Page 82 of Well Played

Charly falls silent in the seat next to me and I glance over, finding her gazing out the window. “I should have asked before, but do you like Italian?”Shit what if she’s got celiac or hates tomatoes or just doesn’t eat carbs?

“Love it!” She turns, scooting on her seat so she’s facing more toward me. “Noodles are always a winner.”

“Thank god.” I blurt out and then freeze.

Her hand finds mine on the top of the shifting knob and squeezes. “You are ridiculously easy to fluster.”

“Not under normal circumstances.” I’ve had years of dealing with the media and the unpredictability of life on the road to develop a pretty steady outlook.

“Well then, I guess I’m flattered?” This time when I look at her, a pretty blush is staining her cheeks pink. I turn my hand over, lacing our fingers together.

“Of all the things that could flatter you.” My words trail off and I shake my head, a small smile twisting my lips.

“By all means, Roddie Faraday, tell me what else you think I’m good at.” She rolls her eyes and tucks one knee up on the seat under her other leg. “Or should I tell you?”

My cheeks flush. “Please don’t.” I squeeze her hand.

“Like I said, ridiculously easy to fluster.”

The Dingus is busy,but it’s nowhere near as packed as it is for The Nationals. Knoxville is a tiny town in Iowa whose population rises and falls with the race weekend. It’s Charly’s first time racing here and in the last week she’s been sending me a list of ‘all the things’ she wants to do while we’re here.

So after the race tonight, one where neither she nor Eddie won, we hit up the bar to blow off some steam and check an item off her list. Our crews are mingling at the track, so it isn’t so strange for Charly and I to be seen together.

But we’re still hyper aware of what people might think, so we stay on opposite sides of the room for most of the night.

That just gives me a better view of her antics. She isn’t drinking much past the first beer she ordered, but she’s dancing and egging on her guys to take turns at karaoke.

One by one she’s cheered them on while they sing horrible renditions of eighties hits. “This is kind of entertaining.” Eddie squirms on the stool next to me, uncomfortable being around so many people.

“It is.”

“You like her, don’t you?” Eddie swivels to face me, turning his back on the room. “Don’t worry about me telling anyone.” He offers a small smile.

I shift on the stool, eyes inevitably trailing back toward her. “Yeah. I like her.”

“I take it dinner at your house went well then?” He sips at his water and raises an eyebrow.

“How the hell did you know about that?” I straighten up.

He smirks. “Drove by to see if you wanted to do anything and saw her through the window.”

“Fucking hell.” My fingers shove through my hair and I slouch down. “Yes, it went well.”

He makes a humming sound, glancing over at me.

“What?” It sounds more confrontational than I mean it to be.

“I just hope you know what you’re doing. Haven’t seen you like this over a lady before.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.” Or what she sees in me, but I’m going to take what I can.

Eddie stands and claps me on the shoulder. “I’m heading out. Think you can catch a ride back with someone?”

“I’ll figure it out.” There’s no way I’m leaving Charly here. I’ll stay as long as she does and make sure she gets to bed safe.

Four hours later, when the bar makes the last call, a certain blonde slips up next to my side. “Did you have fun tonight?” I ask without turning my head to face her. A few stragglers from bothof our crews are hanging around, and I don’t want them to get ideas.

“I did.” She steps up next to my side and looks down at her phone. “I’m surprised Eddie came out.”

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