The following weekend Gabby stayed home much to Robby’s dismay. He wanted to go to every race and had informed everyone that he was going to be a race car driver when he got big enough. Dale had promised Robby he could go to another race very soon but he had to stay home this weekend. He finally agreed with a pout and settled in front of the tv to watch every thing from practice to the race.
Elliot found Dale in the garage area an Saturday and Dale could tell there was something on his mind other than the normal ‘how’s the car?’ crap he was rambling on about.
"Elliot, what do you really want?"
"I, uh, um."
Dale grinned. "She’s not here this weekend."
"Oh."
"You want her number?"
"What? You’d give me it?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, I can’t believe you’d be ok with us." He said skeptically. "She is nine years younger than me."
Dale rolled his eyes. "You two, jeez. Look, normally I would but you’re not most 29 year olds and she sure as hell ain't most 20 year olds."
"Yeah."
Dale studied him. "Are you worried about it?" Dale asked as they walked out of the garage area and towards the motor coaches.
"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little concerned. I’ve had girlfriends who were just four or five years younger than me and well I’m still single so…"
"Yeah but?"
"Come on Junior, she’s 20 she’s just getting into that partying stage that I’ve been out of for a while, my weekends are just a little busy."
Dale stopped causing Elliot to do the same. "Elliot come on, she’s a twenty year old single mom of a four year old who is in medical school. How much partying is she going to want to do? And anyway, you have the mentality of a twenty year old." Dale snickered.
"Fuck you Earnhardt." Elliot laughed punching him in the arm.
"Seriously man, I don’t know her all that well yet but I have a feeling she’s a lot more grown up than either of us are and that she can take care of herself. Hell maybe you can lighten her up a bit." Dale grabbed his cell phone and took Elliot’s off his waist band. "Anyone else yeah, I’d have a problem with it but I trust you and know you won’t hurt her." He looked up Gabby’s number and programmed it into Elliot’s phone. "Just call her, dude."
Elliot watched as Dale handed him his phone the number still on the screen and walked away. He stared at the number for a moment before saving it and putting the phone away. "Not yet." He headed to his own coach to think before qualifying.
Monday morning as Gabby was getting ready to run out the door to school her cell phone rang. "Hello."
"Gabby?"
"Yes."
"Hey, it’s Elliot."
Gabby couldn’t hold back the smile that took over her face. "Elliot? Hi, how are you?"
"Pretty good, I, uh, hope you don’t mind Dale gave me your number."
’Mental note, thank Dale.’ Gabby thought. "No, of course not."
"Is now a bad time?"
"I’m just getting ready to head to school."
"Oh." She could hear the disappointment in his voice. "Well, I can let you go."
"No, it’s ok. We can talk. Just hold a sec."
"Ok.
She grabbed her bag and headed to her car. "Ok, I’m in the car we’re good to go. So what’s up?"
"Well, I’m just sitting here at the shop, should be working and in all honesty, was thinking of you instead."
"Me?" She was surprised, happy but surprised.
"Yeah, I was hoping to see you this weekend."
"Yeah, I had a lot of homework and I don’t want Robby to get to use to being there. It’ll make it harder on him when we can’t go."
"That makes sense."
Gabby and Elliot chit chatted for the entire hours drive and before she knew it she was pulling into the school’s lot. "Wow, time sure flies."
"Why?"
"I’m at school."
Elliot sighed. "So, I guess I really have to let you go, huh?"
"Yeah." She matched his sigh with one of her own leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes hoping.
"Gabby, I really want to see ya again and since you don’t know when you are coming to another race; hell, will you let me take you to dinner this week sometime? You can bring Robby if you want."
"No."
"Oh ok. Well…"
"No, I, mean, yes, I don’t want to bring Robby. Shit."
He half laughed. "So you do want to go to dinner?"
"Yes, very much so."
"Good. Call me when you are done with school and we can set up a time?"
"Ok, I will talk to you tonight."
"Have a good day."
"You too." She said smiling.
"I will now."
She hung up the phone slipped it in her bag and opened the door to the car. "Yes, yes, yes." She danced as she grabbed her bag and headed for class.
**********************
Both their schedules were hell for the week so they made plans to get together for lunch on Thursday before he had to head to the track. They met at a small diner that afternoon. "Hey." Elliot said sliding into the booth across from her.
"Hi, how are you?" Gabby asked feeling like an idiot for being as nervous as she was.
"Good now." Elliot grinned. "I didn’t take you away from school did I?"
"Just one class and it’s a no brainer. I’ll be fine." She smiled.
"You skipped class for me?" He smiled as the waitress set down water and menus for them.
"Yeah well." Gabby blushed and buried her head in the menu. Elliot couldn’t help but notice just how much she looked like her father. Her light brown hair stopped just below her ears and was choppy giving it a messed up but styled look. He was normally one to go for long hair but the short look framed her face and brought out those gorgeous brown eyes. In a single instant Elliot lost himself in her completely and suddenly could see his future in those same eyes. "Elliot? Elliot, do you know what you want?"
Elliot took a deep breath. "Um, yeah, uh, I’ll take a burger, fries, coke." He looked at Gabby. "Did you order?"
"Yeah, you ok?" She half laughed.
He smiled. "Yeah, I am."
They spent the next 2 hours getting to know each other and by the time either realized how late it was neither wanted to leave. They walked to their cars and paused next to Gabby’s. "I guess I really should get going. Tell Robby hi for me."
She nodded. "Yeah, I don’t want you to be late." Gabby looked over his shoulder beyond him trying not to get to attached to quickly.
However Elliot was already there. "Gabby?"
"Yeah?"
"I really have this need to, can I kiss you?"
Gabby brought her attention back to Elliot’s face. She just nodded as he stepped closer to her. He tipped his head down and gently brushed his lips against hers. Lost in his touch and taste her hands went to the back of his neck as he pulled away. "Don’t stop."
She pulled him back to her and he was surprised at the urgency and need in her kiss. As she tried to deepen the kiss he pulled away from her. He smiled at her. "I really should go."
She nodded. "I know." She fixed the collar of his shirt and wiped the lipstick off his upper lip. "Talk to you soon?"
"Yes you will." He kissed her quickly before heading to his own car.
She watched him go and then started her own car. Her mind reeled from what had just happened. It had been a long time since she had been kissed like that. Actually, she had never been kissed like that, no one had ever made her feel the way he did, the heat running through her blood was a new feeling and she wasn’t sure how to control it. Robby’s father didn’t cause any of this, actually, it was very much the opposite with him and she was quite surprised that Elliot was able to have this affect on her.