he switches on the game console, and
NASCAR Unleashed
brightens the screen.
“A video game? Ryan, you’re not serious,” I say in horror.
Ryan laughs and takes a seat at the opposite end of the couch. “Yep! This is as real as it gets besides being in the car. It is amazing the technology of these things nowadays. I can log in and race people all over the world. And what’s funny is that they don’t even know that it’s me. It is almost as good as the real thing.” He laughs to himself.
Ryan purposefully chooses the track that he will be racing at on Sunday. Then he gives me a series of instructions on how to operate my car by using the controller. We are all set to battle on the Xbox. I am horrible at it, of course, but he is a champion in virtual reality too. Ryan was right! It does give me a good insight into what it’s like in the car and on the track.
Ryan coaches me through the track specifics of the Sonoma speedway. He talks incessantly about the road course track, qualifying times, and pit regulations. My brain is piled high with information that I can’t even begin to process. I need my iPad to take notes.
Ryan is in his element, although I have crashed my car for the third time and given up. I set my controller down and continue to watch what he is doing. I lay my head back and curl up on the comfortable brown leather sofa. I can barely keep my eyes open as he continues to pump me with information about the track, pit stops, and other drivers.
“Whitney? Are you getting all this?” he questions me quickly, but returns his attention back to the virtual track.
I nod quietly as I struggle in vain to take in all of the specifics, but my mind begins to drift. My efforts to stay awake give way to the overwhelming exhaustion that has engulfed my body.
Chapter 13
I am warm and strangely comfortable. My eyes slowly open, and I am slightly disoriented, but only for a moment. It takes me only a second to reconcile that I have fallen asleep on Ryan’s sofa. I sit up and look around the great room. The television is still on, but muted and tuned to ESPN’s
SportsCenter.
And asleep on the opposite end of the couch is the one and only Ryan Carter.
I shift from my contented position on the couch and realize that I have been covered up with a blanket.
Wow! That was thoughtful
. I am shocked! I stand up to gather my faculties. I walk over to the kitchen to find my iPhone and my bag.
What time is it?
A steady rain is falling, and the cloud cover makes it impossible for me to even estimate what time it may be.
I find my belongings and glance at my phone. Then, all hell breaks loose!
“Ryan!”
I scream.
He awakes, jumps up and off the couch like he has been attacked. “What the fuck, Whitney?” he yells back, out of breath.“It’s almost nine a.m.!” My whole body shakes. “I am so freaking late for work!” I pace the kitchen floor in a full-blown anxiety attack. “What am I going to do?” I wail with my head in my hands.
Ryan is watching my meltdown with wry, sleepy amusement as he stumbles back to the couch. “What time is it?” he says as he yawns sleepily.
I completely ignore him as I pick up my phone and stare at it, hoping that it has some unforeseen powers to turn back the clock. I notice two missed calls. Oh shit! Both of the missed calls are from the office, and I start to hyperventilate. Fanning my face, I can’t breathe. I check my voice mail icon, one new voice mail.
I continue to pace the floor as I press the play button to listen to the voice mail. “Hi, Whitney! It’s Jerri. I noticed your car in the parking lot but can’t seem to find you in the building. I know you were here late last night, so I was worried. Call me, please.”
“No, no, no!” I cry out. “This is not happening!” I sit down on the couch beside Ryan, who still looks half asleep, but amused from my morning meltdown.
This is so unprofessional and possibly career ending. I put my head in my hands and run
NASCAR Unleashed
brightens the screen.
“A video game? Ryan, you’re not serious,” I say in horror.
Ryan laughs and takes a seat at the opposite end of the couch. “Yep! This is as real as it gets besides being in the car. It is amazing the technology of these things nowadays. I can log in and race people all over the world. And what’s funny is that they don’t even know that it’s me. It is almost as good as the real thing.” He laughs to himself.
Ryan purposefully chooses the track that he will be racing at on Sunday. Then he gives me a series of instructions on how to operate my car by using the controller. We are all set to battle on the Xbox. I am horrible at it, of course, but he is a champion in virtual reality too. Ryan was right! It does give me a good insight into what it’s like in the car and on the track.
Ryan coaches me through the track specifics of the Sonoma speedway. He talks incessantly about the road course track, qualifying times, and pit regulations. My brain is piled high with information that I can’t even begin to process. I need my iPad to take notes.
Ryan is in his element, although I have crashed my car for the third time and given up. I set my controller down and continue to watch what he is doing. I lay my head back and curl up on the comfortable brown leather sofa. I can barely keep my eyes open as he continues to pump me with information about the track, pit stops, and other drivers.
“Whitney? Are you getting all this?” he questions me quickly, but returns his attention back to the virtual track.
I nod quietly as I struggle in vain to take in all of the specifics, but my mind begins to drift. My efforts to stay awake give way to the overwhelming exhaustion that has engulfed my body.
Chapter 13
I am warm and strangely comfortable. My eyes slowly open, and I am slightly disoriented, but only for a moment. It takes me only a second to reconcile that I have fallen asleep on Ryan’s sofa. I sit up and look around the great room. The television is still on, but muted and tuned to ESPN’s
SportsCenter.
And asleep on the opposite end of the couch is the one and only Ryan Carter.
I shift from my contented position on the couch and realize that I have been covered up with a blanket.
Wow! That was thoughtful
. I am shocked! I stand up to gather my faculties. I walk over to the kitchen to find my iPhone and my bag.
What time is it?
A steady rain is falling, and the cloud cover makes it impossible for me to even estimate what time it may be.
I find my belongings and glance at my phone. Then, all hell breaks loose!
“Ryan!”
I scream.
He awakes, jumps up and off the couch like he has been attacked. “What the fuck, Whitney?” he yells back, out of breath.“It’s almost nine a.m.!” My whole body shakes. “I am so freaking late for work!” I pace the kitchen floor in a full-blown anxiety attack. “What am I going to do?” I wail with my head in my hands.
Ryan is watching my meltdown with wry, sleepy amusement as he stumbles back to the couch. “What time is it?” he says as he yawns sleepily.
I completely ignore him as I pick up my phone and stare at it, hoping that it has some unforeseen powers to turn back the clock. I notice two missed calls. Oh shit! Both of the missed calls are from the office, and I start to hyperventilate. Fanning my face, I can’t breathe. I check my voice mail icon, one new voice mail.
I continue to pace the floor as I press the play button to listen to the voice mail. “Hi, Whitney! It’s Jerri. I noticed your car in the parking lot but can’t seem to find you in the building. I know you were here late last night, so I was worried. Call me, please.”
“No, no, no!” I cry out. “This is not happening!” I sit down on the couch beside Ryan, who still looks half asleep, but amused from my morning meltdown.
This is so unprofessional and possibly career ending. I put my head in my hands and run
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