Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 19: Dinner and Conversation

Despite every apprehension that shifted through her mind, Hailey accepted the offer from Alex to join him back at the motorcoach. They both agreed on what to order for food, enjoying it while sitting on the couch together. 

The conversation they had grown used to over text message then followed, with both of them beginning to pour their emotions out as they had down the past six weeks. 

Alex shared his frustrations with the team's performance, and regret over getting injured with having to miss those races after starting off the year so strongly. He also shared his apprehensions about getting back behind the wheel of a sprint car soon, as well. 

Hailey shared some of her frustrations about the current legal system, and how it made handling certain cases tougher for the unit. It seemed they were backed in a corner constantly, requiring more evidence and reasons for belief behind something than fathomable when a threat was out there. Why should it be so tough to catch these people and put them behind bars for a length of time? 

The conversation carried easily, both of them offering their outside perspective on each other's issues as well as whatever advice that came to mind. It was the perfect sounding board - therapy as Hailey had called it earlier. Just like when they crossed paths at Molly's that night after her crappy case and his shitty race.

Everything came so easily, neither bothered to glance at the time until getting up for a refill of their beverages saw Alex glance at his watch, jaw dropping in seeing the numbers that were before him.

How could they have talked for six hours straight without any pauses? How was it after 1 o clock in the morning? He had to be getting up with an alarm in seven hours. He had to be getting ready for his first appearance of the day in nine hours. He had to be behind the wheel of a racecar in 12 hours. He normally would've been tucked into bed with Finn by his side. No wonder Finn had whined to be let outside earlier for a pee break, and was back in the bedsroom by himself now.

"Are you sure that your watch is saying the right time?" Hailey asks in pure disbelief, pulling out her phone to confirm the consensus. Her facial expression immediately matched his as she looked back up at him in total disbelief. "I never lose track of time. What happened tonight? I am so sorry. I feel bad. You should be getting ready for a big night sleep by now I imagine." 

"Normally I would have been laying down a couple hours ago," Alex confirms as she shakes her head in total regret. She only had thought they were talking for maximum three hours since eating their meal. Where had the time gone? "It's my fault just as much as its your fault. Don't take all the blame. But with how late it is, there is no way we are going out looking for a hotel for you at this time of night. It's worth paying the fee and everything just for six hours or so at most sleep." 

"I don't want to mess you up, though. I feel so bad as I imagine that you have a routine you get in each weekend and here I am screwing it up..." 

He shakes his head no as he makes his way down the hall. He grabs a pillow and blanket from the drawer, surprised the spares were still there from the last time he had a friend stay over. It wasn't a lady friend at that time - but rather one of the guys he grew up with who had joined him for a race weekend. He returns back out to the main area, placing both on the couch as he catches her eyes.

It was the same moment like this in her condo that her setting up the couch had brought them together. He may not had remembered initially the next morning at her place, but the details were coming back to him in a fuzzy way. Perhaps because he wanted to repeat that occurrence, and wish he hadn't revealed the extra stuff for the couch. 

"The conversation and being able to spend time with you made it worth the while," he comments as he doesn't take his eyes off of her blue ones. They had a certain sparkle right now that was drawing him closer by the second. "It just means I will have to make the coffee a little extra strong in the morning. You don't have to worry about me as I will be fine. Besides, there are nights that I don't sleep much anyway because I am so anxious about the day ahead. I begin to second guess decisions that Blake and I made, and wonder as to what could happen from Lap 1 all the way until Lap 267." 

"Ale-" Hailey goes to say something in return, only for her words to cut off with the soft touch of his lips against hers. He then slowly pulls back away, never letting their eyes leave each other. 

"I don't have one single regret." He then leans in for another kiss, unable to resist the urge any longer as he knew those eyes had cast a spell on him. Why was it so easy for him to fall for her compared to any other woman he had been with? "I would do it all, every single thing, once again if it means getting to spend time with you." 

"Alex..." Hailey takes a deep breath as she takes a step back, taking her glance away from him immediately. She knew if she kept staring at him as he was returning her way, there would be clothes thrown in all directions just like that previous night. That would just make his ability to get some sleep tonight even less likely. "I can't do this...."