Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
Ryan's POV
                          
I was bored. The upside of racing at home was I got to relax. No travel to get ready for. No appearances until the weekend. The downside. No travel and no appearances. I was used to being on the go all the time. I was not one to sit around at home. For some reason, I didn't feel like hanging out with Bubba today. I wanted to see Mason. And Kelsie.
                          
I really should have called first. That would be the decent thing to do, but I wanted to surprise them. I grabbed a few video games. I didn't know if Mason had these or not, but I'd bring them just in case. Maybe we'd play games for a while, then I could take them out to dinner. 
                          
Kelsie opened the door, looking extremely cute in her Ryan Blaney T-shirt, leggings and barefoot, her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and she was holding a spatula. I must have caught her cooking.
                          
"Hi Ryan. I wasn't expecting you today." She pushed a strand of blonde hair that had come loose from her ponytail behind her ear. 
                          
"I'm sorry to barge in like this. I didn't have anything going on today, so I thought I could hang out with Mason for a bit." I held up the video games I was holding. 
                          
Her smile faltered a bit. "Oh Ryan, I wish you had called first. Mason isn't home. He's spending the night with a friend. First time since..." Her voice trailed off. I couldn't help but notice she looked a little sad. 
                          
"Are you busy?" I asked, hating the thought of her being alone, and hoping she might ask me to stay.
                          
She shook her head. "I'm just cooking. I only found out a few minutes ago that Mason was staying at his friend's, and I had already started cooking. There is plenty if you would like to stay for dinner."
                          
It was then that I noticed the delicious smell coming from the kitchen. If my nose was not mistaken, it was chicken and Mexican spices.
                          
"I'd love too." I replied. 
                          
She laughed, a sweet musical sound. "You don't even know what it is."
                          
"Doesn't matter. It smells great, and I'm not a picky eater." I followed her to the kitchen, and watched while she stirred the diced chicken in the skillet. She poured in a little water, stirred it again, and lowered the temperature to simmer, before adding a lid to the top.
                          
"It just chicken tacos. Nothing fancy, but it's one of Mason's favorites."
                          
"Sounds perfect. Is there anything you need help with?" I offered.
                          
"It just needs to simmer a few minutes, while I warm up the tortillas. You can fix me a drink though, and get yourself one." She pointed towards the liquor cabinet I had seen a few nights ago.
                          
I remembered she had drank Crown that night, but there was a bottle of original Crown and apple Crown. 
                          
"Apple." She said reading my thoughts, while she uncovered the skillet and stirred the chicken again. I poured some of the Crown into a glass and handed it to her. Our hands touched for just a moment, and I felt that same electric current that I felt the first time we met.
                          
*******
                          
"That was delicious." I said, pushing away my plate.
                          
"There's more if you're still hungry." She picked up my empty plate.
                          
I shook my head. "I'm stuffed." I replied. I had eaten five tacos. She rinsed my plate off, and put it in the dishwasher. She still looked a little sad, as she began scraping the leftovers into a plastic container. I grabbed the empty skillet and began rinsing it in the sink and placing it in the dishwasher. She gave me a smile, and it literally made my heart flutter. She was so damn pretty.