"Yes. Definitely. Oh I would really love that Dad." Lightning walked in hearing Sally say that. She was on her office phone of the Cozy cone. Lightning walked up behind her and moved her hair over and kissed her neck. She quickly shooed him away as she continued on the phone. "Well of course Lightning is here. He's still on break and it is Christmas. Lightning played a huge role in reopening Wheel Well." Lightning pulled Sally's chair out and turned her to face him then dropped to his knees in front of her and spread her legs open by her knees. Sally pushed him away and quietly scolded "What the hell Lightning!? STOP IT!" Lightning snickered and pulled her back to him asking "When do I ever listen. Come on, get off the phone." Sally's brows lowered as she continued to speak on the phone. "That would be nice Dad. Yes, of course I have room for you at Wheel Well. I'd love to show you Radiator Springs." Lightning looked up at Sally with wide eyes and mouthed "Your Dad is coming? Like here?"
Sally nodded and continued. "Okay Dad. Great. Can't wait to see you. Love you to." She hung up and looked down at Lightning asking "What is your problem?" "I just like teasing you and bugging you, but hold on." He stood up. "Your Dad is coming here?" Sally nodded. "Why?" Asked Lightning. Sally shrugged then answered. "He's being supportive. He knows I have wanted Wheel Well to happen for such a long time." Lightning swallowed asking "But he is coming up here, over here? Like staying in the motel?" "Yup." "Oh.. How.. Nice.." Lightning said with a fake and nervous smile. Sally glared and saw right through it. "Is that a problem?" Asked Sally. Lightning shook his head. "No, nope. Just.. Your Dad really doesn't like me." "Well play nice. It'll be the first time he's been in Radiator Springs." "Really?" Asked Lightning. Sally nodded. "Can you please behave?" "I guess.. When will he be here?" "Any day, anytime. He always liked to just show up back when I was in school." Sally explained.
Lightning sighed. Carson coming might just ruin his plans. He frowned and Sally noticed and took her boyfriend's hand. "You okay? You seem a little upset by my Dad coming? He's family and.. Both of you mean a lot to .. Try to get along better than before. I got to talk to my Dad about us anyway." "What? Why?" Lightning felt even more nervous now. "Because I over heard something before and I should have confronted my Dad for it." "W-what did you hear?" Asked Lightning as he stepped back a step or two.
Sally giggled quietly. "You are so weird suddenly. Look, I have to go anyway. I'm going to head to the city and do some shopping. I maybe hiring a party planner for the grand opening to.. Oh! And I gotta still announce the grand opening. So much budgeting to do..." "I can help." Offered Lightning. Sally smiled and placed a hand on Lighting's chest before replying. "Thanks, but I want to myself. Besides the party planning. I haven't had or been to a party in years really." "Oh I can handle that for you." Lightning assured. "I know the perfect guy for the job. He is always bragging about these parties he's been to. All types. I'm sure I can sweet talk him into a decent price for you." "Really?" asked Sally. "Nothing to crazy Stickers. Just a nice yet.. Big and sparkling party." "So glitter?" "What? No. You know what I mean. Eye catching." Sally explained.
Lightning nodded replying "Great. You go and relax. Enjoy your shopping and maybe even go to a spa. You look tense. I can handle the party." "Are you sure?" Asked Sally. Lightning nodded assuring her he could do this and Sally trusted him with it. "Alright. You got the job." She joked. Lightning chuckled then pulled her close and kissed her lips softly. "Go on. And really, I can't wait to see your Dad." "Really?" Asked Sally with a raised brow. Lightning tried not to laugh and answered "No. That man is crazy. Probably where you get all your crazy from." Sally smiled, but glared at the same time and gently punched Lightning in the shoulder for that. "Behave." She warned. Lightning snickered saying "Don't I always." "Uh.. No. No, not really."...
"Thanks for coming over Bobby." Said Lightning as he unlocked the doors to the motel. Bobby nodded and began looking around at the place. Wheel Well was more stone than anything and the place had a very elegant feel, yet homey. The only colors here were brown, tan, beige, gravel, dusty brown. "Wow.. Pretty bland huh?" Bobby joked. Lightning shrugged asking "Think we can have a small party here?" "Oh totally. Loving this bar area here. What kind of drinks you serve?" He asked as he grabbed the menu. Bobby glanced over it and snickered as he pointed out, "You realize that all these wines and such will barely be purchased. Gotta put some.. Simple stuff on the menu to."
Lightning glanced at the menu and nodded. Sally did have fine taste. "Well, Sally was the one who did all this.." Lightning admitted. Bobby raised a brow and asked "I thought you owned this place?" "Well.. I do, but.. For Sally. I'm more of an.. Investor." That made Bobby chuckle. "Never let the woman run it, but let her think she is. Genius man." "Uh.. That's not exactly what I said.." Lightning mumbled. Bobby wrapped an arm around Lightning saying "I can make two different style parties really poop here. Neither of them are simple. VIP style or"-"It's a grand opening event Bobby." Reminded Lightning.
"Oh. Right." Bobby smiled stupidly. Lightning glared at the racer and asked "Can I trust you with this or not?" "Sure you can! I have experience in this field man." "So how much?" "Nothin. Don't worry about it. Anything for a friend McQueen." Assured Bobby. "Just as long as you relax, step back, and let Bobby handle everything for you. Of course I have a few minor questions. Like girls?" "No." "Come on! You need a main attraction." "No. The motel IS the attraction." Corrected Lightning. Bobby snickered and shook his head. "Not really. More like a distraction. I'm thinkin girls, music, more simple bar, dancers." "No." "You're holding me back McQueen!" Bobby snapped!
Lightning nodded agreeing. "Yea, and for good reasons. Please just plan a simple party." Bobby glared and finally agreed. "Fine. I'll plan your grandma's party. But I won't be proud of it." "Good. Thank you." Lightning replied. Bobby began shoving Lightning out of the place as he said "Now go. I got plans and stuff to deal with. Lots of phone calls. I'll have it ready three days." "Three days? Really?" Asked Lightning with surprise. That was a lot sooner than Sally had planned. Bobby nodded and assured. "Yup. And you make sure you and the ole lady dress nice. Like a formal yet trashy formal look. Now go." Bobby said as he took the keys. Lightning turned and stopped Bobby saying "Well, hold on. There is one last little detail." "What?" "I got something special planned for Sally for Christmas and I figured I would give it to her here Before the opening. Have a nice quiet little date and giver her the gift earlier." Bobby chuckled hearing that then nudged Lightning "Oh I see. You are going to give it to her real good huh?"
Lightning shook his head snarling. "Not that. I bought her a ring." "WHAT!?" "Not an engagement ring. Fuck no. Just a promise ring." "A what what now?" Asked Bobby with such a disgusted face. Lightning sighed and explained. "I just thought it would mean something to her. She is always so jealous that I'm gonna want someone else and we barely see each other during the season and thanks to this place, it's only going to get worse.. Might as well be a long distance relationship." He whined. Bobby crossed his arms then asked "So what the heck does a promise ring do?" "It's more symbolic than anything really. I plan on making it clear that I can not promise her we will marry one day, but that I do promise that she is the only woman I want and actually look at." "Liar. You look at all kinds of girls." "You know what I mean Bobby." "You mean sex. Really? You want to be that guy?" "What guy?" Asked Lightning.
Bobby shook his head then explained. "Cal. The party pooper. Come on McQueen! Promising yourself to one woman? Really? You think you're ready for that?" "Well.. I thought so." "You thought wrong and I'll prove it to you." Lightning's brows lowered. "How?" He asked. Bobby smiled answering. "Two words. Strip club." "No." "Oh come on. Just you and me." "No." "Hey! I'm not saying go cheat on Sally. I'm saying go and look at the menu. Come with me and see if you feel like maybe you might be jumping into this one woman for the rest of your life thing. You said it yourself, it's basically long distance for the rest of your career, which is gonna be like what? Twenty to thirty years? So you mean you want less and less sex?" "That's not what I"-"It is and will be. If you devote yourself entirely to one woman now, your sex life is dead. Right now you have a pool of women that would do anything for you." "Anything?" Asked Lightning. "Now you gettin it!" Shouted Bobby happily. "But if you really love this one woman, sure.. I'll write the obituary for your man card."
Lightning started thinking about the future. One woman.. Forever.. With work and the motel and his career. It wasn't just sex that he was thinking about though and it began to really worry him. Bobby noticed a bit and asked "Dude.. You ain't gonna cry over this are you?" Lightning's brows lowered again. "No, but.. In general is that good for a relationship? The last woman I was with like that.. Well.." Mollie. Bobby raised a brow and asked "What do you mean?"
Lightning looked at his friend. "Well.." He began, but paused as he thought about some stuff to himself. Bobby crossed his arms and snapped "Speak up." Lightning shrugged. "What if Sally and I drift apart because of the careers?" He asked. Bobby nodded saying "Exactly. You are not in the place for one woman like her. Sally is a very busy and grounded woman where as you, are a traveling bachelor. You should really think about that before jumping on the promise ring express." Lightning nodded a little and thanked his friend for the advice before leaving Bobby to handle the party. Lightning was really thinking now. About the future with Sally and what it may or may not hold...
Lightning sat down at the bar table in the diner of Flo's and Flo walked over asking "What will it be honey?" Lightning looked up at Flo answering. "Coffee this time." "Mid day? Something bothering you?" She asked with concern. Lightning shook his head answering "Not really, no." Flo raised a brow and leaned in saying "I can see you're lying." "What?" "MMhhmm. Come on and tell Mama the truth. Is it a racin thing?" She asked. Lightning shook his head again then answered "No. Um.. I'm worried about Sally and I as the new season is coming up. I don't want to lose her." "Why would you think you would? She loves you Light." Flo assured.
Lightning smiled a little hearing that. "Yeah, and I love her. But.. What if that's not enough?" "Oh honey, it's not." Answered Flo. Lightning's expression changed. "Gee.. Thanks for the pep talk Flo." He began to get down off the stool to leave, but Flo stopped him, placing her hand on his arm. "Hold on there now. It's not. It takes a lot more than love to keep a relationship together. Takes sacrifice and work. But you do it because of love." Lightning stared at Flo and frowned admitting. "I could never quit racing for her.." Flo glared and THUMP! right on Lightning's head lightly "OW! What was that for?!" Lightning snapped!
"Because you're stupid!" Flo snarled. "I never said quit racing. I meant you two must work for it baby. So stop being such an idiot. Best thing you can really do is go talk about your doubts with Sally herself." Lightning's eyes widened. "What? NO. I don't want her to think I'm doubting anything because I'm not! I even bought a stupid promise ring thinking to help assure her." "Assure her of what?" Asked Flo. Lightning growled a bit answering "That I want her and just her. That I'm not going to go and I don't know? Cheat? Fuck, I just wanted Sally to feel safe and know that I want to marry her one day but I can't promise that because marriage is just not for me. I'm not ready for that. I love her just.. Not.. I'm not.. I don't want her to think I'm some fuck boy." "But you kind of are.." Flo muttered.
Lightning glared at her and snapped "No, I'm not. Is that was Sally thinks?" "Oh ho, no. You really should just talk to her about it honey. You'd be surprised what talking about feelings does with a girl." Lightning sighed then Flo brought him a coffee like he asked and Flo winked. "On the house." Before tending to other customers. Lightning was just over thinking. It wasn't exactly what Bobby said, but more of what happened with Mollie. Mollie who was great and perfect. Loved everything he did and she was supportive and Lightning thought they'd just be together forever in theory. Kind of how he looked at Sally now. He did feel more for Sally than any other woman, but what if that's why. He just hadn't dated around enough to feel much for anyone else yet? Did he love her enough or was he doubting the strength of their relationship for once the season started?...
The following morning, Lightning went out to find Sally and tell her about the party being ready sooner than expected. She was already hard at work with customers for the motel. "hey Sal." Lightning called as she seemed to be panicking. Lightning watched her then asked "What's wrong?" Sally stopped for a second, enough to answer. "Well Rusty and Dusty showed up early this morning." "They're here?" "Yup. And told me that they are holding this convention thing for the fans and top buyers of Rusteze here in Radiator Springs next week." "okay?..." "And so I have to find room for them like yesterday. So I'm really busy and honestly don't know what I'm going to do. Wheel Well isn't quite ready and I really want to throw that grand opening event. Which reminds me, how are you doing with getting that party planner?" She asked.
Lightning stepped up answering. "Great. Done deal. Bobby is handling it and best part, not gonna cost us a thing." "Wait, you got Bobby planning it?" Sally asked as she froze. Lightning nodded asking. "Yeah, is that a problem?" "Um.." Sally muttered as she began thinking about it. How bad could that be really. "I guess not.. Um.. Okay, thanks. I got to go deal with the fan club coming now though. Maybe you can help out with the cone?" She asked. Lightning frowned and opened his mouth to explain- but Sally figured it out. "Oh. Right.. You gotta meet with them to.. You're the attraction.." She said with a frown. Lightning frowned a little to and muttered "Or the distraction.." Under his breath. 'What?" Asked Sally. Lightning shook his head saying "Nothing. Um.. Do you think we will drift apart once I leave town?" "What? Why would you ask a thing like that?" "Well.. You realize once I set out, I won't be back for a few weeks because of all the new seasonal meets and clubs I have to attend.. Then I'll only be back like two to three days depending on where the next race is and I'm going to be worn out and.. Unable to... Spend.. time.. With you and.. I mean that's a lot of stress, plus you are going to always be busy now. Like now.. You.. Aren't even listening..." Lightning's words drifted as he watched Sally going through papers and keys and counting them.
"I am listening Stickers, just busy." As she texted on her phone. "Yeah.. I know.. I'll just come back later.." He replied. Sally said nothing as she was glued to the phone. Lightning's brows lowered. "Alright, I'm going to leave town and won't be back in time for the grand opening of Wheel Well. Might decide to move to the Arctic, buy a goat and name it McQueen junior. Might even learn to speak to the fish." He was doing this on purpose and Sally glared at him as she set down the phone. "Oh, now you are listening?" He asked. Sally's brows lowered as she prepared to fight. "Look, I have to work. I can't just drop my customers and pretend you are the only thing that matters. My world doesn't revolve around you all the time Lightning. Why are you acting like this?" she asked.
Lightning shook his head growling "Forget it.. i have my own stuff to do anyway." He snarled then left. It was no use. Sally was in work mode and he was being stubborn. Maybe this was how the rest of their lives was going to be. Sally knew something was really wrong here. She began to go after her boyfriend because she didn't want to leave something like that, but then the phone rang. She glanced at it and it was her Dad. She looked on seeing Lightning walk away and glanced back at her phone with a sigh before answering as she stepped back into the office...
