You woke up the next morning to Noah cutting off your oxygen with her hug.

"Babe, I can't breathe," you say and she let go. You sit up and hug her, hearing the girl sniffly. "Aww Noah, it's okay. Nothing happened last night, Nick and I got you home safe. Guess he isn't that bad," you joke, emphasizing the word 'that'.

Noah lets out a chuckle, pulling away and wiping her tears. "I'm sorry Jay, I should've listened to you and not drank that beer."

You smiled at the girl, holding her hand. "Don't worry, I punched Tom on our way out too, and so did Nick."

Noah's eyes widened hearing that, "I'm not surprised that you punched him, but Nick too?" You nod, spilling everything and what Tom said. Noah smiled at the girl with a knowing look.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" You look at her confused as she says, "He punched Tom for you! For you!"

You facepalm, "Noah. Babe, please don't start this so early in the morning."

"No seriously, Nick did that for you," she exclaimed.

"I did what," Nick asked as he stood in the doorway, leaning against it with his arms crossed.

"Nothing," you quickly reply. Nick looked at you with an eyebrow raised and you looked away.

"Landon asked me to hang out," Noah whispered. Your eyes widen and you yell, "He what?! Really?!"

Nick looked more confused than ever before saying, "Breakfast is ready, so come down when you're ready yeah?"

Noah nodded and turned back to you, "I'll spill, just join us for breakfast. Come on, I'll give you a spare toothbrush."

She pulled you out of bed as Nick left. You went with her to her bathroom and she left you with a spare toothbrush and her skincare. You did your thing before using her hair clip to clip your hair up in a ponytail. Messy but cute.

You come out and go down with Noah, telling her to go first as you want to surprise her mom. She went into the kitchen and distracted her mom. Nick watched with curiosity and William with a smile knowing what was about to happen.

"Surprise!" You threw your arms around the woman's shoulders as you were behind her. She screamed, placing her hand over her heart. She turned around, the look of surprise taking over her expression as everyone else laughed.

"Oh, my dear Jay! Oh honey, it's been so long," she hugged you tightly.

You smiled and hugged her just as tight. Feeling warm as you rarely felt a hug from a mother.

You both catch up before sitting down at the table with everyone, sitting across Nick with Noah on the right, sitting between you and her mom.

You were sipping your coffee as Nick lightly kicked you. You looked at him as he hid a small smirk behind the piece of toast he was eating. You looked confused as to what he was smirking about before his eyes glanced at the island and back to you. You followed before your eyes widened, realizing he was referring to last night. You made sure no one was looking before lightly shaking your head at him.

Breakfast went by as you and Noah helped clean up.

"Alright, I'm off to see Maddie. I will probably stay the night there," Nick announced getting up.

"You should take Noah with you," William suggested. Noah asked who Maddie was but William continued, "It's a beautiful drive in the countryside. You'll love it."

Noah looked at me before speaking, "I was going to hang out with, um, Landon."

"Why don't you all go together? All four of you," Noah's mom suggested.

Nick looked at you with a small smirk and Noah looked at you with a look saying to come.

"Um sure I guess, Landon's coming?" You ask Nick and he pulls his phone out while nodding.

"Cool, I will leave then to pack a bag to take overnight. Thank you so much for breakfast," you say to the parents who gave you warm smiles and hugs.

Nick had a small smile on his face while watching, feeling a little fuzzy inside. He had seen you around at the races, but didn't know you were the same girl the crew chatted about until they introduced her. You had caught his eye the first day he laid eyes on you.

You reached the front door, grabbing your keys and Nick and Noah followed behind. You turn to Nick and ask, "Send the location to Noah yeah? She can forward it to me and I'll meet you there."

"Landon will take Noah, I'll pick you up in 30. That good enough?" Nick asks as Noah smiles upon hearing that.

"Little Noah seems happy hearing that," you tease. She hides her blushing face behind her hands, and you laugh. "Yeah cool with that. And happy to see Landon making you smile that Noah," you smiled at the girl and she hugged you.

"Dan's lucky he's back in America. If he was here, I swear I would have punched his lights out." You never liked Dan but dealt with him for Noah, and now you despised him. Nick saw the hatred you had for him as you spoke, but he couldn't help the small smile that crept up on his face as you spoke in the same way he would.



You sped home, arriving at the small apartment you lived in on rent. It was a decent apartment with just 1 bedroom and bathroom. You never had anyone really plan to stay the night so it was fine, your only visitors were Jenna and the boys.

You changed out of last night's clothes and took a quick shower before changing into jeans with a white top and faded blue zip-up. You grabbed a bag and stuffed in some clothes, your skincare, charger and headed down. Your phone rang, and you didn't recognize the number.

You answered anyway and it was Nick.

"Coming down anytime soon?" He asked.

"I didn't know you were here, should've called before," you responded and locked the door.

"Do you not check your texts?" You checked to see the text that he sent 5 minutes ago as you entered the parking lot. You saw his McLaren and hung up.

He came out with a teasing smile and opened the trunk for you to put your bag in.

"I saw the text, didn't trust the number," you said as an excuse and he laughed, knowing you were lying.

"You're a horrible liar, you know that right?" You smiled before your face showed the expression of shock as he led you to the driver's side.

"Drive slow," he spoke before closing your door. You smiled, feeling a rush of adrenaline as you revved. He sat down and you sped out the lot. Speeding through the mountains, drifting in the corners. Nick stared at you, admiring you. The smile you had on your face as the wind blew through your hair, feeling the rush. Then Nick joined in on the fun, you both flipping off Landon as you sped past him. It was like a race to the house, and you pulled in first.

"So, are you going to tell me who is Maddie?" You ask Nick as he smirks at you while you unbuckle your seat belt.

"Jealous?" You wanted to wipe the smirk off his face as you rolled your eyes.

"Nope, I would just like to know whose place this is. You're forgetting that we don't know who this and I doubt they know me too. I'm like, gate crashing," you joke and Nick smiles before he has an expression of concern seeing your hand.

"Did you get this from punching Ronnie and Tom?" He asked as he took hold of your hand, his thumb caressing over the cut and bruises.

"Yeah, it's fine. Worth it," you laugh. He looked at you, holding eye contact as he brought your hand up and kissed the bruise. You watched, holding your smile back and he leaned in closer to you.

"If you want someone to be punched, come to me. Don't ruin your pretty hands over a pathetic excuse of a man," he spoke lowly, his eyes flickering from left to right and at your lips. His face was inches away, your eyes looking down at his lips before back up at his eyes.

"Nick!" A little girl yells and comes running to the car. You both quickly back away from each other. Nick's smile grew bigger seeing Maddie and he rushed out of the car. You and the others got out as well while Nick lifted Maddie into the air.

"Maddie! Oh my god, you've gotten big. I missed you so much." He hugged her and held her in her arms. Maddie turned to us and asked, "Are these girls your friends, Nick?"

"Yes they are, but look who else came," Nick said as Landon came forward and Maddie beamed.

"Landy!" She yelled happily as Landon took her from Nick's arms and hugged her.

"How you doing little miss," Landon asked before Nick introduced us.

"Maddie, this is Noah. Landon's girlfriend." Noah blushed as they weren't officially together whereas Landon spoke, "She's pretty, isn't she?"

Maddie nodded before turning to look at me. "Are you Nick's girlfriend? You both are matching."

You smiled, shaking your head. "No love, I'm just one of Nick's friends. And us matching was not planned."

"Not yet," Nick loudly whispered as Noah and Landon laughed while you tilted your head at him with an eyebrow raised in question. He winked in return.

"Come on kids, let's go sit in the backyard," Nick's mum spoke. Landon put Maddie down and she ran off to the backyard.

"Girls, as you may know, I'm Nick's mother. It's lovely to meet you," she spoke softly and hugged us.

"Lovely to meet you too," I responded with a polite smile as we chatted for a bit while the boys played with Maddie.

"I can't believe you let her drive your car," his mother said. Noah and Landon laughed while Nick and I smiled.

"I was safe, I drove safe," I spoke in my defense.

"Can I drive your car," Maddie asked,

"I would let you drive it, I don't know about Mum though," he joked. You and Noah offered to help with the dishes and she told you kids to relax outside.

Maddie ran off to hide while Landon and Noah left to get their bags out of the car and settle in the rooms. You were still sitting at the table as Nick ran back to you while counting down.

"She's so cute," you smile as he sits down.

"Yeah, she's great, isn't she? However, she is absolutely horrible at hide and seek." You laugh at that.

"Your mum's also great," you add. Nick hummed.

"Do you mind if I ask, how old were you when your parents divorced?" You look at him, looking for any signs of you overstepping boundaries.

"Mum left when I was 12. We reconnected 2 years ago," He answered while looking down at his hands.

You hummed before asking, "I have a feeling she has some rules set?"

"What is this, an interrogation?" He looked at you and you narrowed your eyes at him.

"It was the second question." You rolled your eyes, thinking one day your eyes may roll out of it's sockets because of this man as he chuckled.

"I'm joking. Yeah, she says as long as I stay out of trouble, so fights, I get to see the most important person of my life," he said with love as he pointed where Maddie was visible in her hiding spot.

"Hm, don't think your girlfriend would be happy hearing that." Nick had a small smirk on his face when he heard that.

"Who?" He asked, leaning closer to you.

"Um, the girl you took to the gala and hang with? A little birdie told me you were with her at a gala," you defend yourself at the end and raise your hands.

"Anna and I are just friends, don't worry," he said smugly.

"Oh please, I am not worried. Although I think you should go find Maddie now, it's been well over a minute," you reply and lean back in your chair. As if on cue, Maddie's voice filled the air, telling Nick to find her.

"Five?" Nick asked you and you shrugged. He counted down from five before getting up to find her.

"Good luck," you tease as he comes up behind you, leaning down.

"Thank you, darling," he spoke softly as lips brushed against your ear before he pulled away and went calling for Maddie. You got goosebumps when he was behind you, feeling slightly nervous.

You turned and smiled, seeing him find Maddie and lift her in the air.

Soon later you and Noah were in Maddie's room, painting her nails with confetti nail polish. You three chatted before hearing Nick argue with his mum outside, you and Noah looked out the window. Landon was there trying to calm Nick down while his mum scolded him for the fighting.

"Mum won't let Nick come to my football match," Maddie said sadly. You looked at the girl with a gentle smile, knowing why Nick wasn't allowed to go.

"May I come to your football match," you asked her as her face beamed.

"Yes, can you come please?" She dragged out the word, please.

"I'll have a chat with your mum yeah?" you smiled and finished painting the girl's nails as Noah smiled at you.

"Can I ask you a question?" Maddie looked at you a bit curious. You nod as she asks, "Do you fight as well? Your hands are like Nick's hands."

Nick entered the room with his eyes widening as she asked.

"Maddie," Nick warned, letting the girl know she shouldn't be asking that.

"No, it's okay. No love, I don't fight, my hands are just bruised from boxing. I did not tape my hands correctly," you lied.

Nick asked where the keys were. You pulled them out of your pocket and handed them to him. He gave you the look to end this topic. So you did.

The sound of his car starting and driving off filled the room while Maddie got up to show her mum her nails excitedly.





Soon you sat outside with Nick's mum and thanked her for the cup of tea.

"He won't be far, he just needs to blow off steam," she sighed. You smiled at her, knowing he would be back soon.

"I hope I'm not overstepping, but I wanted to say, it's really great that you and Nick have reconnected," you say. She had a look of regret on her face as she began to explain why she left and why Nick turned to fighting and racing.

"Families can be complicated, can't they," she ended. You just gave her a small smile, as you didn't know what a whole family felt like.

"May I ask about you? And your family?" You stiffened slightly, not enough for her to notice though.

"Um, my family is really just Jenna, Noah, Landon and Lion," you said quietly, staring at your cup.

Nick's mum looked at you with empathy, before placing her hand over yours.

"I know I haven't been great to Nick, but if you ever need, you can come to me," she said with a warm smile.

You thanked her with a soft smile. She looked down to see the bruises and a cut on your hand.

"Do you fight as well?" You look down at your hands, lifting them.

"No, I don't illegally fight. I had gotten these because I punched 2 men. I didn't appreciate one man touching me and another man spiking our drinks. I knew he had but Noah had drank from it. I also did not appreciate their inappropriate comments, so I had to take that stand. Nick did as well for us, which I appreciated a lot as well," you explained.

"Well, if you don't fight, then I don't mind you coming along to Maddie's game. She asked me if you could come," she laughed before saying strictly, "Nick knows he can only come if he doesn't fight."

"And this may be early or quick, but I know my boy, and he really does like you. Not only doesn't he let anyone drive his car like that, but I have never seen him look at any other girl in the way he looks at you. You really caught his eye."

You just smiled, unsure if he really did like you or liked the chase.

Soon you were in the kitchen, late into the night. You sat at the island with a glass of water, lost in thought. You were only pulled out of it when you felt two hands on your waist and you immediately swung your elbow back, trying to hit the person.

"Hey! Hey, it's just me," Nick said quickly as he caught your elbow from hitting him.

"Oh my days Nick, don't scare me like that," you say as he leans against the island next to you.

"You really like to stay alert yeah?" He took your glass, sipping water.

"First, get your own water. Second, yes." You try to take your glass back but he leans back and finishes the water. You gave him the look of 'really' and he smirked, putting the glass down.

"And why is that," he asked, leaning back forward.

"Just force of habit," you say, your eyes wandering the kitchen. Nick had the idea of why and he didn't pry any more out of you.

"How about you, you okay?" You look at him with concern in your eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," he paused, "I don't know."

"Well, talk to me about it then bad boy," you say lightheartedly.

"Firstly, sorry if I got you in some shit with my mum." You smiled at that, waving it off.

"It's fine, I told her I had punched 2 guys for their bad intentions. She was cool about it," you said.

"Yeah," he asked, to confirm.

"Mhm, plus they're like whatever miles away," you added.

"They're lucky they are, or I would've punched their lights out," he says as he leans on his arm.

You laughed at his choice of words while he smiled.

"Not helping the trouble with your mum then," you reminded.

He leaned in, whispering, "I don't care." You looked into his eyes and looked down, unable to hold eye contact.

"If you were mine, I'd never let anyone hurt you."

Your head snapped back up, eyes meeting his as you looked for the lie. Any signs of false empty words. And you saw none. He gazed into your eyes intensely, his fingers brushing against your skin as he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear.

"Nick," you say softly while he leaned in closer. His eyes were locked on your lips, coming closer and closer.

"I want you more than I've wanted anyone else," he whispered.

His lips brushed yours as you tilted your head up for him. Your lips were about to meet until Maddie's voice was heard.

"Nick? Is that you with the light on in the kitchen?" You both quickly pulled away, worried she might run out.

Nick sighed, before yelling that he would be there. You looked everywhere but at him, feeling hot. You felt his gaze on you, as you turned your head slowly, connecting eyes.

"Shit Jay," he started, "What the hell are you doing to me?"

Feeling a little bold, you leaned in close and whispered, "Tell me, what am I doing to you?" His eyes fell to your lips quickly, before shaking his head knowing you were being a tease.

"I'll see you in the morning yeah?" You nod and get up.

"Goodnight Nick," you say softly as he watches you walk away to one of the guest rooms you're staying in.