Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 23: Top-10 Performance

Author's Note: Thanks for the continued love. #1 ranking #AlexBowman story feels pretty good with this random idea.

Hailey wasn't about to complain, but she couldn't help but think it. How did all the other wives and girlfriends do this every Sunday afternoon? 

She and Alex were nowhere near being together - maybe they were considering they had hooked up twice now. But yet watching him battle for those 400 miles around the Kansas Speedway oval felt like eternity. It caused her stomach to flip multiple times, wishing she had a bottle of Pepto Bismo with her on the pit box in watching him battle sometimes three-wide for positions. She found herself falling into a deep breath regime as the laps counted down to the end, silently repeating to herself that he was a professional, he knew what he was doing, and everything would be okay.

Those words did ring true for the day, though, as he was able to score a 10th-place finish. It wasn't the big performance he wanted to deliver for her attendance - perhaps impress her over for more visits - but it was much better than the past couple of weeks. Maybe they could turn it into a string of solid finishes to close out the season.

Once the race was over, Hailey made her way down the steps of the pit box and followed the crew out to pit road. She stopped once, nervous about continuing to make the trip over, until there was assurance from one of the crew guys who said it would not be a problem. 

She walked over to where Alex stood beside the Ally Chevrolet, flashing a smile as she took in his appearance. She had told him the night before he was sexy. That seemed to only increase before her eyes in seeing the sweat on his forehead, with the firesuit clinging to his body.

"So that is why you battled so hard for a top-10 finish," Chase comments as he takes in the appearance of his teammate and the glances being traded between him and the blond. He hadn't stayed for the discussion the other night, but heard about the details from Kyle afterwards. It seemed they should all have a reason to meet her and get used to her being around if his prediction was anywhere near correct. 

"I told you that she was something special," Kyle adds as he walks over, leaning over Chase's shoulder with a smirk on his face. "Do you want to take a bet that we will see her at Bristol?" Alex couldn't help but look over at Hailey as the question was asked, wondering what her response was going to be. He knew he would not mind her company at all next weekend.

"You both do realize that she is very busy with work commitments," Alex replies as he takes a sip of his water bottle, trying to take some of the pressure off the conversation. He couldn't help but think back to the conversation from last night and the apprehensions about a possible relationship between them. Truth be told, he had the same thoughts - but they seemed to be forgotten as soon as he looked into her eyes.

"I could ask the boss as I've heard the coliseum puts on a good show," Hailey comments, causing an immediate jaw drop and surprise from Alex in response. He had gotten her the annual credential as a small gesture. He didn't expect her to take advantage of that immediately. What was happening to everything they had talked about last night? 

"You haven't done a NASCAR race properly until you've gone to Bristol and Talladega," Chase offers, knowing both of those tracks offered a very unique experience unlike any other they visited. He actually began to wonder what would go through her mind in seeing the chaos that popped off at Talladega. 

"Like I said - I'd have to talk to the boss." She then makes her way over to Alex, leaning back against the car alongside him, only causing the shock to grow more on his face. He began to wonder if she was just doing this right now because of the teammates being there. What was she truly thinking beneath the surface? "As long as you promise me a trip to Chicago. I can't keep escaping to see you without the rest of the gang meeting you. Considering how Jay warmed up to you immediately, I'm sure the rest will love you, too." 

"Wait - Jay and Alex are good friends, and Jay is your ex-husband..." Kyle muses out loud as he looks between them as a devilish grind forms on his face. He knew there was no way that Alex and Hailey would have hooked up because of Hailey cheating on Jay with Alex. He knew Alex's standards, and knew he would not have accepted that at all. However, it didn't mean he could not have some fun with this. "I have to wonder what he would think of this development." 

"Probably the same thing that I thought when he hooked back up with his ex-partner as soon as she returned to town," Hailey snaps back in response, freezing immediately after the words left her lips. She could only look at the trio surrounding her with shock as obviously none of them expected a comment of that regard. 

She had been fine with everything. She had been cool with Jay's decision, understanding his reasons in knowing how much Erin meant to him. It was obvious in how quickly they fell back in place. She had agreed to remain friends with Jay, work together, and things hadn't changed in that regard.

So if that was all true, why did it seem there was anger and jealousy laced in her latest comment? 

"I didn't mean it like how it came out," she quietly comments with a deep breath. 

It made her question every one of her thoughts - not only about Jay, but about the man alongside her in the firesuit. 

What if he was the rebound? What if she was just doing this to get away from Jay? What if she was just doing this to have some fun so she could forget and ignore her own pain? 

How was that fair to Alex?