May 12^th – Darlington, South Carolina

Martin looked around the track as Junior pulled into the driver’s lot.  He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something felt different this time around.

“Something the matter?” Junior asked breaking Martin from his thoughts.

“No,” Martin replied grabbing his bags and heading off to his coach.  “I’ll see you later for dinner.”

“All right,” Junior replied slightly puzzled with the way Martin was acting.

Martin unpacked and stretched out on his couch with the TV on.  He had some time to kill.  His thoughts turned to her.  It had been months since he thought of her.  He didn’t’ know if he had moved on, if she had, or if they both had.

‘This weekend will tell,’ he thought to himself as he glanced at the time and saw it was time to go meet the guys.

Quite a large group of guys went to dinner.  It helped Martin take his mind off of things.  He felt like he was returning to himself now, instead of being so secretive like he had been with her.

A few guys decided to have a pick-up game of poker when they got back that night.  Martin decided to join them since he didn’t have any other plans other than sleeping.

 

~~~***~~~

“Hey man you all right?” Tony asked as he walked up to Martin during qualifying.

“I’m fine,” he replied.

“You seem out of it.  That’s why I’m asking,” Tony said looking Martin over.

“I’m feeling good Tony,” Martin replied.  “I feel free here now.  I can’t explain it.”

Tony nodded.  “I know the feeling.  We all know the feeling.”  He hoped Martin would get what he was implying with that statement.

Martin nodded showing Tony he understood.  “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Tony said as he leaned against the pit wall.

“When did she take notice in you?” Martin replied.

“My rookie season,” Tony said.

“How’d you know it was over?  Besides the unfortunate events?” Martin asked his mind getting the best of him.

“You just do,” Tony replied patting Martin on the back before he walked off toward his car to go qualify.

Martin sighed and looked all around.  Everyone was hard at work. 

~~~***~~~

Martin’s race had been going well until a couple unscheduled pit stops happened because of tire issues.  He knew that this was more than likely her telling him good-bye.

After the race he walked through the garage and looked at everything he passed.  He grabbed his things from the coach and threw them in the SUV.  He stood next to it and looked around the track one last time.

“You ready?” Junior asked as he sat in the drivers seat.

“Yeah,” Martin replied climbing.  He knew that he’d probably never see her and he was fine with it.  He just wondered who she would pick next.

Series 1: First Sight, Second Time Around, Third Times The Charm, Final Destiny