But her words fade into the background as I find my gaze drawn over to look at Riley, distracting me from her story. He sits with his friends. Carefree. Enjoying their company. Praising and supporting their win.
Riley’s demeanour in this moment is the polar opposite to what he was like on track a few hours ago. He's leaning back, relaxed. His white t-shirt screams against his chest, calling attention to the muscles underneath. Casually lifting his glass to his mouth, his eyes scan the room and settle on me. He looks over his raised hand that cuts off his face, sending his lower face in shadow. The allure of something mysterious and unexpected pulses something in my core. Light hits his mouth as he lowers his hand and throws a smile over my way.
“…and I couldn’t look at him the same way after that!” Nikki ends with a laugh, breaking my stare off with Riley. I look back as her black hair falls over her shoulders as she chuckles. Joining her in a fake laugh, I pretend I was listening the whole time.
“Hi, Riley! Great effort today,” Nikki welcomes, and my head snaps to see him reach the table. By my side.
“Thanks, Nikki. We’re all so strong. Going to be a tight season. Help me out, sabotage Dave’s laptop when he leaves it unattended.” He winks at Nikki.
She laughs. “I’ll do my best. I’ll get creative, just for you. Speaking of Dave, I’m going to go find him. Good job again.” She pats my arm as she walks past me.
“How’s the food here?” He eyes the few plates on the table.
“Not bad. I didn’t get a chance to break today, so it’s good enough.”
“Did you want to go get a proper dinner?”
“I’m ok. This is fine.”
“How was your day? Any media run-ins? Have you had to bring out big bad PR bitch?”
“Nah, all good on that front. They are all really lovely. Oh, Rayna did confirm we have a double room next hotel room.”
“Yay! That’s great to hear. Been weird, not bunking with you. Miss seeing you before I go to sleep.”
Argh, and how am I not meant to lose it over that?
May - The Bend – South Australia
Sunday’s race is enthralling. Riley finishes in first, Cole second, and Fleur third. They all battled on the bikes amazingly, and I am so proud of them all. Riley mentioned he loves this track, and it shows. He was smooth on the bike all weekend, both on and off the track. Everything was working for him. He made a brazen comment that things were working because we were back in a shared hotel room, but I refuse to dwell on that thought.
I try to focus my phone on Javi back in the pit, with the respectable fourth place he finished in. However, my eyes keep moving to the monitor in the pit with Riley’s face splashed across it. Soaking up his accolades and showing his massive, gleaming smile. Hair dripping with sweat and sprayed champagne sticking to his face. He keeps running a hand through it, but it has a mind of its own and falls back down, wild and untamed, framing his face. A few strands are stuck across his forehead, giving me ideas of what he would look like hovering over me, sweaty, panting. My breath can’t help but catch in my throat, and my mouth goes dry.Get a grip, Mabel. Stop entertaining these thoughts.
Tonight will be another casual get together in the hotel bar with the top three riders’ teams stopping in for a few drinks and boisterous conversations. It will also be fun and a nice way to celebrate Riley and me in the same hotel room together again.
Riley. Good-looking, athletic, funny Riley.Fuck, I have to stop thinking of him like that,I berate myself. As Javi came in fourth, he doesn’t have as many media commitments, therefore we can all leave with the team on the shuttle after the pit is packed up.
Waiting in the line to get on the shuttle, Rayna walks up beside me.
“Hey! No line cutsies, Rayna!” Sophia laughs from further back in the line.
“Please, I am the line!” she playfully throws back, smiling at me.
“Hey, Mabel, could we sit next to each other on the way to the hotel? Got a call this afternoon from the Queensland venue with a new sponsor, and we need to get a revised agenda and move a few things around for the track.”
“Sure. Let’s get it done.”
“Thanks. I’m hoping it won’t take too long.”
“Not a worry at all. I’m sure with both of us working on it, we’ll smash it out,” I reply with a smile.
“Appreciate your attitude.” Rayna smiles back and squeezes my arm.
We work as much as we can on the shuttle bus, however the team is rowdy already. It was a tough weekend and Javi only just missed out on third.
“Do you mind finishing this up in my hotel room? And then we can head down to the celebration?” Rayna asks as we get to the hotel.
“Absolutely. Will be nice to be able to hear myself think!” I laugh.
