“I have someone coming in to fix the spa out the back of the property,” she replies, never breaking her stride.
“How about you, Riley?” Javi continues.
“Not sure. Mabel is working in the hotel room. I don’t want to get into her space while she's working,” I reply.
Javi pipes up, “She’s been doing a great job the last few weeks. Feels like she’s always been part of the team.”
“Sophia has been saying the same thing,” Fleur adds.
“If she can put up with your crap, she must be a keeper,” Cole puffs as he comes over to us on the treadmills, grateful Hamish has taken a phone call.
Finishing up our session, we part ways with Fleur and Cole as she offers to drive him back to the track where his motorhome is parked. Javi and I split a cab back to the hotel in the other direction.
“Oh hey, can we stop off and grab some food?” I query. “I want to take it back to the hotel.”
“Yeah, sure. Pizza?”
“I could go for that.”
We give the cabbie new directions.
“How have things been going?” Javi asks, concerned.
“Actually okay. Like, there are hard days. But it needs time, right? Kobs sent through some therapist names, but I don’t think I'm ready to talk to a stranger about it all yet.”
“It’s not too much having Mabel with you? Sophia mentioned now that Mabel has gotten to know her more, she was happy to swap around so the girls were in a double room together. If you needed the space, that is. We could work out a room swap.”
“I appreciate the thought from both of you, but I’ve actually been enjoying Mabel sharing the hotel room with me during this time. I was worried it would feel too soon to share my space, but it’s been fun getting to know her and helping when she has questions while working on her PR schedules.”
Exiting out of the cab when we reach the pizza shop, we walk up to the packed restaurant.
“I'm going to pop over to the supermarket over there. I’ll be right back.” Javi claps my back before I can confirm or deny his request.
Mabel hasspent the last few weeks really focusing on getting up to speed with her role and what we do around the track. I’ve done what I can, including sorting out meals for us, bringing her snacks when I can see she’s been on her laptop for ages or getting stressed about something, and making sure she has enough time on her own in the hotel room to focus. I try to stay out of her hair, but be available when she needs some help. The thoughtof her rooming with Sophia doesn’t make me relieved; I actually hate the feeling of not seeing her.
The crew has been caught up in their own lives this preseason, as well. Javi and Sophia have been inseparable when they don’t have work to do. Fleur has been spending her time at her property she bought down here a few years ago—which I don’t blame her for. It’s stunning. I would be there as much as I could if it were mine. Cole’s been a little aloof this preseason. He has been staying at the track as much as he can, and only catching us for our preseason training sessions.
Seeing Mabel in distress on her first day made me want to watch out for her. She reminded me of Kiara, putting her emotions up behind a mask that slipped slightly, but I still caught it. I needed to make sure she was okay. Keep her close and safe.
We have even fallen into a comfortable routine of dinner, chatting, and watching 90s sitcoms. We’ve been mixing up dinners between room service, the hotel restaurant, or out boosting the local economy and hitting different food joints. She’s even jumped on some of my video calls with my parents. I've enjoyed spending the one-on-one time with her.
The line at the pizza place is progressing smoothly, and it’s almost my turn to order when Javi messages to ask me to place an order for him. I wait to the side for our pizzas. By the time Javi rejoins me, I have our two boxes in hand.
Full shopping bag in tow, he raises it. “Sorry! Got caught up. Didn’t realise how many things I needed.”
“Gotta get that stuff down on a list. You’re easily distracted by shiny things.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re one to talk. Let’s get back.”
We jump back into a cab and head for the hotel.
I open the door of the hotel room, and Mabel is where I left her this morning—sitting at the dining table, working on her laptop.
“Please tell me you had a little break?” I ask, entering further into the room.
“Yes. But it was just a tiny one.” She laughs.
“Well, have a break now. I brought pizza.”
