Page 13 of Happy Hour

“Yeah,” I followed Emma towards the grid where the cars were starting to line up along pit road in the order they qualified. The setting sun provided a shin over the cars that reminded me of a Saturday night at the local tracks.

Everything on pit road kicked into high gear about three hours before the race with crews setting up shop. Most of the time pit road doesn’t cool down for about two hours after the race. It’s the most stressful part of the track and swarming with various crew members, visitors, officials and drivers.

One word of advice, don’t touch anything and don’t get in their way. They all have a job to do and one simple mistake can cost them the win. I repeat, don’t touch anything. And yes, I say this from experience in all my times spent in the pits at the local dirt tracks. This was no different. Believe me, these guys haveeverythingwhere they want and need it. Just simply moving a hammer can set everyone off.

I wanted to stay down there until the race started and watch Jameson get in the car, something I really enjoyed about Daytona, but I decided against it when I saw Chelsea hovering around.

An encounter with her wasn’t ideal for me since I hadn’t seen her since high school.

She looked the same, honey blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Her jeans appeared to be painted on and her shirt was so low that I thought I saw a nipple.

I hated her. Maybe despised was a better word. To put it simple, she was perfect and I was plain. She looked like she belonged on a cover magazine and I looked like I belong at the strip club at the way I was dressed.

Casually, Chelsea looked my direction eventually towards Jameson’s car but didn’t make eye contact with me. She probably didn’t recognize me with so little clothing.

Emma caught on by the look on my face. “Rub your tits on the car.”

I choked on my own spit, which is easy to do when you think about it. A quick inhale with the right amount of saliva and you’ve accomplished this. “What?”

“You know, mark your territory.” She pushed me towards the car and I stumbled against the front fender. “Rub you tits on the car.”

I spun around and slapped her across the face, not hard, but enough that I felt I got my point across to her. “There’s something wrong with you.”

Emma did have a point.

Ishouldmark my territory but I wasn’t about to give that little bitch the satisfaction of realizing I was jealous. Not gonna lie, I did think about turning around but decided to keep walking towards the grandstands. There were camera’s everywhere, surely, I’d be caught and Charlie would blow a head gasket if he saw the funbags on display for national television.

Before driver introductions began Emma, Alley and I made our way to the private suite in the upper Terrace Ford grandstands. Jameson’s sponsor, Simplex Shocks and Springs, had the entire room rented out—most of which was occupied by corporate representatives but his family was also up there.

I had yet to see Jimi and Nancy so when I walked into the suite, I wasn’t surprised to see them already sitting there with Lane, who was bouncing up and down with his little Simplex hat and shirt on. He looked adorable sporting his Uncles gear.

“Where’s Aiden?” Jimi asked towards Emma, his cell phone to his ear.

“...uh...how should I know,” She mumbled, I could tell she was starting to get nervous.

“Cut the shit, Emma.” Jimi glared her direction. “Kyle needs to talk to him.”

Emma sighed in relief, visibly relaxing. “He is in the spotter stands.”

Jimi turned back to his phone and began talking to Kyle again while I made my way over to Nancy.

“I’m so glad you could make it sweetie.” Nancy swept me into a hug. “We’ve missed you.”

Over the years, Nancy Riley had become a mother to me. Since my mom died when I was only six, I needed womanly advice from time to time—Nancy never let me down.

Even the time I started my period in class in the eighth grade, she was there to take me to the store for tampons and even showed me how to use the damn things since the kid behind the counter at the mini-mart couldn’t show me.

This was also not something I would allow Charlie to do.

Could you blame me?

It looked as though a homicide took place in my underwear. I hardly wanted to share that with anyone let alonemy dad. I had a hard enough time convincing myself I wasn’t dying. I honestly thought I was bleeding internally.

“I’m glad I did too.” I sniffled against her shoulder letting an emotional tear or two slip. “I hate being away from everyone.”

Before I had a chance to really have an emotional breakdown, Emma nudged my shoulder.

With a good amount of enthusiasm, I stood up and looked down towards the center of the track in time to see Jameson approach the line of drivers waiting to be introduced and Lane running towards me.

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