Chapter 3
3
Robbie
For Christ's sake, say something intelligent. I berate myself while driving, hypnotized by Charly’s voice as she chatters away. My moment of bravery when I asked her to come over is being eclipsed by sheer panic. She’d see how terrible I was at this dating thing and she’d figure out whatever she might see in me was an illusion.
She is so far out of my league it boggles my mind that she even considered saying yes.
By rote, I make my way around the city and up to my house on the outskirts of Brownsburg. I liked it because it’s close to most of the tracks, quiet, and I have tons of room to build out a garage when I’m ready. Plus, it’s close to Dad’s shop so in the offseason I don’t have to drive very far to get to work.
Charly falls silent in the seat next to me and I glance over, finding her gazing out the window. “I should have asked before, but do you like Italian?” Shit what if she’s got celiac or hates tomatoes or just doesn’t eat carbs?
“Love it!” She turns, scooting on her seat so she’s facing more toward me. “Noodles are always a winner.”
“Thank god.” I blurt out and then freeze.
Her hand finds mine on the top of the shifting knob and squeezes. “You are ridiculously easy to fluster.”
“Not under normal circumstances.” I’ve had years of dealing with the media and the unpredictability of life on the road to develop a pretty steady outlook.
“Well then, I guess I’m flattered?” This time when I look at her, a pretty blush is staining her cheeks pink. I turn my hand over, lacing our fingers together.
“Of all the things that could flatter you.” My words trail off and I shake my head, a small smile twisting my lips.
“By all means, Roddie Faraday, tell me what else you think I’m good at.” She rolls her eyes and tucks one knee up on the seat under her other leg. “Or should I tell you?”
My cheeks flush. “Please don’t.” I squeeze her hand.
“Like I said, ridiculously easy to fluster.”
The Dingus is busy, but it’s nowhere near as packed as it is for The Nationals. Knoxville is a tiny town in Iowa whose population rises and falls with the race weekend. It’s Charly’s first time racing here and in the last week she’s been sending me a list of ‘all the things’ she wants to do while we’re here.
So after the race tonight, one where neither she nor Eddie won, we hit up the bar to blow off some steam and check an item off her list. Our crews are mingling at the track, so it isn’t so strange for Charly and I to be seen together.
But we’re still hyper aware of what people might think, so we stay on opposite sides of the room for most of the night.
That just gives me a better view of her antics. She isn’t drinking much past the first beer she ordered, but she’s dancing and egging on her guys to take turns at karaoke.
One by one she’s cheered them on while they sing horrible renditions of eighties hits. “This is kind of entertaining.” Eddie squirms on the stool next to me, uncomfortable being around so many people.
“It is.”
“You like her, don’t you?” Eddie swivels to face me, turning his back on the room. “Don’t worry about me telling anyone.” He offers a small smile.
I shift on the stool, eyes inevitably trailing back toward her. “Yeah. I like her.”
“I take it dinner at your house went well then?” He sips at his water and raises an eyebrow.
“How the hell did you know about that?” I straighten up.
He smirks. “Drove by to see if you wanted to do anything and saw her through the window.”
“Fucking hell.” My fingers shove through my hair and I slouch down. “Yes, it went well.”
He makes a humming sound, glancing over at me.
“What?” It sounds more confrontational than I mean it to be.
“I just hope you know what you’re doing. Haven’t seen you like this over a lady before.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.” Or what she sees in me, but I’m going to take what I can.
Eddie stands and claps me on the shoulder. “I’m heading out. Think you can catch a ride back with someone?”
“I’ll figure it out.” There’s no way I’m leaving Charly here. I’ll stay as long as she does and make sure she gets to bed safe.
Four hours later, when the bar makes the last call, a certain blonde slips up next to my side. “Did you have fun tonight?” I ask without turning my head to face her. A few stragglers from both of our crews are hanging around, and I don’t want them to get ideas.
“I did.” She steps up next to my side and looks down at her phone. “I’m surprised Eddie came out.”
A snort explodes, “Me too.” Our crews filter out, not noticing that they’ve left without us. “Want to split a ride back to the hotel?”
She nods, sliding closer now that most people are gone. “Walk with me first?”
I hold the door open for her, and she steps out into the night. The rest of the town is quiet, fast asleep since it’s two in the morning. Charly and I head up the block, past a few small businesses and toward the towering silhouettes of grain silos in the distance.
“I’ve missed you this week.” I check over my shoulder before catching her hand in mine.
She leans her head against the outside of my arm and whispers, “I’ve missed you, too.” The moon is bright, making her hair look almost white.
“How’d the simulator work go?” She’s been up at the factory working with engineers refining their plans for a new design for an updated Indy car. We video chatted a few times, but her week has been full of meetings and work.
“Great. They think we might have it ready for late season testing.”
I love the way she perks up when she talks about their project. It’s not something she advertises, but she’d let it slip at my house that she’s almost finished with her engineering degree. She’s not only doing the test driving, but she’s also helping with the development process too.
“Probably at Barber sometime this fall.”
We hit a dead end and I turn us around to head back toward the main road. Silence falls, broken only by her wide yawn. I’ll make sure she gets back to the hotel before heading for my motorhome.
Charly sits on top of the brick wall on the street side of the track and I pull my phone out, requesting a ride. The nearest one isn’t available for almost twenty-five minutes and I send up a silent prayer thanking the universe for giving me more time with her.
While we wait for the car to show up, I sit next to her, letting her rest her head on my shoulder again. “You smell good.” She murmurs, burrowing into me.
I wrap an arm around her and pull her close, feeling her breathing even out and knowing she’s dozing off. When the car pulls up, I wake her enough to walk her over and help her slide in. Once I know she’s settled, I circle around and climb in next to her, trying to think of something clever to say.
Before we’ve even made it a block, she’s sound asleep. Slumped against my side.
At her hotel, I don’t bother trying to wake her. She told me her room number earlier, so I slip out of the cab first. She’s so small that it takes barely any effort to scoop her up into my arms. I walk through the lobby and over to the elevator, careful not to bump into anything or wake her up.
When we reach her door, I put her down gently, and she smiles sleepily up at me. “Don’t leave? I hate waking up alone and not remembering what city I’m in.”
Doesn’t she know I’ll give her anything she asks for? “I’ll stay.”
She lets us in, and we take turns using the bathroom.
When she’s ready, we both slip into bed and she slides over until we’re pressed together from head to toe, her in an oversized racing t-shirt and a tiny pair of shorts. Me in my boxers.
Even though it’s late, I have trouble falling asleep, just absorbing the fact that I’m here with her and she wants me to stay.