Lightning couldn't sleep at all. So early morming he got up and grabbed some things to make himself some coffee but as he opened the grounds it was empty. He sighed. Oh no. Today was going to be one of those days that he absolutely needed a coffee. He checked his phone but.. No Cruz yet. She should be back in town at some point today. Gosh what would he even tell her? The truth!?
Lightning began the drive down to the diner. Flo had the best coffee in town. And he was tired. He didn't even have the radio on. He was just ino the quiet drive. Thinking deeply about things. Like how he made love to Sally. Oh Sally.. He loved that woman so much. If only she'd give him the chance. But Lightning was snapped out of his thoughts and peaceful drive by the sudden lights and siren blur behind him. "Awe no.." He growled. It was only Sheriff.
Lightning pulled over and waited for Sheriff to come over. He was taking longer than usual. So while waiting he glanced at his phone. Hmmm.. No email from Sally yet or text from Cruz. He sighed. Tap, tap. Lightning looked at the window and rolled his down. "Uuhh.. You're not Sheriff?" Lightning pointed out. Gage nodded and asked "Do you know why I pulled you over Mr McQueen?" Lightning sighed admitting "Speeding.." "Speeding that's right. I'm gonna have to give you a ticket." Gage replied. Lightning sighed muttering "Sheriff usually let me get off with little.. Warnings but.." Lightning stared at Gage a moment. "You're... Not gonna let me off with a warning?.. Are you?.." Gage glared and shook his head.
"You should watch your speed Mr McQueen." he handed Lightning the ticket. Lightning more of was just annoyed he was caught. But noticed "This says for speeding and? What are these things?" he pointed out. Gage glanced and chuckled explaining "Oh! You were swerving back and fourth as well and that is for the busted tail light. It's illegal." Lightning raised a brow and corrected "I don't have a busted tail light?.." Gage sighed and leaned down saying "The mayor sends her regards.." Then stepped away Lightning wasn't sure what exactly that was about then Gage stopped and jammed his pen into Lightning's tail light, cracking it and yanked hard enough it broke to pieces.
"Hey!?" Lightning snapped and got out the car. Gage pulled his taser out threatening "Sir get back in the car!" Lightning stopped dead. He'd been tasered before and that was not happening! Lightning put his hands up and returned to the car, shutting the door. Gage then got into his and left. Lightning shook his head. What did Cleo do with Sheriff?...
"Mayor?" Gage said as he peeked in. "There's a man here to see you. He's not from around here." Cleo raised a brow but nodded and asked "Did he say why he's here?" Gage shrugged "Names Francesco Bernoulli." Cleo's eyes widened! That was Sally's ex fiancee! "Send him in." she ordered. Gage nodded once and let Francesco in. "Francesco Bernoulli.." Cleo said and rolled her tongue to exaggerate his name. Francesco say down in the guest seat of her chair. "What brings you here? No one has seen you in so long. After.. Cruz had an.. Accident. You seemed to?.. Disappear.." She leaned on the desk. She was intimidating.
Francesco nodded slowly. "Awe.. Yes.. Francesco.. Had to go." Cleo opened her bottom desk drawer and pulled out some kidn if whiskey. "You drink?" she asked. Francesco stared a moment and was unsure what to really think of this woman. "I find it so.. Crazy that you and I never had the proper pleasure of meeting Francesco." Cleo said. Francesco bobbed his head replying "When I heard you become mayor I must say I was not surprised."
Cleo smiled "Really?" she asked. Francesco smiled and sipped his drink. "Exquisite taste. We could do excellent work together you and I." Cleo raised a brow and giggled "I'm sorry but I have a boyfriend. A fiancee." Francesco laughed, not on purpose. "No. I do not mean.. Wow.. This must be embarrassing. I know you.. Like the material things life has to offer.. So let me offer you your very own place in Italy. A private plane to get you there and back." Cleo smiled a little. "Wow. Really? Wait what are you wanting in return?" she asked.
Francesco leaned in the chair before answering "I want to offer you guidance. Help in getting more power. I know how this place works. I can help you." Cleo glared and wasn't convinced. "I also want a little help. Just a few.. Little things here and there. For one, you should be helping Cal's school thrive." Cleo raised a brow and curiously asked "What does Cal's racing school have to do with you?" Francesco sighed answering "Trust me. It has a lot to do with what I want.. Jackson Storm could be of a lot of use to the school." "But Cal has Cruz?.." Cleo reminded.
Francesco nodded "And I have pain medication for the head aches that women like you cause. Doesn't mean I can't use some hot tea on the side to help." Cleo glared. "Get Cal to hire Storm. Doesn't need to be a big job. Just something to get Storm into Dinico." Cleo sighed. "Why should I even care?" she giggled rudely. Francesco sipped his drink before answering "Because people love Storm. Cal has an entire generation following him. And I know you promised the school to your? Fiancee? Is it?.. I plan to take McQueen down and Cal is going to do it for me. He will be weak and you can have him replaced." Cleo smiled and shrugged "And I get my own place in venice with a plane?" Francesco corrected "Porto corsa. But yes." Cleo sipped her drink before nodding "You got a deal."...
Sally had been needing some girl time. So she and Jesse decided to have lunch in Sally's office of the cozy cone motel. It was good. Both girls were needing it really. Sally munched on her salad, Jesse and her burrito and nachos. "So Bobby is married now." Jesse started. Sally shook her head. "I still can't believe he married a girl so... Young.." Jesse agreed but shrugged "Better her than me. That relationship went to the bedroom and that was it. When I told Bobby I wanted to stop the games and have a family he ran. I feel bad for that girl. Poor thing doesn't know what she's getting into." Jesse raised her glass and drank. Sally snickered. But it was good that Jesse seemed to not even care about Bobby and his new wife.
"I wish I could feel that way about Lightning sometimes.." She muttered. Jesse nodded explaining "Maybe. But it'll never happen baby girl. You two have kids! A family! A history! I wouldn't expect you to sweetie." Sally frowned a little. Things would have been and would be so much easier if she didn't.. If Lightning.. Hmm..
"Well what's new with you Sally?" Jesse asked sipping her drink. Sally sighed answering with a small smile "I saw Chester." Jesse's eyes widened "Oh!? Please tell me you two did it again." Sally rolled her eyes "Well Yeah.. We did and"-"Oh I knew it! How good was he? You still haven't told me if he's more of a grower or a shower." Sally snickered and nodded "Chester is amazing. It's actually really funny. We were suppose to just go out for lunch. And I found out his deepest secret.." Sally said in this suspiciously cute way. Jesse raised a brow. "What's that?" she asked. Sally sipped her drink and shook her head. She was not going to tell Jesse that Chester was Lightning.
"How is work?" Sally asked. Jesse leaned in her chair and sighed "I hate bouncing frok job to job.. Absolutely exhausting. But people don't like me." Sally laughed correcting "Bosses don't like your mouth." Jesse nodded "Yeah there's that too." she agreed. "And you?" Jesse asked. Sally looked around her office. "Back to the motel. It's nice though. A lot less crowded and busy. More time for kids to, which is a plus!" she smiled. Jesse almost choked on her drink as she replied "Speaking of kids, I saw my doctor and.. He gives me the all go for artificial insemination." Sally's eyes widened "Wow.. A sperm donor... Did you?.. Not talk to the adoption agency?" Jesse nodded "I did. But I want to feel everything. But adoption is my back up. Although single moms don't really have a good chance in that ring."
Sadly that was true. Jesse sighed admitting "Sometimes I thought about just.. Drugging Bobby up and getting the baby I wanted from him but.. I want a thoroughbred sperm." Sally snickered and shook her head. Jesse was hilarious. "How are the kids anyway?" Jesse then asked. Sally happily answered "Well. Ece has this incredibly cute bond and attachment to Lightning lately. But found out the poor thing might need glasses.." "Awe.." "It's fine. Lightning wears glasses at times so Ece thinks she'll just be like her dad. Then Colton and his jealousy toward his siblings are killing me." Jesse giggled and exclaimed "Remind me to only have ONE kid. sibling rivalry is the worse." Sally giggled at that but honestly she would have more kids if she could!
"Landon is finally potty trianed! Two down, one to go." "Just little Ece?" Jesse asked. Sally nodded. "And with Halloween coming up these kids are getting candy crazed." Jesse giggled hearing that. "You got their costumes yet?" she asked. Sally shook her head explaining "It's on the weekend. Lightning has the kids for Halloween." Jesse sighed. "You not going with?" she asked. Sally thought a moment but shook her head. Jesse smiled and took Sally's hand "You know?.. We could have our own little.. Adult Halloween party? Maybe you invite your Chester? Hmm?" Sally laughed "Ha. sure Jesse. Sure." "Come on! It could be super fun! Think of all the sexy men we could meet. I should get a little action before being spermified." Sally snickered and rolled her eyes. "Maybe I'll get a baby ole naturel.. Hmm?" Jesse smiled. Sally laughed again. Oh Jesse. Poor interesting Jesse.
"How are things bebetween you and Lightning?" Jesse asked. Sally shook her head and explained "Well for one, he's dating Cruz.." Oh the way she said it. Sally was mad. "You jealous?" Jesse asked. Sally shook her head but the way she shoved her fork into the lettuce said other wise. "Oh.. Okay. So you aren't mad?" she asked. Sally shook her head but remained silent. Jesse sighed. It was so obvious that Sally was very mad. "Sally..." "I'm fine Jesse. Don't worry about me." Sally snapped. Jesse nodded and went back to eating her nachos. But she wasn't fine. She was actually wondering how Lightning was doing with Cruz and what he planned to do now. "Actually I should.. Call him and tell him about the kids costumes at the least.. Right?" Sally asked her friend. Jesse shrugged answering "Sure."
Sally
Have you thought about the kids costumes for Halloween?
Lightning stopped his work on his computer for the moment and glanced at that text. Um.. No? Halloween and kids costumes were the least of his concern right now. Sally wasn't talking to Chester now.. And Cruz hadn't called, texted or shown up. He sighed and grabbed his phone to reply
Lightning
Not yet. I don't even know if the kids really wanna dress up yet.
Sally
They are kids. They will. Ece has been going on about being a princess and Landon wants to be a police officer. Colton won't tell me anything.
Lightning sighed. What was he suppose to do? Seriously take three toddler sized kids out in the middle of the night? Last year they didn't even do a halloween. Sense Sally wasn't up for it and things weren't going all to well between them at the time.
Lightning
Great. I'll get Ece and Landon costumes after work.
Sally
And Colt?
Lightning
I'll figure it out.
Sally stared at the text a moment. Part of her wanted to know why. Not why Halloween stuff but.. Why Chester? Why did he do that? To sleep with her?
Sally
Are you really seeing Cruz?
Lightning stared at that text. Was he? So he decided to go ahead and try to call Cruz. No answer though. He could call Cal, at the school. That might cause trouble though. Instead, Lightning just sent Cruz a text.
Lightning
Hey, I know you are so mad at me. I am sorry for what I did to you. I shouldn't have tried to hide it and just come clean. Please talk to me. Call me please or come by anytime.
Lightning then went back to the text Sally sent. Staring at it. Was she jealous?
Lightning
Who I see is my business Sally. I know you don't like Cruz but it's not really your choice.
Oh it hurt Sally reading that. So Chester was Lightning. And that meant Lightning was seeing two women AGAIN. He was just never going to change.. Was he?
Lightning sighed and pushed the phone away. But.. Maybe? He glanced at Chester's email real quick. Nothing though. He frowned. Did he do something wrong? Maybe he should have stayed. Knock, knock. He looked at his door. Celia opened it and came on inside announcing "Got your trip all ready for you Mr McQueen. Your old school says they are super excited to see you. Even asked of you'd do a short interview with some students. I told them of coarse.. Hope that was okay?.." She smiled awkwardly. Lightning thought quickly but nodded answering "Yea, sounds great. Thank Celia." She smiled and nodded once. She began to leave but Lightning stopped her saying "Oh, Celia?" She stared. Lightning smiled as he then asked "You? Wanna come with me? Could use a young savvy tech like you there. Plus who else is gonna warn me before I do something stupid for my image?" He joked.
Celia's eyes widened "Really!? ME? Go with YOU? To small town Texas track?" She asked in disbelief. Lightning nodded. Celia was so shocked and taken by surprise. "YES! DUH! Oh my god.., Thank you Mr McQueen!" She shouted. Lightning snickered and nodded replying "You're welcome. Just don't expect a raise.," He joked again. Celia really didn't care though! She was getting one of those trips of a life time deals right now, money was not a problem!...