We say goodnight, and I head to the bedroom to overthink. He didn’t try to kiss me. Not even on the cheek. He was respectful, no sly touches to my ass or arm.Did I just fuck this up?
I shouldn’t keep dwelling on it. Turning over, I hit the bedroom lights off for the night.
The next morning, I am awoken by a knock at my bedroom door. I roll out of bed and open the door, dressed in his gifted clothes Javi gave at the start of the season.
It’s Javi with two cups of coffee.
He catches a look at me and appears to be taken aback, then softly smiles. Guess we have been sleeping in minimal clothes for the last few weeks, so he hasn’t seen me in pyjamas.
He refocuses with a shake of his head. “Good morning!” he greets as he hands me a coffee.
Squinting at the time, I realise I had managed to sleep later than I normally do. “Sorry, must be quieter here. Haven’t slept this late in a long time.”
“That’s okay. Sorry to wake you,” he replies tentatively.
“All good. I needed to get up,” I say, rubbing my eyes and leaning against the door frame as I drink the coffee. “Thanks for the coffee!” I raise it to him.
“My pleasure. I’ll give you some more time to get ready before we head out.” He leaves the motorhome abruptly.
Again. No brief touching. Just a coffee.Guess I have gotten used to the little moments between us over the last three weeks.
I shrug it off as he is excited to test, taking what I asked yesterday seriously. I change and quickly eat some cereal before heading to the storage area where Javi is already wearing his motocross gear, looking fucking cute as hell in it. I try to ignore his cuteness and put my motocross gear on. I grab my helmet and call out, “Ready when you are.”
We take the bikes down to the track to do a few laps before heading back to the motorhome garage, analysing the data and making some adjustments.
We follow that routine for the first and second day. Javi was serious and helped out with the data and mechanical work, knowing what he was doing, while listening when he was unsure about something.
The third day is more relaxed. Less adjustments as things were working well and there were fewer issues.
By the fourth day, we were on the track for hours at a time, enjoying each other’s company and our hard work. It was more jaunty, more comfortable conversations. We only returned to the motorhome for lunch.
Enthusiastically, I call Rayna when we return in the afternoon with the good news. She is delighted. We arrange for a catch up when we are all back on track in a few days.
“Great work, Sophia. Your skills and dedication on this project are appreciated and it couldn’t have happened so quickly without you. Looking forward to meeting with you on track to discuss in depth,” Rayna marvels over the phone. We hang up, Rayna to set up a meeting with her and Micah when we return.
Tapping my phone against my palm as I think, staring off into space, I feel elated.
Work is smashing along. I’m nailing the racing side of things, and now the motocross project is ahead of schedule—with a damn successful result. Feels like my personal struggles are slowly being handled. Acknowledging I have been keeping people away from getting close to me because I felt broken. But I am starting to feel whole again. Starting to heal.
Javi is in the garage area with me as I am having my internal monologue moment. He breaks my train of thought. “You okay?” he asks, concerned.
I blink away from my trance and look at him. “Yeah, all good.” I smile and put my phone away.
Javi helps pack up around the storage area. “Hungry?” he ventures.
I think about it and yes, I am famished. “Sure!” I say enthusiastically.
“Great! Let’s head out on the bike. I have a spot in mind. Nothing fancy.”
22
Sophia
“Drop your laptop off and dress into something for the bike. Let’s head out for dinner,” Javi says as we enter the motorhome.
“Sounds good,” I reply, pulling the bedroom door closed to change.
Rayna hooked us up with leather suits for the bike, so I put on a tight, long sleeve t-shirt and skin-tight pants. Both Kevler underclothes. I exit with my bike boots in hand as the leather suits are hanging up on the wall in the storage area.
