I Love You More

7

Maddy flew out with the kids the next day, landing in Florida right at 6:34 PM. She had just enough time to get to the track and in the bus before the duels started. Charley was sleeping in her seat while Lukas played with the new cars that Ryan had gotten him from the clash.

"Mommy are we almost there?" Lukas asked, looking up at her from his chair.

"Almost baby. Daddy's gonna pick us up," she smiled, fixing his hair as they were landing.

Ryan was waiting inside, ready to pick them up and see his family for the first time in a de days.

"Dada!" Charley said as she wiggled out of Maddy's arms and ran straight for her father.

"Hi peanut," Ryan smiled, immediately lifting Charley's feet off the ground.

"Dada!" She giggled, snuggling up against him as Luke and Maddy reached him a few seconds later.

"Hey," Maddy beamed, hugging him tightly as he held Charley. "You're still feeling good right?"

"Yes," he chuckled, I think it managed to miss me. Or it'll wait until after the race,"

"Good," she nodded, pulling away from the hug as she pulled the bag higher up on her shoulder.

"Let's go so I can get ready," Ryan said as he handed Charley to Maddy and squatted down for Luke to jump on his back.

"Please don't hurt yourself. That's not a medical bill I want to pay," Maddy joked, shaking her head at her boys.

"You realize it would be from the joint account," he smiled, looking back at her before taking off with Lukas.

"You're such a young know what," she chuckled, calling him a smart ass without saying the actual phrase in front of their kids.

"Isn't that why you fell in love with me?" Ryan joked as he spun around to the tune of Luke's laughter.

"Could be. Don't flatter yourself," she joked, walking out of the building with him to the waiting car.

He'd already had the car seats put in, ready for each child to occupy them. Once the kids were in, they got in and headed for the track.

After they'd pulled into the Daytona parking lot and gotten through the tunnel, they found the bus and unloaded everything.

Both kids were exhausted so a nap was needed but she hoped they would be able to get up for the duels.

"Are you ready?" She asked as she laid Charley down in her crib.

"I think. I'm gonna get going,"

"Alright. We'll be there for your duel," she promised, hugging him before he left the bus. "Love you,"

"Love you more!" He called back before shutting the door behind him.

She just smiled and plopped onto the couch, playing a game on her phone while she let the kids take a quick nap.

Around 8:20, age decided to wake them up and get them changed for the night so they could watch Ryan and fall into bed the second it was over. She was excited to show Ryan the custom pajamas she'd had made for the kids after he'd won the championship. She knew he would love it so she waited until it was time to head out to the track before she locked up and took the golf cart to the pit stall.

They did one more prayer as well as a second anthem before it was deemed go time.

"Be safe. I love you," Maddy said as she hugged him and let him hug the kids before she got her kiss. Her least favorite time to be kissed. You never know what can happen during the race.

"I will," he promised, kissing her before one last hug, "I love you,"

She took Charley off his hands and handed her up to Jonathan so she could climb up without worrying about the little one.

Charley was out the second she was back in Maddy's arms, while Lukas was all about the racing. Even if it was only pace laps.

She just smiled and ruffled his head of sandy blonde hair before the green flag waved. She kept her eye on the neon yellow car, watching Luke as well as the little boy turned in his seat.

"There's daddy!" Lukas yelled, waving at Ryan's car.

"You're right bud," Maddy smiled even though she knew Lukas probably couldn't hear her over the sound of the cars.

They watched as Ryan ran pretty well, staying with the Fords as they pit under green.

"Go Daddy!" Luke yelled as Ryan's car quickly left the pit stall.

Maddy just smiled as the cars raced off and started to compete again.

It wasn't until just halfway that Maddy was looking at her phone before hearing the crashing sounds of metal against metal as well as the sound of tires skidding across the pavement.

As soon as she looked up, she wished she hadn't.

All she saw was Ryan's car sliding across the track as a fire started under the hood.

She then listened intently to the scanner as Ryan confirmed the fire and that he was jumping out.

She stood up to get a closer look, making sure that Lukas was focused on his tablet so he wouldn't be scared.

"He okay?" She asked Jonathan as they both tried to see what was going on.

"I think so. He's out," Jonathan nodded as he took his headset off.

Once she knew he was okay, she took the kids back to the bus and put them to bed as Ryan requested when she was able to talk to him. She waited in the living area of the bus, working on a tentative schedule for her boss. She only looked up when the door opened.

"I'm fine," Ryan said, holding his hands up as Maddy about jumped out of her seat and hugged him tightly.

"You should go take a Tylenol. You're probably gonna be sore tomorrow," she sighed, letting go of him so she could remind herself that he was fine. It could've been much worse.

"I think some cuddles will be enough,"

"They're already in bed," She chuckled slightly but knew he was going to get at least one of the kids out of bed.

"But Char will cuddle right up and go back to sleep. Problem solved," he said before going to change in their bedroom.

Maddy just shook her head with a small smile, knowing he would come back with at least one of the kids.

Sure enough, a minute or so later, Ryan walked out of the kid's bedroom with Charley in his arms. She was already sleeping against him but snuggled up as close as she could be. She continued to piece together a schedule of when she was available before looking over to the recliner where Ryan and Charley were both sound asleep. Of course, she had to sneak a picture as they slept, before checking on Luke and going to bed herself.