Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 47: Welcome to Martinsville

"I think out of all the tracks that I've been to, this is the smallest," Hailey comments as she and Alex make their way through the pits together.

It had been a great week together. It was supposed to be a medically healing week as per Hank's instructions after she had gone through. She could say the pain in her back was subsiding and mentally, it had been great to not think about any of this for a week. But perhaps it was not done in a way that he maybe envisioned. 

The great week statement came from the times they had their hands on each other. Whether it was in his office, back at his house, or even at his shop, it seemed the pair were taking well advantage of every single second they were given to be together. It also made the argument to ensure a move to Charlotte came sooner than later so they could continue spending time together.

"It just gives us more excuses to be closer together," Alex replies as he pulls her close, putting a kiss on her cheek. "I have to make sure you get all the loving necessary before Monday comes." 

"Can we just focus on today and tomorrow, please?" Hailey requests, knowing what he meant by the comment. They both knew the end of the weekend would see the usual process repeat, with her boarding a plane to head to Chicago and back to her job. That would mean no more late night conversations, no more shenanigans in bed, no more cuddles, and no more early morning coffees together. It was crazy to think something sounded better than the adrenaline of chasing down a criminal. "You have a job to do. I need to make sure that you do your job to the best of your ability. That means that I need to take care of you now." 

"Hai-"

"Besides, a victory would mean extra fun for us both together. So I want you focused on the goal at hand. I love you." She then leans in, brushing a kiss against his lips as they reach pit road.

She then stands back as he walks over to where Blake and the team stood, ready for the pre-practice debrief in knowing he would be on-track in about 20 minutes.

Practice came and went, and Hailey could tell she was getting hungry. It was then she made the decision to head over to the snack bar and grab one of the hot dogs everyone was talking about immediately. 

She could not help but look at it feeling a little skeptical with the arrange of toppings, before taking her first bite. Surprisingly, it tasted much better than it looked and resulted in more bites being taken.

She then made her way back to pit road to catch the tail end of qualifying, a small sigh in seeing he had wound up 22nd on the board. She knew he would not be happy with that. She knew he wanted to start well with it being difficult to pass at Martinsville. She knew he wanted to turn around the rough couple weeks of performance with a good run. This was certainly not a step in that direction.

It was at that point she decided she would be his escape for the night, give him something to take his mind off of it. No, she wasn't going to simply seduce him as that would be too easy. Instead, she would take him out for dinner, followed by a casual night time walk together, and some ice cream for dessert. 

It did not hurt while they were on their adventure they came across a local carnival, both having the same look on their face. The inner kid came out of them both, with laughs filling the air as they rode the different rides available. Hailey also could not help but smile in watching Alex win her a teddy bear by throwing a baseball into a net. The tables were then turned when Hailey won him a teddy bear at a water shooting game. 

The pair could not stop smiling as they walked out of the carnival together, Alex's arm wrapped around her shoulders as they both held their respective bears in their hands.

"Now I have something to cuddle all week until I see you again," Hailey comments as she leans in, placing a light kiss on his lips. "I may have to get him a little shirt, too. I can't have our number one fan not fitting the part." Alex couldn't help but smile as he glanced at his own bear. Perhaps the little brown bear would look good in a police uniform, too. "Am I wrong? Is it a bad idea?" 

"If it's a bad idea, then I guess I'm not buying little Harley a uniform of her own this week," Alex replies with a smile on his face. "I figure Harley goes well with Hailey. You can name your little buddy Alexander. Is that a bad idea?" She shakes her head no, as she tosses the bear in the air, before clasping him tight in her arms.

"Sooner than later, our little friends will be together all the time. Then we won't have to come up with these crazy ideas." Both of them could not help but smile at the revelation made as they both knew what that meant. 

"You may call them crazy, but I think Harley is very cute. I also have to admit - it was fun watching you prove that guy wrong in being able to make that shot." She could not help but smirk as it was certainly rewarding to add that bonus to her day. "Thank you for tonight, by the way." 

"Anytime, Alex. Just promise me you will kick some ass tomorrow." He nods his head, knowing that was the plan as he was going to be finding his way to the front as quickly as possible.