From The Ground Up

Twenty Eight

Kamdyn slept the rest of the night, even sleeping through Ryan's alarm that she had set for him. He carefully got out of bed, stopping any time she made a small movement, not wanting to wake her up.

He quietly got ready to go, leaving as soon as he had his things and had left a note for Kam on the bus counter.

When Kamdyn woke up and saw no one, she got up and found the note, smiling a little as she read it.

'I know you were having trouble sleeping last night so I went ahead without you. See you later. Love you'

She sighed and set the note down, pouring some of the coffee that he left for her with some of her creamer. She checked her Twitter and other socials as she sat on the couch and relaxed. Or at least tried.

The tweets were just plain mean. About her body, her smile, everything they could pick out about her.

It all made her sick to her stomach. She knew it was all the anxiety about it. Was she really good enough? The self-doubt she had in herself now was more than she thought she could take.

When the door shut, she jumped but it was only Ryan coming back inside.

"Sorry," Ryan said as he saw her jump. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded, calming down from the jump scare.

"Are you?" He asked, sitting beside her as he saw Twitter on her phone. "Now it makes sense,"

She sighed and turned toward him, knowing he was about to get her out of her own head.

"Don't listen to any of that,"

"Any of what?" She asked, trying her best to play it off but she knew he could read her like a book.

"Don't you play stupid with me, i know you saw comments on Twitter," Ryan said as she looked at him.

"It's hard not to,"

"I know it is. But the only reassurance you need is that I love you for you,"

"You do?" She asked, needed the reassurance.

"Yeah. I do," he nodded, kissing her head, "I gotta get ready for the drivers meeting but know I love you,"

"I love you too," she smiled, getting up to get ready herself.

She picked out her blue striped dress since he had the Menards car and she wanted to match a little bit. It wasn't a perfect match but it was blue and it would look good by him. Sure, she was his PR and she usually put on her cardigan or polo once she got in the pitbox but until then, she liked to look like his girlfriend.

She cleaned the bus a little bit before they headed to the drivers meeting together and she met up with a few sponsors while Ryan was inside.

When it finally came time for the national anthem and prayer, all she could do was hold his hand tightly and pray. She was scared but she wouldn't admit it.

"I love you. I'll be careful. And I'll see you in a little bit," he said, kissing her after he had made sure the reassurance was in place.