28
Mabel
October – End of season – Queensland Raceway, QLD
It’s been two weeks since my parents left, and Riley and my schedules have been completely off. It’s the last month of the season and I am in PR commitments up to my eyeballs. With Javi being the reigning champion and it being a tight season between the four of them, it’s been great to get the work out there. But not being in the same hotel room means we aren’t conveniently spending time together. Even if I was working on the lounge, I could look up and see Riley on the other end. I’ve missed him so much.
I'm setting up Javi’s tent signing when I get a call from Rayna. “Hey, Javi’s had to go back to the hotel. He’s unwell.”
“Oh no, is everything okay?” I ask.
“Sophia thinks food poisoning. We’ll have to cancel the signing for today. Are you able to handle that, or would you like my help?” she asks.
I pause, but I want to show her I am ready to do this on my own. “No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.”
“Okay, call if you need anything.” And she hangs up.
I exhale.Okay, I can do this. They are fans, they will understand these things happen.
Making my way over to the crowd already lining up out of the tent, I get their attention. “Hey Everyone, I am really sorry, but Javi is unwell and will not be signing today.”
The crowd is instantly in an uproar.
“Aww, we’re been waiting for ages!”
“This isn’t fair.”
“We’ve travelled over five hours to see him!”
“We are really sorry and wouldn’t have done this if he wasn’t really unwell.” I try to tame the crowd, who are getting more and more annoyed and loud.
“Hey, what’s happening? Where’s Javi?” I hear a familiar voice come up behind me.
“He’s got food poisoning and can’t make the signing,” I reply, looking into Riley’s eyes. “They aren’t happy about it.”
“Clearly,” he replies then addresses the crowd. “Hey, everyone, I know you were here to see Javi Bear, but the dude has food poisoning. Unless you want to be puked on, don’t think you want us to drag him back. Now I am not the reigning champ, but I am a former champ and possibly this year’s champ. You've all been watching! It’s been a tight season! Are you all sweet if I do the signing for you?”
The crowd’s attitude turns and start cheering, to which Riley looks at me and gives me that wicked smile he has. “Gotta know what these crowds want. Me.” And winks at me.
“Thank you!” I say and squeeze his arm. He looks down at it and I quickly move it away. “I’ll go grab some of your promostuff from Oscar and let him know what’s happening. I’ll be back.”
Jogging out of the tent, I have my phone to my ear, catching Oscar up on the situation. He is in the pit, and tells me to head there for the promo material.
I drag a wheelie trolley filled with posters, stickers, extra markers, everything I need for Riley’s signing. I can’t believe he came in and did that. Well, I can. That’s the type of person Riley is. But he was at the right place at the right time. For me. Argh, everything feels like it’s haunting me and my avoidance of the situation. But it is really hard not to see the connection here.
Arriving back at the tent, Riley has moved all of Javi’s promo material into my wheelie trolley and is vamping in front of the crowd. He sees me enter and asks everyone to give him a few minutes, then we’ll be set up and ready to go in no time.
Riley fills Javi’s spot, and once the track realises Riley is signing, more fans arrive, pushing out the signing for two hours. Riley is not missing a beat, taking photos with the fans, signing, and having quick conversations with each of the fans. I'm running around making sure the crowd is ordered and we’re still running smoothly. Oscar arrives mid-way through to take over, but I wave him off as Riley is helping me out of a pinch. The last of the fans trickle in and Riley finally puts his marker down and leans back in the chair, stretching.
“And now to go and ride some bikes.” He lazily smiles at me as he stretches.
“Thank you so much for bailing me out. I really appreciate it,” I say as I tidy up the table. “You better head off so you don’t miss the start of the session.”
“Koby would be in here already if I was going to be running late.”
“Riley! You all done yet? Thirty minutes,” Koby calls out from behind a corner briefly and then disappears.
We both look at each other and laugh, “Okay, I’m outta here. And no problem. Javi can owe me something. I’ll work it out and tell him. See you…around.”
