Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 15: Kansas Speedway

Author's Note: Thank you for the continued love and support. It is very much appreciated as this story is currently the #1 Hendrick story, joined by "50 Shades of Pain" and "Crashing Into You." I am glad that you are loving the stories about the boys as much as I am enjoying putting them together.

Hailey takes the card from the NASCAR official, clipping it to the waist of her pants. It was the same way she felt normally in having her badge in that spot. It felt weird not having something there right now. Maybe having the hard card there would take away that feeling.

Her request for the weekend off had gone smoothly with Hank. Thankfully, he had not bothered to ask a lot of questions surrounding her friendship with Alex. He also hadn't bothered to share the reason for her taking the weekend out of Chicago with the others in the unit. That said, Kim was expecting text message and a selfie of the pair together at some point over the weekend.

Once she had delivered the good news to Alex, they both had gone online searching for the quickest flight for her to Kansas. She had offered to pay, but he had no part of that. I invited you to join me so therefore it is only fair was the text message she got in response, as he paid for her flight - first class at that to spoil her.

She then got a ride share to the track, following his instruction of checking in at the hard card credential office. Her name was easily found on his list of guests, with the paperwork easily filled out. That resulted in the card being given.

"This card will give you access for any future events as well as it is a permanent hard card," was what the official had told her. It was clearly Alex was trying hard to see her more often without saying it out loud in having ensured that request was filed instead of a simple weekend pass.

Once she was checked in, the directions were given to her so she could go from the office to the garage area and to where the Ally 48 hauler was located. She was then told at that point he would meet up with her, glad she had made it in time for practice and qualifying.

She was glad his directions were clear and concise. She followed them exactly how they were written, trying to not get stuck in the amazement of everything around her. The engines of the racecars were loud. There were so many people. There were so many fans with markers, hoping to get autographs. There were crew members, all decked out in their specific team colors. She had gone with a simple t-shirt and jeans, hoping she did not stand out.

The closer she gets to where the hauler was parked having found a row of them, she begins taking a series of deep breathes. Why was she nervous about seeing him? Why was she nervous about being here? Why was she nervous about what others would say? Why had she accepted his offer to begin with?

She smiles in seeing it was not hard to miss his hauler, thanks to purple that stood out amongst the other sponsor colors. She couldn't argue that seeing him dressed to match would be something to stare at in pure beauty today.

"Hailey?" She hears her name called, confusion as she looks at the individual which had said it. She had never seen him before, but he wasn't hard on the eyes either. She could tell he worked with Alex, given the uniform that he was wearing. He also seemed of importance with others on the team looking his way immediately. Was she going to have to get to know all of these people all in one day? What would they think about her being there? Had Alex mentioned he was having a guest? What was she known to them as? "Alex mentioned to me that he had a friend who would be meeting him here at the hauler." 

"I can take it from here Blake," Alex comments before walking past the crew member, wrapping both arms around Hailey in a hug. She easily accepted, not wanting to take a chance of their reunion together going off wrongly. Besides, his arms certainly felt nice wrapped around her right now. 

"Practice is in 10...." Alex nods his head in response, though never took his eyes off of Hailey as he did so. He could easily see why he had fallen for her that night, as it hadn't just been the alcohol after all. There was something special about those eyes looking at his. 

"Good job on the directions as they are better than some of the guys I work with," Hailey comments, earning a chuckle back in response from Alex. She could listen to him laugh all day long. "It is nice to see you, by the way. I'm excited to spend some time with you." 

"Hailey, right?" A voice interrupts the pair before Alex can say anything in response, immediately causing a combination of an eye roll and flushed cheeks from Alex. He knew this could spell trouble immediately given the grin on the individual's face. "Kyle Larson. It's nice to see you again." 

"I told Kyle that you were coming," Alex easily confesses, remembering the conversation that led to him reaching out to ask if she could come. He could only imagine William's response once he saw her in person. Maybe he would understand why Alex was so distracted by her. "Like Blake said, I've got practice shortly. You are welcome to spend it with the team, or I know Kaitlyn was your tour guide for 34 (Raceway) so she could do so again." 

"I asked Kaitlyn if she could lend a hand for my friend..." Kyle's little smirk as he said it only caused the cheeks to go that much more red for Alex as he resisted every urge to punch his teammate. "I wanted you as comfortable as possible considering you came all this way to spend time with him. It's nice, actually." 

"I wouldn't mind spending it with the team and getting to see more of Alex's world," Hailey comments, earning a nod in response from Kyle. Alex could already tell that was going to result in teasing from his teammate later on with many thoughts that could come based on those words.

However, those were the words he wanted to hear. She wanted to see more of his world. She wanted to be able to spend more time with him. This could the beginning of much more, if they could make it work.