A MATCH OF WILLS
Part 9
�Jenna,� Amy said not taking her eyes off the TV, �you have to get out here. Kasey�s in the lead!�
�That�s nice,� Jenna called form the dining room. �I don�t know why you are even watching that. You don�t even like NASCAR.�
�I figured I might like it now that I met some of the guys, you know?�
Amy knew Jenna was dying to watch the Daytona 500, but her foolish pride kept her from putting it on. So she decided to do something about it herself. She had no interest in seeing it what so ever, but turned it on knowing that if she did, Jenna would eventually give in and watch.
�Oh, there was a wreck! You have to see this, Jen! Those cars are fucked up!�
�I�ve seen wrecks before, Amy,� Jenna said trying to type up some stuff for school. �Did it affect the leaders?�
�No, Kasey is fine.�
�Amy! That isn�t what I was asking for.�
�No, it was at the end of the line.�
Jenna continued her typing, listening to the commercials in the background. Val and Courtney were at the race. At one point, Jenna was considering flying down for the weekend and staying with them in their beach house. Courtney and her family went every year, and when Val started dating Courtney�s older brother, Val started going too. In fact, Jenna was actually going to talk to Kasey about it the night of their fight. She didn�t want him to think she was being overbearing, but he knew she was a NASCAR fan before she met him, and had assumed that he would be thrilled that she was going to be there. Boy, was I wrong! she thought finishing up her work.
�What a day for the number nine team!� one of the announcers was saying as the cars made their pit stops. �Kahne blew everyone away by winning the pole and now he�s led the most laps of this race.�
�Those new Chargers really are something else!� another announcers said. �With the exception of Junior and Gordon, the guys who are dominating this race are in Dodge�s.�
�Ohhh! Look! There�s Kale!� Amy yelled.
Jenna closed her laptop and sat on the recliner. �I�m done with my work and if you insist on giving me the play by play, I might as well watch it myself.�
Amy smiled knowing that Jenna wouldn�t be able to hold out for long. �The announcer said that this would be the final pit stop, Jen,� she told her friend. �I think Kasey is going to win.�
�You never know with these super speedways, A,� Jenna told her. �Junior is amazing at restrictor plate racing. Mikey Waltrip is up in that front pack too, and he�ll give Junior a push if he needs it. Mayfield, that�s Kasey�s teammate is up there, too, but Junior and Mikey are good.�
�Teammate?� Amy asked. �I thought there was just one guy in the car.�
�There is dipshit!� Jenna laughed. �But your teammate is someone who is owned by the same guy you are. Kasey and Jeremy are Evernham. Mikey and Junior are DEI. Gordon and Jimmie Johnson-�
�Okay, I get it,� Amy said. �Now shut up. I think they�re starting again.�
There were twelve laps left to go. Kasey and Junior pulled out from the pack at the restart. �Kasey�s car is really fast,� Jenna said, leaning in towards the TV. �Junior is probably pissed as all hell right now.�
Jenna�s cell started to ring. She saw that it was Court and picked it up.
�Are you watching this?� even though Courtney was screaming into the phone, Jenna could barely hear her over the roar of the crowd.
�Yeah, I am,� Jenna said trying to hear what as being said on TV.
�Promise me you�ll call him if he wins,� Courtney yelled.
�What?�
�You heard me, Jenna!� and she hung up the phone in Jenna�s ear.
�What did Court want?� Amy asked.
�She told me to call Kasey if he wins.�
�I think that�s a good idea,� Amy said.
Jenna didn�t say a word. She watched Kasey and Junior go around the track neck and neck. �Come on, Mayfield,� she said under her breath. �Get up there and give him a push.�
She was gripping the arm of the couch so tightly that her knuckles were white. If he wins, it�s a sign and I�m supposed to call him, and if not, then that means it really is over, she told herself. It was a version of a game she�d been playing her whole life: If this song comes on the radio, I�m going to get an A on my exam; If I hit the wastebasket two out of three times, he�s going to call me.
White flag. Waltrip somehow got on the inside of Newman and right up behind Junior. He was so close to him that it looked like the back end of Junior�s car was sitting on the front of the number fifteen. Kasey was dead even with Junior up until that point, but the push from Waltrip gave Junior the edge. When the checkered flag dropped, Junior won his second consecutive Daytona 500. The place went wild.
Jenna leaned back into he couch and closed her eyes. It just wasn�t meant to be.
�I think you should call him anyway,� Amy said, looking at her friend. Jenna's body just seemed to collapse when Kasey didn�t win. �Second place is awesome.�
�Second place is the first loser,� Jenna said, quoting something Kasey told he one night when he was telling her about how much he hated coming in the runner-up.
They both watched as reporters swarmed around the cars. Kasey got out of his car and took a swig of Mountain Dew. He�s so beautiful, Jenna thought, looking at his blue eyes and lopsided grin. He answered the questions and said what an amazing car they had and how proud he was that they had such a great finish, but Jenna knew him well enough to know that look in his eyes. He was fuming on the inside.
The reporters were still asking him questions when a blonde girl came up to him and gave him a hug and a peck on the lips.
Amy heard Jenna suck in her breath and all at once her friend�s body tensed up again. The blonde girl was smiling up at Kasey and at the cameras.
�It�s the girl from the banquet,� Jenna whispered.
�Jenna, look, he isn�t fawning all over her like she is him,� Amy said. �I think you should-�
�I should what, Amy?� Jenna said tearing her eyes away from the TV when the cameras went to Victory Lane. �Call him while little girlfriend sits and listens? Tell him �Hey, it�s okay that you pretty much called me a whore and I haven�t talked to you in two weeks. Nice race. Wanna fuck?��
�Jenna,� Amy sighed, �just stop being so damn stubborn. Be the bigger person and call him. I�m sure he misses you jut as much as you miss him.�
�Yeah, I�m sure he misses me a whole lot while blondie is sucking his dick, Amy.� Jenna stood up. �I need to go get a shower. I gotta get ready for the performance tonight.�
************************** ************************
�I bet you that we�re going to be on a TV show,� Marissa, of the girls who danced in The Pussycat Dolls with Jenna, was saying when Jenna walked into the backroom of Toxic. �I heard they�re doing a Real World down here.�
�Maybe we�re filming a DVD,� Anna, another dancer, guessed, as the stylist was putting false eyelashes on her.
Robyn still wouldn�t tell the girls what was going on that night. All they were told was to bring their all black costumes and someone would be here to do their hair and make-up when they arrived.
�What�s up, guys?� Jenna asked, hanging up her garment back on the rack that was there for them.
�What do you think, Jenna?� Julie asked as she coughed on the cloud of hairspray surrounding her.
�I have no idea,� Jenna told them sitting down in a chair. �Is this everyone?�
�Yeah,� Marissa said. �There are eight of us tonight. So Jen, did you watch the race today?�
Marissa lived in Charlotte and she and Jenna had become pretty good friends since they started dancing together. She knew all about Kasey.
�Yeah, Jenna,� Julie said, �didn�t you used to date Kasey Kahne?�
�Who�s Kasey Kahne?� Megan asked. Meg was a total New York City girl. Jenna was surprised that she was there in Charlotte, but then again, Meg lived off her father�s money and didn�t have a job to go to in the morning.
�Kasey is like the most beautiful guy in NASCAR,� Anna said. �I was screaming at the TV so loud today that Josh was ready to smack me. Him being a Junior fan and all.�
One of the stylists looked at Jenna's name on her list and led her to a chair and started rolling her hair in big curlers.
�I wasn't dating Kasey,� Jenna said. �We were just hanging out. And I did watch, and I saw Kasey kiss some blonde girl when he got out of his car. Oh well, was fun while it lasted.� The other girls thought nothing of Jenna�s remark, but Marissa knew how much that must have hurt Jenna to see.
The girls talked and threw around their theories of what tonight�s �Big Performance� was all about. Robyn walked in about a half-hour later.
�Ladies! You all look beautiful.�
Jenna looked around and thought they all looked great as well. She was wearing high black stiletto boots and black, boy-cut hot pants. She had a black sequined bra underneath a tight, sheer, black top that came off the shoulder and stopped right below her bra line, leaving he midriff exposed all the way down to the low rise of the shorts. The shirt had holes for her thumbs to go through and her hair was down and the big curlers the stylist put in gave her auburn mane sexy waves. The make-up artists really went to town with the dark eyeliner and eye shadow and her green eyes sparkled. Jenna looked at herself in the mirror. I look amazing for someone who is so upset right now, she thought. Hell, I just look amazing period!
She focused her attention on Robyn and the young man that was rolling in a clothing rack behind her.
�As you all know,� Robyn said. �I wanted to expose the PCD brand to the east coast market and tonight is our big break.�
The girls all looked at each other. Robyn had a flair for drama and they knew she was going to milk this for all that it was worth. �I was contacted two weeks ago by friends of someone very important. These gentlemen heard about what it was I was doing and wanted to hire The Pussycat Dolls to dance at a private party they were throwing for their friend. I was assured that no matter what, there would be a big media focus on this event but that if their friend did what they thought he was going to, it would draw more national media than I could have dreamed possible.�
Robyn walked over to the rack and put her hand on the sheet that was covering it. �Tonight, we will be performing the tuxedo dance.�
All the girls looked at each other. Robyn didn�t tell them to bring their coats and top hats. Robyn looked at them and smiled. �Ladies! No need to be worried because Enrique here,� she said motioning to the guy who wheeled in the rack, �spent the last tow weeks designing these.�
She pulled the sheet off the rack with a flourish and Jenna�s mouth dropped.
�When Dale Earnhardt Junior wan the Daytona 500 today for the second consecutive year, all of his hard work paid off.�
There, on the rack, were eight hangers with sparkling Budweiser racing jackets and matching baseball hats on them. �This is huge girls! These men were going to throw a party regardless, but his win was the ultimate and it happened�
Some of the girls started to squeal and jump up and down. Jenna just stood there, not able to believe what she was hearing.
�Now,� Robyn, said, �who is going to take the lead?�
�Jenna should do it,� Marissa spoke up. �She knows Junior.�
�Jenna!� Robyn exclaimed. �I didn�t know that! You want to do it?�
Jenna looked at Marissa. And knew what she was thinking.
She looked at Robyn. �Count me in!�
�Great!� Robyn exclaimed, clapping her hands. �Start working on some patter. You girls really need to step up the banter tonight. Play off Jenna�s lead. And let�s get Jenna mic-ed up to go. You have an hour before people start arriving so go make the most of your time on stage.�
Jenna and Marissa exchanged glances again and Jenna flashed her a devilish grin. I�ll show Kasey what a NASCAR Ho I can be, she thought to herself and gathered the girls around.
�Alright, here's where we are going to take it��
**********************************************
�So,� Kale said,� we going to this thing for Junior night, Kase? You know his friends throw some tight parties.�
Kale, Kasey and Mandy just got off the plane from Daytona and were headed back to the guys� place.
�I think we should go, Kasey,� Mandy piped up in the front seat. �All the other girlfriends and wives are going, too.�
Kasey rolled his eyes while focusing on the road. �I just lost the Daytona 500 and you two want to go party it up with the guy who beat me?�
�C�mon, Kasey, be a good sport and just go have fun. You should be celebrating, to you know,� Kale told his brother. �What the fuck do you wanna do? Go lay on our couch and have a pity party for yourself? �Poor little Kasey, he only finished second while some guys totaled their cars before the tenth lap.� Get over yourself, man!�
�He�s right,� Mandy said. �Let�s celebrate!�
�Open bar all night, Bro. If you want to drown your sorrows, at least Junior�s friends will be picking up the tab,� Kale laughed from the back seat.
�Whatever,� Kasey said, parking the Durango.
�Goody!� Mandy exclaimed. �I�m gonna hop in the shower first, Kasey. It takes me longer to get ready.�
Mandy dashed through the front door and up the stairs. Kasey headed to the kitchen and Kale followed him.
�Why is she still around, Kase?� Kale asked his brother. �It�s so obvious that you�re as annoyed by her as I am. I just don�t get it.�
Kasey grabbed a beer out of the fridge. �That�s not true. I really like Mandy and it�s nice to have someone around.�
�That�s a pretty shitty reason, Kase,� Kale said.
The two brothers sat in silence for a few minutes before Kale�s cell phone started ringing.
�Hello?� Hi Amy!�
Kasey turned his head to listen to what his brother was saying.
�Yeah, we�re back in Carolina� It was a great race� I�ll tell him, hold on. Kasey, Amy said congratulations.�
�Thanks.�
�He said �thanks�. I can�t believe you watched the race. I thought you weren�t a fan� Mmmm hmmmm�Really? That�s interesting� Yeah� She did?� And?� Go figure��
Kasey wondered if �she� meant Jenna. He couldn�t tell what Amy was saying from Kale�s end of the conversation.
�Yeah, we�re going to this party that Junior�s friends are throwing. Do you wanna come with us?� Oh, well that�s too bad. They work you too hard�. Okay, well call me when you have some free time this week. Let�s hang out� Bye.� Kale flipped his phone shut.
�So do you talk to Amy a lot?� Kasey asked his brother.
�Yeah, I guess so,� Kale said. �She�s a cool chic.�
�She watched the race then?�
�Yeah, it was the fist one she ever watched. She said there were a lot of things she didn�t understand and that it was a lot different than she thought it would be.�
Kasey sat down across from Kale at the table. �Well, maybe you�ll just have to teacher her some stuff, Little Bro.�
�She said Jenna was trying to explain some things to her as it was going on,� Kale said, watching Kasey�s face to see how Jenna�s name affected him.
Kasey took a sip of his beer. �So they watched the race together?� he asked nonchalantly.
�Amy said that Jenna just watched the end. She was doing work for school or something. She said Jenna was really hoping you�d win.�
Kale didn�t tell his brother what Amy had told him about Jenna getting upset when she saw Mandy with him after the race. �Courtney and Val were there, you know and Courtney called them towards the end when you were beating Junior.�
�Really,� Kasey said. �Courtney is a huge Junior fan. I bet she was happy.�
Kasey started picking at the label of his beer. �How�s Jenna doing?� he asked Kale.
�I thought you decided she was a pit lizard and you didn�t want anything to do with her,� Kale said getting up to get himself a beer. �She was supposed to go, you know?�
�What? Who was supposed to go where?� Kasey asked.
�Jenna. She was going to the 500.�
�Why didn�t she?�
�I don�t know, Kasey,� Kale said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. �Why the fuck do you think she didn�t go?�
�I certainly hope she didn�t let me get in the way of her going to Daytona and getting some ass,� Kasey said draining his beer.
Kale looked at his brother and shook his head. �You really are something else, man. Lovergirl is out of your shower, so go start getting ready. And don�t use all the hot water because I�m getting one in a few too.� He walked into the living room and turned on the TV.
Kasey threw away his beer bottle and went up to his room.
�What were you and Kale talking about, Kasey? I heard him raise his voice at you,� Mandy said, brushing her hair.
�Nothing,� Kasey told her as he took off his shirt.
�Who�s Jenna?� she asked trying to be casual.
Kasey turned to face her �What? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?�
�No, Baby,� she said. �I just heard Kale said something about someone named Jenna going to the 500. I thought maybe it was some girl he was with or something.�
�Jenna is some girl we met at Toxic one night. Kale is sweet on her friend Amy.�
�Oh,� Mandy said. She put her arms around his waist and looked up at him. �Well, I�m sweet on you, Kasey Kenneth Kahne. And I am so proud of you for doing so well today.�
�Mandy, I�m all gross. Not now,� Kasey said removing her arms from around his body.
�I don�t mind, Kasey,� she told him walking behind him as he headed towards the bathroom. �I could join you.�
He turned around to face her. �We don't have a lot of time, Mandy. And I�m not so much in the mood, Okay?�
�Whatever, Kasey,� she said huffily. �It is just that you�re never really in the mood to make love to me.�
�Do you always have to try and pick fights with me before we go somewhere?� he asked her. �I have a lot of things on my mind, Mandy. And since when did you become all that into sex, anyways?�
�A woman can�t want to make love to her boyfriend, now?� Mandy asked, her voice rising.
�Would you stop saying �make love�? You sound like Danielle fucking Steele.�
�Why shouldn�t I say that, Kasey? I love you and when we�re intimate, that�s us showing our love for each other.�
�I�m not having this conversation. I just want to go get my shower and sit at the bar and get drunk, okay?� he said angrily. �Now go do whatever you have to do to get ready. I want to leave in 45 minutes,� and he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.
Mandy stood there staring at the door. You can�t fool me Kasey Kahne, she thought to herself. The first time Kasey called her since they got back from New York, she heard him and Kale fighting and heard the name �Jenna� then, too. She wanted to know who this �Jenna� was and why Kasey was so upset with Kale for staying with her. So, she snooped around while Kasey was in the shower one day and noticed that there was a �jennastar21� on his AIM Buddy List, but didn�t find anything else. And now they were arguing about her again? Mandy knew there was something that Kasey wasn�t telling her.
I�ll be dammed if Kasey is going to try to hide this �Jenna� person from me, whoever she is. He�s MY boyfriend, and nothing is getting between us again. Not after I just got him back, she thought to herself, and decided that she would try to get more information out of Kale and maybe some of Kasey�s other friends tonight.
**************************************
�This place is packed!� Kale said, sitting down at the bar next to Kasey. Mandy was across the room talking to Elliott Sadler and a few other people so Kale decided to join his brother. �How you holding up?�
�I�m getting there,� Kasey said, raising his beer. �I hate that everyone keeps coming up to me and congratulating me on second place. These guys know more than anyone else that second just doesn�t cut it.�
�Yo, Kahne!� Jamie McMurray said coming up next to him. �How about some shots?�
�Whatever, man.�
�Kale, you in?� Jamie asked him.
�You know it.�
�Six shots of Jose for me and the Kahnes� Jamie called to the bartender. �Man, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but great run today. Mikey and Junior have just been working together for so long, they got it down. But you fucking tore it up man.�
�Thanks,� Kasey said as the bartender placed the tequila in front of them.
�Here�s a toast,� Jamie said. �When life hands you lemons, drink fucking tequila! Cheers!�
The three men did both of their shots back to back.
�Wait �til you see what Brett and those guys have going on tonight. They went all out, figuring Junior was going to win, man,� Jamie said.
�Oh yeah?� Kale asked. �What are they doing?�
�You�ll see in a few. They�re getting Dale all liquored up first.�
�Hey, Jamie,� Mandy said, putting her arms around Kasey and kissing him on the neck. �Wasn�t my Kasey just amazing today?�
�Can I get another beer, please?� Kasey asked the bartender.
�Honey, you shouldn�t be drinking so much!� Mandy said to Kasey.
�It�s a party, Mandy,� Kasey said, annoyed. �What the fuck else do you do at a party?�
Jamie and Kale exchanged glances at each other across the bar.
�Shit, there�s Brett up on stage,� Jamie said. �I gotta make my way up front for this. You guys gotta come too.�
The picked their drinks up of the bar and followed as Jamie pushed through the crowd to a few empty seats.
�Alright, everyone!� Brett said into a microphone. �I�d like to take this time to thank you all for coming tonight. Let�s here it one more time for back to back, Daytona 500 winner and reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champ, the one, the only Dale Earnhardt Junior!�
The crowd went crazy cheering and chanting Junior�s name.
�Now, y�all know that there ain�t no party like a Dale Junior party, and this one is not going to let you down,� Brett said when the crowd quieted down. �And we have a special treat for you tonight. Dale, congratu-fucking-lations man! And let me be the one to say those famous words: �Gentlemen, start your engines!� Because we have for you, here tonight, for your viewing pleasure� The Pussycat Dolls!�
The party went crazy and the house lights dimmed and a spotlight came up on the stage.
�Told you this was going to be fucking awesome!� Jamie told Kasey and Kale. �WOOOHHHOOOO!�
�Ready, girls?� Jenna asked the other dancers before they walked on stage. They were all nervous because, like Robyn promised, there were camera crews there filming for some documentary Junior was making about his life as well as a couple other photographers.
The music started and the girls began strutting across the stage. Jenna had her Budweiser cap pulled down low over her eyes and they all had their hair tucked up inside. She scanned the crowd and spotted Junior front row center. She spotted Kale one table behind and to the right of Junior�s. He was sitting with Jamie McMurray, Kasey and Blondie. Eat your fucking heart out, Kahne! she thought to herself as strutted to her spot and struck her pose with her back facing the crowd.
�I hear that there�s someone special here tonight, ladies,� she said loud enough for the mic to pick up, but in the huskiest voice she could manage. �And there�s a celebration going on.�
The girls did their part and muttered to each other.
�Junior, baby, this one�s for you!�
The music started and they switched poses in time to the slow beat of burlesque-style song. Gradually the beat picked up and at the crash of a cymbal, they began their dance. When they did their first turn, the crowd roared. The girls danced seductively to the song in an intricate routine of kicks and turns, switching formations and turning up the sex appeal. The part of the song came up where the girls would normally start to remove their tuxedo jackets. They unzipped their Budweiser racing coats and tossed them aside, walking into a clump formation.
�This is hot!� Kale yelled over the noise of the room.
Kasey was enjoying it as well, but Mandy was shooting him daggers. �I think it�s repulsive!� she said.
�Calm down, Mandy,� Kasey said leaning forward in his seat for a better view.
Jenna looked at Kasey�s table making sure she had him in her eyesight for what was coming next. The girls all reached up and whipped of the caps to the crescendo in the music and that was where the routine really began.
Jenna shook her long mane, looked right into Kasey�s eves and smirked.
�Fuck Me!� Kale said, realizing that that was Jenna.
�Holy shit!� Jamie said laughing. �Kahne, it�s aerobics girl!�
Kasey was just sitting there, staring at Jenna. She didn�t break eye contact with him since she took off her hat, still slithering to the music.
The music started to fade and the girls brought out their chairs for the next part of the routine. Kasey watched Jenna as she danced around and on the chair. Her hair was flying and he could tell she was having fun with this part. He looked at Kale, and Kale just raised his eyebrow and nodded toward Mandy.
Mandy had no clue what was going on, but was beginning to get angry at the fact that the one dancer was staring at Kasey. She put her arm around him and leaned her head on his shoulder. The dancer noticed her move blew a kiss at Kasey before turning around.
�What is that bitch doing?� Mandy exclaimed, but no one at her table was paying attention.
�How is everyone tonight?� Jenna asked he crowd. They roared. �I see some pretty fast guys out in the crowd tonight, girls!�
The girls whistled and sat at various different places on stage.
�I see Jimmie Johnson!� Marissa yelled from her spot at stage left.
�And I see Kurt Busch!� Anna exclaimed, winking at Kurt.
�I found Jeff Gordon, y�all!� Meg exclaimed.
�And back there,� Julie said, pointing, �is Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne!�
�I am impressed, ladies!� Jenna said. �Why don�t we tell them who we are now?�
The group went onto their introductory dance and Jenna sat on a stool on the side of the stage called out each girl�s name and town she lived in when they danced to the front of the stage.
�Meg Hunt, New York, New York!�
�Anna Brandt, Philadelphia Pennsylvania!�
The crowd cheered loudly for each girl.
�Marissa Jolovich, Charlotte, North Carolina.� The stomped and yelled for the hometown girl.
Kasey couldn�t take his eyes off of Jenna. This was the dance company she auditioned for when I saw her in New York! he realized.
�And I�m Jenna DiBenedetto, from right here in this great city of Charlotte!�
�Woooo Jenna!� Jamie yelled. �You never said she was a Pussycat Doll, Kahne!�
Mandy almost choked on her drink. JENNA!
�Now that y�all know who we are, there is one more person that we have to meet,� Jenna said as she waked down the steps to the right of the stage, the spotlight following her. �I�m looking for the winner of today�s race, the NASCAR champion, the hottest, most awesome guy to ever get behind the wheel of a stock car, MISTER DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR!�
The crowd went ballistic and Jenna grabbed Junior by the hand, bringing him up on stage.
�How you doin� tonight, Junior?� she asked him.
�Pretty fucking good, Jenna!� he said as the girls began to dance their way towards him.
�You all might not know this, but I met Junior here around banquet time last year, didn�t I Junior?� Jenna asked him, sitting him down on the stool the girls brought to center stage.
�You surely did, Ma�am.�
�And I know for a fact, that this boy here loves to watch girls dance, doesn�t he Jamie?� Jenna asked.
�Hell yeah!� Jamie yelled from his table.
�Whatta ya say, Kahne? Is that a pretty accurate statement?� Jenna knew Kasey would hate being put on the spot like that, so she made sure to direct a question at him.
Kale looked at Kasey, waiting for him to reply. Kasey just sat there and took a drink of his beer, not taking his gaze off Jenna.
�He says, �Hell, Yeah,� too!� Jamie finished for him.
�Thanks McMurray!� Jenna said winking at him. �And since we all know how much Junior here loves to watch girls dance, we have a special treat for him.�
Jenna walked behind Junior, trailing her hand across his shoulders. �Congratulations, Junior,� she leaned down and said into his ear. �This one�s for you!�
The girls did their routine all around him, each one taking turns doing moves that required touching him. Jenna looked at Kasey as she worked her way to the front of Junior. Here goes nothing! she thought as she stepped in front of Junior facing him and pulled him up off the stool. She whipped around to the front, pushed her back to him, and placed each one of her hands on the outside of his thighs. She glided down his body and back up and turned back around to face him, put her arms around his shoulders, wrapped her right leg around him and arched back as far as she could go. Junior grabbed her right thigh and picked it up, pulling her closer to him. She arched back up and playfully swatted him on the cheek and the music was done.
The crowd stood up and broke into thunderous applause.
�Holy fucking shit!� Jamie said pounding on the table. �That is one lucky bastard!�
Kasey was still siting in his seat, watching Jenna as she took her bow. The house lights came back up and he saw Junior pick her up and swing her around.
�Kase? Kasey?� Mandy was hitting his arm to get his attention. �Are you okay?�
�Yeah,� Kasey said. �Fantastic. I need another beer.�
He got up and went to the bar. Mandy looked at Kale.
�Excuse me Mandy,� Kale said. �I�m gonna go talk to Jenna.�
Mandy sat back in her chair and shook her head in disbelief. Something is going on between Kasey and that girl, she thought to herself. I�m gonna put a stop to that real quick!
She saw Kale walk up to Jenna and hug her and that made her jealously boil. Kale made no secret of the fact that he didn't care for her, and that always bothered Mandy. Not only were they brothers, but they were best friends. Maybe if I were some stripper, too, then Kale would like me.
�Jenna! I can't believe you�re here! Kale said to her.
�You and me both, Buddy,� she said to him. �I knew I was dancing tonight for about two weeks, but we didn�t find out until tonight what this party was for.�
Junior walked back up to her. �So do you girls have to leave now or can y�all stay and party with us�
�I�m sure some of the girls have to leave, but I now some of us can stay.�
�Are you staying?� Junior asked her. Kale didn�t like the way he was looking at her and was glad Kasey wasn�t able to see it.
�As a matter of fact, I have off tomorrow for President�s Day, so yeah, I�ll stay and celebrate with you,� she smiled up at him.
�Sweet. Go grab your girls and let�s do some shooters!� Junior said and headed over to the bar, stopping to talk to Meg on the way.
Jenna turned back to Kale. �So, I take it Kasey is with Blondie now, huh? Good for him. She doesn�t seem like the type to hop into bed with someone just because he�s famous.�
�Jenna,� Kale said. �Just stop it. I know you aren�t like that, remember?�
�Whatever,� she said. �But he does, and that�s all that matters.�
�He doesn�t,� Kale said. �He�s a shit, but I know he misses you.�
�Really,� Jenna said cocking an eyebrow and nodding over to the bar where Kasey was kissing Mandy. �Doesn�t look like it.�
�Excuse me, Kale,� she said, with a gleam in he eye, �but I believe there�s someone here that I have to congratulate on his second place finish today.�
Kale watched as Jenna squared her shoulders and headed toward the bar. He saw Jamie put his arm around her and lead her over by where Kase was standing with Mandy and staring making his was over there as well.
�How about a drink for Jenna, here?� Jamie asked the bartender. �Cosmo?�
�But of course!� Jenna said.
Kasey was trying not to look at her. I can�t believe she�s here! He thought to himself as Mandy leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
�Hey, Kasey. Aren�t you going to say �Hello�?� Jenna asked from behind him.
Kasey turned around to face her. �What�s up, Jenna? I was just waiting for your fan club to give you a chance to breathe,� he said motioning to Jamie.
�I�m definitely a fan!� Jamie said laughing.
Jenna felt Blondie�s eyes on her. �Hi, I�m Jenna.�
�Hi, Jenna. I�m Kasey�s girlfriend, Mandy,� she said putting her arm though his.
Can she be anymore pathetic?, Jenna thought, giving Mandy a fake smile. �Yeah, I saw you on TV with him a few times. At the banquet and after the race today, which by the way, you kicked ass in Kasey!�
�Yeah, well, obviously not enough to beat Junior,� Kasey said, uncomfortable at the fact that Jenna was here in front of him and Mandy felt it her job to become another of his appendages.
�But you�ll always be first with me, Kasey,� Mandy said resting her head on his arm. �Aren�t I just the luckiest girl in the world?�
�Whoa, let�s retract the claws, Mandy!� Jamie said. �It�s time to drink!�
Jenna took her drink off Jamie and took a sip. �Lovely meeting you, Mandy. Have a fun night, Kasey!�
She walked with Jamie over to the table where Junior and a bunch of his friends and some dancers were siting.
�Jesus, Mandy!� Kasey said pulling his arm away from her. �What the fuck was that all about?�
�I should be asking the same thing of you, Kasey!� Mandy said, anger flashing in her eyes. �So that stripper is the �Jenna� you and Kale were fighting about?�
�She�s not a stripper, Mandy. She�s a Kindergarten teacher.�
�Then she ought to be fired! What kind of parents want some slut like that teaching their kids!�
�Mandy!,� Kasey turned on her. �God! Jenna�s not some slut. You don�t know her.�
�Is that why you accused Kale of sleeping with her, then?� Mandy asked, angry that he was defending that woman.
�Do you listen to all my conversations? What the hell?� Kasey ran his hand through his hair, trying to hold in his temper. �I am not having this conversation with you here.�
�Why, Kasey? Don�t want all the guys to know that you were banging the entertainment?�
�Grow up, Mandy,� Kasey said, walking of in search of better company.
Jenna was watching the whole scene between Kasey and Mandy and smiled when Kasey stormed off, leaving Mandy behind at the bar. She couldn�t believe Kasey was with someone who was obviously so insecure. If that�s the kind of woman he needs in his life, then I�m definitely not the one for him, she thought, turning her attention back to the conversation at the table.
Junior�s friends were a lot of fun. They reminded her of some of the guys who she hung out with in college: overgrown fraternity guys. The other dancers were having fun too. It seemed that Jamie McMurray had taken a liking to Marissa and she loved his attention. And Junior, although he wasn�t ignoring the other people at the table, kept looking at Jenna and smiling.
I could definitely do Junior, Jenna was thinking, why wouldn�t I? He�s fun and good looking and he�s obviously into me. But she kept hearing Kasey�s voice in her head: �I guess you had your fun with me and now it�s Junior�s turn, huh?�
She didn�t know whether Kasey�s words were what kept her from wanting to hook up with Junior, or fueling her desire to grab him by the hand, take him somewhere private and rip his clothes off him. She was torn. She could use a night of mindless sex right now, especially knowing that Kasey was going to be going home with Blondie, but if only it weren�t Junior she was interested in. She knew that if she had sex with Junior, Kasey would never be able to get past that. But what does it matter, Jenna? she thought. He made it perfectly clear that you mean nothing to him, first by accusing you of being some celebrity whore and then not calling you for over two weeks.
�Body shots!� Jamie yelled and grabbed Marisa by the hand.
All the guys at the table grabbed their girlfriends or another girl close by and headed toward the bar. Junior hung back.
�Whatta ya say, Jenna?� he asked her, looking at her with desire in his eyes. �Wanna be my shot glass?�
�Now how could I say no to the guest of honor?� she said and walked with him towards the bar.
Jenna was surprised at the number of guys still there. She laughed when she saw a number of the married ones opting for body shots as well.
�I haven�t done this since I was in college!� Jenna said to Junior as she watched Jeremy Mayfield take the first shot off his wife. All they people around the bar cheered when Jeremy took the lemon out of his wife�s mouth.
Kasey wondered back over to the bar and watched a couple guys do shots off of their wives, girlfriends, and their random girls. When he spotted Jenna with Junior, his temper flared.
He walked up behind Mandy. �Squeeze your way in there, Mandy,� he said to her. �We�re doing this, too.�
Mandy looked at Kasey with a surprised look on her face. That wasn�t the sort of thing she would normally do, but she was feeling inferior because of Kasey�s obvious attraction to Jenna, so she squirmed her way up to the bar with him right behind her.
Jamie was laughing as he pulled the lemon out of his mouth. �Who�s next?� he yelled.
�Here!� Kasey raised his arm and signaled for the bartender.
�That�s the way to be Kahne!� he said, pulling Marissa off the bar. �You�re up, Mandy!�
Mandy lay on the bar, her discomfort obvious as she lifted her shirt and the look on Kasey's face wasn�t one of amusement. Jenna watched him as he licked Mandy�s stomach and poured salt on her. Her jaw clenched as she saw his mouth on another woman, remembering the many times that mouth was licking her body.
Mandy giggled as the bartender poured the tequila in on her belly and put a lemon in her mouth. Kasey slipped a sideways glance at Jenna watching him and did his shot, his mouth lingering on Mandy�s as he sucked the lemon out of hers.
Kale was watching the whole scene going on. He saw Kasey look at Jenna and he saw Jenna�s body tighten when Kasey licked Mandy. They�re acting like high schoolers, he thought. Mandy would never have let Kasey do a body shot off her unless she felt threatened. And the way Kasey was acting, it was no wonder Mandy was threatened by Jenna. As much as he disliked Mandy, he felt bad that she was getting stuck in the middle of Kasey and Jenna�s foolish pride. Jenna obviously had her sight set on Junior, but he could handle it. Kale knew that with Junior, it was just about sex most of the time. Mandy, on the other hand, was in love with his brother and would do anything to make sure she kept him.
Mandy laughed when she sat up on the bar and flashed a grin at the crowd, making eye contact with Jenna. Kale noticed that, too, and knew that would set Jenna's temper off.
�My turn!� Junior yelled and picked Jenna up and laid her on the bar. The crowd around the bar hollered and whistled.
Junior picked up the shaker of salt and said, �I can�t let this beautiful thigh go ignored now, can I?� He licked the area right below the line of Jenna�s hot pants and poured the salt on.
Kasey clenched his fists at his sides. I�m gonna kick his redneck ass! he thought, seeing the look of lust on Junior�s face as the bartender poured the tequila on Jenna.
�Here we go!� Junior exclaimed and licked the salt of Jenna�s thigh. He didn�t take his mouth off her to get to the shot, but ran his tongue up her thigh, across the fabric of her shorts and sucked the tequila off her stomach. He placed his right hand on her stomach and left hand on the bar next to her and leaned down to take the lemon out of her mouth, turning it into a full blown kiss. Jenna's right hand snaked around to the back of Junior�s neck as she kissed him back. He shifted her into a sitting position, and wrapped her legs around his back while still kissing her. Junior broke the kiss, took the lemon out of his mouth and threw back his head and hollered, �WHOOOOO HOOO!�
The crowd cheered with him and he scooped Jenna up off the bar. She was laughing as he put her back down on the floor and reached his head down to give her a quick peck on the lips. �That�s what I�m talkin� bout!� he yelled and everyone laughed and cheered.
Mandy watched Kasey�s face and knew he was pissed off. �Baby,� she said to him, �are you ready to go now? I wanna be alone with you so we can celebrate your finish by ourselves.�
�Can�t you just relax and have a good time?� he barked at her.
�Kasey, you were the one who didn�t even want to come here,� she pointed out to him.
�Well, I�m not ready to leave yet,� he said as Kale approached them.
�I never thought I'd see the day that you did something like that, Mandy!� Kale said, trying to be nice to her because he knew she had to feel like shit because of the way Kasey was treating her.
�Hey! I can have fun, too, you know!� she snapped at Kale.
�That isn�t what I meant, Mandy,� he said.
�Would you both just relax?� Kasey asked them. He took a swig of his beer and said, �I�ll be back.�
Kale and Mandy watched as he stormed off.
�He�s the one that needs to relax,� Mandy said.
�He�s had a rough day,� Kale said. �He just needs some time to cool off.�
�I�m not stupid Kale, Mandy told him. �Yeah, he�s pissed because of the race today, but he's being all pissy because of that tramp dancer.�
�Come on, Mandy,� Kale said. �Jenna�s not some �tramp dancer�.�
�Oh that�s right, Kale. She fucked you, too, so obviously you're going to defend her jut like Kasey did.�
�You know what, Mandy?� Kale said angrily, �I was trying to be nice to you and figured that there had to be something my brother saw in you, but now I realize that I was right. You�re just someone for him to have around.�
Kale never lost his temper, but he�d had quite a few drinks that night. �Why don�t you ask him what he as doing all that time after you were in New York for the banquet and he never called you? And while you�re at it, ask him what he was doing before you got to New York that made him so tired out that he passed out with his dick inside of you.�
Mandy�s mouth dropped as Kale walked away from her. She was so distracted by what Kale was saying that she lost sight of where Kasey headed.
************************************************
�Looks like you had the same idea I did.�
Kasey turned around and saw Jenna waking out onto the patio. It was a chilly night, and no one else was out there. He turned back around and stared out at the city.
She stood next to him. �Okay, or you could just ignore me��
�Shouldn�t you have some clothes on? You�re gonna get pneumonia in that get up,� he said leaning on the railing and taking a drink of his beer.
�How sweet of you to worry about me. I�m touched.�
�You don�t have to be a bitch, Jenna,� he said.
�Hey, you do what you�re good at, and I�ll continue to do what I�m good at.�
They stood there in silence for what seemed like forever, watching cars zip by on the streets below and listening to the sounds of Charlotte at night.
�I know you�re sick of hearing this, but you ran really well today,� Jenna said, breaking the silence. �I was in shock.�
�So I suck now?� he said, his mouth hinting at a smile.
�You know what I mean,� Jenna said. �You dominated the whole time!�
�Just not when it counted.�
�Those guys have been working together for so long Kasey and plate racing is their thing. I think everyone was surprised that you held them off that long.�
�Yeah, well, I don�t feel like talking about it,� Kasey said.
�Whatever,� Jenna said. She was debating whether or not to go back inside, but she wanted to be close to him. She knew that if she went inside, Blondie would make sure she was nowhere near Kasey.
�Sorry about Mandy being a bitch to you earlier,� Kasey said.
�You just read my mind,� Jenna said laughing. �And I�m a tough girl, I can handle it. I�m sure if some girl who just got done shaking her ass on stage and was dressed like I am was talking to my boyfriend, I�d get a little bitchy, too.�
�No you wouldn�t,� he said turning to look at her, finally. �I was surprised to see you here, Jenna.�
�Yeah, well, I was surprised to be here. Well, not here, but I didn�t know until tonight what this party was for."
�You never told me what kind of dance company you auditioned for,� he said.
�You never asked,� Jenna shot back, turning to face him.
Kasey stared into her green eyes. He reached his hand up to her face and bushed away a piece of hair that got tangled in the wind.
She closed her eyes as his skin made contact with hers. He ran his thumb across her lips and stroked her bottom lip softly.
�God, you�re so beautiful,� he said to her.
Jenna looked into his blue eyes and her heart butterflied in her chest. Please, fate, she thought to herself, please let me have him. Please let me love him for the rest of my life.
�I miss you, Jenna,� he said and leaned in to kiss her.
His lips were soft, yet demanding, as they met hers. She opened her mouth and kissed him back, savoring the taste of him. Thank you, she thought.
He tangled his hands in her long hair as his mouth became more demanding, pulling her closer to him.
�I wanted to kick the shit out of Junior when his mouth was on you,� he said against her lips.
Jenna�s eyes shot open and she stopped kissing him. She backed away from him and shook her head. How could I be so stupid? she thought. This wasn�t about him missing me, it is about him being jealous of Junior!
�Un-fucking-believeable,� she said, trying not to yell. �I guess Blondie just isn�t doing it for ya in the sack, huh Kahne?�
�What?� he said.
�What? She doesn�t let you do anything you want to her in bed or let you fuck her in public paces? Is that it?� Jenna�s temper was flaring.
�Jenna-�
�Just fucking save it, Kasey. I�m done being some whore to you, okay?� she turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving him staring at her back.
�You fucking idiot!� Kasey said out loud. �Why did you say that?�
Kasey sat down at one of the tables and finished his beer.
�What the hell is going on?� Kale said coming through the door. �I just saw Jenna walk from this direction and she was pissed off, so I figured you had to be out here.�
�I�m an idiot. I fucked up, Kale,� Kasey told his younger brother.
�Again?� Kale asked.
�Yeah, Jenna came out here and I was out here and we were talking normally but then I looked at her and she looked so amazing, Kale.�
�I know Kasey, I saw her.�
�But not even like that, man,� Kasey said, spinning his empty beer bottle in his hands. �The way she was looking at me-�
�Like she�s in love with you?� Kale offered.
�Exactly,� Kasey said. �But not how Mandy looks at me. I don�t know. But I kissed her and she kissed me back and it just felt so good. And then I told her �I wanted to kick the shit out of Junior when his mouth was on you� and she flipped out.�
�You are an idiot,� Kale said. �Why did you have to bring up Junior? A guy you accused her of wanting to fuck the night you had your falling out? The guy who beat you in the race today? Of course she flipped out! She probably figured you were jealous, that�s all.�
�I know that�s what she thought,� Kasey said. �And then she started saying all this stuff about Mandy not being able to satisfy me in bed and that she wasn�t going to be my whore and then she left.�
�Well, what are you waiting for, man?� Kale asked. �Go apologize.�
�She isn�t going to want to hear it, Kale.�
�She loves you, Kasey,� Kale said. �And I know this because she said so. The night you flipped out on her for those pictures of her with Rick Scott. Whom she dated for three years, by the way.�
�She dated him?� Kasey asked.
�Yeah, he went to OU, she went to OU. She started dating him her sophomore year of college and they broke up her senior year when he got drafted and she caught him in bed with some woman. Some woman who slept with all the players, just like you accused her of being.�
Kale didn�t think it was his job to tell Kasey all those things, but he knew that his brother needed to hear them. He needed to be with Jenna.
�Kale, what did I do?� Kasey ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
�You fucked up and now you have to fix it.�
Kasey bolted up out of his chair and Kale followed him. He ran inside and Mandy stopped him.
�Kasey, what are you doing?� Mandy asked him, putting her arms around his neck.
He tried to scan the thinning crowd for Jenna.
�Not now, Mandy. Have you seen Jenna?�
�You mean that stripper girl? I saw her with Junior, he was saying bye to some people and she was with him.�
�Fuck!� Kasey exclaimed and pushed past Mandy, still looking for Jenna.
Mandy stared at him in disbelief.
�Mandy, where�s Kasey?� Kale asked when he saw her.
�I don�t know, Kale. I�m not his babysitter,� she said angrily.
Kale saw Kasey and noticed his brother was stopped dead in his tracks. He looked where Kasey�s gaze was and saw what he was looking at.
Jenna was walking to the door with her bag and coat, and Junior�s arm around her.
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