“We didn’t know if he was up or not,” Law explained as he made his way over to me. He held his hands out to me, taking Jacob from my arms and holding him close to his chest. I watched as he bounced him up and down, speaking softly to him, cooing him back down to where his eyes were only half open.
They say when you see a man holding a baby, your ovaries explode. Well, mine did. But not because of the baby. It was because of Law. He stood there and the smile he had on his face as he watched the baby fall asleep in his arms. I wanted him to look at our child like this. I placed a hand on my stomach, but then quickly moved it away. Chloe caught the move, but Law was oblivious to it.
She gave me a questioning look and I shook my head, but not with the confidence I should have. We had never used protection, but I didn’t see how, now that we were married I would just magically become pregnant. It’s not like Law could have pounded his baby into me.
“We should head back.” Law was looking at me now.
“Why don’t you two stay here? There’s enough room,” Jimmy suggested.
I hadn’t made my way around the whole camper, but I was confused on how there was enough room for the five of us.
“Here.”
He handed Law a key, which he took, not even questioning it.
“Here you go, bud.” Law handed Jacob back to Chloe and then pulled at my hand. “See you two tomorrow.”
“Where are we going?” I asked as Law led us away from where his cart was left at the garage.
“Jimmy has a spare trailer he always brings, just in case his parents decide to join him.”
“Oh.” A small RV sat in front of us and Law used the key Jimmy had given him to unlock it.
“It won’t be like the hotel, but typically I sleep in one of these, so I’m used to it.”
“You do?” I questioned him. The first time we had been to a race and stayed in a hotel, I thought it odd that his team wasn’t staying there as well.
“We normally sleep in the camper or trailer. It’s not conventional, but it works. Means more time on the track.”
“Why don’t we do that?”
Law looked back to me. We had made it into the camper that only held a small bed and fridge.
“I didn’t think you would want to sleep in a cramped space,” Law countered and then stripped to get into the bed. “Plus. I like having a huge bed for us.”
I shook my head at his innuendo and slipped my clothes off before crawling into bed. It felt like only a second had passed before Law’s alarm was going off for us to wake up and get a start to race day. We met Chloe and Jimmy at the front of their camper and made our way over to the garages. The race wasn’t until later in the night, but Law wanted to make sure everything was ready, so we could enjoy ourselves.
We hadn’t been a part of the tailgating in Daytona, so he promised we’d get the chance here. It was beer, hot dogs, burgers, and anything else someone could bring along. Most of the drivers were here in the infield, all catching up. A few of the women threw themselves at me with hugs and words of encouragement. They had given me the same looks my mother and Cary had, but I waved them off. I didn’t need pity or sympathy and neither did Law.
We had come out better on the other side of the wreck and that’s what mattered the most. I loved watching him with his fellow racers, just enjoying himself. It brought me back to a time when I felt like that dancing, but I didn’t need dance to feel like that anymore. I just needed Law, and, of course, Leah. I had been making sure to keep up with her and Axel as much as I could, but since they were starting a new rehearsal schedule, they were going to be busier than normal.
I took a sip of the water I was cradling, the nausea from the trip here not sitting all that well with me. Law had made sure to stop as many times as he could when driving us through Tennessee, but clearly, my stomach was not in agreement.
“You look green.” Chloe made a pursed face at me as she walked over to where I was leaning against one of the trailers.
“Do I?” I asked absentmindedly. I knew I felt bad, but I wasn’t aware that I looked it.
“You look like you’re about to hurl.” She laughed and then tipped the water toward my face, urging me to drink more.
“I think it’s still lingering from the drive.” I looked across the field area we were standing in, watching Law talk to a few of the drivers. Everyone had switched their drinks to water about three hours ago, to get ready for the race. The tailgating was starting to simmer down and racers were making their way to the garages, to get in gear and ready for the race.
“The more you come out, the easier it will get for you.” Chloe hook her arm in mine and we made our way over to where our men were at.
“…just don’t know what to do.”
I caught the last bit of Law’s conversation with Jimmy as Chloe and I walked up to them.
“Lawson Kane not knowing how to do something, I find that hard to believe.” Chloe laughed at him and then slapped his shoulder and moved over to Jimmy, wrapping her arms around his waist. They had brought a nanny with them to watch Jacob while the race was going on. Like Law, Jimmy always wanted Chloe in the pit, and she couldn’t have the baby there.
