A Day in the Life of...

Enchanted-Jeb Burton

"Shit." Alyssa looked around, completely mad at herself. She had stopped for just a couple of minutes to answer work emails and of course she lost her brother and sister-in-law in the crowd. Ty had invited the three of them to spend a few days in Daytona as a surprise for Jocelyn. Alyssa hadn't seen Jocelyn since Jared and Marisa's wedding. Ty wanted to surprise Jocelyn, which he certainly did. But now she was going to miss surprising her. "Where the hell..."
"You lost?" Alyssa heard a drawl from behind her. Alyssa turned, finding a man who looked about her age, maybe a little older. Very handsome she silently noted. "You definitely look lost."
"I am. I stopped to reply to some work emails and then all of a sudden," Alyssa threw her hands up in the air before letting them fall to her sides. "My brother and sister-in-law were gone."
"Are you here with someone invovled..." Alyssa knew that this answer was going to be difficult. She had to figure out the best way to answer it.
"My friend works for Joe Gibbs Racing. I think that's right."
"JGR is a team here."
"She's the therapist."
"Jocelyn Davis."
"You know her?"
"I know of her. Spends a lot of time around Gibbs. It's kinda weird."
"Do you know where I can find them?"
"If I bring you back to them, how do I get to spend some time with you?"
"You don't even know me. I don't even know you."
"Jeb. Burton." He held out his hand. Alyssa took it.
"Jeb?"
"My first name is John, but everyone calls me Jeb. John Edward Burton."
"Alyssa Campbell. Everyone calls me Alyssa."
"Can I call you Aly?" He asked. Alyssa couldn't deny he was cute. Very cute. And she had never had anyone want to give her a nickname. Not anything she'd enjoy hearing anyway.
"You can call me darling for all I care." Alyssa accidentally said out loud. Jeb laughed as Alyssa's cheeks went scarlet and a hand quickly covered her mouth. "I cannot believe I said that out loud."
"It's the accent, isn't it?" Alyssa sheepishly smiled. "Well, darling, let's go find your brother and sister-in-law."
"Don't you have work to do? I honestly don't know what you do."
"You don't watch NASCAR, do you?"
"I've never watched before." Jeb could easily tell from how she was dressed she had never.
"I'm a driver. In the Xfinity Series. For Jordan Anderson."
"You lost me after you said you're a driver." Jeb laughed. "It's really not funny."
"My laugh looks like it's melting you in your shoes."
"You really know how to talk to women,  don't you?"
"I try my best."
"You're very charming, but I really need to find my way now."
"Well, if I bring you back, how will I get to spend more time with you?"
"We just met, Mr. Burton."
"I'd say Mr. Burton is my father, but if you knew my father..." Jeb trailed off with a laugh. "Spend some time with me. Please?" Alyssa knew she shouldn't. She didn't do those things. Something in the back of her head was telling her to go for it. Let's face it, Alyssa never did anything spontaneous in her 29 years on this planet. And he most definitely looked like he had.
"Sure. Let me text my brother." Alyssa sent Jared a text saying she was going to explore and they'll meet up at Ty's hauler. "We're good to go." Jeb smiled at her. "Don't make me regret this." She said.
"Don't worry, Darling. You won't." She could definitely get used to being called darling. Jeb held out his hand and Alyssa took it before she could change her mind. Maybe this what her life had been missing lately. After her last relationship ended 18 months ago, Alyssa had been on a string of failed Tinder dates and a few hook ups. Jeb seemed different. Someone she could trust. Even if it was only for a few hours. Jeb led Alyssa to a golf cart. "Your chariot, my lady."
"Such a gentleman." Alyssa got on as Jeb slid on next to her. There was silence between the pair as Jeb drove through the infield of Daytona.
"Here we go." Jeb said, pulling up by Lake Lloyd.
"What is this?"
"This is Lake Lloyd."
"There is entire lake in the middle of this place?" Alyssa asked, her eyes wide. Jeb laughed.
"I used to love coming here as a kid."
"How many times have you been here?"
"Since 1994, so about 2 years old. As much as my dad loved racing, he loves the outdoors."
"What does he do now?"
"Runs Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. And doing a YouTube channel."
"He really enjoys the outdoors."
"He does. And he passed that love on to me. Racing will always be my first love obviously. I'll be doing this until I can't anymore."
"So, if you could, you'd be racing until you're 80?" Jeb laughed.
"If I'm that physically fit, why not? Enough about me. I want to know about you. What do you do?"
"I plan parties, weddings, charity events."
"That sounds..."
"It's stressful. But fulfilling. I have three weddings happening just this weekend."
"And what are you doing in Daytona?"
"I have a few people taking care of things for me. I really needed a vacation."
"You said you're here with your brother and sister-in-law. What do they do?"
"Jared works for Warner Records. And Marisa is a clothing designer."
"And your parents?"
"They are blissfully retired, traveling the world." Alyssa pulled up a photo of her parents. "This is them in Copenhagen last week." Jeb could see the resemblance between Alyssa and her dad.
"You look like your dad."
"I get that." She said with a laugh. "Jared looks like mom."
"If you didn't do event planning, what would you do?"
"Hard hitting questions, Mr. Burton." Alyssa said with a smile. "I would probably be a small animal veterinarian. That was my first passion. What about you?"
"If probably work with my dad with the Wildlife Foundation."
"Out of everything in the entire world, you'd do that?"
"I get to spend time with my dad. And be outdoors. What more do I need?"
"Valid point."
"Where are you from?"
"I was born in Cincinnati and then we moved to Asheville when I was 11 and Jared was 14."
"And now where do you live?"
"Very nosy, Mr. Burton."
"How else am I suppose to know more about this mystery woman?"
"A mystery woman? I've never been called a mystery woman before. Nobody has ever found me this interesting before."
"No boyfriend?"
"At one point I think he did, but..." Alyssa looked down at her hands. "8 years. I spent 8 years with him and never once did he take an interest in me like you are now."
"He's serious missing out."
"Atlanta. I live in Atlanta with my two dogs." Alyssa pulled out her phone to show him photos of Millie and Garbanzo.
"Garbanzo?" Jeb asked with a laugh as he looked at the Yellow Lab.
"That's the name he had when I adopted him!" Alyssa said as she couldn't help but laugh with him. "I didn't have the heart to change his name. He answers to it and everything."
"Guess it's a good thing you didn't change his name."
"Yeah, he's..." Alyssa's phone started to ring. It was Marisa. "Hey, Issa."
"Where are you? Ty's qualifying and as soon as he's done, we're all heading to the house to go to dinner."
"Where do you want to meet?" She asked.
"The entrance to the garage area, can you find it?"
"Yeah, I think I can find it. I'll see you in a bit." Alyssa hung up. "I hate to cut this short, but..."
"I get it. I also should head back. I got a race to run tonight. I'd ask you to stay, but..."
"I really can't." Jeb only nodded. He started the golf cart. Jeb drove back towards the garage area. Alyssa really wish her time with Jeb didn't have to end, but the truth was that she knew nothing would come of the two of them anyway. She knew he'll forget all about her by the time they both got back to their repected homes. When Jeb finally pulled up to the garage entrance, Alyssa noticed Jocelyn and Marisa weren't there just yet. "Listen, Jeb..."
"I had a nice time talking with you, I did."
"I feel like there's a but coming..."
"There's no but, Aly. I wish I could see you again." Alyssa sighed. "Please don't sigh."
"A failed 8-year relationship, failed Tinder dates, and random hook ups is what my love life has been reduced to in the last 10 years. You have exceeded all of that just by the conversation we had." Alyssa leaned over to press a kiss to his cheek, but Jeb turned his head at the last second. Their lips came to together in a surprisingly soft kiss that sent sparks surging through Alyssa's body.
"Thank you for taking a chance with me."
"Thank you for pulling me out of my comfort zone." Alyssa slid off the seat of the golf cart. It was nice meeting you."
"Enchanted." Alyssa tilted her head slightly. "I was enchanted to meet you Alyssa Campbell."