Chapter 106 Seat With a View
Daytona was beautiful from where Andrea was sitting in one of the highest rows of the grand stand on the back side of the racetrack, far away from any and every one. Across from her, the crowds of fans watching in the main stands numbered in the thousands, but a week from that day, this place would be crammed full of screaming people of all ages in caps representing every driver and every team.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket a few times, so she knew she had at least a text or two, but she didn’t pull it out. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. From this height, she had a broad perspective not just of the track but of life. One of the things she loved about staying in hotels in upper rooms when she was traveling to promote or shoot a movie was the fact that a look out the window gave her a new view of the world. Now, she was trying her best to see her own situation from a better perspective, but all she could think about was how angry Case had been that morning when he left.
He hadn’t raised his voice to her. He certainly hadn’t done anything worse than that. She’d had friends in abusive relationships before and that was terrifying, something she would never tolerate.
So his agitation at her was nothing compared to what it could’ve been like. And she trusted Case never to lose his temper and do something he couldn’t take back. But that didn’t make it hurt any less to know that he was upset at her.
Case made his two laps, and his car went to the top of the leaderboard. She wasn’t surprised at all to see that. Nor was she surprised that he was so far ahead of the car currently in second place. She hoped his time would hold up, but there were a lot more cars that needed to make their qualifying runs, so she’d just have to hold her breath and wait and see if the ten car was still on top at the end of the event.
A few seconds later, her phone started ringing. She was sure it was Case trying to figure out where she was at. But she didn’t want to talk right now. Talking could lead to arguing, and it was evident he didn’t need to argue with anyone at the moment when he was trying to concentrate on qualifying.
He was relentless, though, and her phone continued to ring for the next several minutes until she finally pulled it out of her pocket. She didn’t answer, though, only read all of her texts. He was asking where she was, if she was okay, if she was angry, and then, he apologized about a hundred times.
With a loud sigh, Andrea typed a response and put her phone back in her pocket. “I’m fine. Just giving you some space so you can concentrate.”
She put her phone away and tried to lose herself in watching qualifying. Charlie had his laps and did well, but not well enough to take first away from Case. Gordo’s lap was awful. He’d be toward the back when it was all over, and Whiskey ended up getting so lose he skidded through the infield. Served him right.
After twenty cars, Case was still on top, and she was so focused, she didn’t hear him until he sat down next to her.
Eyebrows furrowed, she turned to gape at him. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be down there? You’re still P1.”
“Qualifying can wait. I needed to come and talk to you. Andrea, I am so sorry I was in such a bad mood this morning. It had nothing to do with you, baby.” He took his cap off and ran a hand through his hair before he set it down next to him on the bench and turned to face her. “Sarah stopped me last night on my way back to the pits. She said that I’d better get used to wrecking, essentially, because unless I got back together with her, that’s what would happen every race. The more I thought about it, the more p*ssed it made me because that’s my d*mn life she’s messing with, and my livelihood. I’ve worked too hard the last several years to have her coming in here threatening to take it all away.”
Andrea could see why something like that would make him upset. “I’m so sorry, Case. I wish you would’ve told me.”
“I know. I should have. I was just… trying not to let it get to me. Instead, I let it sit in there and fester until I couldn’t control it, and it came out looking like frustration with you. I’m so sorry, babe.”
“I’m sorry, too.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
“I did, though. I pushed you, and I shouldn’t have.”
“No, you didn’t.” He took both of her hands in his. “Andrea, I love you so much, and it’s so hard not seeing you all the time. You’re right to want to spend every second together while you are here. I’m sorry I wasted so many of them.”
“It’s okay. You were working anyway.” She tried to think of something else to say, but then his mouth was on hers, and she couldn’t think anyway. After the kiss was over, Andrea took a breath and said, “You need to get back down there.”
“You’re right. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed her again and then headed back to the track. “See you there? In a bit?”
She nodded, watching him walk away. When he was gone, she continued to enjoy the view for the rest of qualifying, with a smile on her face, until the very end, when Case won the pole.
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