From The Ground Up

Twenty Five

Stage 2 began and everyone seemed to be playing nice. No trading paint or running each other up the track to gain positions or get clean air. Yep, Hamlin. Everyone is looking at you. Manufacturers seemed to help their own out.

Tyler Reddick brought out the caution by a slight spin but easily got to pit road as everyone stacked back up again. When Ryan came up to the choose, He took the outside lane in the middle of the pack.

The green flag waved and for some reason, everyone stacked right up again and all she saw was the yellow car sliding through the grass. She wanted to shut her eyes but she couldn't help but watch.

"Is something wrong with the car?" She asked, just as it started flipping. "Oh shit,"

It only flipped twice but landing on its roof was enough to freak her out. She turned her scanner up, hoping to hear his voice so she could release the breath she was holding.

"Ryan. Say something," she whispered, waiting for what felt like hours before she heard his voice. "Come on baby. Say something,"

"I'm good. Just need help getting out," Ryan finally said, making Kamdyn finally take a breath.

Kamdyn watched as they easily helped Ryan out and climbed down so she could get to the care center to meet her boyfriend. He went to the back immediately and the little glimpse she got of him, she could tell he wasn't happy.

He soon came out making Kamdyn jump up, and hug him tightly.

"You okay?" She asked, making him look at her as she tried to do her own assessment of if he was okay.

"I'm alright. A little sore, but I'll be fine,"

"Let's get back to the bus and change. I'll drive us home," she sighed, grabbing her bag before they headed out of the care center.

He didn't disagree but she knew her driving was going to be a topic of conversation at some point.

They quickly got changed, got Sturgill in, and got into the car themselves, leaving the track with 90 to go.

She held his hand most of the drive since they hit the turnpike and it wasn't hard to drive with one hand. They barely spoke but that was okay, they both had to process what had happened.

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When they got to the house, they both walked in, leaving all of the luggage so they could simply flop into bed.

They didn't usually cuddle up at night but tonight, they didn't let go of each other. They couldn't. After flips like that, there was no way Kamdyn would let go.

They hadn't talked about it yet but Ryan knew they had to. He woke up with her curled into his side, her head was on his chest and she looked extremely peaceful. She started stirring a little while later, waking up and looking up at him as soon as she was awake.

"Morning," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she woke up.

"Hey. You sleep okay?"

"Mhm," she nodded, kissing him without caring about either of their morning breath.  "You okay?"

"Yeah,"

"No symptoms? Nausea, weird vision, headache?" She asked, not wanting to sit up just yet.

"Nope. All good," he answered, smiling at her as she sat up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Kam. I'm sure," he nodded, "I promise,"

She nodded and sighed, sitting crisscrossed on their bed.

"Are you okay?" He asked, noticing her face as she stayed quiet.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Are you sure?" He asked, mirroring her sentence from a few minutes before.

"Yeah," she nodded, "I've seen it before but this one got me,"

Ryan nodded as he listened, happy that she was actually telling him and not keeping it bottled up inside.

"I don't know why. I don't know if it's because we're dating? But it just scared me,"

"It's understandable,"

"Is it?" She sighed, "Ryan I've seen it before. I've watched you wreck out several times and it's never gotten me,"

"We were friends. We weren't involved with each other. Now it's different. I love you, and if something like that happened to you, I'd be a mess,"

"Did you just say you loved me?" She asked, hearing that one sentence over everything.

"Yeah. I did," he nodded, "I do love you, Kam,"

"I love you too Ryan,"