Whole Lot More

Chapter Thirty Three

Chapter Thirty Three

"Oh my God it's Kasey Kahne!"

Julie and Brynne wandered around the garage area, waiting to meet back up with the boys after their practice session for the Coca-Cola 600.

Kasey Kahne stood just inside his garage stall, and after he heard that, he turned around and glared at the girls. "Am I ever going to live that down?"

"Nope," Brynne chirped, "You're not going to, because more than likely it's the truth. You're lucky Julie and I are already taken, otherwise we might stare dreamily at you like all the little Kahneyboppers do."

"I'm sure Martin and Junior would love to hear that."

"Talk and die, Kahne," Julie grinned, "Now if you'll excuse us, we have some boys to go find."

They walked away, giggling. If anyone would have told them a year ago they'd be standing where they were standing, teasing Kasey Kahne. Well... they would have laughed in their faces.

"I love teasing that boy," Brynne laughed, "It's so easy to push his buttons, too. He just asks for it, sometimes."

"I agree. No wonder everyone teases him about his heartthrob standing. That's one thing about Kasey coming along - before him Dale used to be considered the "heartthrob"... now he doesn't hold that title as much anymore."

"Well lookie whose back at the track."

Julie and Brynne whipped around and grinned as Delana approached them from behind. "De, hey! Glad we ran into you, we were going to call you tonight if we couldn't find you around here today. The boys said you had news you wanted to share?"

Delana brightened just at the thought, causing Julie and Brynne to share a look between the two of them. She... couldn't be...

"Kevin and I are having a baby!"

"You're..."

"Pregnant?" Delana asked, "Yep... two months along. I'm due between the end of December and the beginning of the New Year."

"Oh my God De, congratulations!" Both girls squealed and attacked the older woman with their hugs. "Is Kevin excited?"

"He's been waiting on me hand and foot since we found out... its been great."

"You two are going to make the best parents in the world," Brynne laughed, "You're going to be the coolest parents ever. The kind everyone wished they had in high school."

"Well I don't want to be too easy on the kid... I remember the girl's in high school who had the "cool" parents, and ended up in trouble before they were even out of school."

"I'm sure you guys will do fine. You're going to be wonderful parents."

"Yeah, well this kid better thank that, too," Delana joked, "Especially if I'm going to get huge carrying it... I swear, I can already feel myself getting bigger. Oh, and before I forget... the boys told me that if I saw you guys to tell you they'll be in the Budweiser hauler, and to meet them there."

"Guess that means we better get going," Brynne said, "Once again, tell Kevin congratulations. You're both going to do great."

***

You couldn't miss the Budweiser hauler even if you wanted to... the giant red truck carrying various parts for the car and tools was nestled between the Target hauler and the Alltel hauler. But the red caused it to contrast with the haulers around it; the giant white letters broadcasting the beer sponsor of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

A sponsor he embraced regularly.

One of the crew guys stood outside, over the grill, cooking all the guys something to eat in between practices and qualifying that day.

Dale and Martin lounged on the couches, feet up and a beer in hand, watching coverage of the practice they'd just finished on SPEED channel.

"You're not food," Dale said with a glance up at the girls.

"Well hello to you too," Julie scowled, "How about I walk right back out that door and tell you where to shove your food..."

"Get your ass over here woman," he growled and patted the couch next to him, "I was only kidding, yeesh."

"Kidding my ass," Martin laughed, "You just know that she'll whip your ass into shape and leave your ass behind if you keep that attitude up."

"Whatever," Dale rolled his eyes as Julie settled down next to him. He smiled, "You know I was kidding, right?"

"Of course."

"Good."

Brynne settled down next to Martin, her head resting on his shoulder. "So, how's your car?"

"Meh, it's okay. Not the greatest we've ever had, but I guess it'll have to do."

"That's always reassuring," Brynne joked, "But I am after all your good luck charm, so maybe it'll work again."

"It better," Martin grinned, giving her a loud smack on the cheek. He quieted down, making it seem as if he was paying attention to the coverage, but Brynne knew better. He was obviously somewhere else... she just didn't know where.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she whispered in his ear. His eyes flipped towards her and he smiled slightly.

"Want to get some air?"

"Sure."

"We're going for a walk," Martin said as he took Brynne's hand and led her towards the door.

"Don't be late for practice."

"Don't worry, I won't be."

He pulled the door closed behind them, and led her out into the lot. The sounds of the garage hummed around them, but neither of them noticed; the noise had almost become normal to Brynne.

"So what's up?"

"Nothing... I just needed some air."

His hand held a firm grip on hers; she knew he was lying about nothing going on. When he acted this way something was always going on.

She brought the back of his hand up to her mouth and placed a chaste kiss against it, hoping to get him to realize she was there for him.

"You know I'll always be here for you to talk to anytime you need to talk, right? I don't care if it's three in the morning or two in the afternoon Martin; I love you and I want you to promise me that if you ever need someone to talk to that you'll call me."

"Of course I will Bry, but that road goes two ways, you know." Brynne nodded briefly. "Good then, we have an understanding that we'll always be here for each other."

"With that said... want to tell me what's bothering you? And don't feed me that line that nothing is and you just wanted to go for a walk, Martin. I know you almost better than I know anyone else and I know something's bothering you."

His mind mulled over everything that was bothering him; he knew that if he just told her it'd be a weight off his shoulders... a weight that had been burdening him almost from the first moment he'd met Brynne.

In the end... he couldn't do it, at least not entirely and not quite yet.

"I just happened to run into an ex of mine earlier and it unnerved me... not to mention I've gotten so used to having you with me all the time that it's going to be weird when you have to go back to Boston."

Brynne smiled, as if she'd never even heard the tidbit about the ex-girlfriend; but she had and she was willing to cast it aside... that was how much she loved him; so much it made his heart ache that she still didn't know the whole truth, and it was his fault.

She squeezed his hand slightly, "I'm going to miss you."

Martin stopped her mid-stride and pulled her into his chest, clutching her tightly. "I'm going to miss you too baby, you can't even begin to imagine how much."

***

The race was nothing to write home about for Martin or Dale. Martin ended up finishing twenty third, Dale coming in seventeenth himself as Kasey Kahne won the race.

Brynne and Julie went down to Victory Lane to congratulate Kasey - all teasing aside this time, before heading back to the Budweiser hauler where they would be meeting freshly showered NASCAR drivers.

Martin and Dale sat outside in lawn chairs discussing the race; to everyone it had seemed terribly long, thanks to the twenty-three caution flags.

"Good race boys," Julie smiled as she took a seat on Dale's lap, her boyfriend making a whooshing sound as she sat down. "Oh you did not just do that!"

Pushing herself off his lap, she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips and scowled when he started laughing.

"You seem to be digging yourself a deeper hold by the minute," Martin joked, both himself and Brynne laughing along with their friend.

"I was just kidding, babe. Come on, sit down with me again." When she just continued to scowl at him, he shifted uncomfortable in his chair.

"That's our cue to leave," Martin laughed, "We're staying here for the night in the coach, how about you?"

"Nah, we're going to my house for the night."

"Oh, are we now?" Julie asked, eyebrow quirked, "You're talking mighty big for someone whose in the dog house right now."

Martin and Brynne both chewed on their lips to keep from laughing. Dale Junior had officially found his match in Brynne's best friend.

"Breakfast in the morning sound good?"

Julie nodded, "Yeah, we'll call you in the morning."

As Martin and Brynne walked away, Brynne looked back over her shoulder and grinned, "Good luck tonight, Dale! You're going to need it."

In the distance, they heard Dale's tone, pleading. "Come on baby, I was only kidding."

***