop then. Have a great day." He smiles.

"Thank you, you too." He walks through the entryway into the Cafe, your gaze quickly turning as you see Aiden and Lily walk through the main door.

"Hi guys!"

"Look, mommy's here!" Lily says, pointing over to you.

"Yeah, she is." Aiden laughs as he carries Lily over to the counter.

"Let's get books." She looks around, eyes locking onto the colorful children's section by the door.

"Let's go get some books." He says, carrying her over to her section. They plop down in a beanbag chair after Lily collects a couple of books, reading them aloud to him and pointing to all of the pictures.

"This is very good." A voice says. Lando walks over to you, holding his latte in the air proudly like he'd made it himself. "You are like an expert on everything." He compliments.

"Well, thank you." You smile. "Guess I just separate trends from actual quality."

"Tell me about it. I saw this matcha green tea on TikTok..." He pauses, wincing at his own words like a knife to the chest. "I'd thought I'd give it a go since it was popular. Definitely not for me. That was awful."

"Yeah. I tend to go for stuff that people don't order, or stuff that's not trending online." You giggle. "This world is run by trends."

"Well, I do have to say that this-" he holds up his latte. "Is a winner. I'm going to have to stop here every day before the season is over."

You lean closer to him, crossing your arms along the counter. "I'm really good friends with the barista there. Even though it's been a week. Yesterday I ordered a whole thing of it, like a bulk deal. Tell her you know me, and she'll get it done for you."

"Really? I might have to take that then if it means getting this every morning."

"Definitely." You smile proudly, tapping your hands on the counter. "It's an addiction."

"Although I never got your name?" He raises a brow, sipping his latte like it was the last thing on earth.

"Y/n."

"Great to meet you."

"Great to meet you too."

Lily rushes over to the counter, Aiden trying to keep up with her through the small space. She plopped her book up on the counter, arms barely reaching even on tippy-toes.

"Right, well, I'll let you tend to your customers. I'll see you around." Lando gives a polite wave, which you return as he walks out of the building.

"Alright, ma'am, you ready to pay?"

"I like that one!" Lily points, her little hands gripping the counter as she peers her eyes towards you. "I got this!" She shouts, placing a ten-dollar bill on the counter.

"Wow! Where did you get this?" You ask, surprised, taking the money and putting it into the cash register.

"Uncle Aiden!" The cash box rings as you take the difference out, handing it back to Aiden with a stern look and small smile.

"She deserves it." He shrugs.

"We get discounts."

"It's fine." He waved off, looking down at Lily, who was clutching her new book tightly against her chest. "Lil's, why don't you go over and read your book?" She nods happily, rushing off and plopping herself on the floor while Aiden turns his attention back to you. "Who's the guy?"

Confusion hit like a slap in the face. "W- what?"

"The guy? Left when Lily came up." He states.

"Oh, just some customer. Came in earlier." You shrug, focusing on the magazines that you'd neatly stacked together. Aiden quirks a brow, you noticed while walking to the front of the counter, separating the magazines into different slots near the counter. "What?"

"I just... worry."

"I know. But it's okay. He just needed book and coffee recommendations."

"I also remember the last times someone was 'just a customer.'" He refers back to your ex, the one you had Lily with.

Sighing, a hand runs through your hair as another stack of magazines is grabbed, stacking them neatly underneath the previous ones. "I'm not trying to make you upset." He drums his fingers along the edge of the counter. "I worry about your well-being. And Lily, she was young, but she understood." Your head moves simultaneously with his words. Focused on your organization, the rest of the conversation fades into the background until Lily runs over to you, pulling on your sweater.

"What's up, bug?"

"Go home?" Her tiny voice says, pleading eyes looking up at you.

"Uncle will bring you home." You crouch down to her level. "I will be home shortly, though, before dinner."

"Promise?"

"I promise, and then we can have all the chicken nuggets and French fries we want."

"Yay! I like that!" She slings her arms around your neck, dropping her book to the floor in the process. You giggle, mimicking her motions as you hug her tightly. "I'll be home waiting."

"Perfect." You smile, standing up. "Make sure uncle doesn't get into too much trouble." You tease.

She nods her head, blonde curls falling past her face as she and Aiden walk out the main door. The shop was quiet; the noise from the cafe wasn't as loud as before. You finished stacking the rest of the magazines and displaying them before sitting behind the counter, lazily scrolling on your phone to pass the time.

It was nearing six o'clock. The sky was a gloomy gray, the street lights flickering on. You grabbed your bag from the back office, shutting the lights off before flipping the sign from 'open' to 'closed' and exiting the building. The small town lit brightly at night. Bars and restaurants are filled with people. Sidewalks would empty out and then come to life every time someone would leave to go home.

You jigged the handle on the door, making sure it was locked before walking down the street. A mix of autumn and food from the restaurants hits you as you walk. The trees in front of each shop are lit with string lights, and the leaves falling off each tree are spilling into the road. Your boot crunched with every step you took.

The main street was busy. The red hand on the crosswalk sign blinked furiously as you waited. "Hey, stranger." You whip your head over to see Lando walking in your direction, stopping and waiting for the light to go green.

"Hey." You smile. "Two times a day... that's a record."

He laughs, a full chest laugh. "Small town, I suppose."

"Yeah." You laugh, crossing your arms against the chill of the autumn air. "Do you live around here?"

"Over near the bay, what about you?"

"Kind of in the middle. I'm right over there." You point at the tall apartment building to the left of you. Towering in the distance.

"Wow, I'm literally around the block from that." The light quickly turns green, and both of you walk across the street to get to the other side.

"Really?" You ask, rounding the corner of the street.

"Yep. I'm just... over there." He points to a large building off in the distance, on the other side of town.

"That's... more than a block."

"Yeah, well… I- I mean. Well, you know—" he stammers again, glancing around nervously. "How was work?" He shifts from foot to foot, clearly anxious. The thought of you stopping communication because he lives on the rich side of town has him on the edge of his seat. "I mean, it’s not like I choose where to live or anything," he mumbles, trying to brush off the nervousness spilling out of him.

"Work was good. Thanks for asking." You laugh at his quick cover-up. "Aren't you an adult?"

"Yeah... but you know." He pauses, glancing over at you. "I didn't have work today." A hint of hesitation appeared in his voice as if he was unsure if he should have told you.

"Really? You must be lucky then."

"Yeah, something like that." He says, scratching the back of his neck as you walk. "You know I started that 'Sun Down Motel' book. It's really good."

"I'm glad you like it. How far did you get?"

"Chapter two. But I plan on reading more after I get home." He points a finger aimlessly towards the night sky.

You and Lando continued your walk together, the crisp orange leaves leaving small whispers as they blow by your feet. A comfortable silence enveloped you, the city coming to life for the evening. A familiar concrete building subtly appeared before you, making you stop in your tracks. Lando's too.

"Have a good night." He smiles warmly, giving you a gentle wave. The beaming light reflects off his face. You couldn't tell much in the dark, but there was something within him you liked. Something you haven't felt in a while.

"You too."

You separate. You walk into your apartment building while he travels slowly down the sidewalk, hands tucked in his pockets from the cold weather. The receptionist in the lobby gave you a warm smile as you headed towards the elevators, clicking the button before the doors opened.

The ride up was deliberately slow. Your bag was clutched under your hand as you leaned back against the wall, staring into the abyss. Thoughts swirled in your mind, fragments of the day played like a reel in your mind. The thick hum of the elevator soon came to a jolting stop, the door sliding open.

Distant chatter came from every door you passed, probably having an enjoyable family dinner. Your apartment was silent. No chatter or laughter came from inside, even through the thick wood. You unlocked the door slowly, stepping inside and placing your bag on a coat hook.

The apartment was dimly lit, with only the glowing lamps illuminating a corner of the living room. Lily was sitting on the carpet with Aiden, building a LEGO set and watching cartoons. Her little eyes lit up at the sight of you standing in the doorway.

She ran over to you, wrapping her arms around your leg. You bent down, hugging her tightly. "How was your day, bug?"

"We build LEGO's today!"

"Awesome." You giggle, running a hand through her curls, the light catching her blonde strands. "I'm glad you had fun."

"Uncle let me have pie." She giggles excitedly before running into the kitchen. You stand, hand going to your hip as you look over at Aiden.

"Really?"

"Look, I fell for it again," He admitted, shaking his head in sarcastic frustration. "She was just too cute. She had the big puppy dog eyes and adorable little whimper. I- it was just too hard not to give her a piece. You don't understand." He rushes, stammering over his words.

"I do. I raised her. I know how not to fall for her tricks." You smirk, turning on your heel and walking into the kitchen. He followed right behind, and Lily sat comfortably in an island chair, slouching back as she waited for her food. "Alright, girly, you sure you want dinner?"

She shakes her head with a small smile. "I want chicken nuggets."

"Okay..." The smell of freshly baked pie still lingered in the air. "Are you sure you're not full from the pie?" You asked, tilting your head slightly, a teasing grin forming on your face as you look at her.

"No! I promise."

You open the freezer, taking out chicken nuggets and French fries.

"Alright, I'm out of here," Aiden says, slinging his hoodie over his shoulder. "Am I coming over tomorrow?"

"Yeah!" Lily shouts excitedly. You smile, simply nodding as you put the food in the oven.

"I can try to get out of work early. I can't promise anything, though." You say.

"It's okay. Just call me in the morning." He gives both of you a quick hug before leaving.

"Is Uncle coming over tomorrow?" Lily asks, tilting her head.

"I think so. At least for a couple of hours." You smile.

"And then we can hang out?"

"Of course, baby."

-

The week flew by with ease. The bookshop wasn't as crowded as it was near the holidays, which was nice for some downtime.

It was Friday. The sky was a light gray, and the wind was whistling through the quiet streets of town. You flipped the shop sign from closed to open before lugging a big ladder through the doorway.

You picked up some string lights from a local hardware shop to decorate the bookstore. You climbed the ladder slowly, stopping halfway up and unraveling the lights. There were already hooks above the door and looping down above the windows.

You lay the lights against the hooks. The soft glow of the lights casts gentle shadows on the walls as you work. With deliberate movements, you travel across to the left window, the ladder creaking as you lean over, grasping onto the crowing of the door for balance. The other side of the lights begins to slip off the hooks above the door, falling carefully to the ground like sparkling droplets.

You sigh, dropping your head as you finish hooking the left side of the lights. A heavy shadow comes into the corner of your peripheral vision, making you turn your head to see a hand picking up the string of lights.

Lando stood to the right of you, lips quirking into a smile. "Drop something?"

"Wow." You huff sarcastically. "If I didn't know you or your name, I'd have to take this to stalker level."

Throughout the week, you'd seen Lando pop up near the bookstore quite often. Whether it was just an overly stroll past, or a stop in to 'buy a new book' after talking with you the whole time.

"Well, I was just walking by, trying to get an early jog in, and saw you dropped these." He says, raising the lights.

"Thank you." You smile, gently taking them out of his hands and hooking them around the hooks above the right window. "You always come around this way?"

"Well... a new route. New change." He shrugs, gaze following your movements as you step down the ladder.

You nod, closing the ladder and setting it inside the door. "Well, I'd better not keep you waiting."

"Oh, I'm fine." He waves off. "This was the end of my route."

"The bookstore... is the end of your route?"

"Yeah. Figured," He shrugs. "Why not?" You nod along, walking inside the shop. Lando follows behind slowly as you walk behind the counter, clocking in and starting up the computer. "Have you gotten any new reads in?" He leans his elbows gently on the counter, placing his head in his hands.

You giggle. "No, we don't get them that often unless we're out or if it's something brand new."

"Well, you should definitely get something new."

"Like what?"

He hums, quickly glancing around. "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

"Over in the history section." You point.

"What about... The Yellow Wallpaper?"

Your brows furrow, eyes concentrating on the computer as you look up the book. "I can order it for you if you'd like."

"That'd be wonderful." He smiles, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. "And, what about 'A Date?'"

Nothing shows on the computer screen. You type the book in multiple different ways, still not finding the particular title. "I'm not finding anything in here."

"Really?" He leans over, looking at the screen as you turn it in his direction. "That's odd. I could've sworn..." He trails, looking up at you. "I could've sworn I already asked."

"Ah- gotcha." You nod sarcastically. "Where does it take place?"

"The Adriatic. Tonight?"

"Can't tonight. Well- maybe. It all depends."

"You have my number in the system, right? You can call me from there."

"Sure. I'll let you know." You smile.

"Great. Well, I will see you later, possibly." He chuckles, turning on his heels and walking out.

You let out a breath. Brows knitting together slowly, trying to piece together your conversation.

You had a date.

An actual date.

The first one in over a year. The first one where the guy asked you out first.

You grab your phone off the counter, dialing Aidens' number. The line picked up instantly.

"I have a date."

"Excuse me?"

"I have a date." You repeat.

"Woah- okay. Okay, with whom?" Confusion broke through his voice as he spoke.

"The guy from the store. He came in again today-"

"Y/n."

"Aiden."

"A date? You've known him for a week."

"That's the point of a date. To get to know each other more. But it's tonight..." Your words tip, trailing off the edge as you realize the promise you made to Lily. "It's tonight."

"You promised Lily. You've promised to hang out with her this whole week after work."

"I know. I know."

The line goes silent. Aiden sighs, walking around. "Where is she?"

"In the living room watching TV."

You nod. "What if I come home early. Spend some time with her and then leave?"

"That's up to you. But you can not tell her you have a date." He says quietly. "You know how she gets."

"I know. I can just... tell her I have an appointment or something."

"It's up to you. Not me."

"Are you able to stay later?"

"Yeah. But as long as you don't rush into things."

"Thank you. Really."

"You're welcome. I'll see you at home."

He hangs up the phone. You slid it into your back pocket, walking into the employee room and grabbing the rest of the fall decorations.

You stepped up on the windows ledge near the kids' section, reaching up and hanging a mix of string lights and fake orange and red leaves on little hooks that outlined the window. The other side looked exactly the same.

Time passed slowly as you decorated. Little pumpkins sat on the counter by the register, fake jack o lanterns placed on the window ledge, and some real ones just outside the door.

You'd written Landos' number down in your phone before you left, texting him a quick confirmation for tonight. The wind was brutal on your back as you walked. Boots clicking with every step.

The lobby doors swung open as you stepped through, hiding from the cold. A fire was dimly lit off to the side, where the small waiting area was. Amy, the building's receptionist, handed your mail to you before you went up to your apartment.

The smell of cake and different baked goods filled the space as you walked inside the apartment. You round the corner to see Lily and Aiden baking in the kitchen, a huge floury mess everywhere. Bits of batter dripped from the counter to the floor as they looked at you with innocent eyes, both in the middle of licking batter-covered spoons, as you caught their attention.

"Mommy!" Lily runs over, ditching her spoon in the process.

"Hi, bug." You smile, crouching to her level. "I see you guys are having fun."

"We maked cupcakes! For you!" She runs back through the kitchen, pointing to a purple iced cupcake that Aiden handed to her. "Can you please try it?" She asks, a slight whine hinting in her voice as she holds the cupcake proudly in her hands.

You nod, smiling and taking it from her. Rainbow sprinkles dropped out as you bit into it, the whole inside filled with different colors and icing.

"Wow... this is good." You smile. "Sugary, but good."

"I knew you like it!"

Aiden nods, tilts his head to the side, signaling for Lily to stand with him while he takes more cupcakes out of the oven. You discreetly moved down the hallway into your bedroom.

Dresses were piled in your closet and on the rack, each hanger quietly screeching against the metal as you moved the dresses aside, carefully deciding which dress to wear.

Your eyes wandered along the rack and shelves, stopping when they saw a dark navy blue dress hidden in the corner. It was short and silk, straps falling down past your shoulders, resting gently against your skin. The bottom pooled in the middle of your thighs, tugging up ever so slightly as you walked back to the closet.

You snapped on some diamond earrings and slipped on a pair of black heels before walking out. Lily and Aiden stopped their movements and looked as you stopped in the kitchen doorway.

"Mommy, you look so pretty!"

"Thanks, bug." You smile, grabbing your purse from the hook by the door. She walks over to you slowly, fingers fidgeting together as you look down at her. "I'll be back tonight, I promise you."

"Before pancake Saturday?"

"Before pancake Saturday." You chuckle, bringing her in for a hug. "I'm just going out with a friend. I'll be here tonight."

"Okay..." She trails nervously, slightly backing away.

"Okay. Uncle is going to stay with you until I get back."

"I hope you have fun." She mutters, lips quivering into a small smile.

"I will. I hope you have fun too, baby."

She nods, smiling before turning back to the kitchen to help Aiden. You give him a small wave before walking out the door. The sky was dark, cold. You stood outside, leaning against one of the pillars by the front doors as you waited for Lando. The moon hung in the sky, shining brightly down on the street, glowing off the buildings. Your breath was seen every time you exhaled, making you shiver as you saw it.

A sleek black McLaren rolled up in front of you, the door opening as Lando stepped out, wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. He greets you with a smile as you step forward, admiring the car that sits behind him. 

“How are you?” He asks gently, wrapping his arms around you. 

“I’m good, how about you?”

“Good.” He quickly glances back behind him, turning his gaze back to you. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I got caught up in some work stuff.” 

“It’s okay, I wasn’t even out here that long.” You smile. He walks you around to the passenger side of his car, opening the door for you. The heat flowing from the vents hits you gently, making your body relax into the seat as you buckle the seatbelt. Lando gets in right after, driving off down the road to the restaurant in town. 

Your gaze was fixed on the interior of the car. Bright orange lights beamed from the dashboard all the way over to the passenger side, leading under the seats. “I never actually thought I’d get to be in something like this.” You say, starstruck, that you even had the opportunity to be a car like this.

“Yeah… it was the one I had at the time being.” He explains nervously. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he drove through the city. “Sorry if it’s a lot. You know, for a first date it’s not exactly ideal. I- I mean like- it’s definitely not-”

“It’s okay.” You cut him off gently. “It’s cool, actually. Being in a sports car is like a dream within itself.” Light laughter fills the car, the two of you glancing over at each other. 

“Believe me, I know firsthand what it's like. This has been my dream since the beginning.”

“That’s amazing,” You smile. “Getting your dream car and everything. You must’ve been excited.”

“I was.” He puts a hand up from the steering wheel. “Accomplishing a dream is one thing, but I feel like when you accomplish a dream, and actually get to see it daily… that’s a whole different pride and joy you get to live with.” 

“It is.”

“Have you ever had one? A dream?”

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to perform at the Paris Opera Ballet.” You nod.

“That’s awesome. Are you still working on that?”

“No. I stopped a while ago. Life sort of happened.”

He pulls over to the side of the street, backing into a parking space in front of the restaurant. “I get that a lot.” He chuckles.

You couldn’t dare tell him today. Not on the first date. 

The guilt stuck with you as you sat at a small table near the back of the restaurant. The room was loud with chatter from the groups around you. The hostess brought you a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses before walking back to her stand. Lando filled the glasses, setting the bottle to the side. His gaze was stuck to you as he leaned on the table, crossing his arms in the process. 

“What’re you thinking?”

Your tongue rolls against your cheek. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Dating just… doesn't stick with me.”

“The men out here nowadays suck.” He nods.

Your brows raise in surprise. His face drops instantly, a hand rubbing down like he was about to die. “I- ah Jesus- I didn’t mean it like that. You- I swear like- I just-” He stutters profusely. You let a laugh slip out, instantly covering it with your hand. 

“Great starter impression.” He chuckles. “Right, what I mean is that the men here suck. Especially for turning you down.”

“Thank you. But, it’s okay, you know? I’d rather be with someone who would be there for me than someone who is just there just to be there.”

“I love that. That’s a really important aspect too. That’s like…” He shakes his head. “Having  someone be with you only for money or something, not the love itself.”

“Does it happen to you a lot?”

“More than you think. They always come up with some stupid sob story.”

You smile in agreement. “Right? When it’s not even close to true.”

The atmosphere in the restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft lighting casting a cozy glow over the elegantly set tables. You and Lando sat across from each other, a shared appetizer of fresh bruschetta between you, the vibrant colors of the tomatoes and basil almost too beautiful to disturb. As you each reached for a piece, your fingers brushed, causing an electric spark that made you both laugh nervously.

“So, earlier you said you were into racing?” You ask, genuinely curious about his interests. Lando leaned back in his chair, a grin forming as he tried to mask his life. 

“Like I said, it’s an amazing sport.” 

You point to him, smirking. “You know? You look like the guy my brother describes…” You trail, trying to match his name. 

“Really?”

“Yeah. Like I said, he’s always watching the races, so it’s kind of hard not to pay attention when he’s yelling at the TV.” You giggle.

“Right, I do remember.” He puts a hand on his chest. “Personally, I do the same. Some of the drivers truly don’t know what they’re doing. I think I could do a much better job.” 

“Have you ever driven so fast?”

“No. But I'm willing to give it a go. Why not?”

“I like the way you think.” You smile. “I’d definitely freak out.”

“It’s just the way of life. Sometimes it’s good to take risks and-” You found yourself hanging on his every word, not just captivated by his precision, but by the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about something he loved.

When he asked about you, you shared a story from your primary school years, replaying the mishap during a school play that ended with you dramatically tripping on stage, much to the amusement of your classmates. Lando chuckled heartily, the sound infectious. “I can just picture it,” he said, shaking his head in mock disapproval. “You must have been the star of that show!” The laughter broke the barrier further between you, making the conversation feel easy and effortless as the appetizer disappeared and the main courses were served. 

The world around you seemed to fade into the background as you savored your meals. Time passed unnoticed, filled with shared stories, laughter, and glances that lingered a moment too long. Each exchange only deepened the connection you felt, as warmth blossomed in your chest—a feeling you hadn’t anticipated getting from this evening. By the time dessert arrived, you were both grinning like giddy kids, already planning your next outing, even as the night lingered on. 

“I kid you not, my own best friend.” He says, sharing a story of him and his friend Max when they used to go karting. 

“He crashed into you?” You and Lando laugh simultaneously.

“Landed me straight into the wall.”

“Oh my God. That’s insane- and you didn’t get scared?”

He tilted his head, eyes squinting. “Maybe a smidgen. But I was brave.”

“I’m sure that must have been a lot.”

The night carried on smoothly. Between endless glasses of wine and laughter, to the restaurant closing at its dedicated time, you felt something. A feeling that hasn’t been by your side in a long time. The car ride was silent. You stared out the window, watching the buildings pass by quickly.

A string of guilt pitted in your stomach as Lando pulled the car up in front of your apartment building. You’d completely forgotten to tell him about Lily waiting at home for you. The laughter and steady flow of the night made you completely oblivious of your daughter. 

“Are you okay?” Lando asks, cutting you out of your thoughts.

You hum, turning to him to see a worried look drawn upon his face. “Sorry. Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You're sure? You look uneasy.”

“I’m sure. I guess I just got zoned out.”

“Alright.” He pauses, giving you a small nod.

“Thank you for tonight. I had fun.” You smile.

“I did too. We should do it again.”

“What about next Friday?” You suggest. 

“That would be great.” He smiles. “At the same time?”

“Yeah.”

“Awesome, it’s a date.”

“I’ll see you Friday then.”

“See you Friday.”

You step out of the car, shutting the door gently behind you as you walk inside the front doors. The elevator gently rattled with each climb of the floors, letting you think in silence. Of course… Lando didn’t have to know. Surely. Not yet, at least. The longer the guilt stayed with you, the more you felt detached from the world. 

Your mind subsided from your storm of thoughts as you entered the apartment. One lamp from the living room glowed as you looked over, slipping your shoes off before walking through the doors into the living room. Aiden lay on the couch, a blanket draped over his lap as he had his eyes steady on another race that played on the TV.

He looks at you through the TV’s reflection when the screen goes black for a break, his gaze then moving to you. “How was your night?”

“Fun. Different.” You nod. 

“Different?”

“Different. I actually felt something tonight.” You tell him, sitting down next to him. “I haven't felt that in years.”

“That’s a start at least, right?” You nod in agreement, eyes fixated on the commercials rolling through the TV. “Have you told him about Lil’s?”

“No.” The words felt like a knife in the stomach. “I got distracted. Once I finally remembered, I just… it was kind of too late.”

He nods slowly. Exhaustion filled his eyes. He looks over at you and leans his head against his hand. “You need to tell him.”

“I know. Please, that’s the only thing I’m worrying about now. It feels like I’m committing a fucking crime.” You snap quietly, walking into the kitchen. He slowly follows behind you, watching you carefully as you pour yourself a glass of water. 

“I don’t want to upset you. I didn't want to upset you. I just thought you told him.”

You look over, annoyance filling your face. “Trust me. I started thinking about it when he pulled up to the building to drop me off. He said I didn’t look well.” You roll your eyes at the thought. “I mean, like- it’s not like I committed a crime. Why do I feel so much guilt?” 

He steps closer, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. “Maybe because you’re scared of losing him. And you just want someone there. Not just for Lily, but for you.” He pauses, leaning over enough to catch your gaze. “Let’s be honest… You haven’t gone on a date in years. You’re scared of losing them, but you're also scared your daughter will push them away, or think of them as a replacement.”

“Yeah.”

“If you have another date, maybe tell him then. And if he turns you down, then he’s got some real issues. I’ll go hunt him down and beat him up.” He jokes, a smirk pulling through his lips.

You chuckle, shaking your head at the thought. 

“What’s this guy's name anyway?”

“Lando.”

His face drops. Jaw dropping wide open. “L-lando. As in Lando Norris!” He whisper-yells.

“Yeah. Why?”

“What are you stupid?”

Your brows furrow, body turning as you give him a look of disgust. His hands fly up to his mouth, eyes widening even more in the process. “Oh- I am so sorry.” 

“Sorry?”

“It was a total accident. I- I didn't mean stupid, I meant stupid, like joking stupid, like i- if you were joking with me stupid. O- or like- like joking.” He stammers.

“Just move on.” 

“Right. Lando Norris.”

“What’s so special about the name?”

“He’s in Formula One!”

“What?”

He grabs your wrist, dragging you over to the couch. “Look, look, look.” He points at the TV, specifically pointing at an orange car that was leading in first place. 

“That’s why he’s so into racing?” You ask aloud, replaying when Lando asked about racing books, seemingly leading to the story about him in his karting days. 

“Of course! If you had given me the name sooner, I could've let you know!”

“Okay. Stop yelling.” You say, putting your hand in the air. 

“Right, sorry.”

“So… he’s an F1 driver.” You tell yourself.

“That’s actually insane.” Aiden runs a hand through his hair, turning and pacing the living room floor. “My sister went on a date with a soon-to-be Championship driver and had no idea.”

“You’re making me sound stupid.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just trying to make sense of this.”

“Make sense of this and then tell me tomorrow. I’m going to bed.”

“I will, don’t you forget about this.” 

You put a thumbs-up in the air as you walk down the hallway. You changed into a pair of sweatpants and a cropped tank top, quietly making your way over to Lily’s room. It was dark, the door was cracked open. Her small butterfly nightlight lit the majority of the room. You purchased that custom-made for her after she told you about her fear of the dark earlier that year.

She was sound asleep in her bed, clutching her baby pink bunny in her arms. You walked over, the bed seemingly big enough since she slept near the edge. You crawled over her gently, snuggling yourself behind her so she still has enough room. She stirs lightly, turning lazily to meet you. You run a hand through her hair, soothing her back to sleep.

“Momma?”

“I’m right here, bug. It’s just me.” You whisper. 

Her eyes flutter, slowly closing again. “Did you like…” she trails. The room falls into silence for a moment. “Like your night?”

“My night was good, baby. I’ll tell you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Okay.” She mumbles tiredly against your chest. “Love you.”

“I love you, bug.”

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