"I don't have anything for a couple of hours right?" Ryan asked.

"Right. Ten o'clock meet and greet, then qualifying at noon." She replied.

He grinned at her. "See. I knew you'd be good at this."

"You are such a dork." She retorted with a laugh.

He raised an eyebrow and grinned at her. "But I'm your dork right?"

"Right now you're my pain in the ass." She replied, still laughing.

"But you love me right?" He teased.

"Don't push it. I'm still trying to figure out if I even like you."

Although their banter was only teasing, a throwback to their high school days, Olivia felt a flutter in her heart. Was Ryan flirting with her, or was he just joking around?

"I'm going to go back to the track. Do you want to come with me, or just meet me later?" He asked.

"If you can wait a few minutes while I get ready, I'll go with you." She replied.

"I'll always wait for you Livvy."

*******

Olivia's heart was no longer fluttering, it was about to beat out of her chest. She was certain he was flirting with her. He did kiss her a few times. What was going on with him? With them?

She took a quick shower. A cold one. She had to do something to cool the heat in her body and calm her flushed skin. She wasn't sure she wanted Ryan to know just yet how much he was affecting her, especially not knowing his intentions. They needed to talk about this, whether he wanted to or not.

Olivia finished her shower, dressed and quickly fixed her hair and applied a little makeup.

Ryan was looking at his phone when she announced she was ready. He looked up and smiled. "Let's go pretty girl."

She was going to need another cold shower.

*******

When they arrived back at Ryan's coach, Olivia noticed the broken glass was still there. She had to know.

"Ryan, what happened with Lauren yesterday!"

"She wants me back." He stated, but didn't elaborate.

"And..." She prompted. God, he could be so infuriating.

"I told her it was over. She wouldn't leave, so I threatened to call Track security, then she finally left." He said flatly.

"What's with the broken glass?"

"I...uh.. I got mad and smashed all the pictures of she and I. I just didn't want to look at them anymore. I just haven't got around to cleaning it up yet."

It was only then that Olivia noticed all the torn up scraps of paper.

"Where's your broom and dust pan?" She asked.

"Don't worry about it. I'll get it later. Come sit down with me, and we'll talk." He said, taking a seat on the couch and patting the cushion next to him.

Finally! She thought to herself.

"What I'm about to tell you, no one else knows, so I'd really like you to please keep it to yourself because there are other parties involved. Okay?"

She nodded, so he continued on.

"I found out Lauren had been screwing around with Denny Hamlin. I guess because he was winning races and I wasn't."

"Isn't he married?" Olivia blurted out.

"No, but he might as well be. He has a longtime girlfriend and they have a couple of kids together."

"Does she know?" Olivia asked

Ryan shrugged. "I don't know. She may, but.."

"She has the right to know what kind of man she's with. Raising kids with." Olivia interrupted, appalled.

Ryan gave a slight chuckle over her reaction. "I know she does, and I told Denny that. I just don't think it's my place to tell her. She needs to hear it from Denny."

"But what about their children?"

"That's why I have not said anything to anyone. I don't want it to get out because of them, and his girlfriend. They are innocent in all of this. I did tell Denny if he didn't tell her I would. He may have told her by now. I really don't know. I really have nothing to say to the guy."

"Is Lauren looking to cause trouble!" Olivia asked.

"Probably. I can't worry about that now though." He shook his head, and she noticed just how exhausted he really looked.

"Ry, did you get any sleep last night?" She asked concerned.

"A little. Not much. I was so mad at myself. I kept replaying the things I said to you over and over in my head, and it was killing me. I'm still mad at myself."

Now she felt bad. If only she had responded to his texts last night.

He knew what she was thinking. "Don't blame yourself Livvy. This is on me. I don't blame your for not calling me back last night. You had every right to be pissed at me. I'm lucky you forgave me."

"I always forgive you Ryan."

"I know, and I need to stop giving you reasons to. I need to just man up and tell you how I feel."

"How do you feel Ryan?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

She could have smacked him right then and there. He was infuriating indeed.

"No it's not obvious. I have so much trouble reading you sometimes Ryan. You're either flattering me or yelling at me, so I don't know what to think."

"Well, I don't go around just kissing anyone. Earlier you said I was 'your pain in the ass', and I want to be. Well, not a pain in the ass, but yours."

"Ry, I was teasing when I called you a pain in the ass."

"But it's true." He said, realizing she completely missed the part where he said he wanted to be hers.

"I get the feeling you are still holding back. Why aren't you telling me everything?"

"I'm trying, but you keep interrupting. This is not easy for me Livvy. I'm not an open book. I don't talk about my feelings because no one wants to hear what I'm feeling."

"I do."

"Then stop interrupting. What I'm trying to say is that I'm crazy about you Livvy. I always have been."

"Ry..."

He placed his finger on her lips. "Just let me say this, then you can talk. I had the biggest crush on you, but I was afraid to tell you. You were going away, you were pursuing your dreams, and for me to tell you how I felt then, well, I thought that would have been a real dick move on my part."

"I felt the same way Ry." She blurted out.

"About me?" He asked. This was the moment of truth. His palms were sweating. His heart racing. He could not blow this.

"I want you in my life Livvy. Not just as my friend. I want you to be mine."

Every fiber of her being wanted to scream yes, but the logical part of her brain prevailed.

"Ry, you just got out of a long term relationship, and we've just reconnected after not seeing each other for years. Are you certain this is what you truly want? I don't want to just be a rebound."

"You could never be a rebound because you are the one. Every girl I've had in my life, I always compared them to you, and none of them ever measured up. Not even close."

"Girls? Have there been that many?" She smirked.

"No. Not really. Regardless of what social media might say, I'm not some big player."

"I'm rarely on social media anyway, so I have no clue what they say."

"Good. You should keep it that way. Smart girl."

"So you're asking me to be your girlfriend?"

"You make it sound so high school Livvy, but yes, I probably should have asked you this like ten years ago, but I didn't, so now I'm asking you to be my girlfriend. If you'll have me."

"Yes Ryan. I will be your girlfriend." She laughed.

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "We still have about an hour, hour and a half. Do you want to make out now?" He smirked.

What in the world was she going to do with this boyfriend of hers.