Got You Where I Want You Chapter 2 - Atlanta

Summary: At a Talladega 500 viewing party at work, Nonia gets into an altercation because she can’t grapple with her feelings for Reese. To her surprise, a couple of days later, she has to confront them head-on, as Reese asks her on a date. Ricky also makes a surprise appearance in her life, in a way she doesn’t expect.

Rating: Explicit, 18+

Media: Talladega Nights

Pairing: Reese Bobby/Nonia Fonzarelli (oc)

Word Count: ~10k

CW: Alcohol, smoking, physical fighting, injury, car crash mention, NSFW including: PiV, unprotected sex, creampie, heavy petting, biting

…

"She lives by the wall,

And waits by the door,

She walks in the sun

To me…"

A Stone Temple Pilots song where Scott Weiland's voice is sweeter than usual, with soft guitar and an orchestral background. One that conjures beautiful imagery. One that induces feelings of love, of warmth…

It's playing in her head. And it's as if she's the star of a music video to the song– Nonia does wait by the door, leaning on the frame, clothed in only a grey button up shirt loosely draped over her naked form. On the other side of the door is a bedroom, and across that bedroom is a glass sliding door. Beyond it is a seemingly endless desert, and the music gets louder as her bare feet cross the room and step out into the sand.

Warmth envelops her, the sun above wrapping her in its light and heat. Beneath her feet, the sand is soft and warm, but not too hot. The music continues to get louder as she walks, so Nonia continues into the desert, and finally…

"She walks in the sun

To me…"

Scott's vocals are replaced by a smooth, Southern-accented voice, and he appears out of nowhere– Reese. Nonia smiles, and so does he. They face each other and grab each other by the hands, and as they go to embrace, it's revealed Reese was nothing but a mirage, as he disappears in her arms, and she falls to her knees in the sand.

The music stops, and her eyes open.

"Fucking Hell. Now that song's gonna be in my head, and I'm thinking about Reese again."

Nonia sits up on the edge of her bed, running her hands over her face. Of course it’s a dream about Reese. A dream with a soundtrack of a rather romantic and catchy song, which she will never be able to associate with anything other than Reese ever again. At least it wasn't a bad dream, it was actually very pretty until the end.

This is the day Nonia sleeps in for a while. She only got up at around 8:00 to take her medicine, then went back to sleep until 2:00. There’s a reason for that, of course– today is the Talladega 500. Normally, someone into NASCAR who had to work on a race day would be pissed, but not Nonia.

Every big race day– a 500, usually– at the 76 is a celebration. It’s the official racing fuel of NASCAR, after all. Despite only having a small TV up in the corner above the counter, tons of customers drop into the gas station to watch the race with Nonia and anyone else who is working that day. It’s the one day that the manager, Irene, allows the employees to drink on the job, even if she herself doesn't give a damn about racing. The race day celebrations are a good source of business, since the customers also purchase things from the store as they watch.

At first, Nonia is pissed she'd worn the AC/DC NASCAR shirt the day before, but after digging in her dresser, she finds one that makes her smile and laugh a little. A Ricky Bobby shirt. Her high school frenemy's face isn't on the shirt, but his car, name, number, and signature are. On the back are Nascar dates from the year it was sold, back in 2000. Nonia didn't buy this at a race herself, but bought it second hand. Even if her past with Ricky is complicated, she still feels like she should support his racing career, and wearing that shirt is the furthest she'll go with that.

However, Nonia isn't going to be rooting for Ricky this time– since he was fired from Dennit Racing, Ricky has no way to race. But Cal is still racing at Talladega, so that’s who Nonia will cheer for. Cal has never gotten past second and rarely even got past third, but Nonia still wants to see him beat that pompous French asshole, Jean Girard.

Deciding on the Ricky Bobby shirt after her short thought about Cal, Nonia puts on her bra and then that shirt, noting that it’s incredibly soft, much more so than she remembered. Kind of like her hidden friendship with Ricky and Cal, a fleeting thought says to her. Ignoring that, she chooses a pair of distressed bootcut jeans and her trademark checkered Vans to go with it.

Fixing up in the bathroom goes quickly, and Nonia decides she'd rather just grab something to eat at the 76, so she skips breakfast and heads out to the bus stop. She anxiously waits for the bus, and while on it, she taps her feet nervously, unable to contain her excitement for the race. Race days on work days are one of the only reasons Nonia stays at the 76, other than the fact that nowhere else will hire her.

As soon as the bus drops her off, Nonia jogs to the gas station, busting through the doors and instantly looking up at the TV above the counter. Sure enough, the qualifying races have finished up, and soon the main event will start.

"Just in time," Nonia rasps between heavy breaths. "Hey! Luisa! Did I miss anything?"

Her coworker steps back in from the break room and instantly develops a devious smile. "Well, Fonzie, I want to say you did, but the shirt makes me think you didn't."

Nonia's heartbeat sped up. "What do you mean by that?"

Tyler appears behind Luisa, already sipping on a beer. "You're not gonna believe it, but Ricky Bobby is back for Talladega!!"

Surely they must be joking, Nonia thinks, her eyes wide and mouth agape. She can't even respond, her voice is paralyzed and she can't hear anything but ringing. Ricky is back? How? He got fired, he has no sponsors! Why is Nonia thinking this instead of asking it?

"Yeah, look, they're talking about it on there," Nonia hears Luisa say when her hearing returns.

Nonia looks up at the TV again, grabbing the remote from the counter and maxing out the volume. On the screen were three reporters, the screen split in half with an image of a new car.

"That's right," one announcer says, "Ricky Bobby is back, and it's all about him. They said his team put the car together overnight–"

"Is that so?"

"Yep, overnight. All his old crew is back together, with Lucius Washington returning as the crew chief. They don't have many sponsors, but the car does look pretty damn good for the situation, doesn't it?"

"It sure does!! The #62 ME car has a big decal of…is that a cougar?" One announcer says, confused.

"That is a cougar," the other replies. "No idea what the hell it means, but I do know that Ricky Bobby is back, and he's in a car with a cougar on it."

Nonia can't believe it. That car really does have a huge cougar on the hood, and it is #62, a funny flip on his original #26, and, oddly enough, the black, gold, and red color scheme reminds her of…

Reese. Reese's Chevelle. She wonders if Reese is watching the race…

"So," says one of the announcers, interrupting Nonia's thoughts, "do you think Ricky is gonna finally take down Jean Girard with his new team and new ride?"

The other laughs. "I have no idea!! The man was MIA for weeks, then enters last minute for today's race, so who knows how this'll go!!"

Nonia has finally let the initial shock settle down and heads over to the snack cake aisle in silence. She peruses the selection, giving a small smile when her eyes pass over the Sno Balls, and then chooses a chocolate chip muffin. Over at the refrigerator, she grabs a single can of Laughing Clown and cracks it open, the first sip bringing her back to the kiss with Reese.

After grabbing her 3:00 "breakfast," Nonia sits down behind the counter and faces the TV, eating the muffin in small bites and sipping her beer while the pre-race things air. Customers soon begin to come into the shop, grabbing their own beer and snacks and standing around to watch the TV. The announcers have now gone on to talk about the potential for crashes, and that Ricky is likely going to be the cause of one.

"Okay, okay!!" One of the customers shouts, "the race is starting!!"

Once more, Nonia's heart rate increases, and she downs the remainder of her beer. As the cars began to zoom forward when the race finally begins, Nonia chews on the tab of the beer can. Ricky seems to be doing okay, starting in the back but getting closer to the front, while Jean is in the lead and Cal is between the two. Ricky tries to pass Cal, eventually succeeding. However, Jean is not letting Ricky anywhere close to first.

As the race goes on and more beer is consumed and customers come in and out, something interesting happens–

Cal is slingshotting Ricky!!

"What the hell is he doing?!" Tyler yells. "They aren't even on the same team!!"

"Maybe they made up," Luisa suggests with a shrug before taking another sip of her drink– a Coors Lite for her. "What do you think, Fonzie? You know them."

Nonia can't count the number of drinks she is on at that point. "Fuck, man, I dunno…they're both idiots, so their little feud could be over by now. That's cool as hell that they're doing that, though. Ricky's got a fighting chance now…"

The race continues, and Nonia's anxiety does, too. It gets even worse when Cal's teammate and Ricky's replacement at Dennit Racing, Bryan Wavecrest, takes out Cal, and several customers erupt in anger. This leads to every car in the race seemingly done for, a massive pile-up forming on the track. Meanwhile, there’s still Jean and Ricky with a slight chance.

As they battle on the final lap, all of a sudden a confrontation leads to their cars going flying only seconds later, spinning through the air in what feels like slow motion. Nonia actually sits up and gasps, feeling genuine concern for her old frenemy. As the tumbling of the two cars goes on, the station even cuts to an Applebee's commercial.

"Hey," Nonia laughs nervously, trying to break the tension, "I know a guy who got kicked out of an Applebee's…"

When the commercial ends, the cars tumble just a bit more before finally crashing and stopping upside down. The announcers begin to say the race is over, even telling what is up next, but something incredibly unexpected happens.

Both Ricky and Jean get out of their cars, stare at each other, and then begin to race on foot to the finish line.

The whole store, including Nonia, erupts in a chaotic, loud mass of cheering. This is the craziest thing Nonia has ever seen in NASCAR history, and it involved Ricky Bobby!! The two rivals continue running to the finish line, and as it seems things are wrapping up, both men leap forward, landing on their fronts, slapping their hands down on the asphalt in an effort to finish the race…

And Ricky's hand hits the finish line!!

"RICKY BOBBY WON!!" Nonia screams, jumping in the air and flinging beer everywhere from the open can in her hand. "HE FUCKING WON!!"

The entire store once more cheers louder than any other race day at the 76. It isn't over, though– as Ricky and Jean stand and speak to each other, something insane happens…

Ricky kisses Jean!! On national TV, after racing on foot following a massive crash, Ricky Bobby of all people is kissing his rival on the lips!!

"GAY FUCKING RIGHTS, BABY!!" Nonia yells even louder than before, jumping up and down repeatedly. "Fuck yeah!!"

Surprisingly, the crowd in the store only goes crazier with joy. No homophobes at the 76, luckily. Everyone is rejoicing, hugging each other, jumping around, screaming…it’s now officially the best race day at the 76, ever.

As the crowd quiets down, they watch in anticipation, but the announcer at the winner's circle says something rather disappointing…

"Because the drivers that finished first and second got out of their cars, they have been disqualified."

"Oh, what the fuck?!" Nonia groans, throwing her arms exaggeratedly.

"The winner, he was third, he's now number one– Mr Cal Naughton, Jr!!"

Nonia's smile returns, and she shrugs loosely. "Ah, what the hell, Cal's our victor on a technicality!! Fuck yeah, Cal!!"

The crowd cheers again, albeit not as enthusiastically as before, but a winner from their hometown is nice. Nonia is especially happy, since both of her old frenemies technically won the race– Ricky crossing the finish line first, Cal winning on a technicality. In a random spark of drunken thought, Nonia wonders if they remember her, but she just thinks it for a second.

"Since Cal won, all Old Spice deodorant that we carry is free!!" Tyler yells, shaking Nonia from her thoughts. "We only have two scents, but everyone can have a free one!!"

"Okay," Nonia begins with a laugh, "Irene's fine with us being drunk as hell on the job, but I don't think she'll be happy if you give away products for free. The whole reason she lets us have watch parties on race day is 'cause the customers buy more shit…"

Tyler waves his hand in Nonia's face. "Shhh, shut up. It's just deodorant. How mad can she get over that?"

Unable to come up with a counterargument, Nonia shrugs. "I mean, you're right. But if she does get pissed, it's your fault."

"Quit arguing," Luisa giggles, clearly the most intoxicated one of the three. "Like Nonia said last night, Irene can get bent."

Nonia snorts. "That was when you watched the CCTV footage. Fuck you for that, for real."

"Hey!" Luisa exclaims, throwing her arm over Tyler's shoulders, "It's this guy's fault!! He's the one that told me about you and Reese!!"

"So, Nonia's lover has a name," Tyler says playfully.

"He's not…" Nonia says between nervous giggles, "he's not my lover."

"But you wish he was," Luisa says. "You want him to fuck you."

"Shut up!!" Nonia says, suddenly getting more serious, pushing Luisa by the chest. "Stop talking about him…"

Luisa begins swaying and humming, then sings, "Reese and Nonia, in the backseat, F-U-C-K-I-N-G…"

Nonia is now fully serious, and she’s starting to get irritated, passing through the jovial drunken banter. "I'm serious, Luisa, stop that. It's not a joke."

"Hey Nonia, did you and Reese…" Luisa giggles, making a vulgar gesture with her hands.

This crosses a line. Nonia is no longer a happy, chaotic drunk– she is a pissed off drunk that wants to crack a bottle over Luisa's head had they not been drinking from cans. She takes Luisa by the shirt, yanking her forward and down to her own height. Tyler just stares at them.

"Say one more thing about him," Nonia hisses, "I fucking dare you."

For a moment, it’s silent between the trio, and the entire store, as the customers have all dissipated by now. Luisa looks at Nonia with glassy eyes, an unreadable expression, before cracking a goofy smile.

"If…if Reese fucked you, I think you'd be less angry."

With that, Nonia shoves Luisa back by the chest, then punches her coworker right in the face, her bony knuckles colliding with the part of Luisa's face between her nose and eye. The other girl collapses, unconscious, but luckily Tyler catches her before she can hit the floor.

"Hey, Nonia, that was fuckin' uncalled for!!" Tyler calls, but she’s on her way out.

Plucking a box of Marlboros from the cigarette case behind the counter, a lighter from the counter, and dropping a few dollars from her pockets, Nonia storms out of the store. Although she initially plans to walk far, far away, she decides not to, and sits down on the edge of the sidewalk, just where she and Reese had been.

Lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag, Nonia exhales hard, feeling her chest burn for the first time in a long time, at least from a cigarette. She coughs until tears puddle in the corners of her eyes, and once she gets the coughing under control, she begins to cry. The tears cascade down her cheeks, and her body aches with each sob. Still, like an idiot, she pauses to smoke between the crying, only to cough hard and repeat the cycle.

It feels like an eternity, sitting out there in the same spot that had brought her such joy only two days before, crying and smoking and regretting hitting the only person she knew of that wants her to be happy. After a while, at least an hour and a pack of cigarettes later, the bell of the door dings as it opens, and none other than Luisa comes out and sits down.

"Hey, are you crying?" She asks, clearly sobered up a bit. "C'mon, Fonzie. It's okay."

Nonia looks over at Luisa and it only causes more tears to pour down her cheeks. Her coworker has a developing black eye and a bloody nose, and she’s pressing a cold can of Coca Cola against the injuries. Nonia feels so, so bad, and takes the cigarette she is smoking and presses it hard against her arm, burning her skin as a punishment.

"Quit that!" Luisa yells, snatching the dart from Nonia's fingers and stomping it out. "Fonzie, it's okay. I deserved that punch. I deserved worse, honestly."

Exhaling with a shudder, Nonia wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "You didn't. I was overreacting. You were right, anyways. I do want Reese to fuck me. You were right, and I hit you for saying it."

Luisa scoffs and smiles at her friend, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I told you yesterday I wanted you to be happy, I wanted Reese to make you happy. And when I drink, I tend to think out loud, and I just happened to think that one way Reese could make you happy was fucking you. But I know that's out of pocket to say, to put words in your mouth. And I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. And I hope you forgive me." Nonia sniffles and wipes her hand across her nose.

The other girl wraps her arms around Nonia's shoulders. "I forgive you, Fonzie. Just don't let me get that drunk next time we have a race watch party, okay? My head is killing me. I slept off most of it on the couch, but I'm gonna be feeling this in the morning, too. The hangover, that is. I'll ignore the punch."

Nonia laughs, sniffling as she does so and leaning into Luisa. "I won't let you get that drunk again. And was my punch really that weak, that you'll be able to ignore it? I must need to up my game."

"Only if you punch Tyler next time," Luisa laughs, squeezing Nonia just a little tighter. "Come back in, Irene is coming in to drive us all home and finish up the night shift. I'll tell her it was a customer that hit me."

Nodding and standing up, Nonia replies, "that's fine. She'll probably be more mad at Tyler for giving away all the deodorant."

Luisa giggles. "Yeah, that was such a dumb decision. Let's go make fun of him."

The two girls go back inside, then sit down on the couch with Tyler, waiting for their manager to be the designated driver. They switch the signal over to the break room TV and are now watching the post-race coverage together.

"Jesus Christ," Irene says, arriving about thirty minutes later, "you guys are so lucky we get good business on race day. Go on, get in the car so I can drag your drunk asses home."

The car ride home is quiet, as Irene has some Anne Murray playing on the radio at a low volume. Tyler falls asleep in the front seat, and Luisa and Nonia are leaning on each other. One by one, Irene drops them off, Nonia being the last one.

"See you tomorrow," Irene says as Nonia departs. Nonia only replies with a lazy wave as she stumbles towards her apartment building.

Once home, she takes her medicine, a quick shower, and then crawls into bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. A day of NASCAR victories, drunken misunderstandings, and making up with the friend she punched in the face is enough to tire her out completely, even if the sun has only been down for a short time.

…

Despite going to bed so early the previous night, Nonia doesn't wake up until around 3:00, which is a good thing, considering her shift starts at 4:00. Normally, Irene is considerate of race day employees and doesn't make them work the next day, but that idiot Jamie apparently sprained his ankle trying to ride a dirtbike, according to the message on her answering machine from Irene, so Nonia has to fill in for him.

Luckily, she isn't even hungover– Nonia almost never gets hungover, regardless of how much she drinks the previous night. Before taking her medicine, Nonia wants to get ready, even if it messes up her routine. Stripping from her Ricky Bobby t-shirt, she smirks, thinking of his victory last night. After applying none other than Old Spice deodorant, she puts on a black and grey striped shirt, with long sleeves and a deep V neck, then replaces her worn underwear and jeans with a new pair and some dark brown cargo pants. Then comes socks and her usual checkered Vans.

As Nonia gets ready in the bathroom, she notices how dark her eyes are, either from tiredness or failure to remove all of her makeup last night. Either way, it makes her think of Luisa, and she winces, wondering how her friend is doing. She still feels horrible for punching her, even if Luisa did forgive her.

After applying her dark eyeshadow, liner, and mascara, Nonia brushes her hair and puts on her headband, then goes to take her medicine, once again with Kool-Aid because of the taste. For "breakfast," she has a cup of swirl pudding and watches the Speed network. They are still talking about Talladega, particularly Ricky and Jean's foot race and kiss. That kiss is receiving surprisingly good feedback, unexpected for a sport like NASCAR.

Finished with her pudding, Nonia tosses the empty cup and throws the spoon into the sink. Before leaving for work, she grabs a bottle of water, then her wallet and keys. The bus arrives almost immediately when she sits at the bus stop, and as it heads to the stop right by her workplace, Nonia gets lost in thought.

I wonder if Reese saw the race, she says to herself in her head. What did he think of the ridiculous ending, of the kiss? Of Cal's victory on a technicality? What driver did Reese even cheer for in the first place? God, she wishes he would come back in to talk to her, she wants to ask him all of this.

The bus soon stops at her stop, and she thanks the driver before heading to the 76. As she walks, Nonia puts her hands in her pocket and shrugs into herself, annoyed that she didn't put on her jacket. She hadn't anticipated it being so cold or for it to be sprinkling. The tiny little drops of rain do remind her of that night with Reese, so that makes her smile, even if it is cold.

Once inside the 76, she welcomes the warmth, and heads into the break room to clock in and grab her vest. After putting it on, she looks around, and it seems like no one else is even working.

"Hello?" She calls, peeking into the refrigerator, thinking maybe they were in there. "Is anyone else even here besides me?"

Emerging from the customer bathroom with a bottle of cleaner in hand, Luisa replies, "I'm here too!"

Nonia looks shocked, not only because of the absolute shiner she'd left on Luisa's face the previous day, but also because race day employees were supposed to be given the next day off.

"Shit, I really fucked up your eye," Nonia says while cringing. "Sorry."

Luisa waves a hand. "Nah, it's cool. It looks worse than it feels. And I already told you I forgive you. Also, why are you here? Did Irene really need two people to come in because Randy was bitching about a migraine?"

With an annoyed exhale, Nonia says, "nope, Jamie's out today too."

"Really? What's wrong with him?"

"He hurt his widdle ankle riding a big boy bike," Nonia replies in a mocking tone.

Luisa playfully hits Nonia's arm. "Hey, at least he actually has a decent reason to be out. A migraine is kind of stupid. I come to work with headaches all the time."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Nonia scoffs. "Those two are such babies, you'd think they were twins or something."

"They're cousins," says Luisa, dragging the mop and bucket out of the customer bathroom. "Did you not know that?"

Nonia nods slowly. "Ah, that makes so much sense."

After Luisa has put away the cleaning supplies in the storage closet, she joins Nonia behind the counter. They both just sit there, bored, tapping their nails on the counter.

"Hey, Luisa," Nonia says out of nowhere, but still just staring into nothing.

"Yeah?" She is also staring into nothing.

"We're like Clerks today. We weren't even supposed to be here today."

Luisa snorts and rolls her eyes. "You're right. But which of us is Randal and which one is Dante?"

Nonia shrugs. "I dunno. I think I'm Randal. You're Dante."

"What? Why am I Dante?" Luisa asks with a laugh. "Where is your logic coming from on this one?"

"I mean, look at their vibes and behavior and shit. I'm so Randal, so that makes you Dante."

Luisa scoffs. "Vibes and behavior…you're so funny, Fonzie."

As their little conversation ends, a customer enters. She looks angry, and Nonia knows that this is not a customer she wants to deal with, so she looks away.

"Excuse me," the woman begins, "the gasoline pump is not accepting my credit card."

Luisa nods, donning a fake smile. "Okay, well, you can certainly pay for it using cash instead."

The customer shakes her head. "No, I want to use my credit card! You need to make the credit card thing work!"

She inhales sharply, but keeps the customer service veneer. "Alright ma'am, I'll come out there and check the pump."

As she follows the customer, Luisa rolls her eyes, and Nonia smirks and shrugs. If that had been Nonia's customer, she would have jumped over the counter and strangled that woman.

While Luisa is out dealing with the credit card lady, Nonia flips on the TV and puts it on Speed network. By now, they've gotten tired of covering last night's race, and are making predictions for the next one. Nonia watches in boredom, but is shaken from it when she hears an especially loud motor outside.

Then the door opens, with its little ding sound. The customer walks in.

It's Reese.

Nonia nearly chokes on her own spit, having to slam a hand against the counter to control herself. Reese smiles at her, tilting his head to get a better look.

"You okay, darlin'?" He asks.

This immediately sets her on fire. Nonia nods and swallows hard, giving a thumbs up and a smile.

"I am doing great! Shit, Reese, it's nice to see you again," she says, so infatuated she could easily have cartoon hearts swirling over her head.

Reese nods in agreement. "It's nice to see you too, Nonia. Sorry I haven't been around, I would've come back, but I was actually at Talladega."

Her eyes widen and mouth drops open. "Holy shit! You're so lucky! That was a fucking crazy race, wasn't it?"

"Yep, it sure was," he laughs. "Got the chance to make up with my son, too. Went out with the family to Applebee's after the race, but I didn't get kicked out this time 'round."

"Good for you," Nonia giggles, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So you're already back from Alabama? Must've left super early."

"I actually drove up and stayed in Atlanta last night, then drove up from there this mornin'," Reese explains. "Soon as I got back, I wanted to come see you. I, uh…actually got you somethin' from 'Dega."

Her heart begins beating a million beats per minute. He got her a gift? He wanted to see her as soon as he got back? There is no way this is real. She wants to punch herself in the face to check if it’s a dream.

Reese fishes in his pocket and pulls out a small object– a little die-cast car emblazoned with the number '02 and "Talladega Superspeedway." It is still in the box, and scribbled on the top of that box is a signature from Ricky Bobby.

"Holy fuck," Nonia gasps, holding the toy car gently in both hands, admiring it. She's just acquired a new prized possession. "Reese, thank you so, so much!! This is such a sweet gift, I'm…I don't even know what to say."

Tell him you love him, her inner voice says, but Nonia knows not to go that far. Instead, she places the gift on the counter and stares at it in admiration, then flicks her eyes up to Reese. They are certainly full of hearts and stars and glittering with enchantment. She has her elbow on the counter and face resting in her hand, and she can feel the heat coming from her cheeks.

"You don't have to say anything, darlin'," he replies with a grin, knowing how happy this made her. "I also wanted to ask you somethin'."

Nonia nods, her chin still resting in her hand, that infatuated smile still on her lips. "Ask me anything, Reese."

For just a second, Reese seems to become…shy? He reaches behind his head and scratches his hair, eyes avoiding hers, then finally meeting them.

"I was, uh…wonderin' if you'd want to go out later. When your shift is over. We can go grab somethin' to eat, go for another drive, get drinks…whatever you wanna do. If you want to, that is."

Now both of them are blushing. Nonia nods furiously, her long hair going flying. "Of course!! Oh my God, yes!! All of that and whatever you wanna do!! Yes!!"

"Good," Reese says with a smile, seemingly relieved. "Alright, what time you get off work?"

"Let's see…it's 5:32…I get off at 7:00. Mind picking me up just a few minutes early?"

He chuckles. "You really that anxious to go out with me? 'Course I'll pick you up early."

Nonia can't stop smiling. "Okay, cool!! I can't wait!!"

"Me neither," Reese replies, heading for the door. "Alright, see ya at 7:00, darlin'."

"S-see ya!!" Nonia calls after him as he exits. She hears the powerful engine of his Chevelle start, and sighs contentedly as it drives off.

She’s about to go on a date with Reese. This is all she’s ever wanted. He gave her a gift. He thought about her. He wanted to see her right when he got home. He probably feels the same way she does– he likes her back.

Luisa runs in, shoes squeaking on the floor as she tries to stop by grabbing the counter.

"Reese was here!! He was here, I saw his car!!" She says between heavy breaths. "I wanted to meet him!! Why'd you let him go?!"

Nonia hums, picking up the toy car and examining it. "Sorry. But look. He bought me this at 'Dega."

Luisa's eyes, even the swollen one, widen. "Oh my God, he bought you a gift!!"

"Yep," Nonia says, turning it over to show her the signature, "signed by Ricky Bobby."

"Shit, man!!" Luisa exclaims, "he is so into you!!"

"That's not all," Nonia replies, gently placing the car back on the counter. "He said he drove back early so he could see me as early as possible when he got back."

"Oh my god!!"

"And…" Nonia begins.

"And?!" Luisa shouts.

"He's gonna pick me up after work, and we're gonna go out."

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!" Luisa exclaims, grabbing Nonia by the shoulders. "You're going out with Reese!! Oh my God, oh my God…"

"I know," Nonia sighs dreamily, "it feels too good to be true. I'd punch myself to see if I was dreaming, but I don't wanna look like you in front of Reese."

"I'm gonna let that one slide because I'm so happy for you," Luisa laughs, "but seriously, this is so crazy!!"

Nonia nods, her already wide smile getting even bigger. "It's so fucking crazy."

…

Only two more customers come in during that hour and a half– one just buying a pack of cigarettes and one to buy a bunch of candy, chips, and sodas for his family. Surely that will be a peaceful road trip, Nonia muses, watching the clock intently even while checking out the customer. She knows that Reese is going to pick her up early, so it being 6:48 is making her anxious.

"When Reese gets here, can I please meet him?" Luisa begs, resting her elbows on the counter with her chin in her hands, just across from Nonia.

"No." Nonia's answer is firm, and Luisa decides she'll respect that and not push any further. She doesn't want her other eye to end up purple and swollen.

"Alright, alright." Luisa is a bit disappointed, but surely she'll meet Reese at some point. "It's almost 7:00. Is he gonna come in? If so, I guess I'll hide in the storage closet like you said the other day…"

Nonia scoffs. "Shut up. I don't know if he's coming in or not–"

Her sentence is cut short by a loud motor approaching quickly, the squealing of tires pulling into a parking spot, and the subsequent loud honk.

Even though she knows it is Reese, Nonia peeks out the window to see that gorgeous Chevelle of his, and he is waving at her through the window. Nonia waves back, then gives an "I'll be right back" gesture and dashes to the break room. Never has she thrown her work vest off so quickly, nor clocked out at the same speed. She waves hastily to Luisa and jogs out the door over to the car.

"Well," Reese says through the opened passenger side window, "get on in!"

With a smile so bright it could outdo the sun, Nonia opens up the door and slides into the seat next to Reese, then closes it. The two are alone in the Chevelle once again, and Nonia is so excited she’s nearly shaking.

Reese backs out of the parking spot, his arm laid across the back of the seats and therefore Nonia's shoulders. She already feels warm just from that little touch, and knows that she'll probably literally be in flames by the end of the night.

After he's pulled out onto the street, Reese begins to drive straight, only going a little bit over the speed limit. Nonia knows he is going to ask what she wants to do, and she honestly doesn't have an answer– just being next to him is enough for her.

It seems that Reese knows this, because when he goes to ask her, he looks at her face, and notices how much joy she gets from the simplicity of driving down the street with him. It makes him smile and even blush a little bit. Just a little.

"Alright, we can't keep goin' down the same street forever," he finally says, "so you're gonna make a decision, okay?"

Nonia nods in a way that can only be described as 'obediently.' "Okay, what's that decision?"

"You wanna go get somethin' to eat? We can get it to go or sit in, but you know my history with sit-down restaurants…" He ends the sentence with a little scoff.

"Ummm…" Nonia knows she’ll feel embarrassed eating in front of Reese, but if she wants to be with him, it will have to happen eventually. "We could maybe get Hardee's to go, and then eat in the car, and…I dunno, drive around a little?"

Reese nods and grins at her, focusing on the road again soon after. "Alright, sounds good. I know that one up ahead is closer, but…"

They’re both jarred as Reese hits the break and shifts so that the car executes a sharp U-turn into the other lane.

"Jesus Christ!!" Nonia laughs. "What are you doing, Reese?!"

"We're going to the Hardee's down that way, 'cause I wanted to show off a little." The way he’s smirking at her is turning up the warmth that he'd already started.

"You're so crazy," she says on an exhale, looking over at him with eyes full of infatuation.

Somehow, Nonia's shyness is gone. Perhaps it is the confidence Reese gave her by coming to see her, prioritizing her, giving her a gift, and asking her out, proving he did like her. Perhaps it is something that only unlocks under special circumstances.

"I think…" Reese begins, moving one hand off the steering wheel and towards the radio, "we need some music. Right, darlin'?"

Nonia giggles and shrugs. "Of course! What's gonna play for us tonight?"

That question is answered after Reese flips through a couple of stations that have only been playing ads, finally landing on "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" by the Bellamy Brothers.

"If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" Reese sings along playfully, leaning up against Nonia. "If I swore you were an angel, would you treat me like the devil tonight?"

"If I was dying of thirst, would your flowing love come and quench me?" Nonia joins in.

"If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" They both sing at once, falling into each other and laughing as the rest of the song continues to play.

Having pulled into and parked in the Hardee's parking lot, Reese turns down the volume a bit and looks over at Nonia with that perpetual devilish look of his.

"Well, would you?"

Her face lights up. "W-would I what?"

"Hold it against me." He smirks and flicks his eyes up and down her form. "Y'know, your beautiful body."

Nonia's chest tightens, her head feels hotter. She waves a hand as she says, "I don't have a beautiful body, so the question is pointless."

Reese scoffs. "Well, if you did have a beautiful body– which you do, by the way– would you hold it against me?"

"If you want to hold it back," Nonia quips.

"'Course I would, angel," he replies, alluding to the song's lyrics once more. "Question is, would you want to hold mine?"

This nearly makes Nonia choke on her own spit, trying not to blurt out, "that's all I think about," but instead she answers by boldly daring to place her hand on his thigh, dangerously high up, and looking up at him with wide eyes.

He chuckled and looks down at the answer, eyebrows raised and a smile on his face. "Well, goddamn, I like hearin' that."

Nonia immediately turns red and recoils her hand, now embarrassed by what she’d just done. “I…I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that.”

Reese chuckles. “Hey, I ain’t complainin’.” As he pulled into the drive thru, he looks over at her with a grin and asked, “so, what d’ya want from here?”

“Um, just the chicken strips and a Dr Pepper,” Nonia answers sheepishly, still trying to will away that awkward feeling that touching his thigh has left in her chest. “Please.”

He nods. “Anything you want, darlin’.”

When he approaches the speaker and menu, the cashier greets them, “Welcome to Hardee’s, what can I get for you today?”

“I’ll have the Western bacon burger and a large Coke, and my gal here would like the chicken tenders and a Dr Pepper.”

Now choking for real, Nonia coughs and punches herself in the chest. Reese gives her that same damn smirk, knowing damn well what he did by referring to her as “his gal.” She swallows hard and glares at him, only getting that smug look in return. She doesn’t even hear what the cashier says the total is, only the Chevelle’s loud engine.

“What do you keep lookin’ at me like that for?” Reese asks as he pulls to the window and begins to wait on the cashier. “Did I do somethin’ wrong?”

Nonia narrows her eyes. “No…you just keep surprising me, is all.”

Reese gives a small, triumphant scoff as the cashier opens the window and they exchange words and cash. The worker then hands them the drinks and promises the food will be out soon. Nonia immediately begins sipping on her Dr Pepper, partially to stop choking on her own spit, and partially because Reese is making her literally thirsty. He eyes her suggestively as she sucks from the straw, and she rolls her eyes playfully.

“Really?” she asks, tilting her head. “Now that wasn’t surprising.”

His grin widens. “Sorry. You’ve just got real pretty lips, I can’t help it.”

Those “real pretty lips” quirk into a smile. “Really?”

Reese is suddenly closer to her, so much so that she can smell the malt liquor, cigarettes, and cheap cologne on him. “Really.”

On a whim, one that normally would never happen, Nonia leans into Reese and presses her lips into his, which he accepts, and moves a hand to the side of her head, pulling her in and deepening the kiss. Nonia’s eyes close and she moans softly into his lips, which only makes him more aggressive in his display of affection. His teeth nip at her bottom lip, and she lets out an aroused yelp, hands gripping the seats of the car.

They’re only interrupted when the window slides open and the cashier quickly passes them their food. Reese gives a half-assed thank you and then speeds off, heading God knows where. Nonia watches him as he drives, a satisfied smile on his lips, while she is out of breath. When he catches a look at her, Reese is instantly turned on by the sight– Nonia’s already beautiful lips are swollen from the kiss and the bite, her eyes wide in anticipation of what’s to come, her partially exposed chest heaving with anxious breaths.

“Where are we going, Reese?” Nonia asks softly, shifting in her seat so that she can lean into his arm, which is resting over the back of the seat.

He holds up his index finger from the hand on the wheel. “Just wait. Don’t be impatient, now.”

She wants to pout. Of course, now that he’s lit a fire inside her, Nonia is going to be impatient. All she wants is another kiss, another gentle bite on the lower lip, maybe even the same on her neck…she wants him, and she wants him right now.

As they drive to the mystery destination, both have their windows down, the radio off, and the only noise is that of speeding down the highway– the Chevelle’s powerful engine, the rushing of wind, the sound as they speed by other cars passing by. Nonia takes peeks at Reese occasionally, who is focused on and enjoying driving quite a bit over the speed limit, but mostly, she looks out the window at the blur of scenery. Less and less of civilization is showing, while more and more trees and wilderness begin dominating the landscape.

When they near a small bank overlooking a lake, Reese pulls into the empty space with a screech of his tires, immediately shutting off the car. Nonia is shaken by the fast stop, and in the process has flung into Reese, her back flush against his chest. For a moment, they both just sit there, but eventually break the silence by laughing hysterically.

“You know,” Nonia laughs as she sits up, “I’m beginning to wonder if I should keep getting in a car with you.”

Reese playfully shoves her shoulder, but only a tiny bit. “Ah, hush. Why don't we eat before the food gets cold?”

To be honest, Nonia has forgotten about the food. “Oh, um, yeah. Let's eat.”

Digging in the bag for Reese's food, Nonia produces a wrapped burger and carton of fries for him, handing them over and receiving a “thanks darlin’” in return. She opens up a small box of chicken tenders and a much smaller bag of fries. While Reese digs into his food, Nonia is nervous to eat hers. It isn't that she is embarrassed to eat in front of Reese, it's that she just isn't hungry. But Nonia isn't about to waste Reese's money and time by not eating, so she picks at her chicken.

Once Reese is done eating, he lights a cigarette. “Mind if I smoke, darlin’?” He asks.

Nonia holds out an open hand. “Only if you share.”

Reese scoffs and plucks the cigarette he'd just lit from his own lips and places it between Nonia's. She gasps, barely audibly, and smiles around the dart in her mouth. He's already placed another in his and was biting on it to give her a sharp grin.

“It's gettin’ late,” Reese muses, looking out the window. He’s right– the sky is turning a deep purple, speckled with stars and grayish clouds.

Nonia simply nods, taking a drag from her cigarette. She keeps thinking back to that kiss in the drive thru, and how badly she wants more. Is Reese saying it’s late a subtle way to invite her to his place?

All of a sudden, Reese startles Nonia by opening the door and stepping out. He stretches for a moment, then sits on the hood, one knee bent and the other leg out straight.

“C'mere,” he calls to her, patting the hood of the Chevelle, the metal vibrating with the force, shaking her inside the car.

Climbing out of the car, Nonia takes her place next to Reese on the hood, lying back so that she can rest her arms over her middle and her legs could straighten out, though one crosses over the other. She and Reese are close now, enough to inhale each others’ smoke, and it’s nice.

“Look at the stars,” Reese says softly, pointing up at the sky with his cigarette. “They're real bright tonight.”

Nonia scoffs. “Did you really come out here to stargaze with me?”

He looks at her, for once in a vulnerable way– he’s hurt by this. “What's that supposed to mean? I can't take you out under the stars?”

Immediately feeling bad, Nonia shakes her head and hands. “N-no! That isn't what I meant! I just…you're a sexy bad boy who gets kicked out of restaurants and drives a muscle car and was a deadbeat dad. I didn't expect you to do something so…sweet.”

He turns his head over to her. “Maybe I'm tryin’ to be better. Made up with my family this weekend, didn't I? Didn't even get kicked out of the restaurant we went to. Whatever organ or bone that makes people act right, I'm thinkin’ I do have one, it just needs a little, eh…treatment.”

Nonia smiles, a genuinely appreciative smile, and reaches her hand over to Reese's cheek. She runs two fingers over his sideburns and scruff, feeling the scratch on her skin, and gently begins to stroke his face.

“Whether you act right or not don't matter to me,” Nonia says softly, eyes half lidded, “you're always gonna be the man that set my heart on fire the same night he got thrown out of an Applebee's.”

Reese tosses his burnt out cigarette on the ground and moves his own hand to Nonia's cheek, rubbing a thumb over her freckles and smiling at her.

“Set your heart on fire, huh?” He asks, moving closer, so close their noses touch. “How's your heart feelin’ right now, darlin’?”

Nonka takes a shaky breath and tosses her own dead cigarette and shuts her eyes, anticipating what comes next– Reese kisses her, beginning deep and sensual right away. His fingers curl against her head and pull her as close as she can be, and she follows suit with her own hand.

They savor this affection for a while, before Reese manages to climb on top of her and his hands are holding hers. He straddles her, pinning her against the hood of his car, and continues his assault on her mouth, tasting her whole mouth. Sure, it tastes only like nicotine, but he savors it nonetheless.

Nonia, meanwhile, is moaning into his mouth, her entire body feeling like it was in flames. Her fingernails dig into the back of Reese's hand, leaving little red crescents, and her hips keep involuntarily rising to meet his. Between kisses, they share heavy breaths, and eventually, Reese moves his face to her neck.

His beard is rough on her skin, but she loves it. All over Nonia's neck, Reese leaves sloppy kisses and licks and bites, and each time, Nonia writhes beneath him. She wants so badly for him to just ravage her, to rip off her clothes and defile her on the hood of the Chevelle, but judging by what he'd said earlier, he won't be doing it.

“Nonia, darlin’,” Reese says breathily, taking one hand to her face, “I want you to come home with me.”

Nonia nods furiously, banging her head against the windshield. “Yes, yes, of course. Take me home.”

Reese gives her one last kiss before climbing off and getting into the car. Nonia follows suit, and as they drive off, she leans against him and places her hand in the same place she'd bravely placed it back in the Hardee's drive thru– right on his thigh.

“Damn, darlin’,” Reese sighs, gripping the steering wheel. “You gonna take it away this time?”

She shakes her head and begins to stroke his thigh, taking it higher and higher before her hand is on the erection straining his jeans. Reese's breath hitches in his chest and he begins to grind his teeth.

“Nonia…” He groans, taking one hand off the wheel and running it up her thigh. “I don't like bein’ teased… ‘less you're being teased too.”

Feeling Reese's retaliatory teasing against herself, Nonia jolts, arching her back off the car seat. His fingers work against her, through her pants, and damn, do they work well. Surely, some of this comes from his experience as an older man who got around, but Nonia also knows the man is good with his hands from mechanic work. He knows how to touch an engine and how to touch her.

“F-fuck,” Nonia whines, taking her hand away from Reese, “Reese…”

“That's right,” he coos, continuing to rub her through her pants, “look who's getting teased and likes it.”

His touch is more than just teasing, it is heaven. Nonia presses herself into his hand, wanting more and more, biting her lip trying not to scream. Only little whines and whimpers escape her– she isn't going to show him how much he makes her feel just from such a simple action.

And he is well aware that Nonia is taking this as much more than teasing. For a few seconds, he'll slow down his hand and speed up the car, using the change of pace to his advantage. He notices that when he does that, Nonia will whine louder and writhe more.

What he doesn't expect is for her to actually reach her climax, just from him rubbing her through two layers of fabric. A large shiver goes through Nonia's spine as she comes, and she lets out a long, drawn out moan, gripping onto Reese's jacket sleeve. She feels like she's been lit on fire and it’s burning at a higher temperature in her core, in her fingertips, her head, her thighs.

She doesn't want Reese to stop, but it eventually does become too much, so she squirms away from his hand.

“R-Reese…stop!! It's too much!!” Nonia whines, closing her thighs so tight he can't put his hand between them.

He gives a “tsk” and shakes his head, taking his hand back to the steering wheel. “Nonia, Nonia, Nonia…you're so easy.”

“N-no I'm not,” Nonia sighs, straightening herself up, “it's just because it's you.”

Reese lights up. “Me? You're that sensitive ‘cause it's me?”

Nonia notices they are heading into the parking lot to the motel he lives in. “Yeah. Because it's you.”

“Well, we're home,” Reese says as he shuts off the car and jumps out. “You comin’? Or should I say, comin’ again?”

As she exits the car and walks on shaky legs to meet Reese, Nonia scoffs. “Very fuckin’ funny.”

They walk up the stairs and Reese opens the door, which had been unlocked, and as soon as he closes it behind them, he pulls Nonia into a passionate kiss.

Nonia doesn't fight it at all, pawing helplessly at Reese's jacket as their mouths meld together. He continues to kiss her as he slides out of it and tosses it aside. She goes to unbutton his top, but he removes that easily too, popping open the buttons and ripping it off.

Inhaling sharply when she sees his bare torso, Nonia moves her hands to his hairy chest. She moves them up and down his tits, down his stomach, and attempts to undo his tacky belt buckle– a silver oval with an “R” and two turquoise beads set in it. Meanwhile, Reese undoes Nonia's cargo pants and lets them fall at her feet– she kicks them and her shoes off.

When Nonia's fingers finally manage to undo Reese's belt, she slides it off and unbuttons his jeans, pulling them down to his knees. Reese takes her hands away from him so that he can yank her shirt and bra over her head, and she is fully nude in front of him. It makes her pause.

“Shit,” Nonia says nervously, covering up her body with her arms, as much as she can. “I…I'm sorry for how I look…”

As Reese finishes taking off his pants and shoes, he looks at her in disbelief. “Sorry? What the Hell for? Darlin’, you've got the best body I have ever, ever seen. C'mere, let me show you.”

Nonia sighs as Reese takes one breast in each hand, even if they overfill them, and begins to massage them. This makes Nonia appreciate her body slightly more, but when his hands move to grip her ass, that's when her confidence returns.

Reese feels her up, taking as much of her body under his hands as he can, and begins to work his mouth against her neck again. Nonia groans and places a hand on the back of his head, digging her fingers into his sandy grey hair.

“C'mere,” Reese says lowly, pulling Nonia over to the bed, which isn't too far away from the door.

He pushes her down on the bed and climbs on top of her, running his hands all over her body. His hand cups her cunt and as his thumb rubs circles into her clit, he pops two rough fingers inside her, leaving her a moaning mess. Her hands fall limp at her sides, she can't move– Reese has her completely under his spell.

“Reese, that feels so–” Nonia begins, but she’s cut off by him kissing her on the mouth, hard.

The kissing combined with the hand action drives Nonia crazy and sends her over the edge once more– she screams and thrashes her head into the pillow, digging her nails into the mattress.

“Good?” He asks playfully, finishing her sentence as he pulls away both his mouth and his hand. “Nonia, can I ask you somethin’?”

She nods. “Of course.”

“Can I fuck you?”

Nonia is taken aback by Reese asking instead of just doing it, but she appreciates the gesture.

“Fuck yes, please, oh my God, please,” Nonia begs, snaking her arms under Reese's and gripping his back. “Fuck me, Reese.”

“You got it,” Reese replies playfully, kissing her neck gently as he enters her. It’s at a decent pace– not too rough or fast, yet not slow or sweet.

“Ohh fuck, Reese!” Nonia screams, digging her nails into his skin. “Fuck me!”

“‘S the plan,” he slurs from the crook of her neck.

And fuck her he does– Reese's pace gets faster and deeper as Nonia encourages him, pulling him further inside with the heels of her feet. Both parties are panting between deep kisses, tasting each other, feeling each other.

As Reese fucks her, Nonia comes once more, feeling like another match has been thrown onto her already flaming body. She presses his face into her neck and encourages him to bite, riding out this orgasm as he nips at her skin.

Her coming makes Reese want to come, too, but he wants to last longer. Nonia is the first he's been with in some time, and the best, so he isn't going to take it for granted. So he continues to snap his hips into her, trying harder and harder not to finish, but when Nonia clenches around him in yet another climax, Reese throws his head back and groans, finishing inside her.

Nonia lets out a shocked moan when he does this, and it only prolongs her pleasure. The two ride out the ecstasy together, fluids squelching and spilling onto the bedding, their breathing heavy and quick.

Eventually they stop, unable to take any more stimulation, and Reese falls down at Nonia's side, letting out a long groan.

“Fuck, Nonia…” He sighs, placing a hand over his chest. “That has to be the best–”

“I doubt it,” Nonia laughs as she interrupts him. “You don't have to lie.”

He looks offended, sitting up and pulling back on his boxers. “I ain't lyin’. The fuck would I lie about that for?”

Nonia is also dressing herself, though only in her tank top and underwear. “To make me feel better about myself.”

Reese groans in annoyance and grabs her around the waist, pulling her back into the bed. “Shut up. I'm tellin’ the truth. I'm actin’ good from now on, remember?”

She giggles and snuggles against him, pushing them into a spooning position. “Fine. Whatever you say.”

“You tired?” He asks.

“Fuck yeah, you?” Nonia replies on an exhale.

“Fuck yeah. Didn't think you'd actually wanna stay over.”

“Didn't think you'd want me to.”

Reese presses a kiss into the back of Nonia's head and pulls her closer.

“G'night, darlin’,” he says softly.

“Night, Reese.”

…

The two sleep better than either one ever had in an eternity– they don't want to move. Reese is so warm, and the way he holds her feels so loving, so right. And Nonia is like a body pillow, one that you could speak with, and holding her feels so right. They'd be content if they could lie there forever…

Until there’s a knock at the door.

“Fuck off, we don't need housekeeping!” Reese shouts, still half asleep.

“It's not housekeeping! It's your son!” Shouts a masculine voice.

Reese groans. “Ah shit. Come in then!”

The door opens, and in walks Reese's son. When he and Nonia meet eyes, both pairs go wide, and Nonia wants to vomit.

“Ricky?!”