Page 52 of Away We Go

Cherry

More than anything…

I grin.

Nicky

I’ll be there in 20.

Cherry

>

I race through my shower routine, before googlingbest café-style coffee nearby. The Melbournian in Cherry will be expecting the best coffee and I plan to deliver it to her. When I find a place that is owned by an Aussie, I know I’ve struck gold and hurry to get there. After ordering her a large skinny latte with two sugars (just as she likes it), some pastries (she loves sweet stuff) and an egg and bacon roll (best hangover cure ever), I make my way to her room with one minute to spare. Taking a deep breath and using the sparesixty seconds to get myself together, I knock on the door and listen to her shuffling around inside.

“Morning,” she mumbles, her voice croaky. She’s rumpled, wearing a longVortex Motorst-shirt that hits her mid-thigh and what looks like no pants (gulp). Her masses of silky red hair fall in messy waves around her shoulders and down her back. She has mascara under her eyes and last night’s lipstick still staining her lips.

In a word, she’s breathtaking.

I hand over the coffee and food, shoving my hands in my pockets, and lean against the doorframe.

“Are you coming in?” She peers over her shoulder as she walks to the couch in the middle of the room.

I need a minute.

“Yep,” I say with a nod, not moving.

She gives me a ‘You’re acting weird’ look and flops back on the couch, sipping her coffee and letting out a loud, satisfied moan.

I’m going to need another minute.

“Great coffee, thanks.”

She peeks up at me over the back of the couch and I force myself to move. I falter slightly when she lets out another moan, kinda wishing I’d found her coffee that didn’t make her sound like that.

I’m a terrible person.

“Good night last night?” I ask, sitting on the opposite side of the couch from her, leaving as much distance between us as possible. Though I can still get a whiff of coconut from here, it’s the best I can do.

“So good.” She rummages through the bag of food before putting it on the coffee table.

I raise a brow, looking between her and the discarded food.

“Not yet.”

Chuckling, I lean back and watch her finish her coffee. She’s a little pale, and a lot dishevelled, and I can’t tear my eyes from her.

“What’s planned for today?” She stares forlornly at her empty cup and I kick myself for not getting her two.What was I thinking?

“Today is a rare day off for me. No press, no sponsor commitments, no travel.”

“You work too hard,” she frowns. “All work and no play.”

Little does she know I’ve been ‘playing’ more since she joined the team than ever before. In the time since she’s been around, I’ve gone to celebratory dinners, out to a club, and even spent a day sightseeing with her. These are things I’ve not done since my first season, when I was young and had an abundance of energy.

“I’m free today. Wanna play with me?”

Her cheeks flame and I realise how bad that sounds. How flirty. How…dirty?!

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