Love Never Looked Better

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Summary: It’s not every day an Earnhardt gets married.

AUTHOR: Zippit
EMAIL: zippit@cryptoffic.com
RATING: PG
CHARACTER: Kevin Harvick/Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin POV
PROMPT: Taming the Muse #79 - Marigold (7.24)
COMPLETED: January 21, 2008
WORD COUNT: 1,480
DISCLAIMER: Not real; don’t know them, don’t claim to know them. Only the makings of my imagination. 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. ;-)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This just flowed and can I say I LOVE the banter between these two boys. It’s always so easy.
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Stroll into the garage smirking as it’s the first weekend Earnhardt’s gonna show up to the track with a gold ring on his finger and I know the media feeding frenzy will start as soon as they notice. I almost feel sorry for him, but considering who’s ring he’s wearing, nah, let him fend this one off.

It was a spur of the moment thing and it’s not like we could actually make it official official, not without all the media hounds digging it up and plastering it on TV screens across America. Something about it being public record. And hey, what’s life without a little mystery?

Push my way through the media crowding in front of his garage stall and okay, this is getting ridiculous even for him. Make my way to his side and poke him in the ribs, “Hey teammate, how goes it?” Grin when he jumps and tries to glare at me. He can’t pull it off as a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

“It’s all good. ‘Cept for the idiots hounding me about this.” He brings his left hand up and wiggles his ring finger at me which causes the snap-snap of shutters to go off even faster. He leans back on a hand braced against the pitbox. “It’s all your fault too.”

Grin wide at him and say loud enough for the media hounds to hear, “Whaaat? It was my fault you decided to take yourself off the market?” Step out of range of his punch with practiced ease and wait…why’s he looking sorta happy at my words? Oh shit. I don’t like the look in his eyes.

“Oh yeah, don’t you remember? It was you who suggested it,” he says with a smile that has too many teeth. Damn you, Earnhardt.

“You just sicced the media hounds on me didn’t you?” All I need for confirmation is the wide grin threatening to break across his face. “Damn you.” He’s so gonna pay for this later.

“Mmhm, and you’ll make sure you keep my trust won’t you?” He nudges me in the side with his elbow and gives me an innocent look that could rival the sweetest sugar. “Smile and wave to the cameras, Kev. You’ll be seeing a whole hell of a lot of them.”

“I hate you.”

“Nah, you don’t.”

“Bastard.”

“Don’t let the media hear you, gotta keep that nice reputation of yours unsullied,” he says as he teases me about my less than stellar record of troublemaking. This coming from the media boy who’s had his own moments of infamy. But his eyes shine so brightly and it’s damn good to see that look on him again.

I’m still gonna kill him. I’m still so gonna kill him. Even seeing the mirth in his eyes does nothing to stop images of the slow torture I’m gonna inflict on him from forming in my mind. “Still hate you. How’s the car?”

“How’s yours? Front grip kills, rear’s loose as all get out, and Tony Jr. still can’t get the thing to turn in the corner like I want. Almost makes me want the old car back.”

Laugh at him, he sounds just like every other crusty old veteran on the track who’s had to deal with the crap that is the COT. “We should go steal Shifty’s setup. He’s loving all the crap they’re throwing at him.”

“Leave it to him to have all the fun. So…who’s next on the prank rotation? Ain’t it Burton’s turn or maybe we should get Mike? He’s getting complacent.” Sometimes I look at him and wonder how anyone could be even worse than me. I get plenty of reports and pictures as evidence for those he’s gotten. They’re always ingenious pranks too. Must be hereditary. Pesky Earnhardt genes. Maybe that’s why he’s my match.

“Nope, let’s get him next time. I wanna get Shifty first. Get him back for actually enjoying this stupid piece of shit they’re making us drive.” I can already see the gleam building in his eyes and to stave off complete disaster I say, “Easy on the torment, Earnhardt. We don’t wanna kill him.” Chuckle at his pout and kick at his foot with my own. “Alright, alright, you plot but you gotta pass it by me first, got it?”

“Okay, but we’re still gonna be evil.” He shoots me a crooked grin that’s made hearts all over the world melt. It’s gotta be something like the eighth wonder that he hasn’t been tied down ‘til now. Spot Tony Jr. coming our way to gather up his errant cousin. Back to work for all us boys.

“Can you do that and drive a car at the same time?”

“‘Course I can. Only testing after all. I can even radio you my plans over the team frequency.” Roll my eyes at his grin, he really is enjoying himself too much. Guess finally being out from under the bitch’s hand has him giddy. I’d like to think it’s more to do with that ring on his finger than anything else.

“Anyone ever tell you you can be an annoying son of a bitch?” Get a cheeky grin in response before Tony sweeps him up in tech talk about their car. Shake my head and head back to my own garage stall which is only a few stalls down, ducking the media by walking through the empty stalls in between.

~*~*~*~

The rest of the test swept by as quickly as possible for test sessions. I even managed to avoid getting too entangled in a media Q&A. I escaped from that quick enough and have made it back to the hotel for a night of rest before another two days of similar torture. Crick my neck from side to side as I slide the keycard and push the door open. Gonna be good to sink into the bed and relax. Drop my wallet and hard card on the side table before crawling into the bed and sprawling out. I’ve just gotten comfy with the TV turned on low when the door opens again.

“Kev, you here yet?”

“Yeah, in here!” I can hear him going through the same process of shedding the tiresome reminders of the day and it’s a few moments later when he curls up against my side. Immediately wrap an arm around his waist and tug him close, brushing a kiss against his forehead. “How was your first day of being officially married?” I can’t help but tease.

“Mmm…if it weren’t for the media, I’d say it was perfect. I like knowing where I belong.” June nuzzles against my neck and tangles his legs with mine. “Anything good on?”

“You really want to watch TV when we could be doing something much more fun?” Smooth a hand over his back before finally resting on the nape of his neck and playing with the hairs there. I love him here with me and no more rumors about who he’s with or been with. He’s all mine. Even though no one will really know it. It only matters that we know.

He lifts his head to look at me and brushes his lips soft against mine. “Not tonight, love. Can’t I just bask in being married?” A smile steals across his face and I could never deny him anything.

Lean forward and kiss him again as I cup his cheek, brushing my thumb across his face, before I urge him to settle under the covers with me. “You’ve got the rest of our lives to bask, but yeah, tonight’s a good night for basking. Just don’t think I’m letting you off the hook tomorrow.”

 “Ain’t no protests from me,” he says with a chuckle and burrows against me. Card my hand through his hair as he settles and I feel him drift off to sleep a while later. Watch him sleep and think back on what got this whole thing started.

It really was a joke when I suggested getting married and it snowballed so quickly. June had Kelley looking into it and she’s still looking into somehow getting it official somewhere, but it can’t work cause I’m never going to divorce D. She’s free to pursue her own discreet relationships so it works out well for both of us. We’re good friends, but the racing’s always come first, at least until I found June.

June, I think, got fed up with all the research and just went and bought two wedding bands. Surprised me with them Christmas Day and we’ve been wearing them ever since. Soft chuckle and kiss his forehead while I slide my hand down to rest on his hip. Who’d have ever figured I’d be married to an Earnhardt? I never would’ve. One thing I do know is that life will never be quite the same again.

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Zippit - zippit@cryptoffic.com