Page 144 of The Champion
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, something like that.”
He smiled, brown golden eyes trying to work their magic.“I can see why a girl like you needs a body guard.”
That’s when he stepped closer blocking me against theside of Paul’s hauler.
This is when I felt the nervous goose bumps and thesudden urge to run. Since the incident with Darrin so many years ago, I didn’tlike to be cornered by anyone.
“So Sway, how about you say we, oh, you know,” he let hisvoice drop lower to a whisper. “go back to my motor coach?”
Was he fucking serious?
I must have gave him that look when he replied with. “Youcan’t tell me Riley gives you everything you need. He’s so focused on racing hebarely see’s you for what you are.”
Again, was he fucking serious?
He stepped even closer, breath blowing across my face.
That’s when the shit hit the fan.
“What’s going on here?” Jameson asked barely controlled.
I knew then, one wrong move, one wrong word and thisRusty guy would have regretted ever stepping my direction.
Even submerged in the shadows and harsh lighting, histemper was thick. Like a race at a superspeedway with twenty cars running in apack on the last lap, I knew what was coming.
Rusty stepped back distancing himself from me. “Nothing,just talking to your wife here,” Rusty said casually with a hint of arrogance.“Nice run tonight.”
Jameson looked to me for an answer avoiding Rusty. Heknew looking at me it wasn’t that.
“Sway,” Jameson’s voice had that tone and I knew thenRusty was about to see the big one. “Meet me at the motor coach.”
My gaze upon my husband shifted over his shoulder to seeVan standing there. I joined Van and never looked back.
Van sighed and continued to walk with me. “How is it thatI can’t leave you for a second?” he handed me Casten’s stuffed monkey.
“I don’t know Van.”
I hoped Jameson didn’t get into trouble and frankly, Iwas getting tired of this crap where everyone had to test us. Why wasn’t itthat no one could have a marriage without people trying to test their luck?
It was something I’d never understand.
Jameson returned with Spencer beside and motioned for meto get inside the Expedition waiting for us. I loaded the kids and we took offto airport without another word.
When we got home and inside our room, he looked at me andleaned against the wall as I got ready for bed. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. Did you hurt him?”
“No.” his eyes dropped to the floor. “I just had a fewwords with him.”
I knew what that meant and when I saw Rusty the nextweek, he wouldn’t even look at me and had the faint yellow markings of a blackeye that was healing.
Rowdy Riley was still very much, Rowdy Riley.
Air Wrench – Jameson
Toward the end of the 2009 season, I had made it into thechase and was well on the way to my fifth championship when we got caught up inthe big one in Talladega. A lot of chase contenders were involved as well sothat was good but not where I wanted to be heading into the final three racesof the season.
Everything was busy right now. Sway was in Mooresvillewith the kids helping Tommy and the boys with the sprint car team. The WorldFinals started on Wednesday and here I was on a Sunday night, after theTalladega race, drinking with Tate and Bobby.
