Page 11 of Driving Force

“Matt, you’ve got to help me with this. When I went to check on my car, Brad called me into his office to show me pictures of us kissing at the track. It’s all over the internet, so I know she’s going to see them, and some of the comments are terrible. I need to know how to handle this without hurting her.” Scrolling through my phone, I pull up a few pictures and show them to Matt.

Finally joining in on my mental breakdown, Matt says, “Hold up. You met a girl over the weekend, went on a date, and now are freaking out about a picture? Wow, this girl did a number on you in a matter of two days. I think I need to know two things, okay? First, why would you care about some pictures? They follow us around all the time. Did you not see them when you were out? Second, does she have a friend for me? That blonde was smoking and that body… damn.”

I punch him hard in the shoulder. I can’t help but laugh at the craziness that has become my life, but hell, Tinley makes me feel something I can’t explain.

“Ouch, Okay,” Matt says after laughing at me like I’m a crazy person for overthinking this with Tinley.

“I'm assuming after this weekend, you want to see if she may fit into our world, correct?” he asks.

“Yes, Matt. That’s why I’ve got you over here in the middle of the day, acting like a twelve-year-old girl with a crush. It’s just that she’s not like the track lizards that come and go. I haven’t done a serious relationship since I started in the series. I really don’t want the media to have a field day with her, she doesn’t have a model frame that I am normally seen with, which I absolutely love, but you’ve seen the comments, and I don’t want it to hurt her.”

“Well, the way I see it, you have two options. You either go all in or bow out now. But from the way you talk about this woman already shows me the direction you’re going. You just need to hit the gas,” Matt says. Statements like that are why he’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He knows exactly the way my head works, even when I have no clue.

“And by the way, you never,” he throws his hands above his head dramatically, “answered my question about whether her friend is single, and you can hook up, your best friend.” And there he is, my pain in the ass, making a stressful situation light again.

Laughing at his gesture, I can only say, “Um, I’m not sure on that front, but let me get my legs under me. Then maybe we can find you a nice quiet girl as well.”

“Hell man, I don’t want a quiet one. I want the woman who will leave marks on my back and call me Daddy,” he says, laughing.

Standing up from the couch, I look over my shoulder at Matt and say, “I think I’m going to head back to the shop and talk with Brad. Maybe he’s got a handle on this, and I won’t even have to worry about it. Or I’m going to have to come back here with my tail between my legs and have you help me send a text message. Because as of right now, you have been no help except for the laughing at your buddy department.”

“I’ll be here when you get back then, bud. I’ll have dinner ready when you come back with your tail between your legs,” he says, laughing.

I grab my keys and head back to talk with Brad. This is turning into one of the longest freaking days of my life.

Sitting in my Monday morning lecture is about as fun as a root canal. I hate math. That’s why I put off this final math credit. How the hell people did this every day boggled my mind. As I sit in class, I get the feeling that people are staring at me. I hate being the center of attention, much less the talk of the town. When I look up for the third time during my hour-and-a-half lecture, I see Chase staring straight back at me. How in the hell had I not noticed him in my class before? I feel my cheeks heat from the attention as the professor finishes the lecture and gives the assignment for the next class.

“Hi, Tinley,” his deep southern voice says. Looking up, I can’t help but notice he is so very handsome, and our brief kiss comes to mind after the race. Yet when I meet his eyes, all I can think of is Ryan.

“Would you like to grab a cup of coffee? Chase asks.

Okay, Chase is a great guy, but why haven’t I seen him in my class before? Have I been so focused on finishing this school year that I blocked all men from my mind and eyesight?

“I’d love to,” I say.

“Okay great, lead the way.” Chase gives me a sweet smile as we head toward the campus coffee shop.

“Chase, I honestly didn’t know that you were in my math class.”

A small laugh comes from his lips, and I can’t help but feel a few butterflies when it happens.

“Tinley, I have a confession. I’m not taking that class,” he says as we continue heading toward the coffee shop. “I just wanted to see you again, but I didn’t know if I even stood a chance after your date with Ryan McKenzie.”

I stop in my tracks and stare into his beautiful, sweet, and concerned eyes. “Chase, how did you know I had a date with Ryan?”

“Umm, I’m guessing you haven’t been on social media lately, have you?” Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he shows me the pictures making the rounds. Photos of Ryan and me, some at the race and others on our date.Grabbing his phone, I stare at the images, my hand shaking and a wave of nausea coming over me. Passing him the phone back, I shake my head.

“Chase, I am so sorry, but I’m going to take a rain check on the coffee. I need to go talk with Grace and figure out what the hell is going on.”

“I understand, Tinley. Would it be okay if I got your number? Honestly, I would really like to get to know you better. I kind of thought we might have something between us at the racetrack the other day, and the kiss was one I haven’t forgotten.”

“I’d like that, Chase.”

We exchange numbers, and I head off on my mission to find Grace and tackle my next issue. One I didn’t even know I had until about ten minutes ago.

I make a point to not be on social media. I don’t have a personal Instagram page, just my Bookstagram, which I love, but it is different. My book connections are some of the best I could ever ask for, and they always check in with how school is and what guys I met. But I haven’t even filled them in on the weekend.

Picking up my phone, I text Grace:

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