Page 151 of The Legend
Jamesonstared at the wall as he spoke. “My lifestyle is mine. I give this sporteverything I have.” His head tipped to meet Ed’s stare. “In turn, I havesacrificed my personal life for years and beyond my comfort. I’m not doing it.”
“Jameson,let’s—”
“It’s not happening.”He snapped. And if the glare he offered didn’t speak volumes for his anger, theslamming door did.
Theproblem was that Simplex, and every other business representative pushing himto do this, didn’t understand that our lives had been judged since our proposalin victory lane. Why would we want someone seeing the only privacy we had now?
WhenMelissa pressed him to reconsider on the drive to Charlotte, he replied with, “Ifyou can’t understand why I’m saying no, you obviously know nothing about me andshouldn’t be making business decisions for me.”
It was aharsh choice of words for him to use with her, someone who looked out for hisbest interest but in reality, at this point, was she really looking out for hisbest interest if she thought publicizing his life more than what it alreadywas, would be beneficial for him?
To hisdefense, Jameson had gone with the flow for years but one thing remained the same.No media in the motor coach or our home. He allowed them all over our property,the dirt track, Grays Harbor, in both race shops and his office, but never inour personal sanctuaries.
We got tothe track around seven that night and situated in the motor coach. It was astrange feeling being back at the track after nearly six months away but italso comforting for here, surrounded by the only lifestyle we knew we coulddeal with the pain those last six months had left on us.
It wasstrange not having Jimi stop by. Usually on race weekends we saw him Thursdaynight after we arrived at the track. Jameson felt it. I knew that he did by theway he kept an eye on the door anytime someone came inside.
I watchedJameson carefully, as I always did these days, but he seemed comfortable aroundthe boys. Most of the crew hadn’t arrived yet but Kyle and Spencer were thefirst to greet him. Spencer had moved from the jack man on the team to the carchief and gave the pit crew orders. It worked out well because Mason was nowheading up the boys that were at the shop.
Relaxingin the motor coach most of the evening, Kyle gave Jameson a rundown of the lastfew races and the changes Randy had made to the team. Randy and Jameson weren’tseeing eye-to-eye on the way he was running Riley-Simplex Racing and felt hewas trying to turn it into something that it wasn’t. Jimi kept the team smallfor a reason. It was manageable that way. Randy had already talked of addingmore cars and partnering with different sponsors. The problem was that Jameson,being partial owner of the team, had to agree to it. And he wouldn’t. He didn’twant more than three cars on the team and had no interest in partnering withanother sponsor.
Most ofthe time when we were at the track, Arie and Casten were with us and Axel wasracing on the Outlaw tour. That hadn’t changed now that we were back at thetrack. Arie was here but spent little time with us as she was now working withEaston a little more and helping with promoting and what not. She was basicallyacting as his publicist but they hadn’t announced anything as she was onlyseventeen. Technically she couldn’t be his publicist. When Jameson was injured,everyone in our family stepped up and did everything they could to make what wehad all worked so hard for over the years work. In turn Arie was learning aboutthe business side and what it took getting your name out there and how tomarket yourself in a good way. It was a nice change from the rebellioustattooed spit fire we usually dealt with.
Casten wasbeing your typical instigating fifteen-year old shit the next morning beforepractice and I wasn’t thrilled. I had enough problems with trying to make sureJameson was all right and I didn’t need my delinquent spaz child being a shithead. I mean, Christ, he was fifteen now. Was it appropriate to team up withthe other hoodlums and let the air out of all the golf carts surrounding thedrivers’ compound? No.
Ariethought it was funny and left me alone to control him.Brat.
Jamesonlooked up noticing my frustration and crooked a finger at Casten. “Get overhere.”
Castenpretended not to notice but yelled over his shoulder. “What?”
Jamesonglared kicking the flat tire to his own golf cart. “You heard me.”
Castencame running. He knew when Jameson meant business and right then he did. Whenhe was close enough, he just looked at him and that’s all that was needed.
Castenknew he went too far. “I’ll be with Jake and Cole.”
“Stay outof trouble.” Jameson said as he walked away with Jake, Tate’s only son that wasracing in the Truck series this year. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to stayout of trouble.
We alsohadn’t sooner arrived here at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and they were alreadyrequesting a press conference. Alley noted it would be a good idea that Jamesonspoke with the media in a controlled environment where she could field thequestions if needed.
Standingbeside his car, I looked at Jameson when they asked the question. His defensiveeyes squinted into the sun. He squeezed my hand before letting go to leaninside the car to grab his sunglasses.
My gazeflickered to his and then back to the reporter. He took a deep breath beforeplacing his sunglasses on. “Yeah, I’ll do it.”
Jamesondidn’t want to do a press conference but he knew it was necessary aftereverything.
“Do youwant me to come with you?” I asked as we went inside the hauler so he couldchange into his racing suit for practice. Then he needed to be in the mediacenter.
Alleywalked inside to tell him something but immediately walked out when she sawJameson turn to glare at her.
Jamesoncovered his face and then dropped his hands and forced a smile. “I don’t care.If you want to go, go.”
And thenhe did what I least expected in that moment. He hugged me. There’s somethingabout a hug. Like I said, it has the ability to speak volumes and nothing atall.
That hugmade my decision, if there ever was a doubt, to attend the press conference.
When weexited the hauler, we walked in silence to the media center. Jameson kept hiseyes forward as he held my hand.
