Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 31: Taking Care of Alex

Hailey takes a deep breath as she leans her head against the cushion, watching Alex come on her television screen, answering the reporter's questions about what had just happened on the track. 

See, of course he was going to be okay, is what she told herself as he continued to ramble on. However, the worrying past minutes hadn't been lost on her as it had certainly got her frazzled to a degree. Not that she was prepared to admit that to anyone at all - hence the lack of text message in return to Kim. If Kim and Adam had turned on the coverage to see the crash, they would be seeing the same interview she was witnessing.

She also knew he would be back at the lounge within minutes in knowing everything within importance was not far in the garage area for the drivers. It was why she composed herself, fixing her hair a bit, trying to erase every bit of emotion that had flashed since the actual incident on the track. She couldn't have him seeing just how frazzled she was. She hoped Blake had not noticed on the pit box. 

She hears the lounge door open about five minutes later, catching her attention immediately. There were a couple times that team members made their way up inside to get something, and she was at first thinking it was one of the guys. Instead, though, a small smile crept on her face in seeing the man of the hour before her right then and there.

"Well that sucked," Alex comments in casual fashion, shutting the door behind him and flicking the lock. All they needed was for someone to walk in while he was changing - or perhaps doing something else. They had tried that a couple times and it wasn't as fun as the bedsroom, but they could make it work. "Did the tire look down on the replay?" 

"I wasn't really focused on that to be honest," she replies, which wasn't a lie. Her mind was focused on the sheet metal of the racecar contacting the concrete of two walls, knowing there was someone in the middle of that sheet metal she cared a lot about. Should she get used to these questions after incidents? 

"Blake said he could not tell. Kevin said it did not seem to be, but the car just snapped as I went in the corner. I never just lose a racecar like that. Something had to be broken...." She nods her head in agreement, having come to strongly believe in just how talented he was behind the wheel. She hated to see the disappointment laced in his voice, wanting that to disappear more than the questions themselves.

"Some times it's just not meant to be your day, or weekend. You were running inside the top-10 before that happened. There's a positive to take from the day." She then reaches for his left hand, holding it with hers as she pulls him close to her. "And at least you are okay...." 

"I guess you are right." He then leans in, brushing his lips against hers. "There's always next week, and I know that I have the most beautiful woman beside me for the whole ride." She couldn't help but feel her cheeks turn red in response to the compliment. 

"I might be the one whose spoiled here, because I don't think there's a cuter driver in the garage for me." Their lips then brush against each others once again, their eyes locking together. Perhaps they should stop talking. They both already knew where this was going. If it wasn't already obvious, her hands were playing with the zipper of the firesuit. "I should help you get undressed you, though. I hear that racing wives like to take care of their beaus after they have had a wreck. I have to make sure that you are truthfully okay." 

"Do you see me complaining?" She chuckles, shaking her head no as she slips the zipper down, before her hands roam back up to his shoulders. She then slowly pulls the firesuit down each of his arms, being careful with each movement as she had been since they gotten together. It was all about taking care of his back. "I am glad that it wasn't any harder. I would not have wanted you to hurt your back more. That would suck..." 

"I'm fin-"

"I know, I'm just saying. But I still should take care of you, as always." She then kisses his bare shoulder, before bringing her lips back to his once again as she lets the firesuit fall down the rest of his body. She couldn't help but find herself look over single inch, even for the slightest bruise. She then reaches her arms around, running her hands up and down his back softly. "A back massage also would not be a bad idea before I head off. I don't want you to wake up overly sore tomorrow." 

"I don't want to wake up tomorrow because that means I have to wake up without you. Instead, all I get is slobbery kisses." She couldn't help but laugh, knowing Finn loved to cuddle with his daddy in bed at night. It had taken Finn a bit to get used to Hailey's regular appearances, but now the dog was totally fine with cuddling them both. If for some reason Alex got up early before she did, she would wake-up to a paw wrapped around her shoulders. "Your kisses are much better. Your cuddles are much better. I just love every part of you so much, Hails." 

"I lov-"

"Then stay one more day. Help take care of me. After all, you did say that you should take care of me because of feeling bad with the wreck that I was in." 

Every part of her wanted to say yes. She was almost ready to reach for her phone, send Hank a text message, perhaps lying in saying her plane was delayed. 

But knowing how hard it was to get regular time off, and knowing a case would be probably falling in their lap soon, her hand next reached for the phone. Instead, she focused on his lips, hoping to distract him from the question for now.