Page 23 of Rider Forbidden
“Hmmm, I think I might take it easy tonight.”
“No, you can't do that.” Sophie says, “This is your first proper full night here, we’re going for dinner and then to a club later.”
“Oh my god, how am I going to keep up with you guys?” I put my head in my hands.
“We’ll look after you don't you worry,” Jack says. I look up at him and he’s looking at my legs, his eyes lift to meet mine - there’s no mistaking the desire in them. What, he wants a holiday fling? Well, he can look elsewhere, because as much as I would like to see what that would be like, I refuse to be just another notch on his bedpost.
We eat breakfast, its comfortable. They're a really good crew and they all seem to get on and watch out for each other. Dad had nothing to worry about with his investment. They're a tight team that do their best for Jack, for BMW and my dad. They just want to win.
We go to the track, I'm so surprised how busy it is, there are so many riders here today practising. All the men in their leathers - they must be overheating it must be over eighty degrees. We go to the section we’ve been allocated, and I watch Denny and his men check out the bike. I’ve not seen Jack ride properly yet, so I'm looking forward to it. I can see bikers speeding past on their practice runs and they're going to do a practice race at 3 pm this afternoon. No sunbathing for me today. The atmosphere here is contagious and as we wait for Jack to get his leathers on, anticipation and excitement starts to build that I'm gonna get to see him in action.
Sophie and I make our way to an outdoor stand bar type thing to get a drink. There are tables set outside, so while we're waiting for Jack we decide to sit in the sun and drink there. We can see our pit from where we’re sitting anyway, and I need an orange juice.
Once we’re sat down I check my phone, Sophie spots me doing this - probably for the hundredth time today - even though I know Eli is at school and doing fine.
“He’ll be fine honey, stop worrying, he’s in good hands and you deserve this - a bit of you time.”
I sigh “I know, and I know to everyone it looks like I'm being over the top, but imagine being with someone for six years with not one night apart - someone you love more than anything on this earth and needs looking after. I'm just passing all that on to my parents right now and I’ve never done that before. This is a really big deal for me. It’ll get easier leaving him I'm sure, it's just that I'm not used to it.”
“I get it. What you need is a vodka in that orange juice, especially now we all know what you're like when you're drunk.” Her eyes are twinkling.
“Stop, please, I'm dying of embarrassment here. How mean was I to Jack?”
“Oh, don't you worry about Jack, he was loving every minute, it was like watching a boxing match but with words.”
Just as I'm about to reply, four guys walk over to us, formidable guys; dark hair and tanned skin, they look Italian or Spanish. There are so many people from different countries here today.
“Hello, beautiful ladies.” One of the men says - they're all striking. One of them has bike leathers on, so obviously a rider but I don't know all Jack’s competition well enough yet to know who they all are.
Sophie sits upright, surprised but not annoyed by the interruption. “Hi guys, how are you doing?”
I just smile at them.
One of the other ones steps forward. “May we sit with you?”
I smile. “Sure, why not?”
The guy in the leathers is watching me. He’s good looking . . . incredibly good looking, what is it with me and men in leathers lately?
They all sit around and introduce themselves. Sophie seems interested in the guy that approached us, and it looks like the feeling is mutual. He introduces himself as Rocco and the other two introduce themselves, Lucan and Orzo - the guy in leathers still doesn't say anything, Rocco turns to him, “I will introduce you then, shall I?” He says in a very broken sexy accent. “This is Domenico Barone - the next world champion of Superbike racing.”
Straight away that puts me on the defensive. “Oh really?” I look at him. “We might know someone who would have something to say about that.”
He raises an eyebrow at me but doesn't say anything. Can this guy talk?
He suddenly moves and takes the seat next to me, he picks up my orange juice and takes a drink. “We will see on the racetrack, won't we?” He says in broken English. Maybe his English isn't as good as the others, and that’s why he doesn't talk as much. He just drank out of my bloody drink! What the hell?
“Sophie asks “Where are you guys from?”
“We are from Sicily, Italy. I don't need to ask where you are from.” Rocco says
I feel someone behind me and a hand on my shoulder. I hear Jacks voice. “Domenico, I didn't know you were going to be here.”
Domenico looks behind me at Jack and narrows his eyes on the hand on my shoulder, it is a proprietary move from Jack, what is he playing at?
He soon regains his cool and leans back in his chair arrogantly. “Jack, I will beat you today.”
“It’s a practice today dude, but we’ll see.”
