Rolling over off the pillow, I move it to the side, relaxing further into the mattress.Grateful to have the cool air blasting in the room.We worked up a sweat.
Koby re-enters the room and stops.“Fuck, you are a glorious sight.”He places a hand on his chest and rakes his eyes over my naked body.
Resisting the urge to cover up or wave him off, I now revel under his praise.
Instead, patting the space next to me to encourage him to lie with me.
Complying, he approaches the bed and settles in next to me.Pulling me onto his arms, my head resting on his shoulder.
My mind goes back to racing with thoughts of the next few months.What happens with us?How do we navigate this successfully?What happens if wecan’tnavigate this successfully?
“What are you overthinking?”Koby breaks the silence and starts rubbing my back with his palm.
“How did you know?”
“You let out a massive sigh.”
Damn, he knows me well.
“Guess I’m just thinking about what happens after the season break.How do we do this on the road?”
“How about we handle it like this?Keep to two-bedder rooms.No pressure to stay in the same bed, so you have your space.And anytime you want to boss me around, like you just did now, you call me straight in.”He punctuates the sentence by squeezing my ass.
“Okay.That sounds reasonable.”And I will myself to not over-think anymore and enjoy this moment.
23
Koby
February – Preseason Testing - Phillip Island
RaynaandIstepinto the hotel lobby hand-in-hand, and I chuckle.I’m transported back a year ago, walking into this same hotel lobby.What a change a year can make.
“What are you giggling at?”Rayna’s radiant smile blinds me.
“Do you remember the first day back on track last year?Coming back here?”
“How could I forget?!Poor Mabel.What a first day!At least now I double-check everyone’s room reservations with the hotels ad nauseam.Riley came in and saved the day there.I remember you did very little.”
“You know why?…”
Walking into the hotel lobby in front of Riley, I watch Rayna march across the floor with an unknown honey-brown haired woman steering her luggage manically behind her.
They talk to the concierge, and it’s clear it’s not going well.
“Oh, I met her this morning!”I hear Riley behind me.“Infraction32’s new PR Director, Mabel.”
He brushes past me, heading over, and my feet are planted.I can’t move and bridge the gap closer to Rayna.We started hanging out here and there again the last few seasons, but the season break made me miss her.I avoided her on track all day, and I just had to make it up to my hotel room and could tick today off as a successful first day back.But the presentation of an issue has me stilled.
She is looking down at her phone, fingers tapping and scrolling the screen.Riley’s voice talking to Mabel causes Rayna’s eyes to break from her phone.They talk among themselves.I’m too far away to hear them, but her hand raises up along with her eyebrow.
My legs decide to work and I fall in by Riley’s side, smiling at them.
“Koby!Any chance you have any spare rooms amongst your team no one has checked in as yet?”Rayna asks me, and I pull out my phone to check.
Scrolling through my phone as they continue to chat, I’m not really paying attention.Lost in the cadence of Rayna’s voice.Firm, yet kind.
“Thanks, Rayna,” Mabel replies.Rayna smiles at her and catches my eye as she heads back towards the restaurant, drawing me along with her.
