Chapter Text
Race week was upon us, and not just any race, but the start of a triple header. Liam was supposed to head back to Belgium with my mother, and we'd tried our very best to keep the plan quiet. But there's only so much you can hide from a curious ten-year-old, especially one with ears sharper than a hawk's.
I should've known we were doomed the second he overheard me and Oscar talking about Austin.
"Please, please, please, Mommy, let's go! I want to see a Formula 1 race in real life. I want to see Oscar racing. Please, please!"
He was practically bouncing, eyes wide, hands clasped like he was making a wish.
Oscar didn't say a word, but I caught the way his face softened, how his lips twitched like he was trying not to smile. He didn't need to speak, the quiet melting in his eyes said it all.
Eventually... with a lot of deep breaths and the kind of mental bargaining only mothers know, I gave in.
On Wednesday evening, we boarded a flight to Austin, Texas. Liam fell asleep with his head in my mother's lap, and for a blissful moment, the cabin was silent.
That's when Oscar leaned toward me, his voice low enough for only me to hear.
"Liv... the fans will be all over us during a race. You know that, right? It's not going to be like the off-time between races."
"I'm aware" I murmured, though I wasn't sure if I was reassuring him or myself.
"We'll get through it together" he said, a faint but certain smile on his lips. "During media day, or whenever someone pushes too far, I'll tell them to back off. And for the people inside the team, there's no need to worry. They're harmless."
Still, my chest tightened. I was preparing myself for whatever tornado might be waiting. Not just for me, but for us.
Thursday, we let Oscar go and fulfill his media duties while my mother, Liam, and I explored Austin.
We wandered through a shopping mall, picking up warmer clothes to adjust to the strange contrast in temperatures after Chicago and Salt Lake.
Liam darted between racks of hoodies, trying on cowboy hats and declaring himself 'the sheriff of McLaren', while my mother and I tried not to laugh too loudly.
We met Oscar later that evening at a small restaurant not far from the hotel. The second he walked through the door, I knew something was off. His jaw was tight, his shoulders drawn in, and his eyes scanned the room like he was still shaking off whatever had just happened.
"Oscar!"
In a flash, Liam was out of his chair, throwing himself into Oscar's arms. That earned a smile, small, but real, and for a moment, the tension in his posture softened.
Dinner was... quiet. Conversation stayed polite and light, Liam chattering about the cowboy hat he found and my mother asking if the food in Australia was much different. Oscar played along, but there was a certain heaviness in his eyes, a weight he clearly wasn't ready to set down in front of my mother and Liam.
It wasn't until we were back in the hotel room, door shut behind us, that I finally asked,
"Tell me. How bad was it?"
He leaned against the desk, running a hand through his hair. "It could have been worse..." He shook his head, exhaling slowly. "As soon as I walked into the paddock, the PR officer came out of nowhere and rushed me into hospitality. Zak was there. And Mark, too."
I stayed quiet, giving him space.
"Their first question, almost in unison, was, 'Are you fucking crazy?'" He gave a humorless laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then the PR started doing their... PR thing. Gave me a crash course in how I should answer the rumors." He let out another breath, sharper this time. "It was...a big fucking charade. Rehearsed lines, avoiding personal questions..."
"God, Oscar... this is..." I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "I knew it would be hard, but still. I don't think we should go to the race track. I'll... I'll come up with something to trick Liam. I don't know..."
"No." The word came out sharp, cutting through mine before I could finish. His eyes locked on mine, unwavering.
"They don't get to define our relationship" he said firmly, his voice low but certain. "They just deal with it. Everyone! You'll come tomorrow. And Saturday. And Sunday."
For a moment, I couldn't speak. Part of me wanted to argue, to protect Liam, and myself, from the whirlwind that had already started building. But the way he stood there, steady and unflinching, made something deep inside me loosen.
"Fine, we'll go. But we're buying regular tickets, in the grandstands, so Liam can only watch the race. I'm sure he will be happy with that too."
"Absolutely not." Oscar's tone was instant, uncompromising. "Liam deserves to see the inside of a garage, to stand next to a Formula 1 car and feel what it's like up close. Why would you want to rob him of that?"
"Because I'm scared, Oscar..." The words left my mouth before I could filter them. I dropped my gaze to the floor.
"Hey... Olivia." His voice softened, and then his fingers were under my chin, lifting my face until my eyes met his. "We're doing this together, remember?"
I could only nod.
"And the media will get over it soon" he added, his lips curving just enough to look convincing. "I promise."
Then he leaned in and kissed me, steady, grounding, like he meant to anchor me right there.
But that wasn't quite enough...
Friday morning, Oscar headed to the track early while Liam, my mother, and I were still getting ready. Liam was practically vibrating with excitement, I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him this eager to go somewhere.
My mother, though less obvious, was curious too, about the noise, the speed, and the mysterious world of Formula 1 that, until now, had only existed for her on TV. Or not at all.
By late morning, the three of us were weaving our way through the thick Austin traffic toward the circuit, our car crawling along with a sea of others making the same destination.
When we finally reached the paddock entrance, I saw the first flickers of what Oscar had warned me about, photographers stationed like hunters, lenses ready, scanning for familiar faces.
My grip on Liam's hand tightened automatically.
Oscar was already waiting for us at the gate, in full McLaren team gear, looking maddeningly calm for someone who had a media circus breathing down his neck. The moment Liam spotted him, he wriggled free from my hand and ran straight into his arms. Oscar scooped him up without hesitation, laughing as if the rest of the world didn't exist.
Security ushered us inside, and that's when it hit me, the paddock wasn't just busy, it was alive in a way that made every nerve hum. The smell of fuel, the sharp whine of tools, mechanics darting around like it was all a choreographed dance.
Oscar took us straight into the McLaren hospitality building, ignoring a few double-takes from staff. My mother followed quietly, eyes scanning the glossy, sponsor-covered space like she'd just stepped into another planet. Liam, of course, was wide-eyed, his head snapping toward every car part, monitor, and uniformed team member that passed.
"Ready to see the garage?" Oscar asked Liam, and my son's entire face lit up.
I swallowed the knot in my throat. This was the part I'd been both dreading and wanting to see...Liam's joy in full bloom, even if it meant putting myself in the middle of a spotlight I'd never asked for.
Luckily, the reporters and media weren't as relentless as I'd feared, and the fans weren't much worse either.
A few called my name, some were saying some of my book titles, some shouting that I was beautiful.
I caught the way Oscar and Liam both turned toward me with identical grins when they heard it, which almost made me forget to breathe.
We stepped into the garage, and both my mom and Liam froze, wide-eyed, taking in the chaos of mechanics darting around, the hum of equipment, and the impossible gleam of carbon fiber under bright lights.
Oscar immediately dropped into explanation mode for Liam, crouching beside him to point out different tools and car parts. A couple of the mechanics joined in too, smiling at Liam's enthusiasm.
I let them have their moment and drifted upstairs to the lounge with my mother.
Some people smiled warmly when they saw me, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught the discreet nudges, the whispers passed between team members or guests. I ignored it and headed straight to the bar to order two coffees while my mother found a sofa.
I was waiting for the drinks when a voice drawled beside me, elbows casually resting on the counter.
"Howdy, stranger."
I jumped slightly. "God, you scared me."
Lando's smirk was immediate. "Oh, come on. I don't believe I'm that terrifying." His mischievous smile was the same as always, but the moment carried a strange undercurrent, the first time we'd seen each other since that night in Monaco.
"How are things going? How's the book tour?" he asked, leaning a little closer.
"I'm good, thank you" I replied with a small, polite smile. "I have some U.S. cities on this part of the tour. It's going pretty well."
He held my gaze, a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes. "I saw..."
"Look, Lando..."
We both started to speak at once, then stopped, the silence thick enough to feel.
"Your coffees are ready" the bartender cut in.
"You go first" I told him, nodding toward the thought he'd been about to finish.
Instead, he said, "Just... don't let them get to you. The media, the fans...this world can chew people up if you let it. You're stronger than that."
He picked up the cups, carrying them toward my mother. "Good day" he said warmly as he set them down. "I'm Lando. Nice to meet you."
Oscar returned a few minutes later with Liam bouncing beside him, cheeks flushed with excitement. Liam was still talking at top speed about some giant tire gun he'd seen, complete with sound effects, when he suddenly spotted who was sitting near his grandmother.
His eyes went wide. "Oh my god. Lando Norris!"
Oscar's eyes went wide too, though for a very different reason. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he didn't say anything yet.Lando stood, smiling easily, and crouched down so he was eye level with Liam. "Hey, buddy. You like racing?"
Liam nodded so hard it was a wonder his head stayed attached. "I love it! I've seen you race on TV!"
"Ah, so you've seen me drive fast... and occasionally badly" Lando joked, making Liam giggle. "You having fun today?"
"The best day ever" Liam beamed.
Oscar stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on Liam's shoulder. "We just came from the garage. Someone's already got a favorite driver now."
Liam looked torn for half a second, glancing between the two of them. "Well... maybe I can have two favorites" he said diplomatically, making both men laugh.
Lando ruffled Liam's hair. "Smart kid." Then his eyes flicked up to Oscar, and something unspoken passed between them, polite enough for Liam's sake, but edged with something heavier.
I caught it instantly, the faint tension threading through the air like an invisible wire.
My mother, who'd been quietly observing from her seat, caught the shift in the air immediately. She didn't say a word, but her eyes darted between the three of us.
Lando's easy grin, Oscar's tight jaw, my guarded expression, and she clearly put some pieces together. I sure in hell knew my mother and how smart she was.
Lando straightened, patting Liam on the shoulder. "We'll catch up later, champ. Maybe I'll show you my car if we get the chance."
Liam's eyes practically lit up like Christmas. "Really?"
"Really." Lando winked at him, then offered a polite nod to my mom and a shorter, more measured one to Oscar before turning and walking away.
As soon as he was gone, my mom rose, taking Liam's hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's go see some other cars." She gave me a small, knowing look before leading Liam toward the exit.
The moment the lounge door swung shut behind, Oscar turned to me, voice low and clipped. "What did he want?"
I didn't flinch under his gaze, I had no reason to do it. "Nothing out of the ordinary" I said simply. "He came over to say hi, asked about the book tour, gave me some advice about the media. That's it."
His eyes searched mine for a moment, like he was weighing my words against something heavier inside him. Whatever he found there must have settled him, because his jaw eased just slightly.
"Umm, okay. Alright" he murmured. Then, without warning, he stepped in close, one hand sliding to the side of my face, and we kissed. Slow, sure, deliberate, right there in the middle of the lounge.
"Now" he said quietly, "they can whisper about something real."