Sophie's POV

"You okay Soph?" Joey asks, a concerned look on his face as he walks around his car.

I give him a short nod, "just trying to work through all of this. I knew he would be mad; I just wasn't expecting him to be this mad. Add in moving drivers, it's just been a hectic week" I respond.

As soon as Joey found out about the switch, he called me concerned about what was going on. Once I was able to explain everything to him, he let me know that he was more than welcome having me on his team, and that everything would work out with a little bit of time, and if it didn't he would be just as happy with a permanent switch. 

I just hoped that he was right. 

Thankfully, since I had a hand in both Ryan and Joey's work, I already knew what was going on with both of them during race weekends. All I had to do was catch Lila up on Ryan's, which was pretty easy to do. 

After I was done checking in on Joey, I made my way back outside, seeing Riley standing there looking around at everything that was going on. He looked so calm, so Intune with everything around him. It was one of the things that I loved most about him when we were growing up. He was always a go with the flow kind of guy. 

"Sorry about that, I just had to check in before he went into practice and qualifying and make sure he knew everything that was going on. As soon as all of the track events are done for the day, I'll be free until tomorrow afternoon" I tell him.

Riley smiles at me, placing his hands on my hips. 

"Don't apologize for doing your job beautiful. I knew coming this weekend I wouldn't have your full attention, and I am perfectly okay with it. As long as I get to spend some time with you that's all that matters to me" Riley responds, pulling me closer to him.

"Plus, I like seeing you here. You're in your element, you're happy. I'm happy just seeing you happy" Riley adds. 

I lay my head on his chest, feeling the weight of everything I've been carrying lift off my shoulders. 

"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that" I say.

I look up at Riley, a smile on my face. "Come on, I'll get you to the pit box before practice and qualifying starts" I add. 

Riley's POV

"You know, she's a lot happier with you around" I hear coming from beside me.

I turn my head to see a brunette sitting next to me, a smile on her face as she looks between the track, and myself.

"I'm Brittany, Joey's wife" she adds.

"Sophie has talked about you a lot, you and Joey both. I couldn't be happier that she has people outside of Scarlett around to watch out for her, seeing as how Scarlett is always busy" I say. 

"She's practically Joey's little sister, and she's my kid's aunt. Of course we're going to watch out for her, she means a lot to all of us. Which is why I was able to notice before certain other people that you were back in her life. She was happier, bubblier, it's not a side of Sophie I saw unless she was around the kids" Brittany states. 

"Too bad the one person she really wanted to be accepting of it isn't" I say.

Brittany shakes her head, "while she hasn't been able to see it. Ryan has been in love with Sophie since her and Davis called off their engagement. He's hinted at it to her a few times, but she clearly was too hung up on you to notice it. Joey, Chase, and I told Ryan plenty of times that if he was truly in love with her, he should have made a move, but he didn't. I get he's upset, but he's acting like a child right now" Brittany responds. 

I look down at Joey's car parked on pit road seeing Sophie and Joey laughing together. Looking past his car, I see Ryan standing nearby, a frown etched on his face.

"Don't think too much about it all. Ryan just needs some time to work out his feelings. It'll all blow over soon enough" Brittany says.

"I hope so, I know it's upset Sophie, and I really don't like it when she's upset like this" I respond.

"She's going to be fine. I will say though, if you hurt her, you'll have more than just Chase and Bubba to worry about. She's got a few other drivers who are just as protective over her" Brittany states. 

"Like who?" I ask, curiously.

Brittany chuckles, "Brad, Denny, Austin Cindric, Kevin, even Dale. That girl down there is adored by so many people in this sport" she responds.

Sophie looks up at me, a smile on her face as she waves at Brittany and I.

"I only want what's best for her. That's all I've ever wanted for her" I say. 

"Just remember, sometimes we think we're doing what we think is best, but really we're only hurting someone else more" Brittany responds, before patting my shoulder and moving to climb down the pit box.

Following Brittany down, as soon as my feet hit the ground Sophie is watching me, a smile on her face.

"Did you have fun up there?" Sophie asks. 

"I did. I really loved seeing how happy you were out there" I respond. 

"Well, now that all of that's done. What do you say about getting some food before everything starts tonight. I was thinking about doing a track walk after it gets dark, maybe checking out some of the events going on" Sophie says.

I kiss the top of her head, "anything you want to do, we can do" I respond.

And I meant it. I would follow Sophie to the ends of the earth if that meant keeping her happy. Hell, I would hang up my guitar and follow her from track to track if that's what she wanted.