“Nooo, not at all,” I fob her off. “I’m career focused. No time for boys,” I reply, reaching for paper towels to dry my hands to avoid her stares. Javi definitely isn’t a boy. Myword, is he aman.
“Then tell that to your face,” she says, standing in front of me and folding her arms. Her face is still soft and kind.
“What do you mean?” I continue to play dumb.
“The way you are looking at him. I can tell you are trying to only look at him briefly, but you look away and blush,” Nikki says, kindly.
“Oh, I don’t kn—”
Nikki raises her hands to my shoulders and moves her face so I can’t avoid her eyes. “Sophia, he is doing the same.”
I stare into her eyes, biting my bottom lip to avoid smiling so big. This has been killing me not being able to talk to her about this. I give it all up.
“Argh, Nikki. Don’t tell anyone. We probably shouldn’t be doing anything together, especially now that we are back in the pit together and have been working together! We were together and it was so easy and comfortable, and then I told him we need to stop. But I can’t stay away from him. I have told him I would give him an answer end of the season, but…I can’t stay away from him.”
“Hang on!!! How long has this been going on for?” Nikki finally catches on.
“We hooked up a few months ago, but decided to go secret squirrel a few weeks ago,” I share.
“Ohhhh goodness! That’s brilliant!” She laughs. “Dave wouldn’t have any idea, either. Otherwise, he would have asked me.”
“I wanted to tell you and Dave, but it just happened. Then we weren’t going to do anything about it, but then it happened again. It got harder to…broach the subject with you. How do you text something like that?” It is now my turn to laugh.
“No problem, your secret is safe with me, you can talk to me anytime about it. I won’t tell Dave, either,” Nikki reassures. I hug her, relieved I can share it with someone.
We head out the bathroom and back to Javi and Dave, who are also laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
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 thebaarrrpof 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 hishello.
“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.
