I lift my phone to take a photo of them while they flop over their treadmills. “Done. Photographic evidence sent to Hamish.” I laugh.
Both Cole and Riley protest at the same time with, “Nooo!”
Fleur and I laugh in response, and shut down our treadmills. We hit our target and can move to the rower now, leaving Cole and Riley to draw out their time.
“Up to much tomorrow?” Fleur asks after her first round while she catches her breath.
“End of season team track day. Going to be brilliant,” I reply. I had floated the idea to Rayna that a team track day would be great for morale, which it will. The team has been on fire all year and deserves to blow off some steam before the end of the season—but my ulterior motive is to see Sophia in her leather suit again. I love her in it. I couldn’t stop thinking about her in it and on the bike since I saw her on track, and I need to see it again.
“That’s going to be awesome!” Fleur adds.
“Yeah. Any plans for you?” I ask once my second set is complete.
“I was going to see who was free to organise a karting day,” Fleur returns, excitement in her voice.
“Next one, definitely,” I reply. Fleur organises great go-kart days.
“Maybe you can invite whoever this love interest you have been hanging out with this season?” she slyly adds with a knowing smile.
“No idea what you are implying there. I’ve been working on the motocross project. No fun sexy times,” I reply, not really hiding my humour.
“Sure you don’t, cupcake,” she teases and smashes out her fifth set.
“Argh, why is that nickname sticking around?” I exclaim.
“Anyone need a lift back to the hotel?” Fleur calls out after our session.
Riley nods while panting heavily.
“You okay, dude?” I ask him, worried it’s taking him this long to recover from our session.
“Yeah…I’m fine…” he gasps out, waving his balled-up towel in my direction.
“Follow me, Riley. You can mime to me what time your sister will be back this weekend, and which team to add her to for go-karting,” Fleur offers, and starts to her car.
Riley waves another hand and jogs to keep up with Fleur.
“You heading to the track?” Cole queries.
“Yeah, the team is going to be there today for a meeting, so I want to be there, too,” I reply. “You parked your motorhome at the track still?”
“It was easier this time around. Elise was able to swing it for me. Take a cab over?”
“Let’s do it.”
Cole and I pass the thirty-minute cab ride with discussing our summer plans. I am really looking forward to my parents being back and spending time with them.
We also make a plan to hit some MudPit courses after the Christmas break, making a nice solid week of it.
The track is quiet as it isn’t a race weekend, but there are a few people peppered around from other teams, getting some last meetings in before end of season testing starts up. I really love being in these meetings with the team. They are the reason my bike works so well. Yes, I bring talent, but talent is nothing without a capable machine under me.
Waving off Cole, I head to the pit box, heading straight for the showers before I sit in a room with everyone, which is conveniently near the pits.
Lost in my thoughts, my mind goes back to Sophia and our last time together. The promise of her being with me is so warming, I can’t help but smile. Having her in my space, taking her out for dates. I can’t wait for it all.
Heading to the back area of the pit to dump my gym bag down, there is still no one around. I can’t even hear Rayna’s distant voice on the phone in her office or down pit lane. It feels very unusual, like I got the wrong date? Grimacing, I grab my phone and check the dates. A relieved exhale leaves me when I read it’s the right date, I am just here too early.Hmmm, what to do.Guess I can see if there is anyone working in the hospitality tents for some food or coffee. Walking up a narrow hallway to the back door, it flies open with a scream.
“Argh!”
