Chapter Twelve
Days never used to go by this fast.
I had shopped and eaten at every place Law had sent to me and with each one I went into, it seemed like every person knew who I was. It seemed like in this town, where Law had grown up, a town full of people who loved to watch NASCAR, they all knew who he was, so of course they had been watching the day he called me out on national television.
But today, instead of being in a bar or restaurant, or even at Law’s parents’ house, I was sitting in his massive theatre room, waiting for the race to start up. I wanted to watch it alone, no help this time to see if I could keep up, if the sport could keep my attention.
I knew that no matter what I would always support Law in his sport, but I really wanted to try to learn and love it, so that one day when I finally decided to go see one in person, I wouldn’t be a walking idiot girlfriend who knew nothing about what her man did.
Girlfriend.
This felt more than when we had first said we were. Once upon a day, we had said the words, but now those words felt like only a title. They didn’t depict what we actually were because I was pretty sure girlfriends didn’t move across the country after only a few weeks and move in with a guy they barely knew.
But then again, I didn’t barely know Law. I might not know all about his life, but I knew him and he knew me. We would get to the technicalities later.
“Popcorn. Soda. Candy. Chips.” I listed off the junk food I had, prepared to start watching the race. I had ribs left over from yesterday’s lunch with Law’s mom and dad to save for later.
I turned on the massive screen that Law said he had already programed from his phone to the channel he would be on today. I watched the screen come to life with the sky, gravel, and cars running across in an array of colors. I tried to find Law’s black and green car on the track as the televisors scanned across the wide track in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This morning I had pulled up the entire rest of the season’s race schedule to program into my phone, so I knew exactly where and when Law would be racing. It was literally almost every single weekend, except for a select few.
It wasn’t like I couldn’t just ask Law what he was doing, but that I wanted him to know I was invested in this. I popped a couple of kernels of popcorn in my mouth as I turned the volume up on the television.
“We come to you today from Charlotte, where we have the infamous Lawson Kane with us.”
My ears perked at the announcer’s words and the screen brought my Law back to me momentarily. There he was in his uniform, ready to race.
“Lawson, tell us how has the weekend been like for you?”
“We’ve been running practice laps mostly, but other than that, trying to relax before another long race day.” Law’s face lit up with a smile.
“Anything more about this mystery girl, Anya, you mentioned a few weeks ago? We haven’t seen anyone grace their presence here yet.”
I watched Law laugh and a blush cross his face. I loved it when he blushed, but I loved it more when it was because of someone mentioning me.
“She’s at home right now, enjoying the Alabama sunshine.”
“Why not bring her here?” The reporter’s question didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t want them to think Law didn’t want me to come. That this was my choice to be here sitting in the comfort of Law’s house with one of his racing shirts on and nothing else but a messy bun on top of my head.
“She wanted to stay home. It’s her first week in Alabama, so she wanted to see the sights, get her bearing before I bring her out.”
“Will we get to meet her one day?” The reporter probed.
“One day.” Law tipped the front of his baseball cap to the man and then excused himself to where I could see Tony standing off to the side.
My phone buzzed in the seat beside me and I looked down to see a message from Law.
If you never want to come to a race I’m good with that. I just had to tell him something.
My heart melted at the text. He was concerned for me and what was going through my head.
Don’t think you can get rid of me that easily. You’ll have to introduce me to everyone while I wear your baseball cap. It looks like it would support my ponytail.
I sent an emoji wink face after the message and tossed the phone back into the seat, turning my attention back to the race where it was supposed to start in just ten minutes. The camera was still stationed where it had been before with the reporter telling the audience at home what was about to happen. There was Law, still in the background, bent over laughing.
I laughed to myself and drank some of my soda and waited with excitement for this race to start. I wanted to see Law in action again. I watched all the men get into their cars and start their engines after the national anthem. It felt like a ritual and to be a part of it felt like when you took a bow at the end of a ballet. All together and in unison, no one better than the other, but in this sport that soon changed.
Each car started slow and then the green flag waved and they were off, driving left around each corner. Cars swerved around each other, helping each other, drafting, what the announcer said over the television, and I remembered the waitress back in New York saying something about the move. That the drivers, especially teammates used it to help each other further in the race.
