“Thanks,” I say, a little surprised.
Javi asks, “How has it been living with Riley this past month? He driven you mad yet?”
“We’re having such a great time. It’s nice to get to know someone else from the paddock outside the team, and it’s been a bonus that he’s right there to ask questions so I am not bothering Rayna too much,” I reply.
Rayna’s ears prick up. “You can hassle me anytime!”
“I know, but I feel bad sending you texts at 10:00 p.m.!”
“You need a shut off time, too!” Javi directs to Rayna.
“Yeah, yeah,” she replies and moves back to her phone.
“We should all head out on Monday for dinner. Have you been to the Japanese place a few towns over? Amazing food,” Javi exclaims. I can hear him salivate just thinking of the food.
“Sure! That sounds like a great idea. I’ll let Riley know.”
“I was surprised he headed back to the hotel after his interviews were done. He normally hangs around for mine to end,” Javi queries.
“He said he was making dinner tonight, so he wanted to head back to get it bought and prepared,” I offer.
“That explains it,” Javi says with a small smile across his face.
Trudging through the hotel, it's busy and buzzing with riders and their team. The night before the first official day of the season, and it’s like a live wire through the foyer. Excited chattering and laughing echoes through. You would think no one is stressed!
My confusion must have reached my face, as Rayna says, “Wait until Friday night. Everyone is carefree and relaxed now because the next two days are getting down times and fine tuning the bikes. Friday, it will be dead in here at this time.”
A few people turn seeing Rayna, and coax her into their huddle before she waves me off. Javi has made a beeline for Sophia sitting in the restaurant, and greets her with a long kiss. I head upstairs, looking forward to some quiet.
I don’t even need to enter the room to smell all the deliciousness that hits my nose as soon as I exit the elevator. My mouth is already drooling as I open the door.
“Hey!” Riley greets from the kitchen. “Perfect timing. I just finished everything up.”
My eyes take in the kitchen bench, and all the colourful vegetables on plates with meat, and sauces in bowls across it.
“Wow, that’s a lot of food!” I exclaim, putting my laptop down.
“I know it’s meant to be simple, but I’ve always enjoyed having options. Plus, there will be enough for tomorrow’s dinner,” he replies, gesturing for me to sit down. “Mid-season break, we should do this and make margaritas.”
“We probably won’t be living together mid-season, though,” I remind him, which fills me with a bit of sadness. This past month has been really fun and easy-going, and I have really appreciated Riley being a support so readily available.
“Oh, of course.” He pauses, his face dropping slightly before he recovers. “You’ll just have to come over and hang with me for dinners when we aren’t rooming together.”
“I’m down for that,” I reply enthusiastically, smiling at the thought.
“Great! Let’s eat,” Riley exclaims, and we both dig in.
After the third taco, I am done. “How are you still going?!” I look at Riley filling up his fifth, rubbing my stomach in sympathy.
“I’m a growing boy,” he jests, puffing up his chest and shaking his shoulders. This causes the taco fillings to fall back on his plate, to which I burst into laughter at his sad face. “Glad my misery is funny to you.” He extends the faux-sadness.
“Sorry, what did you want from me?” I ask. “Your poor taco.I am not disingenuous, my friend! You won’t get coddling from me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re a hard ass with a nice ass—oops, sorry!” Riley slams his hand across his mouth. “Sorry, that just slipped out. I am totally respectful, but give compliments where due. We’re still getting to know each other, so I have kept the compliments to myself.”
“You compliment your friends’ body parts?” I ask.
“Notonlybody parts. I’m not a complete sleazeball!” he says balkingly. “This week Javi got a big chest compliment because he’s filled up heaps there, his upper body looks like a triangle. Cole has finally trained Otto to not take a dump in the training facility; compliment. Fleur nailed a personal best in the squat cage so thatwasa ‘strong legs’ compliment, if that’s weird.”
