stands were now empty, energy remained in the air.
I walked to the open bay door and leaned against the concrete wall , staring toward the track’s back stretch. The last two days had been a whirlwind of emotions. While I wasn’t really any closer to finding Brent a sponsor, I did feel as if I’d made some progress with my other problem. In my head, I didn’t want to want him, but in my heart, I couldn’t deny how I felt.
I’d realized after our afternoon conversation that any relationship I stepped into would be a scary leap. Trying to protect myself might just end up hurting me more in the end . The best thing I could do was just roll with what was happening and see where it took me.
The setting sun fell behind the grandstands, casting the remaining evening in a soft glow. I glanced at my watch at nearly half past seven, I was reminded of the fact that I hadn’t eaten since lunch, well over six hours ago. I looked over my shoulder to see Brent and Tony talking a few feet away. “What time do you guy’s wrap up for the night?”
“There’s always things that can be done,” Brent replied as he walked up behind me and planted a gentle kiss on my temple. “Why?”
“Oh no reason. I was just wondering if anybody around here actually ate on a regular schedule.”
Brent chuckled. “I think the guys can handle this without me. How about we knock off and grab some dinner?”
“I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
It wasn’t long before we were standing in line for a table at the local Applebee’s. Brent wanted to take me someplace nicer, but I’d insisted on something closer to the track and less romantic in nature.
“I’m sorry, it’s going to be another twenty minutes before I can seat you in a booth,” the hostess apologized. “If you like , I can place you at a table in the bar area?”
I glanced a t Brent who nodded. “That’s fine,” I replied, then instantly wondered why I’d deferred that question to him in the first place. What was happening to the Shannon who resolved to make her own decisions, right or wrong?
We’d barely been seated when Brent leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Don’t look now, but your ex is headed this way.”
I groaned at his statement, garnering me a smile from him. “Be nice, Shannon.”
“I’m always nice,” I replied through gritted teeth, then plastered on a fake smile and turned just in time to see Wayne walk up behind me. “I thought that was you sitting over here. Would you mind if I joined you?”
“I really don’t think-” I started to say, only to have Brent overrule me. “Sure.” He leaned into me. “I’m sure it’s no problem if Wayne joins us, is it, honey?”
I gave him a killer look that I hoped conveyed all the nasty things I wanted to do to him later for forcing me to sit through a dinner with my ex. Then I conjured my best smile and replied , “Of course not, darling.”
Apparently oblivious to our little exchange, Wayne slid into the seat opposite us. “I really appreciate this. I was gonna eat with my teammates, but the hostess said the wait is at least twenty minutes and they decided to go elsewhere.”
“Oh it’s no problem at all,” Brent replied, shooting me a mischievous grin. “Right, sweetheart?”
“Right.” I nodded, then took a sip of my water. The moment I got Brent alone he’d be a dead man.
“So, Shannon,” Wayne began. “I’ll admit that I was more than a little shocked to see you yesterday. Knowing how much you hate motorsports, I would have never pictured you hooking up with anyone in this sport, let alone actually coming to the track.”
How dare he make such a claim , after all the time I’d spent sitting in cold grandstands supporting his dream? I looked up to meet his stare. “I never said I hated motorsports, Wayne.”
“You never said you liked them either,” he countered.
“The only reason I didn’t like it was because it reminded me of you and that’s a memory I’d
I walked to the open bay door and leaned against the concrete wall , staring toward the track’s back stretch. The last two days had been a whirlwind of emotions. While I wasn’t really any closer to finding Brent a sponsor, I did feel as if I’d made some progress with my other problem. In my head, I didn’t want to want him, but in my heart, I couldn’t deny how I felt.
I’d realized after our afternoon conversation that any relationship I stepped into would be a scary leap. Trying to protect myself might just end up hurting me more in the end . The best thing I could do was just roll with what was happening and see where it took me.
The setting sun fell behind the grandstands, casting the remaining evening in a soft glow. I glanced at my watch at nearly half past seven, I was reminded of the fact that I hadn’t eaten since lunch, well over six hours ago. I looked over my shoulder to see Brent and Tony talking a few feet away. “What time do you guy’s wrap up for the night?”
“There’s always things that can be done,” Brent replied as he walked up behind me and planted a gentle kiss on my temple. “Why?”
“Oh no reason. I was just wondering if anybody around here actually ate on a regular schedule.”
Brent chuckled. “I think the guys can handle this without me. How about we knock off and grab some dinner?”
“I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
It wasn’t long before we were standing in line for a table at the local Applebee’s. Brent wanted to take me someplace nicer, but I’d insisted on something closer to the track and less romantic in nature.
“I’m sorry, it’s going to be another twenty minutes before I can seat you in a booth,” the hostess apologized. “If you like , I can place you at a table in the bar area?”
I glanced a t Brent who nodded. “That’s fine,” I replied, then instantly wondered why I’d deferred that question to him in the first place. What was happening to the Shannon who resolved to make her own decisions, right or wrong?
We’d barely been seated when Brent leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Don’t look now, but your ex is headed this way.”
I groaned at his statement, garnering me a smile from him. “Be nice, Shannon.”
“I’m always nice,” I replied through gritted teeth, then plastered on a fake smile and turned just in time to see Wayne walk up behind me. “I thought that was you sitting over here. Would you mind if I joined you?”
“I really don’t think-” I started to say, only to have Brent overrule me. “Sure.” He leaned into me. “I’m sure it’s no problem if Wayne joins us, is it, honey?”
I gave him a killer look that I hoped conveyed all the nasty things I wanted to do to him later for forcing me to sit through a dinner with my ex. Then I conjured my best smile and replied , “Of course not, darling.”
Apparently oblivious to our little exchange, Wayne slid into the seat opposite us. “I really appreciate this. I was gonna eat with my teammates, but the hostess said the wait is at least twenty minutes and they decided to go elsewhere.”
“Oh it’s no problem at all,” Brent replied, shooting me a mischievous grin. “Right, sweetheart?”
“Right.” I nodded, then took a sip of my water. The moment I got Brent alone he’d be a dead man.
“So, Shannon,” Wayne began. “I’ll admit that I was more than a little shocked to see you yesterday. Knowing how much you hate motorsports, I would have never pictured you hooking up with anyone in this sport, let alone actually coming to the track.”
How dare he make such a claim , after all the time I’d spent sitting in cold grandstands supporting his dream? I looked up to meet his stare. “I never said I hated motorsports, Wayne.”
“You never said you liked them either,” he countered.
“The only reason I didn’t like it was because it reminded me of you and that’s a memory I’d
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