The One I Love

Home : Stories by Mick : Nascarfic_100 Series : The One I Love

Summary: Sometimes you do anything to make your loved ones happy.

AUTHOR: Mick
EMAIL: mick@cryptoffic.com
RATING: PG-13
SERIES: Nascarfic 100
CHARACTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr/Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr. POV
PROMPT: 23: Lovers
WORD COUNT: 1,068
COMPLETED: September 2, 2008
DISCLAIMER: Own nothing, just wish I did. I own NOTHING and am affiliated with NO ONE mentioned here. Not the drivers, not the teams, no one. This is all fiction and fun. In other words...NOT REAL, NOT REAL, NOT REAL. ;-)
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Sea World - San Diego, CA

I don’t know what in the hell I'm doing here. Honestly, I'm a full grown man, I ain't got no kids of my own. Why the hell am I here in a place filled with kids and families, making myself miserable? I should be home right now. In a bar somewhere, at the very least. I could be with my sister and my friends and our family, grilling some steaks and drinking some beers. Could be racing karts and shooting the shit down in the saloon. Anywhere, but here. Because, really, what full grown man puts himself through this willingly? What man in his right mind comes to friggin' SEA WORLD on his one day off from life?

Of course, it ain't like I had much of a choice. Jimmie threw me the puppy eyes, complete with pouty lower lip, and I was a goner. Damn him for knowing how to hit all the right buttons. Of course, after this many years together, it's really no surprise. He's been my other half for so long that he ain't even really a half anymore, just an extension of myself. I should have known better Sunday night when I told him we could celebrate however he wanted. I figured he'd just pounce on me and we'd fuck all night. I was expecting him to con me into a trip home to San Diego for a couple days.

Wasn't so bad at first, to be totally honest. We went to see some of his family in El Cajon, and then spent a couple hours on the beach. He tried to teach me to surf, but after wiping out once and getting nailed in the head with my board, I decided I was safer just watching him. I enjoyed myself, too. He's so at home when he's in the water, so at peace and at ease. I could watch him forever. We wound up walking along the surf for a little while, hand in hand like a couple of teenagers or something. An older couple walked by us and I've never seen someone beam as bright as the woman did when she laid eyes on us. Murmured something to her husband about "old love", whatever that means.

Then I woke up today and he was bouncing excitedly at the foot of the bed, telling me to get up because we were going to one of his favorite places 'round these parts. I was expecting some Mexican joint, or a trip to Old Town, where we spend a lot of time when we come here, but instead he whipped out a brochure for Sea World that he'd swiped from our hotel lobby. I thought he was joking, but when I started to laugh and he got all hurt, I knew I was fucked. That's when he broke out the puppy eyes.

I can't really be all that upset with this, though. We're out of the house, after all, and he's enjoying himself immensely, if the smile on his face is any indication. Watch him from where I sit on the ledge of a pool full of bat-rays and can't keep the tiny smile off my face as he sticks his hand in the water and pats one of them on the head. We've been sitting here almost half an hour now, and he's so thrilled with it all. He's like a big kid.

Jump when my ass is suddenly soaked and look down to see one of the rays floating next to me, flapping his wings impatiently and looking up at me through one eye, as if he's demanding my attention. Reach into the water and rub his slimy, rubbery head and get rewarded with another splash before he swims away. The kid next to me squeals with delight when the ray runs under his hand, and I smile softly. This may be a lame way to spend the time, but at least the people around me are enjoying it. I haven't seen Jimmie's eyes light up this much since he won the 500.

As if he feels my eyes on him, Jimmie glances my way, catching my gaze. We smile softly at one another and a feeling of adoration swells up inside of me. This is the man I've chosen to spend the rest of my life with. Every time I look at him I feel the little butterflies floating around in my stomach, and I know he feels the exact same way. Between us, his hand slides over mine, fingers tracing over my knuckles like they always do. We're still careful not to give ourselves away, but over the years we've learned how to touch one another without being conspicuous. We could walk down pit road holding hands and no one would ever notice.

"Everything okay?" He gives my hand a squeeze, studying my face to see what has me looking so deep in thought.

"Mm…fine and dandy. Stupid fish soaked my ass, but I think I'll survive." Give him a lopsided grin and he laughs softly.

"My poor baby. Maybe we should get going then, don't want them to stage a mutiny and try to drown you or something, then," he starts to stand up but something comes over me and I just can't help myself. I hold tight to his hand and pull him into me, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. He lets out a surprised little squeak before kissing me back, his lips soft against my own. It ain't everyday I'll chance a PDA, but I can't help myself. I love him and I want him to know it.

We part after a moment and I drop a soft kiss to his forehead, my fingers running through his hair, murmuring an "I love you" before parting completely and pushing myself up off the ledge. The back of my wranglers are soaked, but for the moment I really don't care. Across the way I can see a crowd forming outside the Sea Lion show and before I can think twice about it, I take him by the hand and lead him over to the tiny performance theatre, making sure we sit up front where we're sure to get wet.

If I have to live through this day of complete childishness, then we're going to do it right. We're not leaving until we're both soaked in fishy saltwater.

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Mick - mick@cryptoffic.com