My mind falls back to Koby sharing his memory of last season.It surprised me that he would remember something like that, but I won’t lie that I have had some of those thoughts over the years.
Koby heads down to ask Sophia and Dave up to his office.We have been negotiating for the pair of them to come over to Infraction32 and into two newly vacated positions.Javi asking for them explicitly.They are good.They have been in the paddock for years, and both are sponges with the technical knowledge.Constantly pushing tech.
This office is an exact copy of all the offices above the pits.They are a little cosy but they do the job.A few people can be sitting in here for meetings, but anymore than five people and we need a meeting room.
Stomping up the stairs announces Koby’s return.His heaving chest, strained face and stifled breathing hint that he is hiding his out of breathlessness.
“Stairs take it out of you, Rookie?”I heckle.
He reaches his desk and glares over at me.Holding his breath, his chest puffed out.Blowing his breath out, he deflates, and his face lifts into a chuckle.“Might have misjudged how fast I was going.”He rests his palms on the desk as he takes a few moments to catch his breath.I’m sitting on a chair next to the side of the small desk.It’s positioned so that he can sit typing at his laptop and the person sitting in my place can look and be engaged talking to him.It’s the same in all the offices.But with him standing, hunched over the desk, the muscles on his tattoo-sleeved arms strained and bulging.His chest rising and falling.His presence is consuming, darkening the space between us.Blurring the lines between my old friend and something that looms over me in the dark of a bedroom.
“Okay.I’m good,” he announces and sits down, pushing his chair back so he is facing more of the room.
“So, no need for me to get the defib?”I manage.
He smiles in a debonair manner, and it pierces me deep down.The outside may look a little more lived, a little greyer, but there is my best friend again.And I miss him.
Koby looks over to the door at Sophia and Dave hovering around, and I slap on a wide smile to cover up my derailed thoughts.
“Okay, thank you for taking us through this.We’ll be in touch.”Micah stands up and pushes me discreetly to jolt me out of my head.
“Yes…Thanks for today.Appreciate you coming out,” I muster and stand to shake hands while Sophia escorts them out of the meeting room.
Micah looks over at me, and I feel caught out under her gaze.“Well, I did not think I would be around to see Rayna day-dreaming in a meeting.”Her blunt tone crackles over the words.
“I was wondering why you were so quiet.Are you okay?”Sophia adds, genuinely concerned.
“Don’t worry about her.Meeting must be too late in the day,” Micah teases.
“Blah, blah, blah.Let’s pack up so we can head off.”I give Micah a tap of my elbow as I pass her walking out the meeting room.Her brassy laughter following me out the door.On the way to my office, I check my phone.
Message from Koby:
Hope you’ve had a great day.See you back at the hotel.Dinner at the hotel restaurant and then dessert in the room?;)
Blush creeps up my cheeks.
Micah follows me up to my office.I sit at my desk, and she closes the door behind her.
“Alright, spill it.”She walks towards my desk and sits down on the chair near it.Wiggling her fingers in agimmemotion.
“What?”I feign confusion, but the smile that spreads across myself has a mind of its own.
“That!Right there!What are you sitting on?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”I still try to subdue my smile.
“Yes!You’re seeing someone!Brilliant!”
I can’t help but laugh.She knows me so well.“I am.”
“Care to share a name?”
“Koby.”
“Oh, my goodness.I saw you both walking into the hotel together.I didn’t even realise.That’s great!I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
