I register enough of thecall meandlet me know if you need anythingfrom Nikki, followed by another hug.
The elevator is close. I don’t have to go too far, and then I can be in my hotel room to scream or cry. I’ll decide which one I go with when I am up there. I just have to keep it together from here to the elevator.
6
Javi
A group of three people sitting with Ghostly Flux’s team catch my eye through the crowd, their conversation laced with warm and reassuring tones. The two women stand up abruptly. Dammit, it’s Sophia. Last time I saw her, I accidentally gawked at her ass then at her tits. It turned up in the best sex dream I’ve had in a while. Which is totally inappropriate now that she’s officially in my team and testing with us next week.
Fuck, and now she is hugging the attractive brunette, Dave’s wife!Subconscious mind! Look away! Don’t take notes.Sophia turns my way, but I can see something is wrong immediately. She is holding back a complete meltdown.Arrghh. Why do I feel the need to go and comfort her?
She is making her way to the elevator. Okay, strategic plan. If I make it over to the elevator before it opens, I’ll check in with her. If it arrives and she gets in it, I’ll hit the bathroom. I walk over and the elevator is nowhere near our level.
“Hey,” I lead with.
“Hey,” she replies softly. Her eyes are glassy as she darts them to me and back to the floor.
My chest takes a stab with that look.
“Heard the good news and you’re coming to work with me next year.” I hate myself.
“Yeah,” she weakly replies.
“Everything okay? Noticed you bolted from the table not looking like yourself.”
She huffs out an exasperated and angry sigh. “My boyfriend of two years just dumped me by text.” She shakes her head like she can wake herself from this nightmare, because that did not just happen.
Yup, he’s staying true to my impressions of him. Complete and fucking douche. There are whispers that I have heard here and there, but never paid close attention. Paddock gossip. 90% are complete fabrications, but sometimes that 10% does turn out to be true. And I have heard some shady things about him.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. That’s shitty.” Why did I think I needed to come here? That was the worst thing to say.
She nods, still looking down.
“Can I buy you a drink? Need a punching bag?” I’m such a dick.
She laughs gently and says, “No, I’m okay, thanks. I just need to get to my hotel room and be on my own.”
“Okay.” The elevator dings and opens its doors. “See you around,” I reply, waiting as she gets into the now present elevator, and disappears. But not before I see her break as the doors close. Her hands go to her face and I feel a pang in my chest.
We’ve spoken plenty in the paddock over the last few years. Her being in my best friend’s pit box means I chat with her often enough to know what kind of person she is. She has a magnetic personality. People draw to her with her openness. It takes an ass-hat to break up with someone after two years via text, but to dump someone as amazing as Sophia? Grade A ass-hat.
I return to my table and start to mingle again with a happy Riley, unaware of my internal monologue. He beams over at me, his brown hair stuck over on one side from sweat and champagne drenched on him from the podium. He brings his hands up, trying to tame it down.
“Congrats again, man!” I pick up my drink to cheers him again.
“Dude, I can’t believe it!” He cheers me back and waves at Cole and Fleur, who have come to sit down with us. Cole and Fleur are other riders from the grid and have been friends for years since they met at one of the youth training academies. She is a rocket and keeps up the friendly teasing within the group. She fits right in.
“You know, this doesn’t let you off the hook for training in the morning,” Fleur teases.
Both Riley and Cole groan. “I think Hamishwouldlet me off the hook,” Riley replies, whining at the thought while Fleur laughs at his response.
While the celebrations continue into the night, my mind keeps going back to Sophia, hoping she is okay.
7
Sophia
November – End of season testing - Queensland
