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“I didn’t want a big wedding when you first asked, and I still don’t. Maddie suggested I reconsider, and maybe she’s right.” At our dinner, we discussed her wedding plans, which made me rethink the idea all over again.
Jake suppresses a yawn and sits up so his back rests on the headboard. “She wants to marry you too? I didn’t know there was so much competition.”
I push on his chest with mock annoyance. “I said yes,” I say with a soft laugh. “Silly man. They’re planning a tiny destination wedding in December, which makes sense and which we’re both attending, of course.”
“Of course. You want one of those, is that it?”
“No, not that. Nothing formal or elaborate.” Raised in a family that required constant appearances at events, balls, and everything else, the instinct to buck it all is very strong. Our wedding will annoy family and friends, but I don’t care. It’sours in a way something else never would have been. “A party or reception for everyone else later this year.”
Jake moves, rolling over me. “I’ll marry you every day. All that matters is what comes after: you and me. I love you. Wife.”
I laugh at the new nickname, but his mouth quickly swallows the sound. I wrap my arms over his neck as he further settles between my legs.
My phone alarm dings and our day starts.
Another race day begins.
∞∞∞
This is my first time visiting Boone’s crew in several weeks.
He notices me and ends his conversation. “It’s good to see you around here again,” Boone says, approaching me.
“I wanted to wish you good luck before everything gets busy.”
“Don’t need it. This one is mine,” Boone says and then lowers his voice. “How are you?”
“I’m going to enjoy this race; that’s how good I am.”
“I guess you don’t need your room anymore,” he says.
For the longest time, my apartment mainly existed for appearance’s sake. If Jake hadn’t come back into my life, the odds are I would have moved in with them permanently. “It was your idea, wasn’t it?”
Boone tilts his head and doesn’t answer. “We wanted you to know we were there. However, you needed us.”
“I still need you.”
“I’ll always be here. No matter what,” he says and hugs me. “Don’t forget that.”
I’ve met my annual quota for tears, and I won’t break it now, not in front of everyone, but it won’t be easy.
“Thank you, Boone, for everything.” I hold him tight, not ready to let go yet. “Not only for helping us get started.”
“That’s funny.” Boone smiles, and I feel even better. “That was the easy part. If getting your own start is what you wanted, I would have fronted it a long time ago. The new brother-in-law…we’ll keep working on that. He’s a good guy.”
“You’ll love him, I promise.” Fingers crossed, that promise comes true.
“It’s his feelings for you that concern me. Give us time; we’ll get there.”
“Spoken like an older brother.”
∞∞∞
I’m one half of the married couple, and all the questions are for Jake. The opening ceremony starts soon, and it’s the first one with me at his side.
NASCAR is a small world in many ways. All the drivers know each other, and the RV layout means extended families do, too. Social media hints quickly spread, meaning we’ve been inundated with questions since arriving in Dover.
Today, though, the media has access to Jake, and they’re taking advantage of it. Better yet, they have access to Jake and Boone together.
