[chapter twenty-two]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
**
~Jeff's POV~
"Can someone find me the damn article, please?" I beg of my crew. I know it came out yesterday. Everyone has been talking about it. Says it's really good.
But I need to see it for myself.
"We'll get a copy to you, Jeff. Now about the setup in three…"
"No, dammit! I want to see it now!" I say, sounding for all the world like a whiny little kid.
"That journalist lady really has your panties in a bunch, doesn't she?" Robbie says with a teasing grin. "I'll send Danny to get it. I think there's a copy in Hendrick's coach."
"Thanks."
**
Oh my god.
This article…
This article fucking rocks.
She wasn't kidding. I sound like a saint.
Well, not a saint, but like…like a good guy. A real person.
Nothing about divorces or money or ego or anger or anything.
Just like…like I'm…
Me.
It sounds like me.
If I ever find her, after I yell at her for leaving me, I'm going to kiss the hell out of her for this.
**
"You found your biggest fan yet?" Robbie teases me as I sit in the garage area, reviewing fuel mileage numbers.
"Who?" I ask distractedly.
"Ray. She's here this weekend. I hear she's interviewing Labonte."
"What?!" I squeak, standing up quickly and throwing down the clipboard. "She…she is?"
Why hasn't she come talked to me?
Why haven't I seen her?
Maybe this is just payback. Maybe I meant nothing. Maybe she's showing me how it feels to … to do what we did, and then just disappear.
I hate myself for doing that to her.
I hate myself for hurting so bad that she did it to me.
I gotta find her.