Alex's POV
November 26, 2021 – Charlotte, North Carolina
I want to know the inventor of Black Friday, and what they were thinking. I mean, did they realize the chaos they were set to create? It's a shopping frenzy that's beyond insanity.
I didn't need a sale on the website to increase production around here. Thanks to one Denny Hamlin, I was surrounded by boxes as I made my way through the retail section of the shop. There were a bunch just dropped off by Kasey with the latest round off the printer, and another bunch all packed up to ship out everywhere. Did you know that I have fans in Canada? Not bad for a Hack if I do say myself.
Normally, i can let the guys handle this stuff and it gets done. Though seeing the stock piling up and order sheets stacked high, I knew I couldn't leave them to slave all by themselves. For one, it just wasn't nice, but it wouldn't be fair to fans to force them to wait longer for their packages. I also didn't need to hear complaints of being overworked, either.
"Hey Alex, there's someone to see you," I get snapped out of my concentration as I finish up taping a box. This fan was going to be extra glad to get their package, considering they had a hoodie, a couple t-shirts, and a beanie stuffed in there for good measure.
Making sure the shipping label was attached – mixing up orders would be a nightmare right now, I head over to where the voice was calling from. Normally, people just made their way over and conversations took place as work happened, usually beginning with a tease. I also wasn't expecting any company, so who would be here right now?
As I walk over to the door of the shop and catch a pair of eyes, I freeze immediately.
Rose McGarland.
I hadn't seen her in a couple months. I hadn't seen her since she stopped in to see me in August. I hadn't talked to her, sent a text, nothing since then.
She just wasn't any girl in my life, either. We had hooked up on occasion, but nothing in the last 12 months. We both admitted having chemistry in bed together – but I had learned recently that didn't compare to someone else. We also had talked about having a relationship together, too. I may have taken her out on a couple dates.
There was only one question to ask, though. What was she doing here right now?
"Hey," was all I could manage to say in all my thoughts. I had so many questions, so many nerves, and didn't know where to go with this one bit.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" She asks, and I suppose I could just use that excuse to chase her away from the property immediately. But I also damn well knew I couldn't lie to her. We knew each other too well for that.
"No, I'm just helping pack orders because we seem to have been overcome with boxes." She chuckles a little, which I didn't know how to respond back to that. Did she think that was a joke, or going along with my thoughts?
"So Denny actually earned you some fans, I see..." Okay, I had to chuckle back in response as that was a good dig. 10 points for her, I suppose.
"Hey, better me than Joey or Brad." Let's face it – those two aren't liked by many people, either. Denny ranks the top of the list, but they aren't far behind. I can actually stand Brad better than Joey, though. "So, what are you doing here?"
"I was in the area in-between jobs, and thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing." I didn't mean to ask her that quickly, but didn't blame her on the response. It was typical for her, as she was busy traveling, doing sponsor and model gigs everywhere. However, it was nice to see her when we could.
"Well, I appreciate that actually. Thanks for thinking of me." Did that sound too corny? No, even worse, it probably sounds like a lead-on. That's probably the worst thing that I want to do right now.
"Well, if you're not busy later, maybe we can go out for ice cream and chat." That sounds on the surface just like two friends set to get together, which I suppose I could easily follow. However, Rose and I never seemed to follow that pattern. Instead, what starts as a friendly get together turns into sleeping together. I knew I didn't want to go down that path tonight for several reasons.
"I'm actually going to have to turn you down." The hurt on her face almost made me change my mind immediately, but I had to be strong. I was committed to what Chase and I had together. I didn't want to fuck it up just like Kaitlyn and Ryan had – that'd be even more brutal if I did with what I knew. I also didn't feel that pull in feelings like I had in each of the previous times we'd seen each other. Damn, what curse did Chase have over me?
"The last time we talked, you told me that you were on the fence about things moving forward. I'm going to guess that someone or something pushed you over the edge." I had to nod my head as that was quite obvious considering the only thing I could see in my mind was a peach. Damn, I couldn't wait till I got to see him and taste every single inch of him. Someone may want to warn him what I got coming for him.
"I told you that I had someone in my lif-"
"You told me last year that you wanted to possibly try actually dating properly, having a relationship together. I turned you down, referring to our busy schedules. However, I came back and reopened that door the last time we talked, and this is how you slam it shut? I'm sorry, but does anything we had together mean anything to you?" Was it really bad? I felt like she was raking me over the coals for finding someone who meant the damn world to me that I didn't want to hurt no matter what I did.
"You're a great friend, and sure, we had a ton of fun together. But if I'm being honest, I don't have those feelings anymore." In fact, I have feelings for someone entirely different and quite special.
"Did you have feelings to begin with, or was it just about the fun in bed for you?" Ouch, that's a damn slap in the face. I guess going out of my way sometimes for her didn't matter because hey, all she thinks I wanted is one thing only.
"There were feelings, Rose. That's why I originally brought up having a relationship. But since then, I've explored a little and met someone else who I can say takes those feelings to a whole new level." Oh yeah, he's also of the opposite sex as I seemed to have found a new side of me in the process.
"I want to mad and cuss your ass out because damn, I hate to lose out on that fun with you. However, I can't do that. I am actually happy for you. It's nice to see you find someone that completes that circle for you." Now why couldn't everybody be like this in the face of break-ups? I mean, she did chew me out initially so she doesn't get a perfect mark here.
"I hope you get the same blessing too. You deserve to be happy." I meant those words as I can say in all the times we spent together, she was a pure sweetheart.
"One final selfie for the road?" I couldn't deny that, as I wrap my arm around her shoulder. Even though it wasn't set to equal what she thought, we could always be friends – or at least I hoped.
"You're still a friend to me...."
@rose_mcgarry - Always great catching up with my bestie @alex_bowman when I'm in Charlotte. He may be a hack, but he's a damn good guy.
Ryan's POV
November 26, 2021 – West Virginia
"So Chase goes away for some fun, and you have some fun of your own?" I question as the photo comes across my feed.
I knew of Rose McGarland.
I remembered meeting her at a NASCAR event and thinking how she was different than the other girls who usually pose for things. I mean, hey, least she had some good damn knowledge about the cars and could change her own oil if necessary. It was actually fun when sponsors welcomed her, because at least you could carry a conversation.
It turned into me following her on Instagram, resulting in this photo now appearing on my feed.
I knew that Rose and Alex were friends. I remembered they had attended a couple events together, and even danced together at one of those banquet after-parties. I think I even recalled him helping her one night stumbled out of the bar and we know where that goes normally.....
"What are you going to do?" Isabelle questions, catching my drift immediately as she sees the photo over my shoulder on the screen.
That was the million dollar question as there were a couple ways to go about this. After all, it could be a simple innocent photo of friends hanging out, maybe doing a Friendsgiving with others. However, it could also be something much more because we know that seems to happen – unfortunately.
I could damn well ignore it because they wrote their own damn bed. It seemed that Chase didn't want much to do with me since everything happened, so why should I concern myself with his business?
I could message Alex, and see what his thoughts are about it. Let's just say that he says nothing happened. Maybe he's telling the truth as he's a good source of honesty, I suppose. But what if he's lying about it? it's the same damn thing that I did so I knew from experience. That's probably what made this worse, seeing someone repeat my damn mistakes.
I could message Chase, make him aware of what was happening. Though if my instincts were wrong, it could easily make me worse in his eyes – sticking my nose in his business as he called it when he found out I was spying on Alex's driveway. However, maybe it shows what I keep telling him, with the fact that I care about him. And if it proves to be true, it'd be sort of redemption for the mess that I created.
"I don't know," I confess feeling very perplexed about everything right now. "What do you think I should do?"