“Quite a bit. Not that you have called to check in.”
I roll my eyes and let her berate me for not calling, and then listen to her go on about what she and Dad have been up to—which was updating me on which extended family members were pissing them off.
When I finally had enough of her complaining about my cousin’s four-year-old, I have to bail out. “Sorry, Mum, I need to go. I have a meeting I am late for.”
She replies with an unimpressedgoodbyeand the line cuts out. I instantly relax. How could I ever bring someone into this pathetic excuse for a family?
“Tough call?” Rayna’s voice carries in front of me.
Sighing, I reply, “Parents being difficult. Not the best relationship with them.”
“Say no more.” Rayna lifts a hand. “Wes had the worst relationship with his father. Best thing Wes did was step aside andlet him live his own life. He didn’t want to put effort into being in his life, in our son’s life. Wes had no time for that. You have to make yourself the priority in these dynamics.”
“That is so true.” I nod my head and rub my temple.
“I'm talking with the next hotel to see if you and Riley can get a two-bedder or at least next door to each other, and they said they will see what they can do. I’ll let you know when they tell me.”
“Thanks. No stress, if not. I don’t want to put you out.”
“Not at all. It’s nice when you find a friend in the paddock. Especially in your first season.” She smiles at me.
“Do you have any paddock friends you try to get hotel rooms close to?” I ask, then feel rude for asking, maybe overstepping.
“Micah and I sometimes, but her husband accompanies a bit, so I don’t want to pressure her to hang with me. She’s come across to our team recently, so it’s nice we get to enjoy our time in the pit more so the last two seasons. She was in Riley’s team beforehand.”
“Ohhh, I’m sure that trade caused a stir!” I remark. Micah is great as Javi’s Sporting Director. She’s invaluable, and he makes sure everyone knows it.
“Riley hasn’t told you about the wholeJavi stealing his teamsituation last season?”
“He didnot!”
Rayna laughs. “Micah, Sophia, and Dave were poached from Ghostly Flux over to Infraction32 last season. We had some of Javi’s team leave for the enduro, and rally teams and had thethree spots to fill. We took it as a good opportunity to build the best team in our eyes. Javi was lucky to get them.”
“I can’t imagine the negotiations to get them across.”
“Yes, I owe Koby for working together with us. We were fortunate that there were team members who were ready to step into their roles for Riley.”
Rayna’s phone starts to ring, and she groans. “That was almost fifteen minutes with no calls. Sorry, Mabel, I have to take this.”
I wave at Rayna, and she answers the call as she starts walking in the direction of the hospitality tent.
The loud noises of the motorcycles all returning into the pit boxes brings me back to what I should be doing: being in the box with the team, working and preparing for the races this weekend.
Javi, Cole, and Fleur all got top three positions, Fleur on the top step. Riley put up a tough battle with Cole, narrowly missing out on third. Everyone is in the hotel bar celebrating when Rayna approaches me as I stand at a high table, having some of the food ordered for everyone.
“Mabel, I was able to confirm with the next hotel that you and Riley can room together.”
“That’s awesome. Thanks so much, Rayna.”
“My pleasure.” She gets waved over by Fleur’s team manager, Zoey.
I watch Rayna leave, and then Nikki arrives and comes over to say hello.
“How’s everything going? Settling in well?” Nikki asks.
“Really well. Thanks for asking. Everyone is so wonderful here.”
“They all really are. I remember a time Dave came home and said…”
