Chapter 12 Koby
Koby
The flash of black hair flowing in the wind catches my attention again.
This has been the third track in a row this same girl has caught my eye.
But she’s normally sitting in the grandstand seating across from the pit boxes.
Striking black hair, olive skin, amazing body, gorgeous face.
She has to be one of the rider’s girlfriends?
A promo girl? Nah, she isn’t dressed in any branding.
I have only caught glimpses of her. I’ve never noticed anyone around her at any of the tracks.
But she’s close now. Standing at the back of the pits, leaning against some spare barriers on her phone.
Glancing down, I'm in my racing leathers. They are unzipped, showing off my chest discreetly. Chicks dig these, right?
“Hey, you know this area is only for pit crews?” What the fuck was that line?
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, sorry, are you with the promo girls? Lost your way, raven?” Shit, that was terrible.
She pushes herself off the barriers, and straightens herself in front of me. She’s nowhere as tall as me, but she’s cute trying to step up.
“No, I’m not with the promo girls. I’m with BuzzSoft Tyres. You know, the black rubbery round things that move your crotch rocket around the track, rookie.” Both her hands are in the air, near my face, making circle movements with her fingers, punctuating that last word with a pop of her head.
Fuck, she is Elio’s daughter. He was telling us that “his kid” was going to be stopping in at tracks over the season. But he had called her “Ray”. I assumed it was a guy.
“Ray?” I ask.
“Yes. My dad calls me Ray. I’m Rayna.”
“Sorry. Rayna. I’m Koby. Soon to be getting all the used-up tires for the rest of the season.” Sticking my hand out to her, wincing slightly under her fiery death stare.
She looks between my hand and my face over and over. She relinquishes and rolls her eyes with a smile, taking my hand and shaking it. “It’s fine. Thanks for thinking I was pretty enough to be a promo girl.”
Hands down, she is way prettier than all of them combined.
“Are you out the back here waiting for anyone? Or need a hand getting anywhere?”
“Nah, I’m okay, thanks.”
I’ve been daydreaming about talking to her for the last few months; I can’t just let her go. “I’m about to go get some lunch. Want to come with?”
She shrugs. “Sure.”
Sitting over lunch in the hospitality tent, I ask Rayna, “So why are you only just coming to tracks this year?”
“I normally sit on track. At a corner. This season I’ve been getting closer to the pits. Check more things out.”
“Corners are the best place to sit. Why are you trying to get closer to the pits?”
“I’m working things out. I’m in my last year of high school, and I’m collecting information about what I want to do at uni.
One thing that’s always interested me was the teams here.
I think I have missed my calling as a rider.
” She eyes me up and down. “And I don’t think I could do the technical mechanical stuff.
But data does make sense to me. The concepts and technical changes that need to be innovated and applied.
Dad brings home the tyre analysis along with the aerodynamic stats, fuel consumption, track times, and I love reading through them.
They make sense. What I can do with that skill, I am still trying to work out. ”
“Have you asked any of the teams if you could sit in with them? See what they do and where you could fit in?”
She shrinks a little. “Not at all. I don’t want any special treatment just because Dad organises the tyres. I’ll figure it out.”
“Don’t be silly. No one would think that. Let me talk to my team manager. I won’t say your name.”
“Use that name you called me before. What was it again?”
“Raven. Because your hair is dark,” I sheepishly say.
“I like it!” Nodding approvingly.
“You called me ‘rookie’.” I smirk.
“Yeah.”
“You know I’ve been in racing for the last few years?”
She smiles wide, and simply answers, “Yup.”
It’s been a week since her fall and three weeks of me crashing at her pad.
Having the ability to look after her has been so fulfilling.
Watching her look after everyone else for the last few years, I have noticed she constantly pours into everyone else’s cup.
Making sure they know they’re valued and supported.
It’s been good to be able to fill Rayna’s cup.
There have been moments I have almost given in and kissed her.
Or ran my hands further up her leg. But I kept myself at bay.
I have a catch-up with Liam in a few days to get an update, and then Christmas craziness promptly starts, and the house is going to be packed. More buffers between Rayna and me.
“Last date has to be…five, no, seven years ago. Jill set me up on a blind date, and it was so awful, I have no desire to try again. How about you?” Rayna offers.
“Tried the dating apps, but couldn’t find a connection with any of them.”
She nods and gazes down at the water and raises her foot out. Watching the drops hit the surface. She’s breathtaking.
The water in the infinity pool is cool as the sun beats down the back of my neck.
Rayna is sitting on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling into the water as she leans back slightly, resting on her arms as we chat.
She’s been gradually getting into the pool when I’m here, not just sitting by the side on the lounger, but actually roper in the water in her swimmers.
Today, she doesn’t appear to be in the mood. Yes, we aren’t in our 20s anymore, but Rayna is insanely confident in all aspects of her life. It makes me wonder how she could be self-conscious about her body around me. After all these years. Knowing what she’s been through.
“What was the name of that guy from our legal class? The one who used to lurk behind us, waiting for you to make eye contact with him so he could talk to you,” I tease.
“Oh, stop. There was no one like that.” She pauses coyly, adding. “Damon.”
“That’s his name! Geez, that was going to drive me crazy all night.”
She looks away to avoid eye contact, the blush on her cheeks not easily disguised as too much afternoon sun.
“What about the herd of women who would vie for your attention in our Events and also Digital Design classes? They twirled their hair so much in your presence, I’m shocked they didn’t curl their hair permanently by the end of the semester.”
“Well, I don’t remember all that,” I admit. Allowing silence to engulf us. “Hungry? I can’t believe we haven’t been back to our old pub yet!?”
“Yeah, that’s a great idea. I haven’t even been there since they refurbed it last year.”
“Then let’s go and have dinner there.”
I exit the pool, and outstretch my hand to her to help her off the edge of the pool.
Pulling her up with a little too much effort, she staggers forward and raises a hand up to brace herself against my chest as I drop mine down to my sides to avoid any skin contact with her.
We find ourselves in the same position again.
Rayna stands in front of me by the pool. Water drips down the back of my neck. Running down my spine, keeping me present in the moment. Her hazel eyes drill into my own baby blues.
My palms are glued to the sides of my thighs.
I ache to reach out to her. Brush the stray hair out of her face, behind her ear.
Let my hand linger and smooth across her cheek.
Cup her face and give into the feelings I have had for decades.
Finally discover how soft her lips are, or relish how she tastes.
It’s all I have been thinking about for the past few years.
She sways towards me slightly. Her eyes dart to my mouth, back to holding my gaze. In my peripheral I see her other hand start to rise towards me. I can’t let this happen.
Stepping backwards out of her reach. Her hand drops, and confusion floods her face.
“I…” Can’t think of anything to say except, “Sorry.”
And I turn on my heel and leave Rayna on the patio and scurry up to my room, like a gutless wonder.