[chapter six]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of
them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please.
;-)
**
Kick stood next to Junior as they waited for the pre-race ceremonies to start,
watching the mass of humanity in the stands and on pit road.
And flirting like hell with each other.
"C'mon, have dinner with me next week." Junior wheedled with a saucy
grin.
"Have to work." Kick said shortly, trying to hide her smile.
"What about me?" Junior asked, his voice rising with a grin. "You
think I don't?!"
"Hey, at least you get to sit down for the race." Kick shot back
and Junior laughed. Kick looked over at him and winked, joining in his laughter.
She stopped as Jimmie neared them, walking quickly towards his car. "Hey
Jimmie." She said with a wide smile. "Good luck today."
He threw her a glance, then glared at Junior. "Yeah. Thanks." He
said stiffly, not slowing his pace.
Junior looked from Kick to Jimmie, then back again. "You know Johnson?"
He asked.
Kick nodded. "Friends with Chad." She answered, watching Jimmie
stride away with a confused look on her face. She didn't know what she had
done to Jimmie to make him so unfriendly all of a sudden, but she didn't like
it. He'd been so nice after the race last week. "You? Not exactly bosom
buddies?" She asked as Junior lay a hand on her back and gently moved
her out of the way of a roving reporter.
Junior snorted. "Not exactly." He paused and looked pained. "He,
uh…we have…issues."
"How so?" Kick asked despite herself.
Junior looked down at the ground sadly. "I…uh…I was dating
this real nice girl. Real sweetheart. Anyhow, one night I go back to the coach
and she's not there. Later found her…well, with…" Junior inclined
his head towards Jimmie's retreating back.
Kick's mouth dropped slightly. "You're kidding. They were…"
She paused. "And you found them…"
"Yeah." Junior said shortly. "We haven't exactly been buds
ever since."
"I guess not." Kick said, her expression darkening as she watched
Jimmie begin to strap on his equipment. "What an asshole. And sounds
like she wasn't worth much more."
Junior shrugged. "I just…I can't quite…I can't quite bring
myself to forgive him. It's tough, ya know. I thought he was a nice guy."
Kick shook her head. "Glad you told me." She said, putting a hand
on Junior's arm and squeezing gently. "I'm sorry."
Junior shrugged again and then smiled. "No worries. Now, about that dinner…"
"We're not supposed to…" Kick began.
"C'mon. Live a little." Junior cajoled.
"Ask me later." Kick smiled.
**
Kick grinned as she heard Junior's voice in her ear during the fourth caution
period. "Hey Kick? How about now?"
"If I say yes, will you leave me alone to do my job?" She keyed
into her microphone.
"You bet." Junior said confidently.
"Yes."
She didn't hear a peep from him directed towards her for the rest of the race.