April 16,2000 – Talladega – Race Day

Noelle yawned and tried to pull the blanket up around her, but it seemed to be caught on something. She rolled over and yanked only to find that Junior was curled up in it. Having momentarily forgotten where she was, she gasped when she saw him sleeping next to her.

“Blanket hog.” Junior opened his eyes and looked at her. “You look like a deer caught in the headlights.” He glanced at the alarm clock and then rolled against her, throwing his arm over her. “Go back to sleep, I don’t have to be up for another three hours.” Noelle lifted her head and looked at the clock. Was she reading the clock right? She laid her head back down and closed her eyes. “Don’t hog the blanket ok?”

“If you’re that cold, why don’t you get up and get another one?” Noelle pulled it tightly around her to get some warmth. She could feel a slight draft coming from the window above the bed. Junior climbed out of bed and from the light that had been left on, she watched his naked form walk into the lounge area, only to return a moment later with two more blankets. He threw the blankets over her and flipped off the light before climbing back into bed and snuggling against her one more time. “What time did we go to sleep?”

“I don’t know…I don’t usually look at the clock after sex to see what time it is.” Junior chuckled as he kissed her neck. His body was reacting how any man’s body would when waking up with a beautiful woman in their bed. Or maybe it was just he was in the mood. Hell, it could have been both and probably was. He pressed against her ran his hand down her side, tracing the contours of her body.

“What time do you race?”

“One.” He moved her hair and kissed her neck.

“Aren’t you going to be exhausted?” the answer to her question was him rolling her onto her back, so that he could move on top of her. He kissed her, biting her lower lip, only to have her do the same to him. “Junior…”

“What?” he asked as he parted her legs with his knee. He lifted her left leg and wrapped it around his waist as he entered her, causing her to dig her nails into his arm. They said nothing to each other as their bodies moved together slowly at first, and then picking up a quicker rhythm. Noelle could help but moan and at one point, she was more than a little vocal.

A half hour later, they both collapsed, exhausted and breathing heavily. Junior listened as Noelle gave a satisfied sigh and pulled the covers up to her neck. He grinned and closed his eyes; hopefully he’d hear the alarm and wake up when he was supposed to.

The alarm went off and Noelle heard Junior smack it to make it stop. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. Junior propped himself up on his elbow and smiled down at her.

“Morning.”

“I just remembered something.” Noelle’s voice trailed off. Junior frowned and looked a little worried. “Your dad and Teresa are going to be picking me up at nine to come to the track.” Junior busted out laughing and had to get out of bed. “Junior! That’s not funny. They’re going to fire me if they find out what we did.”

“No they won’t. We’ll both get sat down at different times and be told that it’s conduct unbecoming to DEI employees and get a slap on the wrist.” Junior walked to her side of the bed and held out his hand to help her up. “If you quit running your mouth, I’ll take you to your car so you can get back to the hotel in time to shower and look presentable.” She took his hand and got out of bed only to get kissed by him. “And I think you should wear this.” He reached into a drawer next to the bed and pulled out a red work shirt. She took it from him and looked it over. It was just like the ones that the pit crew wore. “And if you’re up to it, come down to pit row during the race, you can sit with my spotter or with Tony and watch.”

“Well, Teresa wanted me to watch from the VIP room.”

“It’s a hell of a lot better in the pits.” Junior winked at her. “Get dressed; we gotta get you outta here.”

*********

She made it back to the hotel by eight and immediately jumped in the shower. She didn’t have much time to get ready. When she was done, she threw on a pair of jean shorts and the shirt that Junior had given her.

“It’s a little long.” She said out loud as she looked in the mirror. She gathered up the front and tied it in a knot. “There…much better.” She did a quick glance in the mirror again as she walked past to go finish her makeup when she stopped and looked again closely. She groaned and picked up her cell phone from the dresser and found the number she was looking for. She didn’t even give the person on the other end a chance to say hello.

“I’m going to kick your ass.” She said once the person answered.

Junior started laughing and she could hear him leave the crowd that he was near. “And why is that?”

“Oh just the fact that I have hickeys covering both sides of my neck.” She tapped her fingers against the counter in the bathroom as she looked in the mirror. “Talk about conduct unbecoming.”

“Well you know what, baby, you should see me. And the fire suit doesn’t cover my neck.” Junior said in a whisper. “I’ve already been asked who I was with.” Noelle laughed and covered her mouth. “Not to mention, your vocalization this morning was heard by my buddy Matt who was in the coach next to us.”

“Sorry…I got carried away.” Noelle looked at her watch. “Shit, your dad is going to be here in five minutes. I’ll catch you later.” She flipped her phone shut and looked in the mirror. She had no idea what to do, even with her hair down, they were noticeable. Cussing under her breath, she ran the brush through her long brown hair and did her makeup in a hurry. When she stepped out of the bathroom she looked around the room and her eyes widened. The bed was still neatly made and you could tell that no one had been there that night. With only a few minutes to spare, she ran to the bed and pulled the covers back and messed them up, making it look like it had been slept in.

Nine o’clock on the dot and there was a knock on her door. She grabbed her room key and her cell phone and answered the door, only to have Dale Sr. walk in before she could walk out.

“Morning.” He said brushing past her. “Ready to hit the road? I have a meeting at 12:30 and we’re going to grab breakfast before we go over to the track.”  He looked at her and she looked away. “You ok?”

“Yep, fine. Let’s go I’m starving.” She walked toward the door.

“I guess you would be after being with my son all night.” Dale Sr. said a little sternly. Noelle stopped dead in her tracks, but said nothing. “You going to own up to it better than he did?” Noelle turned around and saw Dale Sr. leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. “Well?” Noelle’s mind was going a mile a minute. Did she tell him or make up a story. “I know the truth, Noelle and I’ve already talked with Junior this morning.” Was he calling her bluff? Junior hadn’t said anything on the phone to her.

“I…uh...” She stammered. “Well…” Dale let out a laugh and Noelle looked up at him.

“How late did he have you out? He told me that you two went in the two seater and then hung out the rest of the night.” Noelle felt the blood coming back through her body, for a minute, she thought she had been caught.

“I think it was like one or something.” She said. “He sure is a ball of energy.” Dale Sr. nodded and walked toward the door. Noelle breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. “He’s always like that. I don’t know how his girlfriend keeps up with him.” Noelle glanced at Dale Sr. as they got on the elevator.

“Girlfriend?” She asked. Dale Sr. nodded. “He didn’t tell me anything about a girlfriend.”

“Hmmm…wonder why. They’ve been together for awhile now. She should be here today, but then again, I wouldn’t doubt it if she stayed home. He doesn’t like them hanging out at the track.” They stepped off the elevator and went to the car that was waiting out front.

“I can understand why.” Noelle got in and buckled her seatbelt. She was fuming, but couldn’t let Dale Sr. see it. The last person that she wanted to see right now was Junior and hopefully, Dale Sr. wasn’t dumping her off on him again today.

*******

The drivers had a mandatory meeting, so Dale Sr. dropped her off at the #8 garage and headed toward the meeting. Noelle looked around and tried to spot Teresa in the sea of people. She didn’t see her or any of the other DEI employees other than the ones working on Junior’s car.

“You watching the race from Pit Row?” Tony Eury, Junior’s uncle asked when he saw her leaning against the wall. She shook her head no. “Why? I thought you and Junior were becoming friends.”

“Oh…he’s wonderful.” Noelle rolled her eyes and pushed off the wall. “I’ll catch you later. I have to go find something to eat.” She waved and then quickly walked away. She didn’t want to be around when Junior got back from the meeting.

Noelle made her way to the VIP room and found Teresa sitting with a few of the Bud sponsors. Teresa was quick to introduce Noelle and Noelle smiled politely and talked business for a while before excusing herself when her cell phone rang.

 “Yeah?” Noelle asked walking into the hallway.

“Where you at?” Junior’s accent seemed to be a little thick this morning. Or maybe it was because she didn’t want to hear his voice. “Dad said he dropped you off here and Tony said you left.”

“I’m not there am I?” She said casually. “You go race. I’ll catch you around sometime.”

“What the fuck is going on with you, Noelle? I thought we could hang out again today. It’s not like me to just fuck a girl and never talk to her again.” Junior spat into the phone. “I’m getting a lot of heat about why you aren’t down here. Dad wants me to keep an eye on you.”

“Well you know what, Junior…I don’t make it a habit of fucking someone who already has a girlfriend. Nice talkin’ to you.” She slammed her phone shut and turned it off. She went back into the VIP room and apologized for her rudeness.

First she heard her name being paged over the loud speaker to report to the pit for car #8. Not even 10 minutes after that, Junior came busting through the door of the VIP room, making everyone jump. He went straight for Noelle.

“You are going to talk to me now!” he yelled at her. Noelle looked up at him, but didn’t budge. “Noelle, you can’t avoid me.”

“And I’m not. But I think that if you don’t get back to your car in…” She turned and looked at the clock behind her. “Five minutes, you’re not going to make the race.” She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at him.

“We’re not finished.”

“Yes we are. Go on and have a good race.” Noelle looked away, letting him know that she was done with the conversation. Junior balled up his fists and left the room.

“I’m sorry for my step son’s intrusion.” Teresa stood up in front of the sponsors. “Noelle, can I speak with you a moment.” Noelle nodded and got up. “Outside.” Noelle sighed and followed her boss out into the hallway. “What the hell was that about?”

“Just a disagreement between the two of us because I’m not down in the pits watching.” Noelle told the truth, just not the entire truth.

“Well, since Junior is racing today and he obviously asked you to be in the pits, I’m ordering you as an employee to get your ass down there.” Teresa pointed toward the field. When Noelle opened her mouth to protest, Teresa pushed her toward the stairs. “Now.”

Feeling like a scolded child, Noelle went to the pit, unwillingly. When she saw Junior again, she was going to tear into him. He had better hope he lasted the whole race.

****

Tony motioned for Noelle to get into the spotters stand with him and equipped her with a headset so she could listen to the conversations going on. She wasn’t able to talk, which she was glad about.

“Great job you guys! I never thought I’d start in pit row!” Junior’s excited voice came over the headset. Noelle leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. He didn’t seem to be as pissed as when he had left the VIP room.  She watched the cars make their pace laps and saw that Dale Sr. was in 4^th.

The green flag dropped and the cars took off. Noelle felt her heart beating in her throat as she watched her first ever NASCAR race in person. Even though she didn’t want to, she kept her eyes on the red #8 car. He moved through the field and got behind Dale Sr. and then all hell broke loose.

Right in front of the pits, Dale Sr. backed off another car to avoid hitting him and Junior looked to be slamming on his brakes to avoid hitting Dale Sr., but ended up making contact. Smoke bellowed out from the front of the car and Junior made his way back to the pits to see if the damage done to the car was repairable.

“No brakes!” He screamed into the headset over and over as he made his way in. The pit crew jumped the wall and went running to help stop Junior’s car. Noelle stayed where she was and just watched in amazement at how quickly the crew did their job. The car went behind the pit wall and the crew went to work.

Almost a half hour later, Junior was twenty nine laps down and able to go back out on the track to race. Noelle was still in her same position even though Tony had gone down to access the damage and help repair it.

Junior began to get into a groove and was going good. He missed some near crashes but was unable to miss the one that took him out of the race again. After another pit stop, he was back on the track.

“The water’s burning.” Junior said into the radio. “I’m coming in.”

The race ended with Jeff Gordon taking the checkered flag. Dale Sr. came in third and Junior finished in forty-second.

“Thank God for an off week.” Junior said as Noelle walked around the corner and into the garage. Their eyes met and Junior turned his back to her. “After today, I need a break.”

*****

Noelle gave Junior time to do his media interviews and photo ops. She waited for him in the coach by watching the full race on a video that someone had dropped off. Junior came in and went straight into the bathroom, not even noticing her sitting on the couch in the lounge area. He came out in nothing but a pair of Budweiser boxers and a pair of socks. He jumped when he saw her sitting there, arms folded over her chest and not looking too amused.

“You lied to me.” She said when he sat across from her and turned off the TV.

“I didn’t lie. You didn’t ask and I didn’t tell.” Junior ran a hand through his hair and leaned back against the couch. Noelle shook her head and took a few deep breaths. “Don’t even try to lie your way out of it and tell me you didn’t enjoy fucking me last night.”

“Get off your high horse you arrogant prick!” Noelle screamed at him. “Do you think that I slept with you because of you name or that you’re a NASCAR driver? Do you think I’m one of those pit lizards that are just hanging around, waiting for the chance for you to give them the time of day?” She stood up and paced the small room. “You are a lying, cheating asshole!”

“Asshole?” Junior shrugged. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.” Noelle threw her hands up in disgust and started for the door. “Noelle.” She stopped and turned around, her hands resting on her hips. “It’s been over between us for awhile now. Neither of us wants to say the words to end it though.”

“So that makes last night ok? I’m just supposed to shrug it off and forgive you?” Noelle walked back toward him. “Oh ok, Junior. All’s forgiven.”

“You don’t mean it, so why say it?” Junior stood up and stood in front of her. “Say what you really mean.” He was a good five inches taller than her and peered down at her. “Tell me you never want to see me again. That you want to forget that last night ever happened, even though we both have the marks to prove it.” With one hand he grabbed her hair and pulled it up into a pony tail, exposing the marks on her neck that he had given her. “Tell me that if we both happened to run into each other in the hallway at DEI that you’re going to act like you don’t even know me.”

“Don’t put words into my mouth.” Noelle yanked her hair away from him and turned away. “See ya around Junior.”

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