“I can’t imagine what you and your parents have been through,” she replies, her face sincere, the warmth of her hand on my shoulder as she reassuringly squeezes it and rubs her thumb in circles.
“While I would never want to stop competing, I do miss being with them more. But they have told me that we can’t change what has happened and need to be able to live our lives with this new normal.”
“That explains why you’re always on the phone to your parents.”
“Yeah. I miss being with them and not being around them while we’re all healing.”
“Thank you for sharing this with me.”
“I wanted to let you know earlier, but…”
Her hand goes up. “No need to explain. You told me when you were ready to. Well, when I asked. Sorry if that rushed you. But I’m here for you.”
And I believe her words. I know she will be here for me.
The cool sea air hits my face as we run along the foreshore paved footpath. Everyone had things to do after strength training, so it left Mabel and me to do cardio on our own. It was such a nice day out, we opted for a run outside from the hotel gym.
“How long have we been running for?” I gasp at Mabel as she hardly breaks a sweat.
Glancing down at her watch, she huffs. “Twenty minutes. You’re an athlete, right?”
“I am still a human! Who really fucking hates running.”
She laughs and slows down to meet my jogging pace, which I slowly relegate down to a fast walk.
“You really hate running that much?”
“A bit. Guess I would prefer to stay still and do weights.”
“Speaking like a true meathead.” She chucks my chin.
“Guilty.”
“You never ran around with your sister on your property? What was it again? Llama and goat circus performing?”
“Such a jokester.” I shake my head at her in mock disbelief. “Sheep and dairy farming. And no, we used to get around on dirt bikes. The property was too big to just run across.”
“Ah, of course. The sheep and cows. Hang on, mixed farms are…I mean there are really…” She struggles with her words.
“They are the most profitable forms of farming in Australia,” I finish for her. I knew what she was thinking, and it’s something I don’t share with just anybody.
“Is that how you know Javi, Fleur, and Cole so well? How you could all afford to get into racing?”
“Nah, Javi and I met at the Nationals when we were fifteen. Fleur and Cole met when they were young and in the youth training academy. The training academy is similar to scholarships. We all met in the last few years when we came across from Nationals to this level. Conveniently for us.”
“And you lot don’t hang with anyone else from the grid? You four are the cool kid clique?” she teases.
“Not at all! We just seemed to connect instantly, and we’re able to push each other and not get on each other’s nerves. Plus, everyone is a work colleague here. Do you get along with 100% of your colleagues?”
“Alright, I hear what you’re saying.” She smirks.
A strong breeze hits us head on and Mabel winces, raising a hand to her eyes. “Shit. I think some dirt has blown into my eye.”
“Let me check for you.” I stand in front of her, close to block any more wind hitting her face. Both her eyes are closed, so I put one hand under her chin to angle her face up to mine, the other shielding her face from the sun and wind.
She blinks a few times, adjusting to the light and my close proximity. “Nothing that I can see,” I reply after inspecting her eyes. The hazel in her eyes glimmer under the mid-morning sun. The sun shining off the coastal waters sparkle on her skin. Her lips are full and inviting, plump with blood flowing from our exercising. Shit, I can’t be noticing things like this.
“See. No good comes from cardio. Taking eyes out,” I mock outrage as I step back inline by her side.
