Page 52 of Pas De Deux


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Bodyguard it was.

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I hadn’t understood that a bodyguard meant Law’s teammates and Tony being stuck by my side all day. From the second we hit the field someone was always by my side. I watched as Law raced around the track for his qualifying race. Currently he was in tenth and I hoped to God that he was able to get higher, because damn, I knew from watching his practice runs that his head was in this and he deserved to be up there in that lineup.

“He’s doing great.” Tony stood next to me. “He held back so he has a good start but can maintain till the end.”

I stared at him in question. I remembered Law telling me about this strategy but wanted to know more about how it played out with this track.

“The Daytona track is a long one and it’s a late night race, so when he’s out there he has to make sure he has his head in the game. For him that means a clean race that maintains and then stick it at the end.”

“That makes sense.” I looked back out at where Law passed over the checkered line one last time. He would be starting eighth tomorrow and I couldn’t be more proud. Tony and I met him in the garage, where Law was already out of the car and stripping down.

“You’re in a hurry.” Tony laughed at him.

“I just want to introduce Anya to everyone.” Law tossed on his jeans and wiped the sweat that was forming on his brow on the sleeve of his shirt and then threw on the baseball cap he had next to his car. “Let’s go, sugar.”

He held out his hand to me and then led the way through the pits to where a group of people was standing in the infield. Law had told me that tomorrow there would be fans and reporters all in the infield and tailgating going on, but I didn’t have to participate if I didn’t want to, but I wanted to be a part of whatever Law did when he was at races.

We came upon a few people I knew were drivers and they patted Law on the back and handed him a beer.

“Boys. This is Anya.” I waved my hand at them.

“Lance,” one of them said. He was a tall man who seemed about a few years older than Law but already had a full head of grey hair.

“Junior,” the other said and he seemed almost as young as Jeremy Cline, who happened to pop up just as we were about to go socialize with other drivers.

“Lawson, come with me!” Jeremy grabbed Law’s arm and dragged him away, leaving me standing alone among these people. My shoulders rose and I started to block out what was happening. I knew no one and those that I did were nowhere in sight.

“They are always all over the place.” A young woman came up next to me, her hand on her round belly. “My name’s Chloe. I’m Jimmy’s wife.”

She stuck out her hand for me to shake and I grabbed it like the lifeline I needed right now.

“I’m Anya.” I introduced myself back to her.

“Oh!” Her face shined with recognition. “You’reAnya!”

She moved in for a bear hug and pulled me close. I was scared I would squish her stomach, so I tried to stay back, but she wasn’t having any of it.

“Lawson had talked so much about you. He said you were coming this weekend, but we weren’t sure when we would get to meet you!”

“We?” I questioned her.

“Come with me.” She took my hand with her other back on her belly, and we went over to where a group of women was standing around. They were stunning, well put together women who didn’t look like they belonged with race car drivers, but on a runway, still dressed in jeans and a tee.

“Ladies, this is Anya.” Chloe showed me off to the group and just like Chloe had, the women’s faces lit with recognition of my name.

“Anya!” A few of them shouted my name and a few others came over immediately, grabbing me for a hug. I wasn’t able to catch many of their names, but they all knew mine.

“We are so happy to finally meet you!” One of the women who was about half my height beamed up at me and then another woman came next to her and was nodding in agreement.

“Lawson’s told all of the guys about you, so they’ve told us, and let me tell you, I’veneverseen someone that in love.” Chloe added to the girls who were standing around me. She was looking over at where I could see Law standing with a couple of the guys. He held his beer in the air to give me a wave. I smiled at him and then turned back to the girls.

“That smile!” That shorter woman sighed. It felt so awkward that we were the couple they were rooting for.

“Are you excited for tomorrow? Jimmy told me that it was your first race,” Chloe asked, taking a sip of the water she was handed by one of the girls.

“I’m excited, a little nervous.”