Rivalry

|28.|

Brad begins to eat his food and I am sitting next to him at the island on my phone.

"So, what was the meeting about?" I ask. "Adding your truck for next season." Brad smiles. "I'm still down for doing this, as long as I don't have Sam as my crew chief." I say

"Done. He is still Daniel's." Brad says and I smile. "I love you." I say. "I love you too." Brad smiles.

*next day.

We get to Brad's RV and I throw my stuff down and flop on his couch. "Come on Jo. We gotta go practice." Brad says throwing me my firesuit.

"I don't wanna." I groan. "But we have to. Come on." He says holding his hand out to help me off the couch.

"I don't wanna. I just got here." I say groaning even louder. "Come on, baby." He says and helps me up.

"Fine." I say and put my firesuit on and grab Brad's hand. We walk down to pit road and I kiss Brad and leave him at his car and I walk to mine.

"Well well well it's J-Dawg!" Aaron says and gives me a fist bump. "Did you wake up on the goofy side of the bed this morning?" I laugh.

"No. Just A LOT of coffee." He says laughing. "Jamy, watch this goof." I laugh. "Will do." Jamy says and Aaron goes to his post.

I get into the car and get strapped in and I'm all ready to go.

"Lets practice good, Martinsville is our best track." Jamy says. "10-4 I won't disappoint." I say.

When practice is over, I finish in 2nd. Right behind Jimmie Johnson.

I get out and Jamy comes up to me. "Good job! We have a good chance on qualifying on the pole." Jamy says. "Thank you." I smile and we talk for a little while and I go over to Brad, and he ended practice 4th.

We go back to his RV and change back into regular clothes. "Brad, can I ask something?" I ask kind of nervously.

"Of course" he says and faces me. "Is there a reason why I haven't met your family yet?" I ask.

"I just wanna wait for the right time. Maybe a time where you can meet my family, and your family and my family can meet all at the same time." Brad says.

"Oh. I thought it was me." I slightly laugh. "No it's not you Jo. I just want it to be special." Brad says and takes my hand.

"I love you." I say and look into his eyes. "I love you too, baby." He says and kisses me.

*MORNING OF XFINITY RACE SATURDAY

"I think I can do this. I'm starting 5th." Brad says. "No, I know you can do this." I say. "Thanks babe." He says and kisses my forehead.

"We better get down there." He says zipping up his firesuit. We walk down there and I stand with Brad during prerace ceremonies.

"I love you. Stay safe." I say as he gets into the car. "Love you too. I will try!" He says and I head down pit road. I see Ryan over at Bubba's car.

"Hey y'all." I smile. "Hey Jo!" Ryan says and hugs me. "Hi Jo!" Bubba says and we do our 'secret' handshake. Bubba grabs his helmet.

"I would love to chat with y'all, but I got a race to do." Bubba says and puts his helmet on.

"Good luck, Bubba!" I smile and he gives me a thumbs up. "Have fun, buddy!" Ryan says and Ryan and I walk back towards the pit boxes.

"See ya, Jo!" Ryan says as we get to Bubba's pit box. "Bye!" I say and proceed to Brad's pit box.