Storm opened the door. "Come on in beauty." She did. Cruz looked around the room. Red carpet. Black leather seating. Dimmed our wall lamps. Glass tables. The room screamed romantic. "So.. guessing we will be in the bedroom most the night?.." Cruz asked awkwardly. Storm knew what she mean by that and gave her a strange look as he answered, "Do you think that's all I want? Get you in bed?" She smiled awkwardly.. "Um.. no?..". She was unsure. Storm rolled his eyes and continued, "Not that I wouldn't mind the night ending with that. But no. You'll need a helmet tonight." Cruz didn't understand. She asked curiously, "We are going racing? But?.. we just got done racing?" Storm laughed a bit grabbing out two helmets from behind the couch. "No." He answered as he tossed one the helmets to Cruz. She barely caught it. "I'm taking you for a drive tonight." Cruz nodded and asked, "In the race car?" She asked lifting the helmet up as reason. Storm smiled and replied "Wrong again Babe. Do you have a jacket?" Cruz was wearing a t shirt and tight jeggings. "In my car?" She answere. Storm nodded "You're gonna need it. Come on." He ordered as he slipped his leather jacket on. Cruz didn't know what he meant still.

They entered the parking area. Cruz got her jacket. Just a red sports jacket, then followed Storm. She stare as Storm stopped and leaned against the machine..

"A bike!?" She said suprised. Storm smiled and wiped some dirt off the tank. "Motorcycle. Yeah. Ever rode on one?" Cruz stared. She almost didn't answer "No I haven't.." Storm smiled and put his helmet on, "If you love racing and think that's fun. Wait til you ride this baby." He lifted a leg over and balanced the bike. "Get on." He ordered. Cruz slowly did. She made sure her helmet was on good to. "You sure this is safe?" She asked. Storm started the motorcycle up. It was a dark dark black. Fully black. Seat paint and wheels and rims. All of it black. Storm's answer made her nervous, "Hold onto me." She did just that. Cruz wrapped her hands tightly around Jackson. He revved the bike a bit and slowly drive out the garage area. Once they were out he sped off like a bulletproof. Mostly trying to impress her.

He zipped and weaves through the city traffic. The bike was really loud. It didn't vibrate all to much though. He went through into a backroad. A tunnel amplified he engije sounds. It was fun! Cruz loved it! The wind. The rush. Storm was right. Cruz began to get comfortable on the machine as Storm came to a stop on a little hillside meadow. The stars were few and the moon was huge. It was beautiful. Storm stopped the bike and rested it. He waited as Cruz hopped off. He then lifted his leg over and got off to. Both leaving there helmets on the bike seats. Storm pulled Cruz to the ledge. "Wow..." She said. You could see the full city. From here. In this darkness. It was a bunch of beautiful lights. He city lights looked more beautiful than the stars out here!? You could faintly hear the sounds of traffic. Mostly horns and maybe some sirens. Storm wrapped his arm around Cruz. "See? I'm not all bad?" He said. Cruz smiled. This was unexpected. "This is amazing Jackson. I've never.. Well I've never ridden a bike for one thing. And this view!? It's amazing!?" Storm was satisfied. "Wanna sit with me?" He sat on the ground. Cruz sat with him. They stared for a few minutes before Storm began to kiss Cruz's neck and get frisky. At first Cruz kept pushing him away. But one thing lead to another...

"Wow. You're good." Cruz said with a few breaths. Storm chuckled a bit as he smiled proudly. They layed side by side. Worn. Storm sat up, "I know. But thanks for the reminder." He winked. Cruz hit him in the shoulder and sat up with him. Cruz gazed into Storms eyes. "Jackson.."

His eyes gazing back at Cruz's brown eyes. "Yes?" Cruz smiled. She decided. She knew. They may have not been official for two weeks or so. But she had fallen for him long before. Sense a few months ago. When she though he wanted her to begin with. She knew. She wanted to say it. She wanted to get it out. "I think I love you."

Storm's eyes widened. He had a lot of women say that. Usually after the first night in bed... and first night they met. It made Storm feel.. scared.. nervous.. he didn't like titles. He didn't like saying love you to anyone. No one loves anyone. He swollowed hard. He did love her. He did. "Cruz.. please do not take this the wrong way but.." he paused. He didn't wanna hurt her. "Cruz I.. I can't say I love you to yet.. I mean I do.. but.. I.." he was having trouble with those darn words. These emotions!? It angered him a bit. Why was this always so hard to do. Cruz frowned. Only for a moment. She smiled again and spoke up, "Its Fine. Long as you know I love you. That's good enough for now." Wow she was amazing. Storm leaned into her lips and kissed her passionately. He layed her down slowly and kneeled on top of her "Round two?" He asked seductively and sexy. Cruz giggled a bit. "You know it!.. but.. maybe not here?" Headlights started to pull up. Jackson agreed and they headed back to the hotel. That night they watched some tv. And on the news something caught their attention on chicks picks with Chick Hicks.

'So racing fans we have all heard of rally racing and love to watch the intensity of it all. Now we maybe able to route for our very own racers from home!? Miss Ruby Koedel is personally inviting top racers to run in her four day rally race! Complete with asphalt, dirt, jumps, you name it it's there!? Each racer gets to form a team of total three racers. Including themselves. To race and win this rally! I'd be racing myself but we all know I'd take away the fun and glory from everyone else. Anyways! Ruby Koedel is coming here to select a racer!? Can you believe it!? Grand prize is one million to split with the team!'

Jackson and Cruz stared at each other. "Wouldn't that be something? To get picked to race?" Cruz mentioned. Jackson thought about it and answered "Maybe. I think I'll stick to what I know I'm good at." Cruz then joked "Oh? What's that? Running behind me?" Jackson smiled a bit "You're funny." Jackson smirked. "I'm gonna go back home before the piston cup. I really wish you'd come with me? Meet my parents?." Jackson rolled his eyes. Again with this?.. "Cruz. Please. I'm not the kinda guy you bring home to mom." Cruz sighed. Maybe he was right. He would defiantly be a bold choice to bring home.. He would stand out.. be the odd ball or worse.. think she's as weird as her family. "Okay." Cruz replied. Jackson kissed her. "Let's go the bedroom. Wanna try something." He smield and winked. Cruz smiled a bit nervously br followed her boyfriend...

Morning came. Jackson slept in. He woke up alone?.. he looked around and stretched a bit. "Cruz?" He called. Jackson stood up. Putting on some pants and grabbing his phone. Cruz left him a message.

Cruz

Headed back home. Sorry I didn't say goodbye. You looked so peaceful. I did leave you a kiss on your cheek! Love you.

He sighed. He hated waking up alone sometimes anymore. Without her. Maybe he should have went with her to meet her parents.. Nah.. to weird. Jackson noticed he had another message.

Rachel

Hey. Was gonna see if you still wanted my family to come down and meet? We have enough to now.

Jackson

Next week. Busy again.

He put it off. He didn't want to meet without Cruz by his side. He was scared. Nervous. Afraid even. Jackson went back home. Spent his time either drinking or on the phone with Cruz mostly. But what if made Cruz leave him?.. maybe she would. Then he wouldn't have to deal with these feeling anymore. Maybe that would be best? Then he thought about those words. I love you..

Jackson couldn't handle this. His thoughts. He needed a drink. He left and went out to a bar. Drink away this feeling. He needed to stop this. He got to his car and got in. Starting it up. But sat there. Unsure. He looked at his phone. Cruz.. "Why is it so hard to admit that I love you." It sting to even say it. Like poison to his lips.. he sighed. Where did he expect this to go anyway? She would leave upon meeting Rachel and the mistake he created.. Jackson hit his steering wheel and growled angry. Confused. "Gotta get this over with.." he mumbled to himself. He drove out to a bar. One he was known to be seen in a lot. The bar tender noticed him "Oh no. What's it this time? You know we don't open the bar til four?" Jackson glared and sat down "Judy please." She sighed and handed Jackson a shot. He drank it down and gave her a look. Judy sighed and fixed him a tall glass of something else. "What is it?" Jackson asked. Judy answered with raised brows. "The only thing else your getting here today." Jackson stared at it and asked "Will it kill me?" Judy sighed answering. "Maybe." Jackson smiled a bit and answered joking "Than it's perfect." He drank some. Judy leaned over. She was an older woman. Wrinkles on her face a bit. Faded brown hair and brown eyes. Busty and kinda husky. "So tell me dear. What happened this time. You know you are the most entertaining drunk I know." Jackson half smiled and answered "A girl." Judy nodded. Jackson drank some than corrected "Well three actually." Judys eyes widened. "Oh let me hear this please?" She begged a bit and sat down in front of Jackson. He didn't mind venting a bit to Judy. He did a lot when he drank here truly. Jackson dipped some more and answered "So the one Chick I got pregnant years ago.. who thought I was dead for the longest time. Is back and wants me to meet my daughter." Judy was suprised a little. Jackson continued "Then this other girl.. I don't know. She's.. different. We are.. dating.. and I'm finding it rather difficult no.. impossible to admit I love her.. and now she makes me want to do the right thing. Which is why I agreed to meet Ra.. um.. the first girl and the kid. But I know that I will probably lose the woman I love doing this..". Judy chuckled a bit "Wow. You got issues don't you." Jackson glared and drank. Judy sighed. Jackson asked "I don't wanna be my dad..". Judy then asked "Well you won't be. Because no one can be the same person as someone else." Jackson rolled his eyes drinking. Judy asked "If she loved you she will not care at all of you have a kid? And what are you afraid of now? Becoming like your dad?" Jackson answered back "He was aweful. Some kind of sexual perverted idiot who made me do things I regret! I'm gonna screw this kid up!" Judy laughed and explained "We all screw our kids up? I got two. Both grown up the same way. One is in college right now. Working two jobs and driving an old run down jalopy." Jackson raised a brow. "The other.." She continued "Is bald and doing drugs and doing hookers in the back of a Cadillac waiting for his next high while playing dress up in like he is a woman." She laughed a bit. Jackson replied "That's disturbing." Judy then spoke up "true story. But you know what. They made their choices once they left home." Jackson sighed. "That doesn't help." He explained. Judy took away the drink. "HEY! I'm not done with that!?" Judy poured it out and spoke up "Go Tell that darn girl you love her and meet your darn kid? Idiot." Jackson glared and left.

A few days passed. He called Cruz once. But he would see her at the race. He hesitated contacting Rachel.. Unsure about it. He didn't want to loose Cruz again..

but finally he called her.

Jackson?

"Come down and I'll meet you. Just you first..".

Really? Finally? Thank you.

"Yeah. Well. I don't know how yet. But I want to meet with you with my girlfriend. She's very supportive and I'm sure she will.. you.. she's important to me and will be with me probably."

Oh okay that's fine. I guess I'm lucky I'm even getting you to agree to meet me finally. Thank you again.

"Right well. I'll send you the information. The where and what not. Don't think this means anything I am just meeting you. Got it?!"

Geez okay? Nothing else. Got it?..

Jackson hung up. Sending her the place. The race was in two days.. he sat on his couch. Bugged. Overthinking. He was gonna have to do this gently. For Cruz. Not himself. Not for Rachel. For Cruz.