Mind of Steel | Part two | L.N.

XCVII

"Did you really bring your cat here to have a play date?" Max sighed as he saw Pippin in Leah's arms as she kissed the top of the orange cat's head.

"Of course we did," Lando smiled as he gave Max a side hug. Leah walked in and set Pippin down on the floor. Sassy and Jimmy immediately came up to say hi. Penelope came out of her room as well smiling.

"Leah!" She laughed and ran at her. Leah knelt down and wrapped her arms around the girl as she picked her up resting her on her hip.

"P, how is my favorite princess of all time?" Leah asked as she smiled at the little girl.

"I've missed you and Maxie," She smiled and squished Leah's cheeks.

"Not, me?"Lando gasped. He pressed a hand to his chest offended that she would say anything like that.

"Lando!" She squealed as Leah let her down to go hug him as well. Leah walked toward the back deck and saw Nyck.

"Hey Nyck, how long have you been here?" Leah asked as she checked the time on her phone. They weren't late. He must have just been early.

"I actually just got here a few minutes ahead of you both, Kelly was just telling me about the life here," He gestured to the view from the balcony. Leah smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, it's amazing, probably my favorite place to live," Leah reasoned as she walked toward the cooler and grabbed herself a bear. "You want one?" She asked Nyck.

"Sure," He smiled.

"Oh I'm sorry," Kelly apologized.

"You don't gotta apologize, Kelly, you're a wonderful hostess, don't worry," Leah smiled and kissed her cheek. "Penelope is growing up beautifully, by the way, it feels like I haven't seen her in years. She's so big now."

"I know, she getting ready to turn five here soon and I almost can't believe it," Kelly smiled at Leah and then looked back at the door as Max walked out. Lando was behind him still holding the small girl.

"Welcome out here, everyone," Leah smiled at them.  Lando gently put P down and she smiled as she walked back over to the glass door and started playing with eh cats through it. Lanod moved toward Nyck giving I'm a hug.

"How have you been mate?" Lando asked him as he grabbed Leah's waist pulling her toward him.

"I've been alright, but I do have something to tell you three," Nyck sighed as he looked down at his cold beer.

"that does not sound good at all," Leah shook her head as she waited for him to finish speaking.

"Daniel is taking my position at AlphaTauri," Nyck added. His eyes didn't leave the wood beneath his feet. Leah stood up now looking over to Max.

"What the fuck?" Leah breathed as she thought for a moment. There was no way she was responsible for that switch.

"Yeah, I just found out, he will be ready to go the next race," Nyck nodded as he took a long sip of his beer.

"I'm sorry man, but hey maybe it's for the best, I mean you don't have that pressure on your shoulders anymore," Max reasoned as he squeezed Nycks shoulder a little bit.

"Yeah, man I mean maybe it's for the best things happen. That's sucks, but it's how you pick yourself up and move forward with your life for the better," Lando reasoned as Nyck gave him a slight nod.

"Actually, you know what you would be awesome at and I'm sure someone over there would love to have you if formula e," Leah added as she drank the rest of her beer. Nyck smiled at her.

"I just wanted you three to know, Leah was going to be the first, but you invited me here, so I thought I might s well tell you all. It's going out in a few days and I wasn't sure who to tell officially before Red Bull does."