Fact or Fiction

Home : Stories by Zippit : The K. D. Harvey Show : Fact or Fiction

Summary: In NASCAR, fact and fiction vary only in the details.

AUTHOR: Zippit
EMAIL: zippit@cryptoffic.com
RATING: PG
SERIES: The K. D. Harvey Show
CHARACTER: Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr, DeLana Harvick; Kevin POV
COMPLETED: May 12, 2009
WORD COUNT: 2,002
DISCLAIMER: If you recognize anyone in this piece, I am in no way affiliated with or know them personally. I am neither making a profit nor plan to do so. This is nothing more than an exercise in fiction. This is a result of an overactive imagination and I claim no truth to these words.
BETA: Thanks to Catw00man for the beta. All other errors are mine.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Slowly but surely I will get caught up.
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Production – Week 5

Harvick Household – Kernersville, North Carolina – March 10th, 2009

“Alright, that’ll do it for us this week. You know the deal. Same time, same place for next week’s dish on the race and anything else we can come up with. We might have something special for those of you that tune in for our first off week broadcast of the year.” Close out the recording with one final push of a button, lean back in my chair and pull off my headset.  Toss it on the desk and shake my head at Junior.

“This sure as hell ain’t where we wanted to be, huh?”

“Speak for yourself, Earnhardt. You’re the only one missing pitboxes every week.” June rolls his eyes at me and sips from his beer.

“Boys, I’m going to see if we have any decent food to eat. Make your requests now before I decide for you both.”

“I’m gonna head down to the balcony anyway. Earnhardt, you wanna join me?”

“Sure, why the hell not? We bringing more beers?”

“Duh. Grab a combo pack from the mini there.” While June turns to grab the beer, D slips from her chair and moves around the table, giving my shoulder a squeeze. Tilt my head up and give her a slight smile before she heads out the door. Definitely not the season any of us were expecting but it’s bound to turn around at some point.

Stretch as I stand and crick my neck side to side then June hands me an Amstel Light. Pop it open and take a sip as we head out the door.  Tony and Junior weren’t kidding when they said having a radio show was a good way to unwind. It sure as hell has been and not having to worry about what I say makes it even better. Unrestricted air for an hour? Hell yeah, sign me up for as long as you’ll have me.

June taps his beer against the back of my neck repeatedly as we head down the stairs I’m sure just to be an asshole. “Would you quit it?” I say with a laugh and bat a hand backwards at him.

“Awww, c’mon. You stole my show out from under me. Can’t I have a little fun?”

“This how you treat me after I’ve let you into my house week after week?” I say as we head through the kitchen to the balcony.

“I thought I was the one doing you the favor. You’re the one that’s crap with electronics.”

“Oh really now? Who’s the one that’s been bringing food every week as a bribe?”

“It ain’t a bribe! Been doing it for self preservation. Everyone knows what a shitty cook DeLana is.”

“I heard that!” D says from somewhere inside the pantry.

“I mean you’re a wonderful cook, DeLana!”

Laugh and shove Junior out the balcony door before he gets us both in trouble and D lets us starve. “Better watch your tongue or you’ll be in the doghouse.”

“Figured you had a permanent reservation.”

“Very funny.” Head to the stone wall that serves as a railing and set the six pack on it. Rest my arms against the ledge and gaze out into the sun tinted landscape. “No leftovers this week to share?”

He takes a spot against the rail next to me and sips his beer before he says, “Nah, didn’t have time to head home first. Just got in from a sponsor appearance.” I catch his sideways glance at me from the corner of my eye. “Were you looking forward to some?”

“Hey, can’t blame a guy for wanting some guaranteed edible food one night out of the week.”

“You should be immune to her cooking by now.”

“So that stops the craving for real food?”

“How ‘bout I bring some Rendezvous ribs over and you can see how she does with those?”

“Are you sure you want to waste a good pair of ribs on her?”

“Thought that cooking kick she went on made her a better cook.”

“She’s no four star chef but she’s stopped burning water.”

“How…do you burn water in the first place?”

“I was never clear on that but trust me, D did it.” June shakes his head with a grin and leans against the rail some more, looking out over the land. “So…what’cha think?”

“It suits you. Definitely can’t complain about the view.”

“Yup, best time to be out here is sunset. That’s why D always likes to have her old folks’ parties out here.”

He nods down to the pool and taps his beer against the far edge of the railing. “Use that pool at all or is it more decorative than anything?”

“How’d you know?”

“I know you.”

Chuckle and look down at the pool then move my gaze across the wide expanse of grass. Yeah, it’s definitely ours just as much as Dirty Mo’ Acres is June’s. I doubt either of us would have it any other way. We’ve got the money, maybe not the time, but it’s definitely worth it to come home to your own private paradise. For a while, there’s no sound but the swish of beer as we drink, the wildlife, and the muted sound of D moving around in the kitchen.

“So…gonna fill me in on the real story behind Bowyer?” Look back toward the house and D’s still inside doing something.

“Don’t talk too loud. I’d rather not deal with a pissy D for the rest of tonight.” Finish off my beer and reach for another, turning to lean sideways against the rail as he leans back against it. “Figured you’d know the whole story by now.”

“There’s rumor then there’s hearing the straight truth. RCR, like every other team, is pretty tight knit and you know none of them like airing their dirty laundry.”

That’s more than true. The more family like an organization is the more they close ranks. Take another look toward the house then drop my voice low, “First, tell me what you know.”

“She came up with him from Kansas and grew up around the dirt tracks watching her dad race. Together at least a good four years when he decided it was all over before the start of the ‘08 season. Rumor has it, he cheated with one of her best friends and girlfriend of one of Richard’s development drivers.” He arches an eyebrow at me then tilts his head back to drain the rest of his beer. “That about covers it.”

Nod at his words and bite my nails, shifting my feet. “Yeah…that’s pretty much it. Rumor has it the reasoning behind why he-….”

“So, where’d that caution for the pitcrew member chasing the tire into the infield grass leave you?”

What--? I thought he wanted the whole story.

“Hey, we have a few premade meals left and since the new supply’s about to be delivered I thought we could finish them tonight.”

Oh shit. D. How the hell did I not hear her come out?

“Sounds good.”

“Yeah, D it does. What kind is it?” Thank you, Earnhardt for having my back.

“There was one Mexican style left for you and Junior and I are having some chicken stir fry.”

“How long before it’s done?”

“About 20 minutes. Need to let it warm up in the oven.”

“Anything we can munch on in the meantime? No pretzels. Can’t have it getting out we’re acting old.”

“Think we might have some chips lying around. I’ll see if I can find them. Any requests? Junior?”

“Nah, I’m good. Got plenty of beer so I should be set ‘til food’s ready.”

“Don’t get too drunk now.”

“We’ll be fine, D.” Let her go back inside before I risk saying a word. “Thanks, man.”

June shrugs and rolls the beer bottle in his fingers. “Not a big thing. What were you gonna say?”

“Rumor say why he dumped her?”

“Nope, figured it had to do with playing the field?”

“Got it there. We’d been telling him to put a damn ring on her--”

“I got stuck a lap down. We were what? Four cars away from green flag stops from being completed? I guess I see NASCAR needed to do that but still sucked.” June’s eyes widen and he grabs another beer. Frown when he rubs two fingers repeatedly over his wrist for no apparent reason until I catch the slight tilt of his head toward the house.

“Y-yeah…wasn’t Johnson one of the five lucky ones?”

“Think so.” He takes the chip bowl from D and sets it down between us. “Thanks.”

“Nothing fancy, just some tortilla chips.”

“We got any dip or salsa?”

“Possibly. Let me go check.” Watch her head back inside before I shake my head and let out a low whistle.

“Shit. This isn’t the place to have this conversation is it?”

“There really anyplace better?” He’s got a point. Garage is sure as hell out and once we hit the track, we all have one track minds anyway. Racing and nothing but the racing.

“He should’ve put a ring on her finger. She’s a lot like D, you know? Smart, opinionated, loves the sport. They were good and then the idiot had his head blown up by the Chase and that was that.”

“Think she’d ever take him back?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. The whole thing blindsided her and she was pretty hurt over it. Lorra was one of her best friends out here.” Slip my empty Amstel back into the combined pack of beer and grab another to drink.

“Ouch. That’s rough,” June leans back against the rail with one arm on the ledge, his hand dangling by his side.

“Yeah, she still keeps in touch with us and she’s been thinking about maybe catching a few races this year.”

Junior’s eyebrows go up at that and he nurses a sip of beer. “On another driver’s arm?”

“Don’t--thanks D. This the spicy dip?”

“Like you let me buy anything else.”

“How’s the food coming?”

“Another five minutes.”

“Shouldn’t you be inside making sure it doesn’t burn?”

Damn, Earnhardt. Watch that mouth of yours. Hide a smile when D gives him a glare that would make any other man cower but not June. He just munches on a chip and takes a sip of beer.

“Maybe I’ll just have your dinner for myself, Junior. I might be eating for two.”

Sputter and choke on my beer. “D? D, you’re kidding right? D!” She walks back into the house without another word. Of course Earnhardt’s busting a gut laughing at me. Smack him in the stomach with my beer bottle.

“Ooof. Hey! What was that for?”

“Giving me a fucking heart attack!”

“It would be amusing as hell to see you chasing after some baby Harvicks.” Smack him again cause damnit, I don’t need to be thinking about that possibility right now.

“And no, Athena wouldn’t want to be here on another driver’s arm. That isn’t her.”

“I still wouldn’t want to be in Bowyer’s shoes. There’s ending a relationship and there’s that.”

“Yeah…we weren’t too happy with him when we found out but it’s his life. We can only tell him what we think. Doesn’t mean he’ll listen.”

“Glad I wasn’t at RCR when that all went down.”

“No kidding. It was pretty awkward around the shops for a few weeks.” June shakes his head and grows quiet as he drinks his beer. Wonder what that’s about. I’ll ask him about it later. Right now, I have to figure out if D was kidding or not cause we are not ready for something like that. I know she knows that but fuck, she doesn’t joke about it normally.

The balcony door opens revealing D. “Dinner’s ready.” Then she turns on her heel and walks back inside.

Start after her, asking, “D, you were kidding right? You know how Junior gets. He’s an asshole and I love your cooking. D…c’mon. Next week you can run the show by yourself. D.”

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Zippit - zippit@cryptoffic.com