“Absolutely.Let us organise this, and you focus on your mum.”I lean over and place my hand on his hand.
His mouth quivers, and he closes his eyes.“Thanks, guys.I really appreciate this.”
Looking over at Koby, he gives me a small smile.Empathetic in the situation.
Brax and I wrap up as I want him to get to his mum and to reach out if he needs anything.He gives me a long embrace, and I rub his back and squeeze a little tighter when I feel a tear hit my shoulder.Koby gives him a hug at the door as he leaves.
Koby re-enters the room.“You okay?”
“Yeah.Just breaks my heart.Poor kid.”
“He is thirty-one.”
“I know, but he has been with us since he was seventeen.I still see him as a kid.”
He laughs.“You see them all as your kids.”
“You got me.”I smile bashfully.
He simply smiles at me and nods.
“Guess I better get to making a few calls today.”Reaching for my laptop and checking the battery: Low.“Actually, make those calls upstairs so I can put this on charge.”
I head up to my room, not waiting for a response.
12
Koby
Theflashofblackhair flowing in the wind catches my attention again.This has been the third track in a row this same girl has caught my eye.But she’s normally sitting in the grandstand seating across from the pit boxes.Striking black hair, olive skin, amazing body, gorgeous face.She has to be one of the rider’s girlfriends?A promo girl?Nah, she isn’t dressed in any branding.I have only caught glimpses of her.I’ve never noticed anyone around her at any of the tracks.But she’s close now.Standing at the back of the pits, leaning against some spare barriers on her phone.
Glancing down, I'm in my racing leathers.They are unzipped, showing off my chest discreetly.Chicks dig these, right?
“Hey, you know this area is only for pit crews?”What the fuck was that line?
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, sorry, are you with the promo girls?Lost your way, raven?”Shit, that was terrible.
She pushes herself off the barriers, and straightens herself in front of me.She’s nowhere as tall as me, but she’s cute trying to step up.
“No, I’m not with the promo girls.I’m with BuzzSoft Tyres.You know, the black rubbery round things that move your crotch rocket around the track, rookie.”Both her hands are in the air, near my face, making circle movements with her fingers, punctuating that last word with a pop of her head.
Fuck, she is Elio’s daughter.He was telling us that “his kid” was going to be stopping in at tracks over the season.But he had called her “Ray”.I assumed it was a guy.
“Ray?”I ask.
“Yes.My dad calls me Ray.I’m Rayna.”
“Sorry.Rayna.I’m Koby.Soon to be getting all the used-up tires for the rest of the season.”Sticking my hand out to her, wincing slightly under her fiery death stare.
She looks between my hand and my face over and over.She relinquishes and rolls her eyes with a smile, taking my hand and shaking it.“It’s fine.Thanks for thinking I was pretty enough to be a promo girl.”
Hands down, she is way prettier than all of them combined.
“Are you out the back here waiting for anyone?Or need a hand getting anywhere?”
“Nah, I’m okay, thanks.”
