27. Javi
27
Javi
The cab pulls up outside the track and I get out. It’s an off-weekend, but Rayna has arranged for a sponsor to meet us in her track office since she had things to finish up there. Sophia has been spending her off-weekends at the tracks, but asked to do this data analysis alone. I was hoping I could stop in and see her, but Rayna will be around, so I’ll have to behave.
I am a little early on purpose so I can head to the pits to see if I can squeeze in a quick chat and flirt. I miss spending this time with her, but I need to respect her time frame.
When I get into pit lane, I can see the pit box door open, but no Sophia. One of the bikes is missing, too. Then I hear it, the thundering sound of a bike approaching the straight that runs parallel to pit lane. Then the baarrrp of my track bike soars down the straight with Sophia, clad in her full-piece black, leather suit. Setting up to take the first corner, she swoops down, limbs slightly out to counter hitting the apex at the right angle, and then she is off, entering the second corner, out of my sight.
My breath is laboured as I watch her take a few more laps. She looks impossibly sexy on the bike. I know she wouldn’t have seen me as it’s hard to spot people in the pit lane, but still, I move to a position I know is hidden from the straight.
Rayna comes down from her office and calls me over, informing the sponsors should be approaching anytime soon. I sigh to myself and walk over to go into the office with her. I have to hope my meeting is over quickly so I can try to catch Sophia in the pits.
It takes hours to get out of that sponsor meeting, and I have completely missed Sophia. The pit box is packed up, and there is no answer as I tap on the pit box door—in case she shut it up to cut out the chilly wind that has started up.
I give up and make my way back to the hotel, begrudgingly.
Reaching the hotel and exiting the cab, Fleur and Riley come out of the hotel.
“Hi!” she brightly exclaims. Riley nods his hello .
“Hey!” I return, trying to cover my disappointment at not seeing Sophia today.
“What’s wrong, sad sack?” She cocks her head to the side with a sympathetic look on her face.
“Nothing. Long day with Rayna with sponsors,” I reply with a shrug.
“Mmmhmmm,” she replies, not buying it, but not pushing the matter, either.
“We are heading to meet Cole, if you wanted to come. Pull you out of your shitty mood,” Riley says.
“Yeah, sounds good,” I reply, opening the door of the cab I just came out of for Fleur. Riley jumps in the front seat to talk to the driver.
Cole’s motorhome is back at the track. He stays in a motorhome because majority of the hotels on our track schedule don’t allow dogs. So instead, he finds places close to the tracks to hook up the motorhome, and drives between tracks all year round. Not sure how, but he said he loves it.
In Sydney, it’s hard to find a spot near the track, so he was able to arrange to park on track.
Stepping into the motorhome, I am surprised to see Sophia sitting on the lounge. She has Otto’s head on her lap as she chats with Cole, who is on a single chair to her side. She watches Otto jump from her lap towards us and my heart skips as her locks eyes with mine, and smiles.
“Sophia!! What are you doing here, gracing this numb-nuts with your presence?” Riley exclaims loudly, punching Cole’s arm and embracing her as she stands.
“He caught me as I was packing up and invited me to hang,” she replies after giving Fleur a hug, too. I gravitate towards her without even realising it, and wait my turn for a hug, like the needy guy I am. She smiles and chastely puts her arms around me before sitting down quickly. Instantly, I sit next to her and make sure I am pressing my side against her. Need to make room for the others on the lounge, right? Fleur sits next to me and Riley is on the floor, playing with Otto.
Cole throws everyone a beer can and we all get into chatting.
I don’t even listen to what everyone is talking about. I am happy sitting here, mesmerised by Sophia, watching her talk and interact with everyone. I’m probably staring, so I try break away from her, but I am drawn right back.
After an hour or so, she looks at the time and says, “I better head back. Thanks for the hang, it was fun!”
“I’ll text you about the next go kart or motocross day,” Fleur adds as she hugs her goodbye.
“Let me call a cab and walk you out,” I reply to Sophia and get up.
She says goodbye to everyone and we leave together. I am hovering, walking next to her.
“Thanks for walking me to the cab,” she offers, keeping her head down.
“I was going to head back to the hotel, anyway,” I reply.
“No, you should hang out with your friends. Cole mentioned the motocross project has taken up a lot of your time this season. They miss you. Especially Riley,” she adds.
We stand, waiting for the cab on the outside of the track gates. “Riley can deal. I wanted to talk to you about us.” I raise my hand and brush my fingertips along her jaw. Her skin is deliciously soft. She wraps her fingers around my hand and looks up to me, her blue eyes heavy with want.
“I need to think about us,” she replies, and I can see she means it.
Dipping down, my lips meet hers and her fingers grip into my hand as the kiss deepens. Her body leans into mine, ever so slightly.
The beeping of the cab causes us to part, bursting us out of our own bubble.
“You head back. I’ll chat to you later.” She steps back, the sudden absence of her hand wrapped around mine is cold and painful. Not waiting for anything further from me, she jumps in the cab and they speed away. I watch on, unable to do anything as the light drizzle of rain approaches, hitting my face.