May 12, 2000 – Junior’s House

Noelle sat at the bar in the kitchen and watched Junior wander around, going through cupboards looking for something.

“Junior…what the hell are you doing?” Noelle asked after he searched the same cupboard three times.

“I’m throwing a pool party tomorrow night and I know damn well I have food.” He muttered slamming the cupboard. Noelle tapped her finger nails on the counter. “What?”

“Just for the guys or were you going to invite me?” She asked, sounding a little irritated. Junior stopped and looked at her.

“I figured you were spending the night here this weekend, so you’d be here anyway.” Junior shrugged.

“When were you going to tell me about this?” Noelle was still a little upset. “I told you when we got back Sunday that my sister was in town this weekend.”

“So bring her along. She can stay here. I don’t mind.” Junior leaned over the counter and kissed her, hoping to make her feel better. “It’s mainly just the guys on the crew and a few of the drivers. She’ll have fun.” Noelle looked away from him. “Hon?”

“Hmm?” She asked.

“Can you go to the grocery store with me?” He asked, trying not to laugh. Noelle sighed. “I take that as a yes.”

“C’mon…I swear.” She hopped off the bar stool and Junior grabbed her before she walked out of the kitchen. “What?”

“I’m sorry for not telling you about it earlier and I’m sorry for forgetting your sister was here.”

“Yeah…you just have to make it up to me.”

“Are you staying the night?”

“No, Junior. She’s on her way now. Hollie should be here around eight.” Junior looked at his watch. “What time is it?”

“Four thirty.” He kissed her neck and hugged her. “I think that I should take you to bed since you called in sick today. I could take your temperature.”

“Oh my god…that was the lamest pickup line I have ever heard.” Noelle laughed and pushed at his chest. Junior smiled at her. “You are a friggin’ sex addict. When was the last time you had it?”

“Friday night at the track.” Junior rubbed his chin. “I think I’m going to put that hood on my garage wall…since they didn’t get the indentation out all the way.” Noelle elbowed him.

“That’s not what I meant smart ass.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“Before me.”

“Hell, I don’t remember. You’d have to ask one of the guys…they kept track of my flavors of the months.” Junior winked at her. Noelle walked away and headed for the front door.

“I so didn’t need to hear that.” Noelle grabbed her purse and went outside to his truck. Junior grabbed his keys and followed her.

“I was kidding.” Junior got into the driver’s seat and started the truck. Noelle shrugged and looked out the window as he backed out of the driveway. He slammed on the breaks and put the truck in park. “Look at me.” She turned and looked at him, ready to yell about stopping so suddenly. “What is wrong with you today? All day you’ve been acting weird.”

“No I haven’t.” she shook her head.

“Then what is it? Because I said that about flavors of the month? I was joking.”

“Oh really?” She asked. Junior nodded. “Ok…since we’re on the subject, explain to me then why I was told that you were actually dating someone else after you broke up with that Lori chick.”

“Who told you that?”

“Does it matter?”

“Well, yeah it matter. I’m going to beat the living shit out of them for starting a rumor. If you haven’t realized it, but I’ve been chasing you for the last fucking month.” He leaned over and gripped her chin in his hand. “It’s probably you that they’re talking about.” Noelle pushed his hand away from her.

“No, it’s not me.” She said.

“Let’s talk about this then. Why did I catch you and Harvick kissing then?” Noelle turned and looked at him. “Yeah…caught you.”

“Excuse me?” She asked. “You have the fucking audacity to tell me what I was doing when you and I weren’t even dating, but you fucked me the first time when you were still dating Lori? Kissing and fucking are two totally different things!”

“To each his own.” Junior started to put the truck in reverse again, but had to stop when Noelle unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped out of the truck. “Where the fuck are you going?”

“Home!” She yelled slamming the door. He watched her walk to her car and get in. When she started backing up, he moved his truck to block her in, then got out and went to her car. 

“You’re pissed because I caught you!”

“I’m pissed because you’re a dick and I’m wondering why I even thought I was falling for you!” She grabbed the door that he had opened and slammed it shut. He opened it back up before she could lock it. “We weren’t dating, Junior. We’re not dating now.”

“Yes we are.” He retorted.

“No, sorry we’re not. Go to hell.” She slammed the door again and locked it, then backed up and drove through the grass around his truck.

********

Noelle sat in her living room across from her sister Hollie, crying. Hollie shook her head, not knowing what to say.

“You slept with Junior?” Hollie finally mustered. “I mean…Dale Earnhardt, Jrr?” Noelle nodded and looked up. “Was he any good?”

“Hollie!” Noelle leaned back in her chair and wiped the tears from her face. “You are a pain in the ass.”

“Not bad for me only being two minutes older than you huh?” Hollie grinned. “Quit fucking crying. It’s not like you haven’t broken up with a guy before. This is just a guy on a different level.”

“Yeah, easy for you to say. You’re married. You don’t have to deal with this shit.” Noelle started crying again. “I liked him, Holl…I mean I even thought I was falling for him.” She got up and went into the kitchen and came back with the note he had left her on the pillow. “Read this.”

Hollie read it over and then looked at her twin sister and made a gagging noise. “Kenny Chesney lyrics? Give me a break. I gotta meet this guy in person. Is he really this lame?” Noelle sighed and took the paper back from her. “What the hell happened to the woman of steel? She didn’t let any man walk all over her and now you’re acting like you’re whipped.” Noelle shrugged. “What is so great about this guy?”

“Don’t get me started.”

“You know what lil sister, we’re going to his pool party tomorrow.” Noelle shook her head. “Don’t tell me no. I’m older than you and that means I still have seniority.”

“Don’t pull that shit with me in my house, Hollie.” Noelle raised her voice. Hollie raised an eyebrow, causing Noelle to shut up.

“We’re gonna go and I’m going to see if he actually is into you as much as you’ve told me he seemed to be.”

“How?”

“Easy.” Hollie slid her wedding band off her finger and placed it in her purse. “I’m going to be you.”

Chapters: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30