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The car ride to the Norris family home was unusually quiet. Oscar sat in the passenger seat, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, stealing glances at Lando, who was focused on the road. Despite the music playing softly in the background, the only thing Oscar could hear was the rapid thumping of his heart. It wasn’t that he was nervous about meeting Adam and Cisca—he had met them countless times over the two years he’d been Lando’s teammate. They were always warm, always welcoming. But this time was different. This time, he was meeting them as Lando’s boyfriend.
Lando seemed completely at ease, humming along to the tune on the radio. His hand rested casually on the gear shift, occasionally tapping in time with the music. He glanced over at Oscar, catching him mid-glance. “You’re really quiet today, mate. Got something on your mind?”
Oscar chuckled, but the sound was more anxious than amused. “I just… I’ve never done this before, you know? Meeting the parents as the boyfriend. It’s a bit nerve-wracking.”
Lando’s smile was soft and reassuring as he reached over, squeezing Oscar’s hand. “They already love you, Oscar. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Besides,” he added with a playful smirk, “I’m the one who should be nervous. You know how brutal my siblings can be.”
Oscar smiled at that, feeling a little bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. “Yeah, I suppose they are. But still… this is different.”
Lando glanced at him again, this time more seriously. “If it makes you feel any better, they’re going to be just as annoying as they always are. Probably more, since they’ll want to embarrass me in front of you.”
Oscar laughed, shaking his head. “You really know how to make a guy feel better.”
“Hey, what can I say? It’s a gift.” Lando winked, and the mood in the car lightened.
As they pulled up to the familiar house, Oscar’s nerves spiked again. The driveway was packed with cars—Flo’s tiny red hatchback, Oliver’s motorcycle, and the sleek black sedan that belonged to Lando’s parents. He took a deep breath as the car rolled to a stop.
Lando turned off the engine and turned to face him. “Okay, deep breath. You’re gonna be fine.”
Oscar nodded, trying to steady his breathing. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.”
Lando squeezed his hand one last time before letting go, flashing him a reassuring smile. “Ready?”
Oscar took a deep breath and nodded. “Ready.”
The front door swung open before they could even knock, and Lando’s mum greeted them with her usual bright smile. Her arms were open wide as she pulled Lando into a hug, squeezing him tightly.
“There’s my boy! I was wondering when you’d finally show up,” she said with a laugh, pulling back to look at him. Then she turned to Oscar, her smile widening even more as she wrapped him in a hug. “Oscar, sweetheart! It’s so good to see you again. We’ve missed having you around.”
Oscar hugged her back, feeling a little of the tension ease. “Missed you too, Mrs Wauman.”
“Please, call me Cisca. You know that by now.” She gave him a knowing look, and Oscar couldn’t help but smile. She was as warm and welcoming as always, and he felt a little silly for being so nervous.
Adam Norris appeared in the doorway, beaming at the sight of them. He was a tall man with greying hair and a permanent twinkle in his eye, a man who always seemed to be in good spirits. “Lando, Oscar! Good to see you both. Come on in, don’t just stand there!”
As they stepped inside, Oscar was greeted by the familiar warmth of the Norris home. The entryway was filled with the sound of laughter and the clatter of dishes from the kitchen. The scent of something delicious wafted through the air—roast chicken, if Oscar wasn’t mistaken—and his stomach growled in response.
Before they could get too comfortable, Lando’s siblings appeared, grinning mischievously. Flo, Cisca, and Oliver surrounded them, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Well, well, well,” Oliver started, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. “Look who finally decided to bring his boyfriend home.”
Oscar’s cheeks flushed, but Lando just rolled his eyes. “Come on, guys, don’t start.”
“Oh, but we must,” Cisca. chimed in, a playful smirk on her face. She was the spitting image of her mother, with the same warm brown eyes and infectious smile. “You see, Oscar, we’ve had a little bet going.”
Oscar raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. “A bet?”
“Yep,” Flo confirmed, barely containing her laughter. She had always been the more laid-back of the siblings, with a carefree attitude and a perpetual grin. “We were betting on when Lando would finally admit to us that you two were together. Honestly, we’re surprised it took this long.”
“Wait, you all knew?” Oscar asked, genuinely surprised.
“Of course we knew,” Oliver said, laughing. He was the eldest of the siblings, tall and athletic like their father, with a sharp wit that kept everyone on their toes. “You two are terrible at hiding things. We’ve been waiting for this moment for ages.”
Lando groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Great, just great. My own siblings betting on my love life.”
“And you lost, didn’t you?” Oscar teased, nudging Lando’s side.
Lando grinned sheepishly. “I might have underestimated how obvious we were.”
Cisca nudged her brother, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “We tried to be subtle, but come on, Lando. You’ve never been good at keeping secrets.”
“Especially not when you’re all loved up,” Flo added with a laugh.
The playful banter continued as they made their way to the living room, where Adam and Cisca were waiting with drinks and snacks. The room was cosy and familiar, with family photos lining the walls and a large, overstuffed couch that seemed to invite everyone to sit and relax. Oscar found himself sinking into the cushions, feeling more at ease with each passing moment.
They gathered around the large dining table, laughter and conversation flowing easily. The table was laden with food—roast chicken, potatoes, vegetables, and warm rolls that Cisca had baked herself. There was a sense of togetherness that made Oscar feel like he truly belonged.
Adam and Cisca were keen to hear how things had developed between Lando and Oscar, and the couple was happy to share their story, albeit with a few interruptions from the siblings.
“So, how did this all start?” Adam asked, his tone curious but gentle. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with interest.
Lando exchanged a glance with Oscar, who smiled and nodded for him to go ahead. “Well,” Lando began, “I think it really started after the Miami Grand Prix.”
Oscar’s eyes lit up at the memory. “That was a huge day for both of us. Lando had just won his first race, and it was incredible. But it wasn’t until after all the post-race media interviews that things really changed.”
Lando nodded, picking up the story. “Yeah, I was still buzzing from the win, but the whole day had been such a whirlwind—interviews, celebrations, everything was a blur. After all of that, I finally got some time alone in the driver's room, and that’s when it hit me.”
Oscar smiled softly, remembering the moment vividly. “I was waiting for him in his driver’s room. I knew he’d be exhausted, but I wanted to be there when he finally got a moment to breathe.”
Lando’s voice grew quieter, more reflective. “When I walked in and saw Oscar just sitting there, waiting for me, I felt something shift. I was still on a high from the race, but when I looked at him, I realized it wasn’t just the win that made the day perfect—it was him. I didn’t want to celebrate with anyone else, didn’t want to talk to anyone else. I just wanted to be with Oscar.”
Oscar’s cheeks flushed slightly as he nodded. “You were completely wiped out, but you had this look on your face… I’d never seen you like that before. We just sat there, not really saying much at first. I knew something was different, but I wasn’t sure what it was.”
Lando leaned in a bit closer as he spoke, his voice filled with emotion. “I was exhausted, yeah, but all I could think about was how I needed to tell you… tell you how I really felt. I didn’t even plan it—it just came out. I looked at you and said, ‘Oscar, I think I’m in love with you.’”
The room went silent for a moment as the significance of those words hung in the air. Adam and Cisca exchanged a glance, their smiles growing as they listened.
Oscar nodded a fond smile on his face. “I remember being completely stunned. We’d always been close, but hearing you say that… it was like everything just clicked into place. I’d been so focused on being a good teammate, and on keeping things professional, that I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what I really wanted. But in that moment, I knew. I told him I loved him too.”
“What did you do then?” Flo asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Lando smiled, his eyes never leaving Oscar’s. “We just sat there for a while, letting it sink in. It was quiet, intimate—away from all the noise and chaos outside. And in that quiet, I realized that this—being with Oscar—was what really mattered.”
Oscar chuckled softly. “We didn’t need to say much after that. We both knew what it meant, and we both knew that things would be different from then on. But in the best possible way.”
Adam cleared his throat, his voice full of warmth. “That’s a beautiful story, boys. I’m glad you found each other.”
Cisca nodded, her eyes shining with emotion. “And we’re so happy to have you both here, sharing this with us.”
The table erupted in laughter again, and Oscar couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness. This was exactly what he had been hoping for—a warm, accepting environment where he could be himself with the people he cared about.
As the evening wore on, the conversation turned to future plans. Lando’s siblings were full of questions, teasing the couple about what came next.
“So, when are you moving in together?” Oliver asked, waggling his eyebrows. He leaned forward, his elbows on the table, clearly enjoying the way Oscar and Lando both blushed.
Lando smirked, trying to deflect. “Why? Are you looking to take over my flat?”
Oliver grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just curious if you two have talked about it.”
Oscar shook his head, grinning. “We’re taking it one step at a time. Right now, we’re just enjoying being together.”
“Good answer,” Adam said, nodding approvingly. “No need to rush into anything. But when you do decide to take that step, make sure it’s because you’re both ready.”
Cisca, however, couldn’t resist adding, “But when you do, make sure to invite us all to the housewarming!”
Lando rolled his eyes, but there was a smile on his face. “You’re all a bunch of meddlers, you know that?”
“We wouldn’t be us if we weren’t,” Cisca shot back, grinning.
The night wound down with everyone gathered in the living room, sipping on tea and chatting about everything from racing to family gossip. Oscar found himself sitting next to Lando on the couch, their legs pressed together as they listened to Adam tell a story about Lando’s first karting race. It was a story Oscar had heard before, but hearing it from Adam made it feel more real, more grounded.
As Adam finished the story, Lando turned to Oscar, his eyes soft and full of affection. “See? I told you it would be fine.”
Oscar nodded, a smile playing on his lips. “You were right. They’re amazing.”
“They are,” Lando agreed. “And they love you, just like I do.”
Oscar’s heart swelled at Lando’s words. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Lando’s lips. “I love you too.”
Behind them, they heard the sound of a door creaking open, followed by a chorus of “Awwww!” from Lando’s siblings.
Lando groaned, turning to face them. “Can’t you give us a moment?”
“Not when you’re being that adorable,” Flo teased, making kissy faces at them.
Oliver grinned, leaning against the doorway. “You two are gonna have to get used to this. We’re not going anywhere.”
“Alright, alright, time to go,” Lando said, rolling his eyes but smiling. He grabbed Oscar’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Let’s get out of here before they start planning our wedding.”
Cisca leaned forward, a mischievous grin on her face. “Alright, boys, before you run off, we have some business to attend to.”
Oscar looked at her quizzically. “Business?”
Oliver smirked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small stack of notes. “The bet, of course.”
Lando groaned, rolling his eyes. “You’re really going to do this now?”
“Absolutely,” Flo said with a laugh. “We’ve been waiting ages for this moment.”
Oliver stood up, shaking the money in the air triumphantly. “And since I bet the closest date to when you two would finally make it official, I believe these are mine.”
Cisca sighed dramatically, handing over her share. “Yeah, yeah, enjoy your winnings. But honestly, we’re just happy we got to witness it.”
“And that’s priceless,” Flo added with a grin, nudging Oscar. “Even if you two were a bit slow on the uptake.”
Oscar laughed, shaking his head. “I guess we were. But better late than never, right?”
Lando just shook his head, laughing at his siblings’ antics. “You lot are ridiculous.”
“But you love us anyway,” Oliver said with a smirk, tucking the money away.
Lando sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately, yes. Yes, I do.”
Oscar leaned into Lando, wrapping an arm around him. “I think I’m going to fit in just fine around here.”
“Definitely,” Lando agreed, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Definitely.”
As they all started saying their goodbyes, Cisca pulled Oscar into a warm hug, whispering softly in his ear, “You’re always welcome here, Oscar. You’re part of the family now.”
Oscar smiled, feeling a swell of warmth in his chest. “Thank you, Cisca. That means a lot.”
Adam clapped Lando on the back, grinning. “Take care of each other, alright?”
“Always,” Lando replied, his voice full of affection.
Finally, with everyone gathered at the doorway, Lando and Oscar waved one last time before heading to the car. As they drove away, Oscar glanced back at the house, feeling lighter, happier, and most importantly, like he belonged. Meeting the family hadn’t been so bad after all. In fact, it had been perfect.