Author's Note: Once again, you guys do me proud. I was hoping you would like this story just because it holds a special place in my heart. I wanted a story where Jude feels conflicted but still remains strong--hard to do and sometimes I think it comes across as weakness on her part, but her strength will prevail. I have every intention of making Tommy beg (laugh out loud). And have you ever noticed the more forbidden something is, the more tempting it becomes. Hmmm...Please check in and keep reviewing. I love you guys! Angel422.


I watched the dust kicked up by the vanishing vehicles in trepidation—wondering as the racing cars rounded the corner out of sight which vehicle would be in the lead when they came back around. I also wondered vaguely about this innate need the male species seemed to have for needing to test the limits of their testosterone. How did I manage to be attracted to two guys in love with cars and with what they could do, albeit Tommy owned more of them, including a few motorcycles on the side? It made me question whether or not he also raced bikes on the side as a hobby. Did I even know half as much about Tom as I thought did? I'm guessing not. The crowd cheered as the cars rushed by again, and I strained my neck looking for Chris's number—27. I saw it falling back into spot number three followed closely behind by car number 17, which I knew from seeing it earlier, was Tommy's vehicle. Their closeness made me nervous as they passed, and I could feel the sweat bead up on my brows as I tried not to fidget nervously. God, I was going to have a friggin' coronary

I was really beginning to doubt if I should even stay. What if Tommy won? What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to react? But it was a distinct possibility. I knew that. Tom was four years older than Chris and had that much more experience. My mind was whirring almost as fast as the speeding cars again. There was Chris—in the number two spot with Tommy neck to neck with him. I groaned. Ugghhhhhhh! I just wanted to scream with the frustration that fought to jump out of my skin.

"So, this is why Tommy was so adamant about getting out on the tracks again." A voice said suddenly from behind me, and I turned to see Kwest shaking his head slowly as he approached me before leaning casually against the fence, watching the track silently. I just shrugged as I felt heat creep up the side of my neck. I didn't need anyone else to witness this catastrophe.

"You two are playing with fire, you know?" Kwest asked quickly as he glanced over at me. I just raised a brow angrily before pointing at the speeding cars as they came back into view. Chris was edging up to first.

"Me?" I asked Kwest sourly as he continued to watch me curiously. "He's the one that came here, Kwest. He's the one that's insisting on driving me completely insane." I pointed out fiercely as Kwest just raised his brows right back up at me.

"Is he, Jude. Is he the only one?" Kwest asked softly as I stared at the ground completely missing this time who was in first place as the cars rushed by again. Tommy was the problem. Not me. I wouldn't let Kwest psycho-analyze the situation. I wouldn't. I was just so conflicted—so I turned to anger to counter act it.

"Did he send you here to confuse me? Is that part of his plan too?" I asked on a scowl as Kwest just laughed at my expression.

"I'd be more worried if I were you about the fact that you jumped to blame him immediately. It speaks volumes about where your thoughts lie." Kwest commented as I stared at him in disgust—once again missing the cars as they sped by. Damn it! There was only one more lap, and I had no idea who was in the lead—didn't even have an inkling as to how I should start schooling my features. Kwest just shrugged.

"Tom'll win, Jude." Kwest remarked quietly as I looked back over at the track.

"And why do you say that?" I asked him huffily as he just laughed again before shaking his head.

"Because you know as well as I do that he doesn't admit defeat. He wants first place, and he'll fight for it." Kwest grumbled, and I watched in silent fascination almost as if it were in slow motion as the cars came around the bend toward the finish. And I couldn't help but wonder as I saw Tommy and Chris's car fighting for the first slot if Kwest was talking about the race or about Tom's fight for me. Tom's car suddenly seemed to find an extra burst of energy, and the wheels hit the finish line only a split second before Chris's. I cringed. And what did that mean for me? If he couldn't settle for second in a race, then what did that mean for me in life? Kwest clapped with the rest of the crowd as Tommy exited his car—raising his helmet with a self-satisfied smile. I saw him glance toward me, and God help me, I couldn't look away until Chris's car pulled up beside me. I stared down at it suddenly instead—pasting on a smile as he climbed out of it slowly. Chris was smiling sheepishly as he pulled off his helmet—looking over toward Tom to nod at him with new respect before turning back towards me. I could see the surprise that I felt mirrored in Tom's eyes at Chris's actions. And then I saw the guilt reflected there as well as Tom realized Chris's sportsmanship, knowing he had raced for ulterior reasons.

"He's one hell of a racer. I think I just became a better one just by racing him." Chris stated breathlessly as I smiled over at him—rushing into his embrace to congratulate him on his standings. He just shrugged.

"I have to go interview a few of the other drivers for a piece I want to do for the radio station, and then I have an appointment in town. You want to wait and go with me?" He asked me softly as I just shook my head slowly.

"Nah, I have to get back to the studio anyway. Just take your time. I'll see you later this afternoon, right?" I asked him hopefully—needing the time with him suddenly very badly. He grinned before nodding.

"You bet, Sassy." He remarked before kissing me gently along the forehead—waving once more at Tommy and the rest of the racers before melding into the crowd. I saw Tommy approaching me from the corner of my eye, and I groaned.