“He does not,” I respond, taking a sip of my beer, hoping the blush in my cheeks isn’t showing.
“He totally does. He only comes to Infraction32’s pit box to see you these days. And then trips over his tongue as he waits for you to notice him. It’s fucking adorable,” Sophia continues.
“Well! I have to see this when I am in the pit box this weekend,” Nikki declares.
“We aren’t official. I don’t know what we are.”
“Pining for each other, that’s what you both are,” Fleur says over her own beer as she sips from it. “Is it pining if they are already together but in secret? Sophia? You seem to be the group expert here,” she teases.
“You’ve been hanging out with your meanbrotherstoo long.” Sophia squints her eyes to Fleur, trying to keep a straight face, however the corner of her mouth pulls up. “But I am going to guess it’s just scary to label what you're both doing?”
“Expert insight,” Fleur shoots back with a giggle and a wave of her free hand towards Sophia.
“Yeah, I guess,” I reply. “I like how things are at the moment and I don’t want anything to change anything and have it possibly muddled.”
“That is fair. I’m sure you will know what you want to do when you’re ready,” Nikki offers to my shy smile.
“How did you and Dave meet?” I ask Nikki.
“Funnily enough, through Shelby! Shelby and I are friends from uni. We were both doing our Bachelor of Arts degree and have been friends since, even doing the share house thing for a few years after uni. He invited me to a photography exhibition he had a few pieces in. This was when he was in his second year working in the paddock, and he extended the invite to Dave, too. I was walking around the exhibition and Dave and I ended up at the same photo and started chatting. We ended up talking all night and exchanging numbers.”
“And say the cute thing,” Sophia prompts.
Nikki laughs. “After our first few dates, Dave tracked down and bought the piece we stopped and started talking at to commemorate us meeting.”
“Awwww,” I can’t help but utter.
“I know, I know.” Nikki blushes.
“And here I thought Dave didn’t like to talk. He’s always so reserved and…stoic.” Fleur laughs.
“He is a quiet one. We balance each other really well. But if you get him on a topic he loves, you won’t shut him up.”Nikki chuckles. “Mentioning Shelby, I really want to try to find someone nice for Shelby. He has had bad luck with dating ever since I have known him! Surely there is someone lovely in the paddock we can matchmaker him up with?”
“He has the worst luck!” Sophia agrees.
“I’m sure we can find someone nice for him,” Fleur concurs.
“We could open up the possibilities and see if there is someone to set him up with over in rally?” I chime in.
“Yes! He has been over at the Enduro lately, too. We need Rayna for these conversations. She knows practically everyone,” Fleur adds.
“Ok, something we need to think, and bring ideas to the next girls’ drinks,” Sophia proclaims, raising her glass.
“Yes!” Nikki yells, and we all clink our glasses in support.
Pit lane is open and a-buzz with teams getting their bikes and riders set up for the start of a practice session. Taking this opportunity to get some shots of Javi heading out on track, I hang out the front of our pit box and take some videos and photos of him heading out. Staying off to the side, I'm crouched down, filming him mounting his bike and taking off. Panning back to the team as they enter the pit again, I stay facing a few pit boxes down.
Riley walks up to his bike in no rush. One of his team members is holding the bike up for him and chatting between them.Koby comes up to his side and hands Riley his helmet, followed by a slap on the back. Riley slips the helmet over his head, moving it around so he gets a comfortable fit before strapping it up. My eyes can’t help traveling down his body, his unzipped leathers allowing his taut torso to peek through. I become transfixed on him, slowly zipping his suit up, making it a subtle, private show for me. He continues his hand to his helmet and my eyes follow, meeting his piercing eyes. They twinkle in a hidden smile behind the helmet that I have no issues seeing at this distance. I blush and glance away. But not for long. I stand up and can’t help refocusing back on him after his gloves are on. His leg swings over the bike, nestled between his legs and slowly directs the bike pass by me. He nods as he gets a few metres away from me, his eyes sparkling behind the helmet before he jets off.
In an attempt to regain some composure, I look at my phone, trying to steady my heart rate.
“Mabel!” Rayna’s voice rings through the pit as she approaches.
“Yep?” I reply, pocketing my phone.
“One of the sponsors who said they weren’t able to get here, just called to let me know they are able to get here now, and they are able to get here in ten minutes. Can we head up to one of the conference rooms and quickly go over their portfolio before they arrive?”
“Let’s do it,” I reply enthusiastically before collecting all my electronic devices and head up to the conference room.
