Part 13
Finding Jenna kissing some guy wasn�t the scenario Kasey imagined for when they finally saw each other again. He was ready to turn around and walk out the door of her dressing room at first, but seeing her in person again was too good.
Kasey watched her, half listening to the conversation Kale and David were having as she walked back to the table with Neil and Amy. She was wearing off white pants and a golden tank top that came around her neck and left her whole back exposed. As always, the stilettos on her tiny feet, added height to her petite frame. The long gold earrings she was wearing shimmered in the light and her long auburn hair was swept into a low bun at the nape of her neck. He found it hard to believe, but Jenna looked more beautiful now than she did when he met her a year ago. She carries herself differently, he thought, like she�s grown up since she�s been gone.
�Jenna, have you lost weight?� Kale asked as the women and Neil rejoined their table.
�Yes, Jenna, please enlighten us all on the dangers of junk food,� Neil said.
�Neil,� Jenna scolded, �stop it. You make me sound like some anorexic. Which I�m not. When I started dancing again, my muscles started lengthening instead of being bulky and I liked the way it looked. So I stopped running and I just do ballet every morning instead. And, yes, I�ve stopped eating junk food.�
�As long as she doesn�t go all Gwenyth on me then I guess I shouldn�t be complaining,� Neil said. �But you know that Jenna used the be the queen of junk food and now she�s trying to get me to give it up, too.�
�But think of how much better you�ll feel, Neil. It�ll help you shed those extra pounds you�re always complaining about. It did for me.�
�Like you had any extra pounds on you, Jenna,� Kasey said. �Your body�s absolutely perfect.�
Amy raised her eyebrow at Neil, realizing that Kasey�s comment could be interpreted the wrong way.
�I just can�t eat all that healthy stuff,� Neil said.
�That�ll be the day that I give up burgers and fries, man,� David said shaking his head.
�I hear ya,� Kasey agreed.
Why can�t he just be a dick? Kasey thought to himself. He really wanted to hate David, but he seemed like a cool guy and wasn�t stuck on himself at all like Kasey would have thought someone with his credentials would be.
�Oh, god,� Jenna said. �David�s worse than you, Kase. He eats Corn Pops every morning no matter what.�
�I gotta have my Pops!�
�Kasey�s the same way with Fruit Loops,� Jenna said.
�Believe it or not,� Kasey said, �I gave up Fruit Loops for Lucky Charms awhile back.�
Jenna met his eyes across the table and smiled. �At least if you�re going to eat that stuff in the mornings, you�re eating the good stuff.�
Their food arrived and everyone �ohhed� and �ahhed� over their meals.
�I hope you guys like this,� Jenna said. �There�s not too many places to get food like this in Carolina.�
�It�s a good thing Junior didn�t come,� Kale said. �I can�t imagine him eating at a place that didn�t serve french fries. Or Budweiser.�
�Like you�re so refined, Kale,� Amy said poking him. �He asked me to get the President�s autograph for him when I went to that press conference last month. Can you imagine me walking up to George W. and asking for his autograph?�
They all laughed when Kale turned red.
�People ask Kasey for his all the time,� Kale said.
�Kasey drives a stock car,� Amy said. �He doesn�t run the country!�
Jenna looked at her best friend and smiled. She was still shocked that Amy was dating Kale. Not only was he three years younger than she was, but Amy always dated the same type of guys: serious and boring. Jenna and Amy�s ex-fianc�e Robert never got along. Jenna always felt that he put Amy down and expected her to be too much like him. She liked Kale a lot before he even started dating Amy and couldn�t have been happier when they got together.
Kasey looked at Jenna and knew just what she was thinking. �Hard to believe, huh?�
�Especially when you haven�t been around for months,� she said, shaking her head.
No one said much of anything after that, as they were all busy enjoying their food. Kasey wasn�t too crazy over eating at this place at first, but he had to admit that it was really good.
�Baby, you gotta try this,� David said, holding up his fork to Jenna.
�Oh my god,� Jenna said after she took the bite he offered to her. �We have to remember that for once we make it through the rest of the menu.�
�Jenna and David are bound and determined to try everything on the menu here,� Neil said. �She never has time to cook and he can�t, so they�re always eating out.�
�I can cook,� David said. �Just not anything she�ll eat.�
�Mac and cheese is hardly cooking, David,� Jenna said rolling her eyes. �I�m only kidding, Baby, I know you can cook more than mac and cheese. It�s just that we both live such hectic lives,� she explained to the table, �that it�s easier when someone else prepares our food for us.�
�How long have you guys been together?� Kasey asked.
Neil about dropped his fork.
�About five months or so,� David said. �I met Jenna right before her birthday at a Dave Matthews concert in Central Park.�
Kasey drank his beer as he thought about what David had just said. The last time he spoke to Jenna was on her birthday. The same day he found out that Mandy�d deleted his email from her asking to see him before she left for New York. No wonder she sounded so happy when I talked to her, he thought to himself as Neil was telling everyone what a huge Dave Matthews fan David was.
Amy could tell Kasey�s mood was changing, so she turned the conversation towards Jenna. �I want to hear all about this new play you�re doing, Jen.�
�Oh my god,� Jenna said, her eyes lighting up. �It�s an amazing play written by a woman named Madeleine George and it�s called �The Most Massive Woman Wins�. It�s a four-woman show and it�s one act and takes place in a lypo clinic waiting room. It�s such a powerful piece.�
�Who would have ever thought Little Miss Girly Girl here would be making her debut in a feminist play,� Neil added.
�I know,� Jenna laughed. �But it�s a beautifully written piece. It deals with these four different women and the issues that we women face today. One is a black woman climbing her way to the top in the business world, another is a high school drop out who got pregnant at fifteen and her daughter just came home and told her the she�s pregnant too. The third is a southern belle housewife who is a self-mutilator, and I�m playing an 18-year-old anorexic/ bulimic. This show is amazing.�
�I�m still not sure how I feel about you appearing on stage in just a pair of underwear,� David said, finishing his beer.
�But it�s not sexual in any way, David. I told you that.�
�But still, Jenna,� he said, �who wants their girlfriend�s naked body to be on display for everyone to see?� It was obvious to everyone that this was a conversation they�d had before.
�Darling,� Neil said, trying to be the peacemaker, �I know Broadway. The type of men that�ll go to that show won�t be interested in Jenna�s ta-ta�s. The women may be a different story, but aside from her little tryst in college, girlfriend doesn�t swing that way.�
�Neil!� Jenna exclaimed. �You know I never had any lesbian �tryst� in college.�
�Please,� Neil said. �I might be gay, but I�ve seen enough straight porn to know what goes on in sorority houses, right boys?�
�You�re too much, Neil,� David said laughing. �And I hate to miss what else you�ll come up with tonight, but I�m afraid I have to leave.�
�So soon?� Jenna asked. �We just got done with dinner.�
�I know. But I have to get some sleep.� He turned his attention to the rest of the table. �The soccer team has a three day tournament and we leave at seven AM. Believe me when I say that I�m going to need to be as alert as possible for chaperoning twenty teen-age boys on a two night trip.�
�Nah, I hear ya, man,� Kale said, standing up to shake David�s hand. �It was nice meeting you.�
�You, too,� David said. �Kasey, I�m glad I got to meet you. Congratulations on that Cup.�
�Thanks,� Kasey said, shaking his hand. �Great meeting you, too.�
�If you all will excuse me,� Jenna said, �I�ll just go walk David out.� She stood up and David placed his hand low on her back as they walked out of the restaurant.
�I�ll miss you,� Jenna said when they arrived in the lobby, reaching her arms around David�s neck and giving him a kiss.
�Mhhmmmm,� he said, rubbing her arms. �I�ll miss you too, Baby.�
�I�m sorry about Kasey being here,� Jenna said. �I really didn�t know.�
�Jenna, it�s okay. He seems like a nice guy.�
�I just didn�t want you to feel uncomfortable,� she said.
�Look, I know it�s a weird situation, but I trust you. Okay? And I love you,� he said kissing her again. �I�ll call you sometime tomorrow.�
�I love you, too,� she said. �Bye.�
Kasey was on his phone when she sat back down at the table and everyone was watching him.
�Nah, it�s fine,� he was saying �I know you�re upset, but I understand, Shannon�. I know� I love you, too. Bye.�
�What did she say?� Kale asked.
�Well, Mom and Dad landed here okay, but Shannon�s flight wasn�t scheduled to leave Washington until early tomorrow morning and it was cancelled because of all the snow they�re getting. She isn�t going to be able to make it in for the banquet.�
�That�s too bad, Kase,� Amy said. �I know how much your sister is into your career and now she isn�t going to see you get your first Cup.�
�That�s okay,� Kale said. �You said it Amy: his �first Cup�. There�ll be more.�
�Yeah, but now he�ll be dateless,� Amy said.
�Why don�t you go with him,� Kale said looking across the table.
�Well, I would be thrilled to go, but I just don�t think the Staunch ol� Repubs of NASCAR would appreciate such a thing,� Neil said in mock seriousness.
Kale laughed. �I was talking about Jenna.�
Jenna looked up in alarm. �Me?�
�Yeah,� Kale said. �Where else is Kasey going to find someone to go with, unless he wants to take one of the psycho screaming fans that have been trying to get into his hotel room since he�s been here.�
Jenna didn�t know what to say. She looked at Kasey.
�He has a point, Jen,� Kasey said. �I don�t want to show up alone, and it�ll be fun. You�ll get to see me make an ass out of myself in my speech. Whatta ya say?�
�Oh, Jenna,� Neil exclaimed. �You have to go! I put in a call and we can have some dresses brought in to my office tomorrow for you to try on. You liked that Marc Jacobs you wore to your �Chicago� opening. They have all of your measurements. I mean, it will be off the rack and not custom designed for you, but I can call there and get you something fab. They�d be guaranteed exposure with you as Kasey�s escort. Plus it will be good PR for your new show.�
�Unless,� Kasey said, �you think David would be angry, I don�t see why you shouldn�t come with me.�
�Why would David be angry?� Jenna asked. �He trusts me.�
�And I�m not saying he shouldn�t,� Kasey said. �I just don�t know how he�d feel about you going with me.�
�And what about your girlfriend, Kasey?� Jenna asked. �How will she feel about you going to the banquet with a woman that isn�t your sister?�
�And what girlfriend would that be, Jenna?� he said. �I�m single.�
�Nice to see you wised up and kicked Blondie�s ass to the curb, Kahne.�
�Yeah, too bad it was too late,� Kasey mumbled.
�What was that?� Neil asked.
Kale shot Kasey a look. �Nothing important,� Kasey said. �Whatta ya say, Jenna? I�m the Champ. Don�t I deserve to make everyone even more jealous by showing up with someone as hot as you on my arm?�
******************************************
�How are you going to tell this to David?� Neil asked in the cab back to their apartment. Jenna was looking for a place of her own, but Neil found a huge problem with everywhere she�d liked. She knew that he was lonely on his own and didn�t want her to move out.
�I�ll tell him what happened. That Kasey�s sister couldn�t make it and he didn�t have anyone else to take, so I�m going with him.�
�If his beautiful ex-girlfriend was in town and he was going to be her escort for such a huge thing, tell me you wouldn�t get pissed off.�
�Neil, you�re the one who was all gung-ho about me going with Kasey to the banquet!�
�From a managerial standpoint, Jenna, of course I want you to go. The Marc Jacobs people were tickled when I called them to dress you. You�re great publicity for them. But as one of your best friends I am just a little apprehensive.�
�Why?� Jenna asked. �Yeah, Kasey and I had a fling that lasted for what -all of two months?- like a year ago. I haven�t even seen him since February! David has nothing to worry about. I love him.�
�Honey, are you blind?� Neil asked. �All I know is that Kasey�s face about fell when he saw you kissing David and he couldn�t take his eyes off you the whole night. I was waiting for him to rip off your clothes and fuck you on our table like he did in Barney�s. Now that would have been a sight to see.�
�Must you always be such a drama queen? I didn�t notice Kasey paying any more attention to me than Kale did.�
�Probably because you were doing everything you could to not focus on the kid, Jenna. Do you know how much champagne you drank tonight? You�re a nervous guzzler. You always have been.�
�I wasn�t nervous. It was a social setting and everyone was drinking.�
�But you were knocking them back, doll. Lucky for us, you can hold your alcohol and champagne just makes you more sassy than usual. I mean, when you asked Kasey what his girlfriend would think of you being his date tomorrow? I was ready for you two just to pounce on each other right there. There�s still some chemistry a-brewin� there, girlfriend, so just be careful, okay?�
�What happened between Kasey and I has been over for a long time, Neil. I�ve moved on and so did Kasey. A lot sooner than I did, I might add. I�m gonna go to this thing tomorrow and have a fun with him, okay?�
�That�s what I�m afraid of, Jenna. I know what fun between you and Kasey Kahne means.�
� I told you. There is nothing there between Kasey and me now. Just history. And that�s what it�s going to stay. History.�
�Honey,� Neil said as they got out of the cab, �denial is more than just a river, and you are the Queen.�
************************************************
�Hey, buddy. Back so soon?� Junior sat next to Kasey at the bar. �I�ll take a Bud, and get him another draught,� he said to the bartender.
�It�s almost two AM, Junior,� Kasey said. �What the hell are you doing back here already? Alone.�
�I�m gettin� old, man. Gettin� old.�
�Thanks,� Kasey said when the bartender placed his beer in front of him. �Old my ass, Junior. You�ll be throwing parties when your ass is in a nursing home.�
Junior laughed. �Yeah, probably. But for real, man, how was your evening with Jenna?�
�I dunno,� Kasey said. �It was great to see her again, fer shur. But, I dunno, man. It was a little different.�
�Different? Of course it was different. You haven�t seen her in while, man. And her life�s changed a lot since then. So has yours, Champ.�
�Yeah. That�s true. But her boyfriend was there��
�David was there?� Junior asked. �That musta been weird.�
Kasey drank his beer, caught of guard by the fact that Junior knew that there was a David. �He seems like a nice guy. You can tell he�s crazy about her.�
�Can you blame him, Kahne? She�s a cool girl.�
�I just wasn�t expecting her to have some serious boyfriend. She always said that she wasn�t at the point in her life where she wanted to be tied down. She just wanted to have a good time.�
�Shit happens, man. You think she wouldn�t have �tied herself down� to you at one point? That chic was into you, man. And I hate to be a dick, but you fucked that up.�
�I didn�t think you�d be complaining about that, Junior,� Kasey said pissed off. �You didn�t seem to have any problem swooping right in after you won the 500.�
�Whoa,� Junior said putting up his hands. �Nothing happened that night of the 500. And you were there with Mandy. Hell, you�d been with Mandy since the day things went to shit with you and Jenna from what I heard.�
�You expect me to believe that nothing happened between you and Jenna? I saw those pictures in Maxim, man. And obviously you�ve kept in touch. You knew about David and she got you that ticket to her show.�
�Look, Kahne. I�m gonna be straight up with you �cause you know I go balls out all the time,� Junior said. �Nothing happened with me and Jenna after the 500 or before those pictures were taken. Not that I wasn�t dying for it to. I could sit here and say something didn�t eventually happen. But I ain�t gonna play you for a fool. Yeah, you know what? I slept with her. One time. And you know when it was? It was the night before she left for New York and I was just there at the right time, man.�
Junior took a drink of his beer and turned to Kasey before he continued. �Maybe I�m less of a man because I slept with her knowing that I was just there to make her feel better because your ass decided not to show up and tell her goodbye. But I�m only a man and I wasn�t going to turn down sex with a beautiful woman no matter what the reason. It was just sex. But it wasn�t just sex for her with you, man.�
�Fuck!� Kasey exclaimed, slamming his empty glass down on the bar. �You know how much easier it would�ve been for me to hear that you were fucking her brains out every night since the 500 instead of what you just told me?� He signaled to the bartender for another beer.
�Sorry, bud,� Junior said. �But that ain�t the case.�
�You know why I wasn�t there that night?�
�You got your reasons man, and that�s between you and Jenna.�
�No. I wasn�t there because I met someone who took my head away from racing and I got scared. And I got tangled back up with Mandy because it was easy for me. I didn�t have to worry about being in love with Mandy. Hell, I couldn�t stand her half the time. But my thick headedness cost me, man. I never got the email Jenna sent asking to see me that night because Mandy�s a fucking cunt and deleted it. You think I wouldn�t have been there begging Jenna not to leave? To stay with me and work things out? Fuck, man. When I found out she was gone and what happened to that email, I called her and wanted to tell her how much I loved her and ask her to give me a chance. But I didn�t. She was just so damn happy. It was the day she got the call about �Chicago� and apparently, right after she met David.�
�You did the right thing, man,� Junior said. �You said it, she�s happy. If she would�ve stayed in North Carolina with you, I ain�t saying she wouldn�t have been happy. But she wouldn�t have gone after her dreams of performing either, and you wouldn�t have wanted that, would you? You saw her on that stage dancing in �Chicago�. She was better than every one of those girls. You couldn�t take your eyes off her. She was born to be up there.�
�Wait, you didn�t go tonight. How do you know?�
Junior smirked. �I didn�t have to be at shit tonight for DEI, man. I just wanted you and Jenna to see each other again. I dragged Truex�s ass to see the show with me last night.�
�So now you�re fucking cupid?�
�Nah,� Junior said. �I just don�t want to see anyone else do what I did and fucking miss their chance at being with someone who really makes you happy and always wonderin; what it would have been like if you would�ve pulled your head out of your ass and taken a risk instead of always takin� the easy way out.�
�As much as I should appreciate your meddling, Junior, it�s just too late now. David�s in her life and I�m just some guy she thinks didn�t want anything to do with her.�
�So you ain�t gonna see her again? You�re just gonna let this all go?�
Kasey started to laugh. �Ahhh. I can�t believe this, but I am going to see her again. My sister�s snowed in in Washington and can�t make it here in time to be my escort for the banquet. So Jenna�s gonna come with me.�
�Yea-haw!� Junior exclaimed. �See? Junior knows what he fuck he�s doin�, man. I fucking rock.�
�Just keep telling yourself that, man,� Kasey said. �I missed my chance with her. It�s too late now.�
�Ain't never to late unless she marries the guy, and even then, the only thing stoppin� you is your morals. I gotta go tell Truex how fucking money I am. See ya tomorrow, man.�
�See ya,� Kasey said and thought about what Junior had just said: �Ain�t never too late.�
******************************************
�What do you mean, you�re being his escort to the banquet tonight, Jenna?�
Jenna called David from the cab on her way over to Neil�s office to try on dresses.
�What was I supposed to do? He won the Nextel Cup and his sister called late last night. He was dateless.�
�So what? I�m sure he could have found someone else to go with him. Why you?�
�He doesn�t know anyone in New York, David. And he�s my friend. I couldn�t say no.�
�Yeah,� David said. �He�s your friend that you used to fuck and haven�t seen for ten months. I�m supposed to be okay with this?�
�Oh my god, David,� Jenna said, laying her head back on the seat of the cab. �Don�t you trust me?�
�That�s not it, Jenna,� David told her. �It�s just a little too weird.�
�It will be good PR for me, Baby. There will be all sorts of reporters there and photographers and since Kasey won the Cup, it means I�ll definitely be seen.�
�Great! My girlfriend�s picture will be all over the media with some other guy. Really fucking great. I can�t believe we�re having this conversation.�
�Yeah, me neither,� Jenna said losing her temper. �I don�t need this shit from you. I�m going and I just wanted to let you know. I don�t need your fucking permission, David.�
�Don�t to this, Jenna. Don�t fucking turn this around on me. Fine, go. You know what? Have a great time with Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Junior, too.�
�David, don�t! I love you, Baby. Nothing is going to change that, okay? Please don�t be angry with me.�
�That�s asking a lot of me, Jenna. And I can�t do this right now. Just go and we�ll talk about this when I get home. I gotta get back to the team. I love you, okay?�
�I love you, too. Bye.�
Jenna flipped her phone shut and closed her eyes. Like you didn�t know he would be pissed, Jenna she thought to herself. What did you expect?
She hopped out of the cab at Neil�s office and took the elevator to his floor.
�There you are!� Neil exclaimed when she walked into his huge office. �I was just going to call you.�
�It�s nine AM, Neil,� she said. �I�m right on time.�
�But we have so much to do,� he said ushering her over to where the Marc Jacobs people were waiting for her. �You need to pick out a dress, get your hair done, your nails painted, your make-up done. Oh, and I called and made you an appointment to get airbrushed at Bastion�s.�
�I don�t need to get a tan airbrushed on Neil. I have enough of one right now. And you saw Kasey. He already looks pale next to me, so I don�t want to make it worse by being even more tan.�
�Okay, I�ll call Bastion�s and cancel. You remember Will and Elizabeth from Marc Jacobs,� Neil said, reintroducing her to the stylists sent over to dress her.
�Lovely to see you again, Jenna,� Will said giving her a double air kiss �We�re thrilled to be dressing you for tonight. We�ll make whatever alterations are necessary, and take the dress to Mr. Kahne's suite at the Waldorf for you to slip into there instead of you having to transport it yourself.�
�Hello, Jenna,� Elizabeth said, sizing her up. �You�ve lost some weight since last time and Neil didn�t tell us. No matter, everything we brought is in a size one, we may just have to take it in here and there.�
�Now, we didn�t have time to arrange a model to show you what we�ve chosen, but we know you don�t care for that anyway,� Will said. �But we have plenty to choose from, so let�s begin, shall we?�
Jenna and Neil sat on the couch while Will and Elizabeth started to bring out different dresses for her.
�How am I going to choose, Neil?� Jenna asked. �I already love them all!�
She tried on long dresses and short dresses. Tea-length dresses, strapless dresses, beaded dresses, silk dresses and chiffon dresses. Neil was no help because he just �adored� her in everyone. Will and Elizabeth knew her tastes and each dress was one she would have picked out herself.
�There are two more,� Will said, while Jenna was taking off a subtly ruffled black gown similar to the one Charlize Theron wore to the Golden Globes.
�We think this next one is it, Jenna,� Elizabeth said. �We�ve had you try on all blacks and silvers because Neil said that was what you suggested we bring, but you have to try on this.�
Jenna gasped as Will carried out the dress Elizabeth was talking about. �Try it on.�
She slipped the dress over her head and Neil whistled. �That is it. THIS is the dress that is going to turn heads, my dear,� he said.
Jenna looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. The dress was vaguely flapper-esque. It was candy apple red accentuated with back silk. The black silk straps were about and inch wide and met in a low V right in the middle of her chest and formed one line that ended in a point at her belly button. It was fitted until just below her butt and there was a black horizontal stripe that sat atop of where the red material flared in a slight ruffle. The bottom of the ruffle was lined in the same black material and hit her a good four or five inches above the knee. The back was stunning as well. It was completely open and the black silk straps formed an even lower V than in the front, ending right at the bottom of her spine. It was classy and fun at the same time, and Jenna loved it.
�Try on these shoes,� Will said to her.
Jenna squealed when she took the black silk Manolos out of his hands. The stiletto heel was three inches high. There was a thin strap that went around her ankle and left her foot completely open until her toe area which was closed in and very pointy. �Perfect,� she whispered.
She turned and looked at herself in the three-way mirror. �I�ve never worn a red dress before,� she said. �But I always wanted to. I used to dress my Barbie in a red dress and pretend like she was going to the prom and when she walked in, the DJ would be singing �Lady in Red�.�
�I think we all did that, Jenna. You look FAB!� Neil exclaimed. �Red is absolutely perfect. After all, it�s Kasey�s signature color.�
�And don�t forget the accessories,� Elizabeth said and handed Jenna black earrings that weren�t too much of a chandelier, but long, none the less and slipped a big black ring on her left pointer finger. �We just sold this one to Cameron Diaz,� Will said.
�Oh my god, Jenna,� Neil said standing up and clapping his hands. �Cameron Diaz!�
�Eeeeee!� Jenna squealed and jumped up and down. �I look so good!�
�And you still have your hair in that damn ponytail. Just think of when it is all down. I�m thinking front swooped to the side and big curls, lots of volume. Just like Kate Beckindsale at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. I know I saw a picture of it in People�s Best Dressed issue in the Best Hollywood Hair section. �
Neil was in love with Kate Beckensale and was always telling Jenna that she looked like her. �Jenna, you and Kasey are going to be the Brad and Jen of this shindig, Darlin�.�
�We�ll take it in a little in the waist and pull up the straps just a hair. Your breasts shrunk,� Will said.
�Good,� Neil said. �Less for David to worry about men oogling at your show.�
�Speaking of David,� Jenna said putting her Juicy sweats back on, �he�s pissed about me going tonight.�
�Oh my god!� Neil exclaimed. �What did he say?�
�He pretty much said that there was no reason for me to be going. I told him that Kasey was my friend and I wasn�t going to tell him no, and he said, �Yeah, a friend that you used to fuck and haven�t seen in ten months.� And then I got pissed and told him that I didn�t need his permission to go and he made some smart ass comment about me having fun with Kasey and Dale Junior.�
�That boy has a jealous streak a mile wide, Jenna.�
�I know. Maybe I should have just told Kasey that I couldn�t go. But I�m not going to turn down an opportunity just because David might get pissed off. If I start that now, I�ll be living in Columbus with two kids and a soccer team bumper sticker on my SUV before you know it.�
�Well, don�t worry about David. He�ll get over it and you don�t need any wrinkles popping up on your face before tonight. We have to go get your nails painted and I booked us both pedicures as well. And then Gia is going to come over to do your hair and make-up.�
�I was just going to do that myself, Neil. I doubt that anyone else will be professionally groomed for this.�
�Nonsense,� Neil said putting his arm through Jenna�s and walking to the elevator. �You think that Chandra Johnson won�t be using a stylist or whichever models Jeff Gordon and Dale Junior decide to bring with them? Please! Trust me, Jenna. You�ll thank me for this later. Who knows what magazines or TV shows will be there covering this. NASCAR has really been becoming mainstream and Kasey Kahne is one of their hottest commodities right now.�
�Whatever you say, Neil.�
�By the way, Jenna,� Neil said as the elevator arrived, �do you know that you�ve slept with three different guys who�ve been on People�s Hottest Bachelor�s list? Kasey, Dale Junior, and Rick Scott. That�s gotta put you up there with Demi. I�m going to have to research this.�
Jenna shook her head and laughed as they stepped into the elevator. �I�ll never be able to top Demi, Neil. Unless they put David on that list because as far as I�m concerned, he�s it for me.�
�Never say never, Jenna. Never say never.�
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