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“No dumbass,” he rolledhis eyes. “it’sfor Sway. If you want to marry her,”

Reaching for thewhiskey, a smirk materialized as he poured each of us a shot. After taking theshot, I carefully opened the box revealing a roughly two-carat emerald cutplatinum diamond ring surrounded by diamond prongs. Not that I’d given too muchthought to the ring or the proposal, I did know I wanted to marry Sway and thatring was exactly what I imagined now.

“It was Rachel’s,passed on down from her mother.” A small smile ghosted across his lips. “Swayloved that ring, even at six years old. Rachel always wanted her to have it soI hung on to it for her.”

“And you want me togive it to her?”

“Well you knocked herup,” he replied wryly. “It’s the least you could do.”

“I um...shouldn’t I be asking you to marry yourdaughter not the other way around?”

“Yes...you should.” he nodded. “Let’s hear itkid, why should I let you marry my daughter?” He crossed his arms over hischest leaning back in his chair. It was an intimidating gesture and I knew itwas meant to be perceived that way.

I wasn’t prepared forthis and I had no idea what to say but when I opened my mouth to speak, thewords spilled out.

“All my life, all I’veever known is racing. I’ve always been arrogant but deep down I never felt Ihad what it would take to make it to NASCAR. Until one summer night, I met thisbeautiful girl who believed in me. She believed that I could do it. She wasthere for me through it all no matter what I put her through. It took me awhile to realize that everything I have ever dreamed of wasn’t just racinganymore. It was Sway. Racing is my career, but without Sway—none of that wouldbe possible. I tried to make it without her but I always felt restless asthough I had a flat tire hanging on just to finish the race.” My eyes hadremained fixed on the worn wood of the table. Nodding, I looked up at him. “Ilove your daughter Charlie. I will take care of her and our child...and any future children. I know thislifestyle I have isn’t ideal but I want Sway. I’ve seen firsthand the strain itcauses on families but I know Sway and I can make it work.”

Charlie was quiet for afew minutes before he smiled, his brow raised. “I’m impressed kid.”

“So am I.” I admittedrunning my hand across the back of my slick neck reaching for the whiskey withthe other.

“You know why I thoughtyou were using her in the beginning?”

“Because I was,”

“Yes, you were.”Charlie poured himself another shot, a contemplative look flashed over hisflushed appearance. “You see, I saw right through you. I saw through youbecause you’re a lot like me. You’ll do anything to make sure Sway is takencare of. I knew you were in love with her from the beginning. But I also knewthat you were so hell bent on keeping Sway away from you, that anything youoffered her wouldn’t be permanent.”

He was more perceptivethen I gave him credit for.

“Do you know why Iasked you to take over the track rather than an investor?”

I shook my head.

“Because I knew it was anopportunity you wouldn’t walk away from. It was an obligation I knew you’d takeand in turn, you’d be with Sway.”

“You wanted ustogether.” I deduced taking another shot for myself; Charlie did the same. Iwas so tired and buzzed, I wasn’t sure this conversation was really happeningnow. Was I dreaming all this?

“I knew that if youguys were together as much as a track owner and general manager are, you’d seeyou two are perfect for each other. My daughter’s happiness means everything tome and you are whatmakesher happy. Even if you endedup not providing her the relationship she wanted, you’d always be there for herwith the track.”

I thought about thatfor a moment. He was right.

“How’d you know I lovedher?”

Charlie let out a deepchuckle, his smile somewhat boyish. “Son, you’ve loved my little girl from themoment you two met. Jimi and I actually had bets on how long it would take foryou to pull your head out of your ass.Won myself fivehundred bucks.”He nodded arrogantly and then his face turned solemn. “Iknow you’ll take care of her and that baby.” His head dipped in approval. “Ijust hope that I’m around to at least see the baby born and walk my onlydaughter down the aisle.”

Man, talk aboutpressure. Like I said, I knew I wanted to propose but now it was like there wasa fire under my ass to do it soon. I wasn’t the type of guy who liked beingpressured into doing things.

When I made it upstairstoSway’sroom, after finishing off the fifth ofwhiskey with Charlie, I was three sheets to the wind.

Stumbling around,trying to get my clothes off was a difficult task. Thankfully, Sway was a soundsleeper, I could start my goddamn race car in her room and she still wouldn’twake.

I managed to getundressed and snuggled in bed with her. She sighed contently when I wrapped myarms around her tiny waist. Worming her way in, she sighed when our bodiestouched. She didn’t have to be awake, our bodies knew each other to the pointthey could anticipate the contact.

Falling asleep wasn’teasy. I had no idea how I was going to propose toSwaybut I knew I needed to make it special for her. She deserved that much. I alsoneeded to do it soon. Knowing Charlie wouldn’t be around much longer, it’d be amiracle if he made it to Christmas. Though I knew about his sickness for closeto a year now, it still didn’t change the heartache I felt thinking he wasdying and there was nothing anyone could do for him. Sure he could tryradiation therapy again but what would that do but prolong the inevitable. Thecancer had spread.

Eventually I did sleepand when I woke up, I was alone in bed.

It wasn’t long and Ifound myself back at the track only this time as an owner, not a driver.