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  I shot Lynn my signature smile and a wink that melted the girl’s hearts. “It’s not a problem at all. I’ll make sure you have a good time.”

  Lynn’s eyes lit up as she gave me a smirk. I wasn’t sure how to read this girl. She was engaged and her uncle, who also happened to be my boss, stood right next to her as she seemed to flirt with me. “I bet you will.”

  I looked back at Jack as I cleared my throat. “I’m gonna take Lola for a quick run and then I’ll be back in time for practice.”

  “Sounds good. I also want you to take Lynn for a spin around the track,” Jack said as he reached down and gave Lola a quick rub down. Lynn flashed me a bright smile.

  “Before you start getting the wrong idea, I’m very much in love with Brandon, my fiancé. I was slightly star struck when Uncle Jack introduced you. I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

  A sense of relief washed over my body as I grinned and glanced at Jack and then to Lynn. “We are for sure on the same page, Lynn. Don’t worry.”

  Lynn smiled as she stood straight. “Great! See ya later, Emmit.”

  Lola and I stood there as we watched Jack and Lynn make their way through the crowd.

  I glanced down to Lola and said, “Why in the hell are women so complicated?”

  Staring at me like she didn’t have the answers any more than I did, Lola barked.

  With a chuckle, I said, “Right. Let’s go for a run.”

  DRIVING INTO TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY had always given me a thrill. I hadn’t been to a race in three years. Not since the night I told Emmit I couldn’t marry him because I wanted to go to college, get my degree in nursing, and have a normal life. Not one where I was trying to study from a bus driving from racetrack to racetrack.

  I’ll never be able to erase the look of hurt on Emmit’s face. No matter how much I loved him, I wasn’t going to give up my dreams and follow him across the country ten months out of the year. At least not while I tried to go to school.

  “Adaline, are you even listening to me?” my mother asked as the security guard waved us through to the south tunnel.

  I reached for my mother’s hand and gave it a light squeeze as I gave her a forced smile. She had picked me up from the airport and had insisted we stop by the track first before she dropped me off at my hotel down from the track.

  “What? I’m sorry, Momma. I was day dreaming I guess.” Clearing my throat, I asked, “Did Daddy talk to Emmit about me being here this weekend?”

  My mother shook her head slowly. “He has no idea you’ll be here.”

  My heart dropped as I swallowed hard. “Daddy didn’t tell him?”

  Pressing her lips together, she whispered, “He tried, but Emmit tends to go deep inside himself whenever he comes to Texas Motor Speedway.”

  Ouch. That hit hurt. I could see the disappointment in my mother’s eyes. She always thought I had made a mistake breaking up with Emmit.

  Letting out a frustrated sigh, I looked out the window. “So, I’m basically going to show up and blind side him, that’s what you’re saying.”

  With a wave of her hand, my mother mumbled something under her breath. “Oh, stop being so dramatic, Adaline. You always did blow things out of proportion.”

  I stared at my mother as my mouth dropped open. “What?”

  After parking the car, my mother quickly looked at me as she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Adaline, just breathe. It’s all going to be okay.”

  My mother opened the door to the truck, got out and walked off toward the buses as I sat in the truck.

  “I’m not dramatic,” I whispered as I pushed the door open and jumped out of the truck. Reaching in, I grabbed my Dooney and Burke purse that was a present to myself for graduating nursing school, tossed it over my shoulder, and headed toward the buses.

  As I walked along, I couldn’t help but get that feeling of race day excitement as I watched people go about their thing. Practice sessions and qualifying had already taken place for Emmit, so I was assuming Daddy was in his bus. A few people glanced up and smiled as they saw me walk by. Dalton Price, one of Emmit’s old pit crew guys from the earlier circuit, was one of them. Smiling brighter than the sun, he called out my name, causing me to stop.

  “Holy shit. Do my eyes deceive me or is that Adaline Monroe?”

  Dalton gave me a quick hug as I let out a chuckle “What in the hell are you doing here? I thought you gave up this life style?”

  I felt a slight pain in my heart as I shrugged and said, “Well, I’m finished with school and all, so I thought I would come check things out.”

  With a smirk, Dalton shook his head. “Check things out, huh?”

  My eyes looked over his shoulder as I caught Malcolm Wallace’s stare. Malcolm and Emmit raced the earlier circuits together and were each other’s biggest rivals. It took Malcolm a year longer to move up to NASCAR and he hated the fact that Emmit had always been just a tad bit of a better driver than he was.

  “You’re on Malcolm Wallace’s team now?”

  Dalton nodded as he stood proudly. “Crew Chief.”

  My eyes snapped back to Dalton. “What? Daddy didn’t tell me that. Oh my gosh, Dalton, that’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you,” I said as I threw myself into his arms. Dalton had started off on Emmit’s pit crew and quickly proved to be a huge asset. I was so proud of how far he had come in the short amount of time.

  “Thanks, Adaline.”

  “Well, well, well. Look who has decided to grace the racing world with her beautiful presence.” Malcolm purred as he walked up and slapped Dalton on the back. “I would pay a hundred bucks to see the look on Emmit’s face when he sees you. Let’s hope he doesn’t have a blonde on his arm when it happens.” Leaning in closer to me, Malcolm whispered, “He has a thing for blondes now.”

  God, I forgot how much of an ass Malcolm could be.

  Narrowing my eyes at Malcolm, I finally gave him a fake smile as I said, “Always a pleasure, Malcolm, but if you’ll excuse me.” Turning to Dalton, I smiled bigger and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Dalton, good luck and congratulations again. Sorry you’re working with such a dick.”

  Malcolm threw his hand to his heart and frowned. “Ouch, that hurt!”

  Dalton let out a roar of laughter and said, “Thanks, Adaline. It was really great seeing you again.” I walked off and made my way down toward Daddy’s bus.

  I glanced around frantically. What if Emmit was dating someone? I mean, did I really think he wouldn’t find someone else? My heart was beating practically out of my chest as I stopped in front of my father’s bus. No one paid any attention to me as they busied themselves. I didn’t see Emmit’s bus anywhere, which I thought was strange.

  Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath and prepared myself for seeing Emmit with someone. My parents hadn’t mentioned anything about Emmit dating; of course they didn’t talk much about him to me. Once Emmit stopped returning my calls, I got the hint. I had dated a couple of guys, nothing serious. One guy I dated about three times before I realized I had to be honest with him. Telling him I was in love with another guy didn’t go over so well with him.

  Emmit.

  Me being here brought up all the memories and feelings I had buried deep down inside. Feeling the tears building, I squeezed my eyes shut.

  I walked away from him and now I had to live that decision. Turning his marriage proposal down was the biggest mistake of my life.

  “He qualified for the pole,” I heard my father say. I knew he was talking about Emmit and my heart swelled up with pride. If there was one thing Emmit Lewis could do, it was drive a stock car.

  My eyes quickly scanned the area as I looked for Emmit. “Don’t worry, I think he’s in his bus,” a male’s voice said from behind me.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled as I shook my head and placed my hand on my hip. “Robby Quick. You still running around changing tires faster than any other living human being?”

  “Hell yeah I am,�
� Robby said as he picked me up and spun me around.

  I let out a laugh as I hit his back and said, “Put me down before your wife thinks something’s going on.”

  Robby threw his head back and laughed. “She’s going to be so happy to see you, Adaline. My EmmyLou is seven months pregnant.”

  My eyes widened as I looked at Robby. “W-what? Lou’s having a baby? Where is she? Back in North Carolina?”

  Robby looked at me like I was insane. “Hell no. We got us a real nice motor home. Lou’s even converted an area for the baby. We’ll be ready to go come next season.”

  I looked at Robby like he was nuts as I let out a chuckle. “You’re kiddin’ right? Lou’s gonna take a baby out on the circuit? Why would she want to do that?”

  Robby’s face dropped as he pushed his hand through his hair and said, “Um, no Adaline, I’m not kidding. I mean this is my job, and it’s what I love to do. I want my family with me. And Lou loves it as well.”

  My smile fell as I realized how I had just sounded. Giving Robby a sweet smile, I said, “I’m so happy for you both. You’re going to make great parents and I think it’s wonderful Lou gets to be with you, Robby.”

  Robby’s smile graced his face again. He went to say something when someone called out his name. “Got to go; it’s great seeing you again, Adaline.”

  Lifting my hand, I said, “You too.”

  Robby took off and left me standing there. Turning to find one of my parents, my eyes caught his. My breath caught in my throat as every memory of his touch raced through my mind. Goose bumps erupted over my entire body as I tried to remind my brain how to breathe.

  Emmit.

  With a nervous smile, I lifted my hand and waved as Emmit stared at me. My eyes caught the glimpse of a blonde standing next to him, and I immediately felt my heart drop to my stomach.

  He’s dating someone. How freaking stupid of me to just show up like this and not think he hasn’t moved on.

  Emmit leaned over and said something to the blonde as she nodded and gave him a slight smile.

  Emmit quickly made his way over to me in four quick steps. “Adaline,” he said as butterflies danced in my stomach from the sound of his voice. I’d forgotten the effect Emmit had on me.

  “Hey, Emmit. I was just—”

  Emmit took a hold of my arm and led me away. My skin was on fire from his touch as I fought to drag in air. Emmit rounded a corner away from everyone and stopped as he pinned me with his eyes.

  “Just because you don’t give a fuck about this life, doesn’t mean other people hate it as well. Try thinking next time before you open up your mouth, Adaline. Robby’s already feeling worried that Lou isn’t happy, and you didn’t help the situation any.”

  My mouth dropped open as I tried to form words to speak. I was both shocked and angry that Emmit would treat me this way. But I was more bothered by the fact that he called me Adaline. He’d always called me Addie. Even when I introduced myself to him back in elementary school, he decided he would call me Addie.

  “I—I didn’t mean to upset him. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”

  Taking a step away from me, Emmit whispered something under his breath.

  He turned and walked off as my senses came back to me. Following him, I called out his name.

  “Emmit, please wait.”

  With a motion toward the blonde to follow him, she glanced over her shoulder at me, and gave me a weak smile before turning and walking off. They stopped two buses down and Emmit held the door open for her as she stepped up into the bus.

  Oh God. I’m so stupid. This was a mistake coming here. All I did was bring up old feelings and clearly I was the last person Emmit wanted to see.

  I need to get out of here.

  Quickly taking out my phone, I pulled up Uber. I’d just head back to the hotel and stay out of the way for the rest of the weekend.

  “Adaline!”

  Closing my eyes, I cursed under my breath when I heard my daddy’s voice. Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed it out and spun around to face him as I put on a smile and acted like everything was fine.

  “There’s my beautiful girl.” Walking into my father’s arms, I fought to hold back the sudden onslaught of tears.

  “Daddy,” I whispered as a single tear somehow managed to escape my eye and trek down my cheek. Quickly lifting my hand, I wiped it away.

  My father pulled back and looked me over. “Beautiful as always. Are you hungry?”

  That moment my stomach decided to growl. Giggling, I nodded my head. “I guess so.”

  Holding his arm out for me, my father motioned for me to walk with him. “Come on, let’s get you back to the hotel and get cleaned up. We have a dinner tonight at the club.”

  My eyes glanced over to the nine-story tall speedway club. “Daddy, I think I’ll just grab something quick to eat at the hotel. I’m not really in the mood for a fancy dinner.”

  My father guided me past all the buses, including the one Emmit and the blonde went into, and back over to his truck. My mother was already waiting for us. Giving me a smile, she asked, “Sweetheart, are you okay? I saw Emmit pull you to the side and say something to you.”

  The lump in my throat caused me to go speechless. Clearing my throat, I plastered on a fake smile. “I’m fine, Mama. Let’s just say, Emmit wasn’t too pleased to see me.”

  With a look of sadness, my mother glanced over to my father. “Don’t pay no mind to Emmit. He get’s like that before a race. Especially here in Texas.”

  Daddy opened the back door and held out his hand as he helped me up into the truck.

  “Let’s get Adaline back to her hotel. She needs to freshen up for dinner.” Shutting my door, Daddy climbed into the truck and looked over at my mother as she glanced back to me with a silly smile on her face.

  “Oh, Mr. Elliot will be so thrilled to see you, Adaline.”

  “Wait. What?” I asked as my eyes widened.

  “We’re having dinner with Mr. Elliot tonight? Who else?”

  My heart pounded so hard in my chest it caused me to feel sick. What if Emmit is going to be there?

  Waving me off with her hand . . . again . . . my mother said, “Oh, his niece is throwing a small dinner at the Speedway Club. It will be in and out since the drivers will be there and the race is tomorrow.”

  I slammed my body back into the seat of the truck as I let out a frustrated moan. “I’m not going to the damn dinner. I just got in a few hours ago. Daddy, the least you could have done is given Emmit a heads up that I was coming to the race. If he wasn’t thrilled to see me standing in front of your bus, he sure as hell isn’t gonna want to see me at a dinner.”

  “Nonsense. Like I said, he’s always this way before a race. Wait until he sees’ you in the beautiful gown your mother had brought up to your room. It means the world to me to have you here, Adaline.”

  I tried to push away the guilty feelings that swept across my body. My parents had begged me to come to races over the years, with Daddy being Emmit’s crew chief, I just couldn’t do it.

  I need a Diet Coke.

  I’d given up Diet Coke over a year ago. Why in the hell I needed one now was beyond me.

  “Daddy, can you stop at the store? I need something.”

  Making a left turn instead of right that would have taken us to the hotel, Daddy crossed the highway and pulled into a gas station. My mother was still going on about the dinner.

  “What do you need sweetheart?” Daddy asked.

  I opened the door and jumped out as I said, “I’ll get it. Be right back.”

  Less than two minutes later, I was back in the truck and drinking my Diet Coke like it was a drug I needed to keep breathing.

  Leaning back, I closed my eyes as my mother continued on about the dinner and how lovely it would be for me to be there. Clapping her hands, she said, “It’s blue. Your favorite color, Adaline.”

  I looked between my parents with a confused expression. “What’s blue?”


  My mother turned to me and gave me a funny look as my father pulled up and stopped in front of the Marriott. “Why, your gown, of course.”

  I gave my mother a stupefied look. I asked, “Are you both crazy? Seriously, have you lost your minds? You didn’t even tell me about a dinner! All you said was you wanted to take me out to celebrate me graduating nursing school.”

  My father got out of the truck and grabbed my suitcase from the back of the truck bed as he opened my door and helped me out. “We’ll be back in two hours to pick you up, Adaline.”

  Oh. My. God. Was he seriously ignoring me right now?

  I scrubbed my hands over my face as I said, “Fine. Fine. You want me to be the dotting daughter for one evening, I’m more than happy to do it. If you can pretend Emmit isn’t pissed off I’m here, I guess I can pretend too.”

  I grabbed my suitcase and stomped off like a five-year-old girl. “Two hours, sweetheart!” my mother called out as I lifted my hand and waved her off.

  After finding out my parents had already checked in for me, I made my way to the elevator as I pulled up my voice messages on my phone.

  I had two voice mails. One from a guy named Kurt who my best friend Elle set me up with. The guy was a class-act asshole.

  “Hey, Adaline. I enjoyed dinner the other night. How about you come on over to my place tonight and I make you something to eat. I already know what will be for dessert.”

  “Ohmygod. He didn’t just say that!” I said as I hit delete. The only reason I went out with him was because he was Elle’s cousin and she begged me.

  The second message was from Clark, another nursing student who had been in a study group with me most of the year. He was nice, but I got the feeling he wanted more than a friendship with me.

  “Hey. It’s me, um, Clark. Just seeing if you were going to be free next Wednesday. I have tickets to that art museum you mentioned you wanted to check out. Got a great deal and would love for you to join me.”

  Hitting save, I chewed on my lip as I pressed the elevators up button. Clark. Could I see myself dating him?