Heaven // NASCAR Oneshots

Midnight // Ryan Blaney

Why am I even here?

I looked in the full length mirror in the bathroom I was hiding out in. The green sparkly dress hugged my full figure just right with my short blonde hair in waves. I never get dressed up and I never come to these types of parties. But yet here I am, standing in the bathroom of the one and only Ryan Blaney because I got the invite and because I thought he would want to hang out with me tonight.

Boy was I wrong.

I showed up with the expectation that he'd be happy to see me the moment I walked through the door. I wasn't expecting a full blown moment between us, but I was hoping... Instead, I found him wrapped up in the arms of some brunette from accounting that's always hanging over him whenever he's in the office.

I sucked in a breath, held it for a minute and slowly counted to 10. It was Ryan's birthday after all and I should at least wish him good fortunes before I jetted out of here. I know he said this was a New Years Eve party, but I couldn't help but get him a little something. 

Sometimes my big heart is just too much at times.

I opened the door, completely body slamming someone as I walked out. We both fell to the ground and the unlucky person that I am, fell right on top of them. "Sorry!" I rolled off, getting up on my feet and pushed down my dress that rode up a little. I looked to see who I ran into and cringed.

"I am so sorry, Ryan! Let me help you up."
"It's okay!" Ryan was up and on his feet before I could even reach out my hand to him. "Are you okay at least?" He looked at me up and down and placed his hand on my arm to make sure I was. I really hope he couldn't tell I was blushing from his touch.
"I'm fine, thank you." Ryan gave me his earth shattering smile before stepping back.
"Oh, looks like you dropped something." He bent over, picking up a small box that fit in the palm of his hand. Of course the present I decided not to give him fell out of my purse. Of course! Could this night get any more embarrassing for me?
"Um," I took it from him awkwardly, "it's actually for you. I mean, if you want, I know you said this wasn't a birthday party, but I saw it and thought of you, so why not and I'll shut up now." Why do I get tongue tied whenever I'm around this man?

Ryan took the gift from me and gave me a weak thanks.

Great. This whole night is going to shit.

"Happy Birthday, Ryan." I mustered up a small smile as I held back my tears. I should have listened to my gut, Ryan wouldn't want anything from me. I'm just the girl who works in the shadows for the 12 team and that's all I'll ever be.

I didn't wait for a response and disappeared down the hall and out onto the back patio. It was a bit chilly out tonight but I welcomed the cold air. Thankfully Ryan set up giant heaters and had a fire going, so it wasn't too bad. Plus no one was out here since the countdown to midnight was soon.

I'll just be alone with the stars for a few minutes and then I'll leave.

I sat down on the edge of the porch, not even caring I was ruining my new dress. I looked up at the stars and sighed and then I felt a little nudge against my arm. "Oh, well, hello to you, too." Sturgill barked and allowed me to pet his scratch his ears before plopping down and resting his head in my lap and sighed. "Yeah, I feel the same way, too."
"Ya know, he doesn't do that just anyone. He must really like you." I looked over my shoulder to see Ryan standing by the door. I noticed he had my gift unwrapped but I decided to not to say anything.

I went back to petting Sturgill and looking up at the stars again when Ryan sat next to me.

"I really like you." He knocked his shoulder against mine and I couldn't help but laugh dryly.
"You're just saying that to be nice."
"Did you really see this and think of me? Or did you go looking for this?" Ryan held up the box that held a vintage Bill Elliott belt buckle. "Because this was on eBay a few months ago and I got outbid at the last second. I never thought I would ever see one again, let alone own one."
"Does it really matter how I got it?" I can't tell him how I have Elliott's name on alert on my phone and that every vintage shop in the area has my number in case a belt buckle showed up. I remember a fan asking him what's one piece of memorabilia he wished he owned and it was the Million Dollar Bill belt buckle and me wanting to do something sweet for him, I went on an expedition.

I just never thought I would find it, let alone give it to him.

"It matters." I sighed, not liking his answer.
"I went looking for it, Ryan, sorry, I didn't mean for this to come across as creepy. I just wanted to get you something nice." I gave him a fake smile and went back to petting Sturgill. I honestly wanted to cry for admitting that to him. I always feel like whenever I do something nice for someone, it just backfires back in my face.
"Thank you, it really means a lot that you got me this. I really appreciate it."

Someone inside yelled, stating there was only a few minutes until midnight.

"You should go in, I'm sure your girl is waiting for you." Ryan looked at me, his blue eyes searching mine out. I don't know what he was looking for but I had to look away.
"The only girl I want to be with tonight is you." I turned to look at him in disbelief but when I did, he placed his hand on my cheek, leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

I gasped in surprise as Ryan tilted his head, moving his lips softly against mine before breaking the kiss and smiling at me.

"You kissed me," I said in shock.
"I've wanted to kiss you since I first laid eyes on you." My heart was beating loudly in my chest as he took my hand in his and interlocked our fingers. "I've been asking you, relentlessly I might add, to all of my parties.  I'd hope and wish you'd show up and then when you walked in through my door tonight, I was so surprised that you did that I didn't know how to approach you."
"Ry, it's just me, you see me almost every day."
"And every day I say hello to the quiet girl who always has her nose in a book hoping she'd look at me the same way I look at her." I wanted to cry when he said this to me because I don't see it. Ryan doesn't look at me like he does the other girls.
"Guys like you don't look at girls like me." It came out as a whisper, putting my vulnerability out there for him to see. I stared down at our intertwined fingers as a lone tear ran down my face.
"Look at me," I looked up at him, his curly hair slicked back, his silly mustache twirled at the ends as he smiled softly at me. My heart leaped as he pushed back a strand of my hair and cupped my cheek again. "You're the only girl I see."
"What about the girl from accounting?" I didn't mean to ask it, but it came out anyways. I just didn't expect Ryan to chuckle and I pulled away from him.
"Hey, don't go. She's nothing to worry about." I gave him a look that said otherwise. "She left in an Uber an hour ago."
"I saw you two looking very cozy when I got here."
"She's not the girl I want and I told her that. She stormed out of the party right after that. You must have been outside when it happened because she caused quite the commotion."
"You don't want her?" Ryan shook his head no, inching his way closer to me.
"I only want you."
"Me?" He was so close to me again that I could see the flame from the fire dance in his eyes.
"Only you," he whispered, looking down at my lips and then back up to my eyes.

The countdown began inside, but Ryan and I didn't wait to midnight to kiss.

He crashed his lips to mine, tilting my head just right so he could deepen the kiss. I melted against him, carding my fingers through his curly strands as his tongue searched mine out.

We didn't kiss long, but enough to leave us both breathless once everyone started to celebrate the new year.

Fireworks lit the sky just then, causing me to jump into Ryan's arms as Sturgill went off running. He laughed, holding me close and pressed a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you for making my night, you have no idea how much your gift means to me and for coming."
"Why don't you show me?" I still couldn't believe that I was in Ryan's arms right now, let alone kissing him until I I couldn't breathe anymore.

Ryan beamed at me and then fell backwards onto his porch, pulling me down with him. I began to laugh but it got lost in my throat as his lips found mine again.

**

A/N: Well, this is a new concept for me.  I've honestly wanted to try my hand at short oneshots that were comfort and/or fluffed based.  I don't know if anyone is even going to like these, but I want to try and make a habit of writing in this weekly.

Bowman is up next & I'm really excited to write this one.  It's just going to be straight up cuteness!