24. Riley
Riley
September – Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW
“We don’t want to be a bother, dear,” Mum mentions for the millionth time.
“Mum, honestly, it’s no bother. The team is looking forward to seeing you and Dad. Koby wouldn’t have given me these VIP passes for you both if it was an issue.” I wave the lanyards in the air to emphasise them.
“Well, we can turn up later if you want to, so we aren’t in your hair,” she adds.
“No, come with me. Koby said he wants to take you around and show you a few things. See your baby boy in action,” I tease Mum.
Mum expression is shocked. “I don’t want Koby to go out of his way for us!”
“Dad, can you help me here? Seriously, Mum, stop stressing. Everyone wants to see you both and show you around.”
“Let it lie, Camila,” my dad adds from brushing his teeth in the bathroom.
It’s the first weekend back from mid-season break, and this track is closer so my parents can visit.
I’ve missed them. I really want them to meet Mabel, but I don’t want to put that expectation on her.
Not that I would introduce her as my fuck buddy or friend with incredible benefits.
But she is right next door, and they are staying with me in the two-bedroom hotel room. She might pop by.
It feels like I just have to think about her, because I hear her familiar knock at the door. “That will be my neighbour, Mabel.” I inform my mum with an innocent look as I head to the door.
“Oh, wonderful. It will be great to meet her off the laptop.” Mum says out loud as she smooths down her long, blonde hair.
I open the door and there she stands. Honey brown hair slicked back in her take no shit business mode, low ponytail.
Team polo and slacks. I haven’t been able to see her since my parents arrived three days ago, and while I love spending time with my parents.
I miss the routine Mabel and I have developed.
“Hi!” she exclaims with a small wave. “Sorry if I am intruding? I wanted to come by and say hello.”
“Hey, not at all. Come in.” I step back and gesture for her to enter. “Mum, this is Mabel. Mabel, this is Mum.”
Mabel walks over to Mum and greets her, “Hi, Mrs. Fortuna, it’s lovely to finally meet you face-to-face.”
Mum extends her arms wide and comes in for a hug, as she always does.
“Hello, dear! Please, call me Camila. It’s a treat to meet you, too.
Riley has said so many nice things about you.
” Mum rubs Mabel’s back as she steps back from the hug, keeping one arm around her.
“And that’s Oliver in the bathroom.” Dad pops his head out, jaw covered with shaving cream as he waves. “Hiya! Will be done in a moment!”
“Close the door. There’s company now.” Mum waves him off and he closes the door.
“Riley only told us this morning that it was your birthday last month. Happy birthday! Did you get to see your family to celebrate?” Mum asks as she leads Mabel to sit on the lounge, holding her hand the entire way and keeping a hold of it when they sit together.
“No, they weren’t able to, but they’re working out when to come over the next few weeks,” Mabel says very diplomatically.
“Oh, that’s a shame. I’m sorry to hear that. I hope Riley and your friends could show you a good time?” Mum asks.
I look down to the floor and smirk because, yeah. I definitely did my best to show her a good time.
Mabel smiles sweetly and replies, “Absolutely, they all looked after me and made sure I had a great day. It was really nice.”
“That’s so good to hear.” Mum rubs the back of Mabel’s hand lovingly and smiles sparklingly at her.
“Cami, can you give me a hand in here?” Dad pops his head out from the bathroom, looking around for Mum.
“I better go help him. He probably wants me to check he doesn’t have any out-of-place hair on the back of his neck.” Mum pats Mabel’s hand and goes into the bathroom.
Mabel gets up and heads to my bedroom with a knowing look on her face. I follow her and close the door .
Turning around, she is suddenly there with her arms around my neck, her lips slamming into mine.
My arms go around her and I return her urgent kisses, squeezing her tightly against me.
It appears we’ve both missed each other equally.
We kiss for a few moments more before she pulls away.
“Sorry, I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
“You can come by and say hello any time you’d like,” I reply as I kiss down her neck, breathing her in.
“Any plans for tonight?” she asks as she tilts her head back, giving me more access.
“Maybe I can pop over after they have gone to sleep?” I suggest, biting down on her neck gently, causing her to hold her breath.
“If it will work,” she says. I move back up her neck and jaw and she moves her head so we are now gazing at each other, and she kisses me gently.
“I’ll make it work,” I breathe out, lingering in the hug I don’t want to let go of. A sting in my chest hits for everything I could be saying to make the most of this moment.
“Okay,” she replies and steps away, smoothing her hair and rearranging her clothes.
“It’s okay, you look perfect,” I say, staring at her. I could stare at her all day. My longing for her increased because I haven’t been close to her for a few days.
“You don’t.” She runs her fingers through my hair to straighten it out .
“Can’t help that I am adorable, and you can’t help but scruff me all up.” I scrunch my nose at her and kiss her cheek.
“Ha-ha, okay, get out there.” She waves her hand towards the door.
Mum’s still in the bathroom, so we can assume our cover isn’t blown.
“I better head down to the bus. See you later,” she says as Mum opens the bathroom door.
“Sorry, Mabel, dear. Are you off? Will we see you in Riley’s pit box?” Mum asks, coming to stand closer to us.
“I’m not in the same team, but I’m only a few boxes down, so I’ll be sure to pop in and see how your day is going,” Mabel replies, her face glowy talking to Mum.
“Wonderful, looking forward to seeing you there.” Mum outstretches her arms again and brings Mabel in for another hug.
I walk Mabel to the door and open it for her to leave. Ducking around the door, out of Mum’s view, I whisper, “See you tonight.” And wink at her as she winks back, blowing a kiss to me.
Closing the door, Mum jumps straight into it. “I like her. She is so beautiful. I mean, she looked gorgeous on the laptop, but it does not do her justice. She doesn’t even need make-up to look that amazing, and you can tell she is herself. Oliver! Can you hurry up?”
“Come on, Dad. Mum’s about to have kittens!” I tease with Mum .
“Oh, hush you.” She swats at my arm.
At the track, while I was focusing on my Saturday pre-race track runs, Koby took my parents on a tour around the paddock. They were gone for hours, but were so happy when they returned. I could see they were comfortable around the team and the pits. Comfortable in my world.
“We stopped by Javi’s box and invited Mabel to come to dinner tonight,” Dad says.
“That’s great,” I reply. Not having Mabel around has made it easier not to accidentally touch or kiss her around my parents. I’ve been able to play it safe. I can do it at dinner, too.
“We’re going to pop into the hospitality tent for a coffee. Would anyone else like a coffee or a tea?” Mum offers to the whole pit box, to which everyone replies with, “No, thanks,” but Koby heads off with them.
I pull out my phone,
You sure you want to come to dinner tonight? Don’t stress if you don’t.
I want to come. Your parents are nice. Plus, a bit of no touching will help with the foreplay. ;)
Aren’t you the little minx?
See you tonight. x
And just like that, I am looking forward to dinner with Mabel and my parents.
“He did not!” Mabel exclaims, as she and Mum lean into each other, giggling on their side of the table.
“He definitely did!” Mum laughs back as she recounts a time I tried to make up an elaborate story when I was fifteen and went to my friend’s house, getting into their parents’ booze. It did not pass the parental check.
I’m filled with joy seeing Mum laugh and enjoy herself.
It’s been so tough for us all. It’s nice to see the old Mum back.
Looking over at Dad, he has the same look on his face.
Kiara’s loss in our lives has shaken us all.
And as a family, we have supported and been there for each other through the tough moments.
I am immensely glad Mum and Dad have each other and Mabel is with me.
Kiara lives on in our hearts and memories of her.
“Riley, dear. We were going through the storage area and there’s a number of your old instruments sitting there. Did you still want us to keep a hold of them?” Mum directs to me.
“A number?” Mabel asks .
“Oh, yes. Riley would pick up instruments really quickly, and then want to go off and learn a new one. Started with piano. Then over to bass. To drums. Picked up the cello. I think we had one of every instrument at one point by the time he was thirteen,” Mum gushes, and I can feel the heat creep into my cheeks.
“Shocking, you haven’t bragged about this yet,” Mabel remarks, a smirk across her face.
“Don’t want to make anyone feel bad, being so versatile at so many things,” I jest back.
“Where Kiara only wanted singing lessons. No need to buy any extra equipment for her to do that.” Dad smiles.
“Yes, she had a wonderful voice.” Mum looks at Mabel with a smile. “But ended up getting such terrible stage fright in her teens.”
“I have heard that is a really common occurrence,” Mabel validates.
“That’s what her singing teacher told us all, too. She was happy doing the lessons and singing around the house. Good enough for us. As long as she was happy,” Mum adds wistfully.
Our server arrives to clear up our plates, and we ask to settle the bill before heading up to our hotel rooms from the hotel’s restaurant. We stop outside Mabel’s hotel room as she hugs Dad and Mum.
“So wonderful to meet you both. I look forward to the next laptop call,” Mabel declares.