Alex's POV
Saturday, October 30
9:01am
Chase
Do you want to come to the Braves baseball game with me tonight?
I know he talked about wanting to spend time together and make up for the last time, but it still shocked me when the text message came across my phone this morning as I ate breakfast.
I mean, okay, I wasn't shocked he was going to the game. He loves his Braves. Of course he would make sure to attend the World Series events and be a part of history. However, the shock was that he invited me to join him. We had just spoken together the other day, and already, here was my first invite.
9:06am
Alex
I know you want to spend time together, but I don't know man....
To be honest, it wasn't like I spent my time watching a lot of baseball. Actually, I didn't watch a whole ton of sports in general. I was the type of person that would rather be doing stuff than not.
So what was I supposed to be doing tonight, anyway? It wasn't like I was heading to a dirt event, and I wasn't one of the cools kids supposedly like Denny or Kyle with a Halloween party to attend. So my day was more than likely going to consist of time in the shop, followed by dinner and perhaps a scary movie or two. But really, who wanted to watch a scary movie alone
9:08am
Chase
Are you going to some race or something?
Man, of course that's what he'd say for me. Anybody that knew me was certain my life consisted of racecars, my dogs, racecars, my truck and oh yeah, more racecars. It was odd to not be headed to an event on Saturday night, by the way. I could go watch some World of Outlaws action but I wasn't one to just sit on the sidelines, either.
Probably why I wouldn't be the best for watching a game or something.
9:10am
Alex
Surprisingly, no.
9:13am
Chase
Then why don't you drive down to Georgia, and join me at the game? You can stay the night at my place, and we'll fly out to Martinsville in the morning together.
Do you realize with each text message that I read the temptation just grows more and more? It's like he knows how to wrap me around his finger, and sweeten the deal just enough that I join him.
I wouldn't have to worry about finding my own way to Martinsville tomorrow, or dealing with traffic now. I would also get not just 24 hours with him, but tomorrow and Monday as well since after flying home, it wouldn't be advised to drive back till then. And oh wait, I could see this turning into fly into Hendrick together on Monday, so we spend Monday night together.
He was already pulling me back into the similar groove that we began to experience a bit, before the deepest confessions and a freeze.
Perhaps that's why I didn't want to say yes. I didn't want to commit to all this time, fall right into his arms, and repeat the process. He told me he couldn't handle another broken heart and frankly, I couldn't handle being left on the sidelines due to fear again. That's why we committed to taking it slow.
But this was just going to a baseball game as friends. We'd be in a public setting together so it's not like nothing super personal could happen to hit other boundaries. Then that night, we couldn't stay up late due to Martinsville in the morning, and with how tired you are after, we couldn't dare do much Sunday night either. I had possible ways to escape the additional time spent should the pressure and worries begin to form again.
Besides, this is maybe what we both needed. Maybe we needed to take advantage of our feelings expressed together, and dive right in before the fear crept in again. Maybe if I took the dive, showed him everything, he would accept and boom – I wouldn't be stuck on the sidelines again, ever.
I almost committed. I actually typed out the message. However, something stopped me as I froze, hit the backspace button and sent something else instead.
9:17am
Alex
I'm not a big baseball fan, though. I don't want to ruin your moment.
Like, who sends something stupid like that? If you love someone, want to be with them, know they've experienced pain, why would you share anything that was close to 'ruining' and make them think that? He's probably going to regret asking me and never ask me again in the future for similar things all because of my one dumb decision.
Socially awkward Alex strikes again.
9:19am
Chase
I can promise you that you'd never do that, Alex. I love you. Besides, maybe I can teach you why I love the game.
Have I mentioned how much I love him? Have I mentioned how amazingly sweet he can be? Have I mentioned that he knows the perfect words to say, and is so perfect?
9:20am
Alex
I'll leave in an hour. Looking forward to it.
You couldn't let him send you a message like that and just ignore it, right? That'd be rude.
Let's face it Alex, you have it damn bad boy....
************
Despite all my initial worries and concerns, I am glad that I accepted his offer. This night has been more fun that I could've imagined, defiantly 100 times better than that movie marathon bullshit that I spoke of.
It's amazing to watch what people are capable of in clutch moments, and how far they are willing to push themselves. It's also amazing to see what athletes can pull off, and shock you with. The comeback by the Braves in the seventh inning, and those hits by both those players – I believe Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler – to mount a comeback for the lead and win were something else. It was amazing to watch the perfection in their play, as well as how lit the stadium got in watching the moment. I can understand why it's fun to be a sports fan in watching that.
Though to be honest, none of that sat with me or mattered. Instead, my eyes were fixated on one person the entire night. I know people are crazy about their sports, but damn, you can tell how big of a fan he is of his Braves by a simple night with him.
The detail he expressed in how he knew when they were doing things right, and the struggles they needed to fix – and how easily he explained it to someone like me, who knows not a whole lot about baseball.
The smile on his face, and how it brightened those cheeks and eyes. the cheer that erupted in the moment as he joined the thousands in the stadium. Every single detail about him just captivated you, and made you happy for him – and hopeful for it to happen again to never lose that feeling.
The pure elation in watching the team he grew up watching and being here for that special moment as they secured those runs, and then to realize they are within one game of winning it all.
Everybody may have been watching the players around them, but my eyes focused on my peach in pure awe and joy for him, but admiring every single quality about him along the way. I could watch those eyes light up any time of day and planned to master the secret in how to do so regularly myself. There was nothing like it with him.
"Did you have fun?" He asks me as we leave the stadium later on that night.
"Absolutely, and all because of the great company that I had," I answer, still basking in the moment that I just witnessed in watching him. I maybe said too much in taking it slow, but damn, I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. "Thank you for inviting me once again."
"Anytime man. It's nice to have someone to share this with." I could understand whre he was coming from with that, as race victories were always more fun with friends around to help you celebrate. It's great to share that joy and elation, and understanding together in everybody knowing what it's worth. "So you do realize that we're getting out of Martinsville as quickly as possible as I don't want to miss tomorrow now, right?"
"I wasn't planning on having to leave there immediately as I was hoping to be stuck in victory lane with a clock." He chuckles back in response, totally understanding where I was coming from with that. Every driver always wanted to leave a track as quickly as they could if they had another commitment or didn't win, but never complained if winning caused them to stay late.
"I'm fine with that, but it will be me celebrating at day's end to the sound of Rock around the Clock." I couldn't deny his comments, as he was stronger than I was at Martinsville. He was a short track ace and knew the secret around there. I had certainly improved my short track game – and a lot better than ever imagined, thanks to Greg putting up with my tendencies and helping me find something that worked. If all played according to plan, I was looking forward to battling him for a win tomorrow.
"I believe they call it hogging when you don't share something, and don't you already have one?" I couldn't help it. What else was there to say in response?
"I do, but there's two things you have to realize. Mom put my clock in the Georgia Hall of Fame as part of a special exhibit, and you can always make room for two. Besides, it just means that you have to come over and admire it." He was certainly making it hard to come back with a response as he knew I would be fine with visitation rights, considering that was probably our plan moving forward.
"I think I'll be too busy admiring something else." Okay, that slipped out. I was trying to think of some smartass comeback to keep this teasing going, and boom, I let it slip n there again just how much I like him. I can't help it, okay? Besides, when people go through withdrawals, it makes the heart want it more so here we are.
"I guess I can't complain about that, either." They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and that comment he said equaled how I felt.
These next couple days could be very interesting as it was clear – we both had it bad.