“Let’s not worry about this and get you to the hotel to decompress,” I say instead, to which she nods in response.
I drop Sophia off at her hotel door and head back to my room, mentally kicking my own ass in a shower debate. I should have spilled my guts to her. Told her how I feel about her, but I chickened out. She was upset, and I didn’t want to push her; it was a great afternoon, though. Even if I was only standing next to her at the event. When it comes to Sophia, I will take anything she is willing to give me.
17
Javi & Sophia
Sophia
The steamy, hot shower eased my feelings of exhaustion after today’s social commitments. Settling under the covers of my bed, I grab my phone for something to do.
Opening social media for the first time in weeks, the only accounts I follow are either riders or the other teams. Scrolling through, I notice there are a number of requests to approve followers. One particular account piques my interest. Javi’s account is already public, so I don’t need to send a request to see all the training videos and photos he has uploaded. It feels weird watching Javi half naked and sweaty. He is my colleague, but damn, his PR Director knows exactly how to draw the audience in with this content. Riders’ bodies aren’t necessarily massive and bulky—they can’t be. If the riders are too heavy, it impacts the bike performance on track. Bike takes on too much weight, it goes through fuel too quickly and tyres get chewed up. So their bodies are lean, taut, and cut. Get some sweat on them and it’s glorious. Mopping up the drool from around my mouth, I open my text messages…
Sophia
Did you mean to send me a friend request?
Javi
And a hello to you, too!
Sophia
I saw you thirty minutes ago.
Hello.
Javi
Hi! Yes, I sent it the other week. Clearly you aren't on social media a lot.
Sophia
Yeah, not on it really.
Why do you want to be my friend?
Javi
To look at your face on a screen without looking like a creep in the pit.
We’re friends, right? Friendly thing to do?
Sophia accepts Javi’s friend request
Sophia
This is true.
Fine, accepted.
Javi
Cool.
Argh, just say it.
You looked beautiful tonight, ace.
