“What do you mean,what? That you are great and loved, or that people have your back around here?” he queries.
“I guess I assumed everyone thought I was the loser who got dumped, and they pitied me.” That information flowed freely out of my mouth. Everything is easy to share with Javi.
He looks at me with caring eyes and a look that’s a little pained at my admission. “I’ve never heard anyone say that about you. Only that they miss joking around with you or your hilarious sense of humour whenever they saw you. They want to be there for you, but they can see you are holding yourself back when you interact with anyone across the paddock. They just want to give you the time you need. You are only really at peace with Rayna or Dave.”
“I’m grateful you asked for Dave and I to come join your team, and he accepted.”
He nods his head. “I am happy you both agreed to come over together. I think you both are amazing on your own, but if I could get that duo power? Whoosh!” He sends his eyes to the ceiling and exclaims, “I am guaranteed the championship.” He looks back at me and smiles.
He lifts the mood easily and I can’t help but smile back at him.
The wait staff serves my pizza and apologises for the delay with my glass of wine.
“Did you want to join me? I didn’t realise how big the pizza was going to be,” I offer. I did know, but I was going to take the leftovers for dinner. Sharing with Javi didn’t seem like a bad idea right now.
“Sure,” he replies, then asks the wait staff to bring another glass of wine.
Javi stays on the same side of the table as me while we pretend to discuss work from my laptop. It is uncomplicated talking to him. No effort involved, no pressure. Conversation flows, blocking out the noise of the restaurant as it gets busier with the lunch rush, then dies down into mid-afternoon.
Our table has been cleared a while ago. As we finish up our third glass of wine, I say I should better head back to my room.
Javi insists on walking me to my door.
We make our way through to the elevator up to my hotel room.
I open my door and turn to say, “Thanks for coming over to my table.”
“I was worried. You looked like you were getting upset from what Shelby was saying. Wanted to check in on you,” he offers, keeping a respectful distance as he shifts the paper bag from one hand to the other.
“I appreciate the thought.” I smile at him, leaning my back against the door frame.
He takes a quick look up and down the hall before stepping close to me, bridging the gap between us. I don’t move away. Enjoying his closeness.
“This almost felt like a date,” he whispers, his face impossibly close to mine.
“Lucky for you, I don’t date,” I jest, looking into his eyes.
“Lucky for you, I enjoy kissing people after non-dates,” he says, leaning in to kiss me.
I allow myself to be swept up in his kiss. He is a fucking good kisser. He raises a hand to my face as he deepens the kiss, starting to flirt with the line of adrop you off at the doorkiss and awould you like to come in and take your clothes offkiss. But I know he has an early start in the morning and I don’t want to be a distraction. Even though I really could be a wicked distraction right now.
Seemingly sensing the same line about to be crossed, Javi breaks away from the kiss, staring into my eyes. “Oh hey, I had a sponsor meeting this morning and they sent me away with a bunch of stuff.” He looks through the few paper shopping bags in his hand. “These are part of the women’s range.” He hands me a grey and yellow top along with a pair of loose pants. The material is soft and light. I know exactly what I’ll be using these for.
“Thank you,” I say as I accept them.
“Remember what I said, you are an amazing person. You deserve to be treated right.” His thumb runs down my jaw and across my bottom lip. My heart skips. “I’ll see you around,” he says before stepping back, leaving me to pry myself off the door frame. I force myself to step back into my room, further away from him.
“See you around,” I say with a smile and close the door on him, watching him slowly disappear.
I sigh once inside and touch my swollen lips after Javi’s kiss, trying to calm my beating heart.
21
Sophia
July – Mt Panorama, New South Wales
“So, who gets top bunk?” Javi teases as he stands and stretches his arms after our long drive. Rayna arranged for our motorhome to be parked on track while we’re testing during the mid-season break.
