To Make Him Jealous
Chapter Five - NASCAR & Romance
"So this is my garage." Dale JR. pulled out his keys and pushed a button, opening the five door garage. Lots of shinny cars appeared and Riza just stared.
"Your pick Riza. Which one shall we take today?" JR. smiled and held the keys in his hand and jiggled them. Riza took the keys and looked at the cars. She then looked at the keys and picked a shinny one that was diamond shaped.
"Good choice." JR. walked into the garage and started up a car and pulled it out from behind a truck. Riza smiled. A red Chevy Corvette. JR. pulled up and allowed Riza in.
"Roof or no roof." He asked.
"No roof." Riza smiled. So the roof went down reveling a beautiful cloudless sunny sky. Riza pulled out a pair of sleek looking sunglasses and put them on. Then JR. pulled away. Back in DEI, Roy was standing on the second floor watching through a window as Riza drove off with JR. Roy shrugged it off and turned back to Shella, this time hearing everything.
"This looks like a good place." Came the voice of JR. They had been driving for about thirty minutes and Riza was enjoying every minute. They had stopped outside of a stake house. They went in and the waitress just smiled and greeted them as if JR. was no one special. She seated the two at a corner booth and as they looked over their menus, they shared small talk.
"So, how'd you get into NASCAR?" JR. asked.
"Tell you the truth, just flipping through a magazine my boss had in the office a few years ago. There was a brief article on the sport and it interested me." Riza smiled and continued to look though her menu.
"Amazing how fast cars can easily attract attention, even in a small article." A voice was heard and both JR. and Riza looked up to see JR's racing teammate Michael Waltrip and his wife Buffy.
"Hey Michael. Buffy." JR. said with a smile.
"Hey JR., and..." Buff smiled and looked at Riza.
"I'm Riza, nice to meet you." The girls shook hands and Michael smiled.
"She won the NASCAR essay contest." JR. smiled.
"Cool, congratulations Riza." Michael said with a kind smile. "I've heard of that contest. Nice to be able to meet the winner."
"Thank you." Riza smiled.
"Well, don't want to keep you, see you tomorrow buddy." Michael said as he and Buffy began walking away.
"He's so nice and Buffy is too." JR. smiled as he began to look at the menu. A few minutes later a waitress walked up and took their drink orders and food orders. As they waited, they continued to talk.
"So, You read a magazine huh? How'd you find out about the contest?" JR. asked.
"I heard an advertisement for it on the radio during one of the races. So I entered." Riza smiled.
"Well I must say, I've read the essay and I really liked it. You captured your love for the sport very nicely. It wasn't too 'English Class' yet it was very well written." JR. smiled and Riza smiled back.
"Thank you JR." Riza said. Then, their meals arrived and they ate in silence. Two more drivers passed by with their families and small hellos were exchanged and Riza was introduced yet again.
Finally, they finished eating and JR., like the southern gentle man he was, paid for the meal. They headed back out to the car. It was around 3pm and Riza wanted this moment to last forever. They drove back to DEI, but instead of going to DEI, they drove back to JR's house.
"Tell me Riza." JR. asked, the wind blowing in both's hair.
"Your a race fan. Your my fan. But where would you rather hang out, my place or 'Dad's' place." JR. asked with a smile.
"Which ever. I wouldn't mind a tour of your place. I've already seen DEI." Riza smiled as JR. pulled into his long driveway. He parked his car outside and they went inside. He gave her the grand tour. More then what was ever seen on TV. From the kitchen to the basement to the second floor to the game room and more. Riza would ask simple questions and JR. would reply with a simple answer.
"Do you drink wine or Champaign, Riza?" JR. asked as they sat out on his back porch watching the sun set over his home made back yard race track.
"Yes, preferable wine." Riza replied with a smile as JR. got up and re entered his house. He emerged with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Riza read the bottle.
"Jeff Gordon?" Riza asked with a slight chuckle as the wine was pored.
"Yep, gave all the drivers free samples so we could spread the word." JR. repaid as he handed Riza her drink. The sun was now completely gone and the crescent moon shown brightly over head. The drank in silence at first but then began to talk.
"Your going to the race tomorrow?" JR. asked.
"Yes." Riza replied.
"Good. I'm giving you a formal invitation to come down to the pit and hang out before your shuffled up to your seat." JR. smiled.
"Great thanks." Riza smiled in turn and drank more of her wine, which she actually enjoyed. After about an hour of twilight, JR. drove Riza back to DEI where the limo was waiting patently. JR. went inside and talked to someone and the limo was sent home.
"The jet is taking us down to Florida tonight. Care to join us? We can drop you off at your hotel." JR. asked and Roy rolled his eyes. He was starting to hate the guy already. He was stealing 'his' Riza. But still, Roy stood in silence as Riza agreed then climbed into the jet, Roy close behind. In Florida, Riza and Roy were given a limo ride back to the hotel.
"See you tomorrow JR." Riza waved good-bye.
"Just come to the pit entrance gate, they will let you in and show you where I'll be." JR. waved back and then Riza and Roy were on their way back.
A/N- Yes, Jeff Gordon now makes wine. No, haven't been to Dale JR's house but I did see it on MTV Cribs once. Don't remember if it had 5 garage doors. But I felt it would add something. And I also don't remember if he owned a Chevy Corvette convertible. I like fast cars and convertibles. Please review. Constructive criticism allowed. No flames (Roy is the only one with that privilege)