[chapter six]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
A/N: Junior's not an angel. Get over it. :-)
**
Jimmie passed Casey the bowl of popcorn, and she nodded appreciatively. She had just spent the last 10 minutes describing, in minute detail, the scene that had unfolded before her between the two motorcoaches, and the information that Jade had passed along about Junior's gorgeous ex-girlfriend. She was laying sprawled on Jimmie's bed, watching as Jimmie signed glossy photos of himself and diecast cars for his fan club members, which were strewn all over the bed and the floor.
"So, he's never mentioned this Amazonian woman before, and yet they seemed to be on pretty good terms. Isn't that odd? I mean, I'm sure I'm overreacting, but still. This is the first time I've seen him … you know, he usually just smiles and nods at all the women, the fans, but this was different. I don't know why I felt this sudden threat from this girl, it's like she was on the hunt or something. And she had to be gorgeous, didn't she? I'm Miss Average but with a great personality, but this girl just oozed sex appeal and hours spent in from of the makeup counter and mirror to make her hair completely perfectly flippable and her makeup just so. I mean, it was like you could see the sparks between them. Or maybe I'm just hypersensitive. Or maybe he was just being courteous, I mean … "
"Take a breath, Case." Jimmie commanded.
Casey took a deep, shuddering breath. "I don't know what I saw, but either way I'm sorta pissy about it, and kinda hurt and I really appreciate you letting me … "
"Another." Jimmie barked.
Casey took a deep breath, then looked over at her best friend. His coffee-coloured eyes were filled with concern, understanding and a touch of amusement. "I know you aren't laughing at me." Casey said, noting the laugh lines around his eyes.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Jimmie said seriously, a grin tugging at his lips. "I'm just laughing at your astounding ability to say in 30 seconds what would take a normal person at least 3 minutes to say."
"Shuddup." Casey shot back, but with a laugh. "Years of practice. I got really good at talking to you in hypermode before you had to crawl into a car and drive around for hours and hours at a time."
"Oh no. Don't blame this on me." Jimmie laughed. "You developed this highly-honed skill all on your own."
"Jimmie, what should I do? What am I going to say to him?" Casey asked, really wanting the advice of her friend. "I know this has to be weird, me asking you for advice on something like this, but I know you better than anyone in the world, and I trust you, and I value your opinion, and I really just … what do I do?" Casey's eyes pleaded with Jimmie to make everything alright, and he sighed slightly.
"Oh babe, I don't know." Jimmie said honestly. "I mean, it could be a lot of things. Maybe he was just being nice. Maybe they haven't seen each other since they broke up. Maybe he didn't want you to know this girl was around. Maybe … "
"He's not over her, or is cheating on me." Casey added glumly.
"Do you believe that?" Jimmie asked. "Honestly?"
Casey thought for a moment. "No. I trust him, Jimmie. I don't know why, but I do. I have to believe that I would know. But this girl just … after the way he freaked out about Adam, it's so … guy-like for him to go flirt with a girl, just to get back at me or something."
"Glad you have such a high opinion of us." Jimmie teased. Casey glared at him playfully, and he held up his hands. "Kidding, kidding. You don't believe that, do you? That he would do that to you?"
"No. I guess not." Casey said. "That just seems … stupid. I mean, they were hiding. If he wanted to flirt with her to get back at me, he should have done it in the middle of the garage area, and let this girl see what a slob he was dating now." Casey plucked at her sweatshirt disdainfully.
"Casey." Jimmie said seriously. "Shut up. You're cute and athletic and comfy and you're home to him. Don't start running yourself down over some girl who worn damn leather pants to a racetrack."
Casey looked at Jimmie steadily. "You are the best man I've ever known. I swear to god." She said softly. Jimmie smiled warmly at her and put a hand over his heart.
"Thank you." He murmured. "Do you feel better?" He asked.
Casey nodded. "Yeah." She muttered. "Now that I poured out all my foolish ideas and silly insecurities, I feel better. Maybe that's why he was so wiggy about Adam and all the guys looking at me. Jade said this girl hardly came to the track when she and Junior were together. You think that's the cause of his wigginess?"
"Sounds probable. Junior is used to be the one stared at, not the girl he's dating. I would put it down to plain old insecurity." Jimmie replied.
"Yeah." Casey muttered. "Yeah. Maybe that's it. Okay, feeling better. You are a great therapist, you know?"
Jimmie simply grinned in response, then eyed Casey closely. "You like tired." Jimmie observed.
"Exhausted. I haven't slept well all week." Casey admitted. "Dunno why, really."
Jimmie inclined a head to the bed they were sitting on. "Sack out for a bit. I was going to do the same before you burst in with all your drama."
Casey grinned, simultaneously fluffing a pillow behind her. "Best offer I've had all day."
Moments later, both Jimmie and Casey were fast asleep, photos and cars thrown to the floor to make room for them both. Just like in the past, Casey lay on the right side, Jimmie on the left. Unlike the past, their hands touched ever so slightly in the middle, when a few months before, Jimmie's arms would have been wrapped around Casey, her head buried in his neck as they slept peacefully.
**
(Two hours later)
Junior was almost frantic when he had finally escaped the clutches of Mike and the NASCAR crew. For once, he wasn't in trouble, but the entire time he had been cooped up, his thoughts had been on Casey.
As soon as he'd left the hauler, he'd gone in search of her again - half expecting to find her somewhere with Adam, or back in his own motorcoach, or in the garage area with his crew. She wasn't anywhere to be found. Junior glanced at a clock in his kitchen, and realized he'd promised Jeff he would grab Jimmie and head to this barbeque tonight. He figured, if nothing else, Casey would show up there eventually.
He hurried over to Jimmie's motorcoach and knocked on the door. After about thirty seconds of waiting impatiently, he knocked again. Frustrated at being ignored, Junior wrenched the unlocked door open and stepped inside. His eyes narrowed when he saw Casey's Nikes lying on the floor near the front door, but didn't see either Jimmie or Casey in the front portion of the coach.
He walked stealthily to the back of the motorcoach, careful not to make a sound. He peeked through the open doorway into the bedroom to see his girlfriend asleep with her ex. Her head on his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her.
"Oh, that's just fucking beautiful." Junior said in a loud voice.
Both Casey and Jimmie's eyes blinked open, both disoriented with sleep and the rude awakening, though neither saw Junior in the doorway. Casey looked over at Jimmie and did a double-take, realizing the man she was snuggling with was Jimmie, not Junior. She had been having the greatest dream about her and Junior on a beach …
Jimmie pulled back and looked at Casey, puzzled. "That was weird." He said, as he and Casey pulled apart. "We didn't start that way." He laughed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"I know, I was dreaming about … " Casey began.
Junior merely watched them wake up, both obviously oblivious to his presence. He cleared his throat loudly, and both Jimmie and Casey jumped.
"Real fuckin' nice, Johnson." He said in a low voice, his eyes locked on Jimmie's. "And you … " His gaze focused on Casey, who looked at him, confused. "I don't even want to talk to you right now."
"Jeez, Junior, it's not what you … " Jimmie began. "We just fell asleep." He said as the older man glared at him. "Swear to god."
"Yeah, it looks like it." Junior spat back. "Your precious boss wants you over at his place for a barbeque now. Maybe you can take your girl there." Junior said, inclining his head to Casey. "I'm not going."
"Dale." Casey said firmly. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Don't Dale me." Junior
glared at her. "Fuckin' save it. I'm outta here."