Page 10 of Driving Force

Walking into Brad’s office five minutes later, I find him at his desk studying his iPad. Well shit. This can’t be good. His face looks like he’s ready to explode.

“Hey Brad, you wanted to see me?”

“Hey yeah, come on in. I wanted to check in and make you aware of some things that have come across my desk this morning.”

Turning his iPad around, my jaw falls open. In front of me is a picture of myself and Tinley at the track, sharing our first kiss.

“Brad, who did you get this from?” My blood starts to boil, and I know I need to get my temper in check, and quick. But the more I stare at the picture, the worse it gets. Then I notice the hateful comments about this beautiful woman.

Some comments range from, “What could that gorgeous man see in that girl? She’s not a model. She likes food too much,” to, “I bet she only wants him for his money,” to one that says, “Another pit lizard for Ryan McKenzie.”

“Brad, you better be doing something to take this shit down. That’s what I pay you for!”

“Ryan, of course I’m doing everything I can, but it’s not just one picture. There are a few. Did you stay in town last night to go on a date with her?” Brad asks.

“Why does it matter if I did?” I rub my palms across my jeans to get my anger under control.

“Ryan, if you are going to date someone, that’s fine with me. Hell, I had a front-row seat to the instant connection when I saw you at the race with her. I can tell it’s something different. But, if you really like her, you need to prepare her for this life. Your career comes with photographers, fans, the good and the bad, and sometimes the occasional enemies. She needs to be all in, or you have got to let her go. You cannot string her along; just know that.”

Sitting back in my seat, I can’t believe I’ve gone through every feeling possible in less than two days. I run my hand through my hair. I need a beer or five. So, I decide to text the one person who will talk me off this ledge and figure out what I need to do and say to this amazing woman I can’t imagine not having in my life.

Ryan:

Hey, I’m gonna need you to come over for that beer extra early.

Matt:

Sounds serious. I’ll be over in 15

Ryan:

Yeah, thank I need some advice only you can give me.

Grabbing the beer out of the back of my truck, I hear the rumble of my best friend’s loud-ass dodge charger. You could hear that redneck thing from space if the wind blew just right. Matt jumps out, smiling without a care in the world. Rubbing my hand down my face, I realize this feeling right here is why we stay single. Not having to worry about the shit storm or consider another person's feelings or the media having a field day with it.

“Well, I’m here,” Matt yells. “what’s this big emergency that has us day drinking like college frat boys?”

Walking into my condo, this was the first big purchase I made when signing with Mac. It’s three bedrooms, but the huge kitchen sold me. Granted, I don’t even cook, but it’s great for when my family visits and mom makes her amazing fried chicken. Well, that and the view overlooking the lake.

“Come on, I need advice only your smug face can give.” With a smile and shrug, Matt follows me inside the condo. Sitting on the couch, beer in hand, I try to figure out how to explain my weekend with Tinley. Then I get up and pace the floor.

“Um, bud, your kind of freaking me out right now. Did you get someone pregnant, or do I need to get a shovel and help you bury the body? I just need to know which best friend speech to get together for you, man,” Matt stated.

“Yeah, I’m kind of freaking myself out, too. Okay, here goes. I met a girl.”

“Okay, that really doesn't tell me what the problem is,” Matt says. “We meet girls all the time, have some fun, have them sign an NDA, and go about our day. I’m kind of confused about why this is a big deal.”

“No, Matt. It’s not that kind of girl. Her name is Tinley, and honestly, she’s amazing. She came to the track this past weekend with a friend who Brad was helping with PR work. The moment I set eyes on her, she got into my head and set up camp. That’s why I was late coming back from the track this weekend. I made a trip to Boone to take her out on an actual date and see if there may be something there.”

“Wait, was that that curvy dark-haired girl with the smoking hot blonde at the meet and greet?” he asks.

“Yes, it was. Now, will you help me, please?”

“Wow, never in my days did I think you might actually find a girl that you would say was worthy of your time,” Matt says with a laugh.

“Matt,” I say, rubbing my hand down my face, “I need your help figuring out if I want to expose this sweet, sexy girl next door to the sometimes-crazy world of NASCAR. She had never been to a race until last weekend and had no idea who I was. In the back of my mind, I think that attracted me to her more because I could just be Ryan with her.”

Sitting back on the couch, beer in hand, my best friend just stares at me. What the actual hell is happening right now? My mind is racing as fast as I drive, and I don’t know which end is up. It’s like I’m in an end-over-end roll, just waiting to hit the ground.

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