His Lucky Charm

Second

Strip got to the track. He was in the zone. He usually was when it was race morning.

He waved to fans as he got to the pits. Tex was talking to the team as Strip walked to his drivers room.

He grabbed his stuff and got ready.

Lynda was out in her normal spot going over data. "Hey sunshine!" He said as he put his stuff by his car.

"What's up rookie?" She said as she walked over to him.

"Where do you think imma place today." He said as he pulled his balaclava on. She thought as he suited up. "Hm... I'm thinking. Second."

"No win?" He said with a chuckle. "Not yet." She said as she crossed her arms. "The stars haven't aligned yet."

"Lemme know when those stars are aligned." He said with a wink. She just closed his visor and headed back on up to her seat.

The race started. The cars roared as they took off. Strip led the pack for a long time. Chick was right on his tail.

Strip defended his position well. Strip was going to keep leading until a car bumped chick, causing him to his strip. The two lost position as the car who tapped them took first.

Strip was in second, with chick in third. "You're good kid. If you wanna fight go for it."

Strip was going to fight. He chased after this car. He attacked but was blocked and he was as struggling.

He eventually found an opening and got on the side of the car. He pushed and still finished in second. It was almost a tie.

The crowd went wild. "Good job kid. They just played dirty."

"Yeah. At least top five. Tell sunshine her guess was correct."

Strip stood on the podium with chick as they received their second and third trophy's. Strip waved to the crowd as he stepped down.

He saw Lynda standing there waiting for him. "Hey sunshine." She just smiled.

"Looking tired there, Rookie." She teased.

"I am tired. Driving for the past 4 hours."
He chuckled. He gently wrapped an arm around her as he walked next to her.

"I think... you're my good luck charm." She just laughed.

"I doubt that. You're just a good racer." She said with a soft smile.

"I mean, yeah but, you predicted my position."

"The only way that I'm a luck charm is if I'm right a majority of the time." She said as she looked at him.

He nodded his head a bit. "True. So, you gotta get the next race right."

The group all just hung out in the motorhome. Eating food, dancing to music, and watching movies.

Lynda swayed to the music as she sipped on her water. Strip sat down next to her as he watched Chick attempt to break dance.

Tex promptly yelled at him to stop trying to destroy his motorhome. Lynda just laughed until he glanced at strip. He was half asleep.

She tapped his arm gently. He flinched and looked at her. "Hm? What'a up sunshine?" He said as he held his head.

"You should go get some sleep... especially after the day you've had." Lynda said as she noticed him starting to fall asleep again.

"Yeah you're right." He mumbled a bit.

He got up and stretched. "I'm heading to bed y'all... I'm exhausted. Night." He waved as he walked to his room to sleep.

Tex chuckled. "Boys working hard."

Lynda smiled a bit. Her mind drifted to when he wrapped an arm around her as they walked together. She wasn't used to affection like that ever.

She smiled to herself as she realized she was falling asleep. She just let it happen. She was exhausted and just excited for everything. This is a life she enjoyed.

She fell asleep shortly afterwards. The entire motorhome fell asleep shortly after her. Everyone deserved it after the busy day they all had.

The next morning, everyone immediately got ready for the next race. Everything was packed and the trailer was getting towed already getting taken to the next track.

But, Chick, Lynda and Strip were going to be riding with Tex to the next track.

They all loaded up into his Cadillac, Lynda getting the front seat while the boys got the back seat. (Strip gave up his front seat privileges willing even though he wouldn't have as much space).

Tex buckled in. "Alrighty, let's get going." He said as he started the car. Chick was reading some book as Strip looked out the window. Lynda chatted with Tex for a while about whatever came to mind.

"You know what, boys I think Ms. Lynda here needs some gear to wear for Dinoco. She is our water girl after all." Tex said as he tapped on the wheel.

She smiled. Strip nodded a bit. "Agreed."

Lynda smiled and got excited. "Now I finally can match!" She pretended to punch the air. Strip watched her slightly as she expressed her excitement to Tex.

The smallest smile appeared on his face. Tex just patted her head.

Chick saw strips gaze as he looked at Lynda. Chick thought it was comedic seeing how in love this man was.

He never saw him like this before. But the one thing they Chick didn't understand, was why he hasn't even asked her anything, or... why he hasn't tried anything.

It was like he was content watched her from a distance. Chick realized it probably was he didn't want to overstep and lose her permanently. Chick glanced at Strip. Strip looked at him a bit.

It was an unspoken understanding. Chick just tossed a snack at him to eat. "Eat up, gonna be a long drive."

Hours later the group made it to the track. They were all staying in a hotel again, but they would be at the track the following day.

Chick saw that there was a pool outside. He turned to them all. "Let's go swimming!" Strip nodded.

"I'm down." Strip said.

"You wanna come with, Lynda??" Strip asked her. She thought about it. "Alright. Lemme go see if I brought a swim suit."