It's Malaysia already. We took the flight on Monday and both have been busy in the mean time.
Fabio had some PR things and trainings and I've had multiple meetings with Dr Zasa and sometimes the whole clinica mobile staff.
We are presenting our ideas for next year to Dorna today. It's something they asked for, because they want to innovate. Dr Zasa said they never asked for any of this before. And they already have an agreement for two more years, so he thinks it's weird.
We've made content, with videos and animations and Matteo, Dr Zasa and I are going to present. I'm dead nervous. We have to present our ideas to mister Ezpeleta and Dr Charte, medical director of MotoGP.
Fabio has media day today and normally I would have my meetings as well, but those are rescheduled. Fabio and I already evaluated his last year race and Morbidelli and I had a short meeting earlier. So I only need to sit down with Pecco, Luca and Marco. We are gonna do that over dinner, with Uccio joining us.
"Hello mister Ezpeleta and Dr Charte, thank you for giving us this opportunity to show you our ideas", I start politely. I know Ezpeleta is a bit of a fan of Fabio and I saw them talking many times and I'm sure he knows I'm Fabio's girlfriend. But I don't know if that's an advantage , so I'm as polite as possible.
"As you know, this year we started working on prevention more. We want to make sure there are less injuries and we are trying to coach about riding as well. Next year, that will be our main concept. We will do meetings about what we see in the riding style and what could change to prevent injuries. Next year is a long season with even more races, sprint races and it's going to be even harder physical. So we need to be prepared. Otherwise there will be riders who won't be riding all races", I explain and I see Dr Charte taking some notes. Why is he taking notes?
We continue and Matteo and I explain a few things we see in videos we show. We try to explain what we see and why we see it.
Then Dr Zasa talks about funding, costs, the medical side when there is an injurie and the practical side how we'll plan things and stuff.
They thank us and we're free to go. We evaluate a bit before each going their own way. I'm going back to the hotel, to change for dinner.
In the hotel room, I take an hour long shower and try to relax. My back has been killing me today and I'm in desperate need of some relaxing, but that's not possible right now.
"Julie?", I hear Fabio's voice from the hotel room.
"Yeah?", I shout back, wrapping a towel around myself. I lean against the sink while brushing my hair.
"You're back early ", I hear him say. He's standing in the doorway smiling at me. But frowning when he looks at me for a few moments. "Are you okay?"
The way I'm standing here isn't the most normal, so I get his question.
"It's just my back", I grimace. "This is gonna sound stupid, but could you maybe help?"
"This isn't normal, you know that right?", he softly stokes my back up and down a few times before taking the brush out of my hand. He carefully brushes my hair and we both stay quiet for a few moments.
"Can't you get Matteo to check you out?", Fabio asks after putting the brush down.
I shake my head, turning around and slowly standing up straight.
"Why not?", Fabio asks, he's steadying me by my waist and helps me towards our bedroom.
"I just don't feel comfortable. You know how that would go. I would need to stand there in my underwear and he would need to touch me and would make me do all kinds of movements while his hands are on me.. It will get better on it's own", I say softly.
"Do you want me to massage you?"
"That's sweet, but you don't need to do that. I already put some cream on it myself. I need to get ready for my meeting with Pecco, Luca and Marco", I tell him. I slowly change in a pair of yoga pants and a long shirt.
"They would understand if you'd cancel", Fabio sits down on the bed.
"Maybe.. but I can't have someone think I'm favouring you in just the last two races of the championship. I can't have a meeting with you but not with him", I sigh, letting me fall down next to Fabio.
"Pecco's gonna win anyways..", Fabio whispers.
"Hey! That's not true. Don't say something like that", I firmly say. "I believe in you. And it isn't over until you both finish in Valencia"
I slowly sit back up and peck Fabio on the lips. "I'll just give them my laptop and come back"
Fabio stops me, "just so you know. When you gave me the laptop in England, I could see all your notes. I didn't look at them, but if you do that, you can get problems with giving them classified information. Don't you have a data stick you can give them with the right files?"
"Oh, Shit. I never thought of that. I have a stick, I'll get it ready and go to Pecco's afterwards", I say slowly making my way towards the table in the living room. I make sure all the right files are on it and make my way towards Pecco's room.
After explaining the situation, Pecco suggested cancelling himself. So I gave him the stick and went back to Fabio's hotel room. Well suite..
As soon as I open the door, Fabio's next to me. "Come, I'll give you that massage now", he softly tells me, while helping me towards the bedroom.
"But you need to relax for tomorrow..", I say stubbornly.
Fabio nods, "yeah and when I know you're feeling better, I can relax myself"
Fabio helps me out of my clothes and on the bed, laying down on my stomach. He pulls the covers over my legs and takes some cream to massage my back.
He's careful and I have to help him with the right spots a few times, but it's really helping.
"This is the best feeling in the world", I mumble. It really feels like it and normally I don't really like it when other people give me a massage.
"Better than sex?", Fabio asks daring.
It takes me a while to answer this question, because there's one memory playing in my mind.
"Right now, yes", I eventually say.
We haven't had sex after that one time. That one rough booty call in Australia. The ripped dress is still in my suitcase, reminding me.
We haven't talked about it and Fabio hasn't been anything but extremely nice and careful to me since. So I have no reason to bring it up, but it's somewhere in the back of my head.
"I don't know if that's a compliment or not", Fabio laughs at my answer. "I really enjoyed the other time.. In Australia.."
"Yeah?", I ask a little hesitant.
"Yeah. I know we always take our time and go slow. But this was something different. Good different", he says.
I stay quiet after this. I don't even know what I need to say anyways.
I know he enjoyed it, but I didn't expect him to say this.
Fabio finishes the massage in silence and I don't mind. He pulls the covers around me and gets in next to me. We cuddle till we fall asleep. Fabio's asleep in seconds, I can't shut my mind off. What if he wants the same thing Sunday?
I'm being dramatic, I know it, so because of that I try to shut my mind off.
It's 5am when I wake up again. Fabio's still asleep, so I get out of his grip to leave him for a few more hours.
After getting ready, I relax on the couch, scrolling through Instagram. I have no idea what I can do right now.
After a little time, my phone suddenly pings with a DM.
Domizia
Go for a walk?
Julie
Right now?
Don't you need your sleep?
Domizia
No, nervosa
Julie
Okay, meet u in 5
It's a bit of a surprise that she DMed me, but I can definitely use the distraction. I leave a short note on the table and put on my sneakers, before making my way over to Pecco's hotel room.
"Ciao", Domizia is already standing outside the room, waiting.
"Hey, can't sleep?", I ask her as we walk towards the elevator.
"No.. I'm too nervosa. Why are you awake?"
I shrug, "a lot on my mind, I guess"
"Are you also worried about the championship?", she asks. "it's so close right now"
"I'm not, actually. I didn't really have time to think about it. And I can't really talk about it.. not with you, anyways", I sigh. I haven't really giving it much thought, but I know how Fabio thinks about it. And I know what he would say if I shared that with Domizia.
"Scusa?"
"I know he wouldn't want me to talk to you about his thoughts and feelings. And I understand", I smile slightly. "But I understand your nerves. Since I'm Fabio's girlfriend, I can't really enjoy watching one of his races"
Dom giggles softly, "Car and I only watch the live timing on her phone", she says, talking about Pecco's sister.
"Is everybody here to support him?", I ask. I know Fabio's father wanted to come, but Fabio told him not to.
Dom shakes her head, "No. Everybody is coming to Valencia"
Just when I wanted to say something, my phone starts ringing. It's Tom.
"Hey Tom ", I answer, smiling apologetic to Domizia.
"Where's Fabio?", is the only thing I hear. He sounds stressed and I look at the time, but it's only 6.30.
"In bed?", I ask confused.
"No, he's not"
"In the shower?"
"No"
"Are you in our room or something?", I ask a bit confused.
"Yes. And he's not here. He asked me to wake him early to go over some things before breakfast", Tom sighs again.
"Look, if he's not there, then I don't know where he is. I left him sleeping. I'll try calling him, okay?", I say, getting a little worried myself.
"Okay, I'll keep looking", Tom says before ending the call.
"Everything okay?", Domizia asks.
I shrug. "I don't know. Fabio asked Tom to wake him early, but he isn't in our room apparently"
I try calling him, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Wait, I think I know where he is..
"Come, I want to show you something", Fabio tells me. It's Monday and it's late and I want to sleep.
"Can't we do that another time? I want to sleep", I whine.
"You can sleep after. I won't bother you again. Please"
I nod, letting out a small sigh. How could I say no to him..
He takes me on a short walk and we end up in front of water. It's like a river or something. It's peaceful and quiet.
"This is something special", I say after a few minutes of silence.
"It's a place I can relax and be alone. I've found this place a couple of years ago and I come back here every year"
Thinking back at Monday night, I think I know where Fabio went. But where was it again?
"Dom,, I think I know where he is, but I have to go", I tell her, I need to get back to the hotel to walk to the water from there.