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April 30, 2000 – Napa 500
Being on the west coast, the race was earlier than usual. Junior crawled out of bed around seven that morning, leaving Noelle sleeping soundly. He covered her up with the comforter and went to jump in the shower.
They had gone back to the coach after leaving his dad’s party and watched movies until almost three in the morning. Dale Sr. had stopped by after the party and gave them a stern talking to.
As he showered, his mind kept drifting back to the night before.
“If you two are going to screw around….use rubbers.” He had said. Noelle had blushed and put her head in her hands, so they couldn’t see how embarrassed she was. Dale Sr. had even gone as far to throw a box of them on Junior’s lap. Noelle thought she was going to die of embarrassment.
“I can’t believe he did that.” Junior said after he left and went to his own coach for the night. Noelle tucked her legs under her and shrugged. “At least we have some.”
“We?” Noelle asked. “You mean you have some. There is no we. Unless you have a mouse in your pocket or something.”
“I have your mouse.” Junior tackled her down on the couch and kissed her. Noelle started laughing and pushed him off of her. “There you go again. What are you, bipolar or something?”
“What do you mean by that?” Noelle sat up and looked at him. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“You run hot and cold. One minute you’re all over me, the next you’re playing hard to get. Shit Noelle…I don’t know how to read you.” He sat down on the couch across from her and shook his head.
“Because I don’t want to sleep with you?”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry.” Noelle sighed. “Junior….it’s”
“What?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with you, I just don’t want to get involved in something that I can’t handle. You know what I mean?” She closed her eyes a minute and took a deep breath.
“Because of who I am? Because of what I do?”
“No, that has nothing to do with it. I’ve told you before, I don’t care if you’re a race car driver or if you’re last name is Earnhardt.” Noelle moved next to him. “I’m not some groupie of yours.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m afraid of being with someone that I really like.” She looked away and bit her lip, wondering what he was going to say. Junior said nothing and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
“So you’re admitting it, huh?” He asked.
“That I’m interested?” she asked. He nodded. “I guess I just did.”
When they went to bed, Junior offered to let her have the bedroom and he’d sleep on the couch, but she told him he could sleep with her. They got in bed and didn’t even touch. Sometime throughout the night, they ended up curled together, her head against his chest and his arm over her. He had woken up that way and didn’t want to move. It was a nice feeling.
Junior checked on her before he left and saw that she was still sleeping. With a smile, he grabbed a pen and paper and wrote a short little message and left it on the pillow next to her. He hoped she’d know the song and listen to it as well. Noelle woke up when the alarm went off and sat up and stretched. She reached behind her and shut off the alarm and looked around. Junior was gone, probably at his driver’s meeting or some other media events that was going on that day. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember. She glanced down at the pillow and saw a piece of paper. She picked it up and opened it.
Well, you had me
from "Hello"
Now you know how I feel. - Junior
Noelle reread it a few times and smiled. It was out in the open now. At least between the two of them.
***** Noelle stood behind the wall and watched the race. She had yet to see him, since she didn’t make it over to the pits before the race started. Jade had sidetracked her and she ended up talking to him and a few of the Budweiser people who were there to watch.
“Power steering has failed.” Junior said over the radio. He came in for a pit stop and then was back out again. Noelle climbed onto the wall and watched with some of the crew members.
“What is he doing?” Noelle asked out loud as she watched Junior tail Kevin. He was riding Kevin’s ass, following him everywhere. Whether Kevin went high or low, Junior was right there.
“He’s got a beef with Kevin I guess.” One of the guys said. “Junior likes to do intimidator impersonations every once in a while.”
The race ended with Junior coming in twelfth. After the race, they sat together on the back of the transporter and said nothing. Junior held her hand and squeezed it every once in a while. They watched the commotion going on as people were packing up and leaving.
“Ready to go see if we can hitch a ride back on the jet?” Junior asked when he saw Noelle yawn. She nodded and stood up. They walked to Dale Sr.’s coach and asked if they could ride back. They were told to get ready and meet them in an hour to ride to the airport.
Junior walked next door to his coach and went inside. Noelle stayed outside for a few minutes, smoking a cigarette. Dale Sr. came outside and looked at her and shook her head.
“Smoking is bad for you.” He said when she threw her butt out in to the street.
“I know.” She shrugged. “Habit.”
“I wanted to talk to you alone.” Dale Sr. sat down on the top of the picnic table and motioned for her to sit next to him. She did as she was told. “I don’t personally care if you and Junior are seeing each other. Teresa doesn’t either, but all we ask is that you two keep it under wraps. I’m not saying be totally secretive, but don’t be like the other girlfriends and hang all over the guy and get jealous and shit like that.” Noelle nodded. “That’s all I really had to say.”
“Well, we’re not dating, so you don’t have to worry about that.” Noelle said quietly. “Just friends.”
“Sure…” Dale Sr. patted her leg. “Friends my ass.” They both laughed at his comment. “I’ll catch you two in a bit.” She watched him go into his coach and then heard him talking to Teresa.
Noelle took one last look around and went inside Junior’s coach. She heard him in the shower, so she went into the bathroom and sat on the counter.
“I like that song.”
“What?” Junior asked.
“That song you wrote down this morning.” She tapped her fingers on the counter. “Is it the truth?”
“I wouldn’t have written it down if it wasn’t.” Junior turned off the water and stepped out with a towel around his waist. “It was straight and to the point.” Noelle smiled.
***** Over the next week, Noelle hardly saw Junior. He was busy with interviews and photo shoots. He tried to call her a couple times a day and promised he’d see her before he left for Richmond.
“It’s okay.” Noelle laughed into the phone when he called her at work on Wednesday. “I understand you’re busy. After all, I have your schedule for the week taped to my wall.”
“I just don’t want you getting pissed.” Junior sighed.
“Pissed why?” Because you’re busy with your job and you want to hang out with your friends at night? That’s fine.” Noelle leaned back in her chair. “It’s not like we’re dating.”
“True.” Junior said. “But we’ll work on that. My bet still stands, ya know.” He laughed and then cussed at a driver on the road. “Don’t these people know who I am?”
“Don’t go getting an ego pulling one of Stewart’s tricks.” Noelle laughed.
“I gotta go. Traffic’s getting bad. I’ll call you when I get back tonight.” Junior hung up before she could say goodbye.
That afternoon in her meeting with Teresa and the other marketing reps, she could hardly stay focused on what Teresa was talking about. Her thoughts kept going back to the conversation she had with Junior when they got back from California on Sunday night.
“So what are going to do?” Junior had asked as they relaxed at his house. They were both sprawled out on his bed, Junior flipping through stations on the TV and Noelle lazily tracing the abstract pattern on his comforter.
“I don’t know. Just take it day by day I guess.” Noelle glanced at him. “See where things go. I’m not in a rush to do anything.”
“What are we dating or friends?”
“Junior, you make it sound so high-schoolish.” Noelle smacked his leg and rolled her eyes at him. “Right now, friends.” Junior nodded.
“Are you still going to stay the night?” he asked. Noelle shook her head. “Too tempting?”
“There’s no reason too.” She said. “I like you and all, and I know you like me. But I’m not rushing this. Let the pieces fall on their own.” She sat up and leaned closer to him. “You won’t keel over and die ya know.” He laughed and kissed her. “I’m going home.” Junior followed her downstairs and then walked her to her car. “I’ll talk to you later.” He watched her drive away, a smile on his face.
*****
“So that means Noelle is going to be in Richmond this weekend, making sure that Junior attends the functions he should be, since Jade will be out of town again.” Teresa said. “You’ll leave tomorrow morning, Noelle.”
“Huh?” Noelle snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her name. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“That’s obvious.” Teresa didn’t look too enthused that Noelle wasn’t paying attention. “The race this weekend in Richmond, you’re going.”
“Oh…ok.” Noelle felt her face reddening from embarrassment. “That’s not a problem. I’m sure Jade will send me an itinerary of what Junior needs to do.” Teresa nodded. “When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. Junior has to be there to qualify and then for a function sponsored by Busch.” Jade said from his end of the table. “I’ll get you the info. And I want to say thanks for helping me out. I’d have Mike do it, but he’s swamped right now too.”
“It’s not a problem.” Noelle smiled at Jade.
“Ok…that’s it. Everyone has their agenda for next week. Noelle, we’ll see you on Monday. Jade…a pleasure as always.” Teresa shook his hand and then left the room.
“Keep him in check this weekend.” Jade laughed. “He told me about his little note to you. Never thought that he’d be so sentimental.” Noelle laughed. “What did you do with it?”
“Taped it to my fridge.” Noelle smiled. Jade laughed and held the door open for her as they walked out of the conference room. “What can I say, I’m mushy.”
“Are ya now?” Junior walked up to them, causing Noelle to jump.
“What are you doing back? You said you weren’t going to be back until tonight.” Noelle felt her heart beat going back to normal.
“Radio interviews don’t last that long.” Junior shrugged. “I came to see what I have to do tomorrow and see how the car’s coming along. But I missed them and the trucks have left already. All I gotta say is that car better be dead on. I feel the need to win a race.”
“No shit.” Jade laughed and patted Junior’s shoulder. “You two kids have fun this weekend. I’ll be back with you come next weekend and Noelle will be off the hook.”
“Damn….she’s nicer to look at it than you.” Junior said as Jade walked away. He turned his attention back to Noelle who was thumbing through a file. “You’re going to Richmond?” She nodded. “When?”
“With you tomorrow morning. And…I’m your date for the Busch party tomorrow night.” Noelle grinned at him.
“Ooohh…my date.” Junior teased and put his arms around her. “What do we get to do on the date?”
“Listen Mr. Grope Happy, I’m at work.” Noelle pushed him away and shook her head. “Men, I tell ya.” They started walking back to her office, Junior staying a step or two behind her the whole time. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Trying to restrain myself from groping you.” Junior caught up with her and grinned.
“Oh my god.” Noelle groaned. “Go home and do something.”
“Not before I get a kiss.” He stopped her and pulled her against him. “A real kiss too. Not some quick peck like you gave me Sunday night.”
“Doggin’ my kissing style now. You are batting a thousand today, Dale Jr.” She grinned at him before he leaned down and kissed her. She felt herself melting into the kiss and she kissed him back eagerly. They pulled away after a minute and smiled at each other. “A lot better than what we’ve been doing.”
“Now who’s doggin’ who?” Junior asked. Noelle laughed and went in her office. “I’ll call you later.”
She sat down at her desk and noticed a vase of roses next to her printer. She turned and looked at Nikki who was on the phone. Michelle was on vacation, so the only person who would know anything would be her.
“Nikki.” Noelle said when Nikki got off the phone. “What’s with the roses?”
“I was sworn not to tell!” Nikki laughed. “But I can tell you that the guy who put them there was rather cute.” Noelle shook her head and looked at the flowers.
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 |