Disclaimer: Don't own anyone but Aubrey Yates. For the real names of people I didn't know, I substituted for names I made up. I don't know how old Doug Yates is in real life, but in my story he is in his 48 and old enough to be Aubrey's father. And remember THIS IS FICTION!

Chapter 1

Aubrey Earnhardt walked around the infield of Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon and sighed. She had spent the last two hours looking for her boyfriend of almost three years, Elliott Sadler. They had met through her older brother Dale Jr. The two had begun dating a few months after before she turned twenty-two in 2003. She finally walked back to the garage area to see if he was there. On her way to his garage, she ran into her older brother Dale Jr.

"Hey AJ."

Aubrey looked up in front of her and noticed her brother. He'd been calling her AJ her whole life. He had found out her middle name was June from their mother. He had insisted right then and there that he wanted to be unique and call her something other than Aubrey. God help anyone who tried to call her AJ. There were quite a few people who had tried and were on the receiving end of the famous Earnhardt glare. That was definitely not a place you wanted to be that's for sure. He had also started calling her AJ because he thought Aubrey was a girlie-girl name. And no girlie-girl worked on cars, rode four wheelers, hunted, fished, watched sports, and played video games. Hell she even raced with him on the small track he had in his back yard.

"Hey Junior."

Junior walked over to her and threw his arm around her shoulder.

"Whatcha doin?"

"Lookin for Elliott."

"He's in Dale Jarrett's garage. They've been talking setups and all that fun stuff."

Aubrey nodded slowly and sighed. She noticed a look of concern appear on her friend's face.

"What's wrong AJ?"

"What's wrong with me isn't a conversation to have in front of all these people."

Junior noticed she was referring to the fans and the media scattered around the infield.

"So let's go to my coach and grab a Bud."

"I'm guessin you're done for the day."

"Yep. So is that a yes?"

"Yeah let's go."

The two headed back the way Aubrey had come and went right to Junior's coach. Aubrey couldn't help but be amazed. This was the first time she'd been in his coach he had for the new season. It was better than the one from last year by times ten. Aubrey sat on his couch while he went to the refrigerator and grabbed two Budweiser's.

"So what's goin on AJ?"

She took the beer he held out for her, opened it, and took a big drink. Junior knew then that whatever was happening with her was big.

"Promise me it will stay between us?"

"If you don't want me tellin' anyone I won't. Ya know that AJ."

"Elliott's family has been asking questions to him about us getting married. Our family has too. Now he's askin questions about it."

"Ok I'm not seeing anything wrong so far. It's understandable that they're asking that. Yall have been together for almost three years."

"I know that. I know Elliott is fixing to be thirty this year and wants to settle down and have kids soon, but I am only twenty-four. I'll be twenty-five in June. I don't think I am ready for all of that jazz right now."

"Not ready for it all together or just not ready for it with him?"

Aubrey looked at Junior in surprise. She never expected him out of all people to ask that. But she knew he was only asking that because he was looking out for not only her, but Elliott as well.

"Junior I would love to marry Elliott. I'd love to grow old with him, but I am just not ready to be married right now. Guess this is my punishment for dating an older man and falling in love with him."

"How is this punishment?"

"Because I could lose him once I tell him I'm not ready for marriage right now."

"You actually think he'd end yall's relationship because of that?"

"Junior we both want two different things in our lives right now. Of course I think he would."

"Well I think you're wrong. Elliott's not like that."

Before Aubrey could respond she heard a sound coming from her NEXTEL signaling an alert. She looked at it and saw Elliott's name.

"Speak of the devil…"

She pushed the button on her two-way.

"Hey."

"Where ya at? I've been looking for ya."

Aubrey smiled as she heard his sweet southern voice coming through the small phone speaker. That was one thing she loved about him.

"Junior's coach. I tried finding you earlier, but you were with DJ talking over setups. So when Junior found me lookin' for you we just began to hang out."

"Ok well I'm back at the coach. So whenever yall are done just come meet me here ok?"

"Ok."

"I love you Aubrey."

Aubrey felt her heart sink at those words due to the fact that she felt she was close to losing him.

"I love you too Elliott."

She turned and looked at Junior and wiped the tears that were slowly descending down her face. Junior held his arms out to her. She crawled into his embrace and just let it all out. It was times like this that made their brother-sister relationship and friendship so special. They were always there for the other. Times like this made them much closer despite the six-year age difference.

"Thanks Junior."

"No probs AJ. Ya know I'm here whenever ya need me. And I promise I won't say anything. But I do think you need to talk to him about this."

"I just wish this would've happened during the off season. I don't want this to have an effect on his driving. He doesn't need any distractions."

Junior nodded and let her use his bathroom to freshen up in. It was then his phone beeped. He looked at the caller ID and noticed it was his turn to be alerted by Elliott.

"Hey Sadler."

"Hey Junior. Some of the guys are comin over to play XBOX. You in?"

"What so I can kick your ass again Sadler?"

"Bring it on Earnhardt."

"You got it. I'll head over there right now with AJ."

"Ok. Tell her I love her ok? Hey you don't know what's going on with Aubrey do ya?"

"What do ya mean?"

"I don't know. She's just been acting really weird lately. It's almost like she's pushing away from me sometimes."

"Have you asked her?"

"Nope."

"Then I think you should ask her."

"So you do know something. Man tell me…"

"Whether I know somethin' or not Elliott it would be my place to tell you. Talk to your girlfriend."

"Ok. Well I'll see yall in a few minutes."

Aubrey came out of the bathroom and weakly smiled at her brother. She had overheard his conversation.

"So I'm guessin we're goin over there now."

"Only if you want to AJ."

Aubrey slowly nodded at her brother and walked over to Elliott's coach with him. When they walked in there were drivers everywhere. Martin Truex Jr, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Kasey Kahne. She looked and saw Elliott sitting on one of the couches and noticed him smiling at her. He patted his lap and she walked over to him. As soon as Junior took a seat next to them on the floor the guys began playing. Aubrey looked down at her phone as it began vibrating. She had learned the first time the guys had all come over that they all turned their cell phones on vibrate. She looked at the caller ID and smiled. It was one of her best friends. She then noticed she had a few seconds between the round to go use her phone outside.

"Hello?"

"Hey honey."

"Hey mom. How are you?"

"Good sweetie. How is it going there?"

"So far so good. Elliott says he has a good car. Junior says his is ok."

Aubrey talked to her mom for a little while longer thanking her for taking care of her teacup Chihuahua, Macy. Then after folding her phone shut she went back inside. The guys were all playfully arguing. She walked back over and sat on Elliott's lap and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. This reminded her of the first night they had the guys all over once they started dating.

FLASHBACK

"Elliott!"

Aubrey squealed in excitement as her boyfriend chased her into the bedroom in the coach. Normally on race weekend she stayed with her brother in his coach, but now she was staying with Elliott. Tonight about seven of their friends were coming over to play video games. She had heard how crazy those nights were, but figured what the hell. All the guys' other halves were all getting together but didn't invite her for some reason. She didn't know it was because Elliott told them he wanted her there with him.

"Elliott…the guys are coming over."

"Not for another hour and a half."

Aubrey was about to reply but instead looked up into his eyes as he laid his body softly over hers. Sometime later the guys yelling awakened her. She got dressed and pulled her hair back with a claw. She walked into the living room area where they had just finished a game and were yelling at Junior saying he cheated. She laughed softly and made her way over to tell her brother hi. Just as she was about to take another step she felt herself being pulled into someone's arms. Aubrey looked behind her and smiled at Elliott.

"Can I help you?"

She couldn't help but blush as he whispered in her ear that she'd helped him earlier.

"Ok lovebirds break it up."

The guys were ready to start another round. Elliott had now sat on the floor giving her his seat on the couch. As soon as the game was finished the guys were now yelling at Elliott saying he cheated.

"Guys come on. It's not called cheating."

"So what is it called then Aubrey?"

"Well Jimmie…it's called having no life. All Junior and Elliot do is play video games."

As the guys all began to laugh, Junior and Elliott pounced on her. They began tickling her.

"Guys come on…"

"Not until you say it."

Aubrey paused and looked into her boyfriend's eyes.

"I swear to God Elliott if you don't stop you are never having sex with me again."

All the guys began laughing as Elliott jumped back with quickness.

"Junior if you ever want to have kids I'd leave me alone."

Junior paused and looked down at where one of her legs was between his. He jumped back and went over to the whole other side of the room. After a few more hours of playing video games the guys left leaving Elliott and Aubrey alone. Elliott walked back into the bedroom and looked at his girlfriend who was sleeping. She had thrown the covers off of her somewhere in the midst of her sleep. He smiled when he recognized the shirt she wore as one of his own. When she moved in her sleep he noticed that was all she had on. As he began to undress a small smile on Aubrey's face went unnoticed by him. She had been awake for some time now and knew exactly what she wanted.

END FLASHBACK