Nora and Ben watched the Richmond Toyota Owners 400 race from the pits. She loved being up close and personal and seeing Davey’s talented team in action. It had been an exciting race to watch, especially for Davey Johnson fans. When he inched past Jim Neal for the win, she leapt out of her seat and cheered along with Ben, Steph, Cruz, Billy, and the rest of Davey’s crew.

Reporters filed onto the track to interview Davey and a bunch of them swarmed into the pit area too. As Cruz, Billy, and Wade were interviewed, Nora ushered Ben away from the crowd.

“Why are we way over here?” Ben grumbled. “The excitement’s over there,” he said, flapping his hands toward the area they had just vacated.

That was exactly why they had moved—to stay away from the reporter frenzy. Ben may find it exciting, but she found it unpleasant. “It’s just for a few minutes,” she told Ben. “Until the reporters are done.”

“But I wanna be interviewed too,” Ben whined, “so I can be just like Dad.”

That was the last thing Nora wanted. Ben was sweet and kind and he had a good heart. But like her, things sometimes popped out of his mouth that would have been better left unsaid.

To her dismay, a reporter made his way toward her and Ben. As the tall man approached flashing a charming smile, anxiety nipped at her insides.

“Hello.” He extended a hand. “I’m Joe.”

She shook the hand that was offered, but she didn’t introduce herself. She hoped that her silent treatment would drive the reporter away.

It didn’t…and Ben had other ideas anyway.

“I’m Ben,” her little guy said, thrusting out his hand.

Joe squatted down and obliged Ben with a handshake. “And who are you?”

“Davey Johnson’s my dad,” Ben said, pride evident in his voice. He waved a hand toward her. “This is Aunt Nora and she’s my dad’s girlfriend and they might get married.”

What? She wondered where Ben had gotten that idea. She had been very clear when he had asked her the other night. They were just dating.

When she gave Ben a pointed look, he shrugged. “It could happen.”

“Very interesting,” Joe murmured, rising and shifting his gaze toward her.

“Any comment on Davey’s win?” he asked, pulling out his recorder. She glanced at the small silver object and nervously twisted her hands. “Or how the two of you plan to celebrate?”

Nora crossed her arms. “No.” She was strong and determined. She could simply wait him out. But patience wasn’t her best quality and it wasn’t Ben’s either.

“We’re gonna go home and celebrate with our pets,” Ben offered.

“That sounds nice.” Joe grinned. “Do you have a dog?”

“Uh-huh, Cosmo.” Ben lifted his chest. “And we have cows and pigs too.”

Her breath quickened. Hopefully Ben’s comment wouldn’t open Pandora’s box.

Joe let out a low chuckle. “But cows and pigs aren’t pets.”

They certainly could be but the reporter wouldn’t know that, nor did she want him to. That would lead to a series of new questions, which could cause Davey issues. Anxiety mounted as she tried to connect with Ben telepathically, but her powers didn’t work well with humans. Before she could intervene, Ben spoke up.

“Uh-huh,” he said. “Are too.”

She loved Ben dearly, but at this moment she wished he would shut up.

“Hmm.” Joe rubbed a hand on his cheek. “I’m gonna come back to that.” He pointed at the Outdoor America logo on Ben’s jacket. “I see you’re wearing your dad’s sponsor jacket.”

“Yeah!” Ben grinned. “I love Outdoor America!”

“Do you and your dad hunt together?” the reporter asked.

She wondered what had brought on that question.

“Nuh-uh.” Ben shook his head vigorously. “We hate hunting.”

“Huh.” Joe scratched his chin. “But Outdoor America is the biggest hunting outfitter in the country.”

Nora’s head pounded with shock and disappointment. She’d thought that Outdoor America sold camping equipment and sporting gear. She understood that Davey needed sponsors, but a hunting company? Ignoring the stab of disappointment in her gut, she put a hand on Ben’s shoulder. They needed to wrap this up.

The reporter turned to her. “What do you think of hunting?”

There was no good answer, so she wouldn’t respond. “Come on, B—” she said, but cut her sentence short when Ben answered for her.

“My aunt hates hunting too.” Ben gave her a sweet look. “Probably even more than my dad.” He stood tall as his face beamed pride.

Ben’s kindness and his shared affinity for God’s critters made her proud. At the same time, her insides quivered with anxiety over the sponsorship trouble this could cause for Davey.

“Is this true?” Joe asked, shoving the small microphone in front of her. “What do you think of hunting?”

She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter how she responded, there would be bad ramifications. She pressed a hand to her roiling belly. She couldn’t lie…what kind of example would that set for Ben? Besides, she had to be true to herself and true to that which she fervently believed. “I find it abhorrent,” she admitted. “But that has nothing to do with Davey.”

The reporter stroked his short goatee. “So Davey’s a hunter and you’re okay with it?” he asked, obviously trying to goad her.

She remained silent, but once again Ben piped in.

“My dad wouldn’t shoot anything,” he said, in a confident voice.

Nora sighed. She found hunting detestable and she hoped Ben was right in that Davey wouldn’t shoot an animal. But if that was true, why would he have agreed to a sponsorship with Outdoor America?

Regardless, her and Ben’s comments would not go over well with Outdoor America. She needed to get them away from the reporter before they shared any more damaging information. She would marinate on Davey’s sponsor choices at another time.

Joe looked at Ben. “Did your dad actually say that?”

“No, but I’m telling you he wouldn’t,” Ben insisted. “He loves our pet cows and pigs and they love him back.”

The reporter pressed his lips together for a long moment, perhaps to consider where to go with Ben’s comment.

“I think we’re done here.” Nora grabbed Ben’s hand. “Come on, Ben.”

Joe ignored her and pointed his recorder at Ben. “How do you know that your pet cows and pigs love your dad?”

Ben shook off her hand and gave Joe a wide-toothed grin. “ ‘Cause they told my aunt.” Ben beamed up at her. “They talk to her all the time.”

“The animals talk to your aunt?” Joe let out a low rumbling laugh. “Does she talk back?”

Please don’t answer, she silently pleaded, taking Ben’s hand again.

“Uh-huh.” Ben bobbed his head up and down. “And she’s really good with them. Aren’t you Aunt Nora?”

“Okay, we’re done,” she said. “Come on, Ben, your dad should be here soon.” She tugged Ben to her side and turned.

“Wait!” Joe shouted, pulling a small camera from his pocket. “How about a few pictures?”

“No,” she said, using her firmest tone. But at the same time, Ben responded with a gleeful, “Sure!”

“Come on Aunt Nora,” Ben pleaded. “A few pictures won’t hurt.”

She supposed Ben was right. The damage had already been done. Why not add a few pictures to go along with it, she thought sarcastically?

Joe snapped several pictures, then pointed to the logo on her T-shirt. “Eat Vegan?” He raised a dark brow.

She didn’t respond, but once again Ben did. “My dad’s trying to eat good stuff too. We had black bean burgers last week at my house.”

This conversation was going from bad to worse with each new word that popped out of Ben’s mouth. Irritation at the reporter bottled up inside her. It was unfair of him to play on Ben’s pride in his father as well as his innocence. None of this would be good for Davey’s career or for his sponsorships and Joe damn well knew it.

“I wonder if Mr. Steak knows about that,” Joe mumbled, his voice tinged with glee.

Nora could only assume that Mr. Steak was another sponsor of Davey’s. In retrospect, she should have paid more attention to the multitude of stickers on his Ford. Regardless, she’d had enough. She tugged on Ben’s hand and dragged him off just as Davey came into the pit area. He quickly spotted her and Ben and made his way toward them.

She drew in a long breath of resolve. While she hated to rain on his parade, she would have to tell him about her and Ben’s conversation with the reporter so he had a heads up on the storm that was brewing.

When Davey reached them, she and Ben pulled him into a congratulations hug. As cameras flashed around them, she wondered how long it would take for the proverbial shit to hit the fan.

“It didn’t even take twenty-four hours,” Nora grumbled the next morning, sitting at the kitchen table. She’d told Davey about the interview yesterday and they had both anticipated some negative press. But she hadn’t expected it to be front-page news. She glowered at the headline: DAVEY JOHNSON, SPONSORED BY OUTDOOR AMERICA, DATES VEGAN, COW WHISPERER, NORA WILLIAMS.

Under the table, Cosmo rubbed his soft body back and forth along her legs. The gesture was gentle and reassuring, but it would take more than that to comfort her today. “There’s not much consoling me now, buddy,” she said, dropping a hand to scratch the dog’s side.

She skimmed the article, which included a multitude of quotes from both her and Ben. “Hunting is abhorrent according to Davey Johnson’s girlfriend,” and “Johnson’s son claims that Davey hates hunting. An interesting fact considering his primary sponsor, Outdoor America, is the largest hunting outfitter in the country.”

The article went on to speculate what Outdoor America would think. As of print time, the hunting outfitter’s only comment had been ‘no comment.’ The reporter had also offered a list of carnivore-eating NASCAR drivers that could replace Davey for the coveted Outdoor America sponsorship. Next, the story touched on Davey’s eating habits. “These days, you’ll find Johnson eating black bean burgers instead of hamburgers. Another head-scratcher, considering Mr. Steak is a major sponsor.” The article then shifted its focus to her, after concluding that Davey’s life changes were because of his “vegan, animal-communicator girlfriend, Nora Williams.”

Infuriated, Nora tossed the paper aside. If they wanted to talk about Davey, so be it. He had told her countless times that it was a part of his job. But it wasn’t a part of her job and the reporters had no business in her personal space. Reading in between the lines, the reporter had questioned her mental state and had presented her as a crack-pot for thinking she could communicate with animals. It took her back to her painful past when kids had called her the animal-witch. Now, thanks to Joe the Reporter, it wasn’t just her former classmates who were in on her secret, it was the entire country.

Putting the tea kettle on, a plethora of mixed emotions—irritation, disappointment and annoyance—whirled through her with hurricane-like force. She was irritated at the reporter for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong, disappointed in Davey for supporting the things she staunchly opposed and annoyed with herself for not cutting the interview short, even if she’d had to tug Ben away kicking and screaming.

She fixed a cup of chamomile tea wondering what would happen next. Surely the article would cause Davey big issues. Unless he could retract what had been said or distance himself from it—it meaning her—he could lose his sponsors.

Racing was an expensive sport. It took a lot of money to maintain the high-end cars, transport vehicles and teams, and pay the large crew. If Davey lost his primary sponsors, he wouldn’t be able to race.

Maybe he could make it in the short-term; he seemed to have more than his share of available cash. But there was no way he could keep racing long-term without the backing of major sponsors.

If she could only go back in time, she would have held her ground and refused to talk with the reporter. She would have distracted Ben and not allowed him to talk with the reporter, either. Irritation, and a fair amount of guilt, whipped and whirled in her gut as the storm inside her intensified.

She didn’t have a time machine so she couldn’t transport herself back in time. Now all she could do was fix the mess she had created.

But how? She sipped her tea as she racked her brain. But when she finished the last drop, she was no closer to a viable solution.

Easing onto the floor next to Cosmo, an idea formed. She didn’t like it and Davey probably wouldn’t, either. But they may not have a choice.

“If I break up with him,” she murmured, rubbing Cosmo’s head, “his sponsors might keep him.” As she spoke, a jagged shard of pain sliced through the middle of her heart.

Think it through, Cosmo said telepathically.

But as she thought about it more, the solution became more apparent. Davey would have to distance himself from her in order to keep his sponsors and he needed his sponsors in order to keep racing. Besides, there was no way he’d pick her over his career so she may as well break up with him before he broke up with her.

The chasm in her chest sliced deeper. “I have no choice.”

Cosmo leveled her a look. There’s always a choice.

In this situation, she didn’t believe that was the case. She kissed Cosmo on the head, then before she could change her mind, she got up, called Jamie and made arrangements for Ben to spend the afternoon with Lucas.

Half an hour later, she dropped Ben off and headed toward Davey’s. He had called earlier to say that they’d figure it out. But he’d been distant and preoccupied and his assurances had rung hollow. Like he had been trying to convince himself as much as her.

Pain continued to jab at her heart as she drove across town. But it didn’t matter. She couldn’t allow her choices to ruin Davey’s career nor could she change who she was. Since he would inevitably leave her anyway, she may as well spare them both the façade of trying to patch things up.

She pulled into his drive and made her way to the house. Davey was on the front porch. His arms were crossed, his posture rigid, suggesting his irritation hadn’t dissipated. But when she approached, his face brightened and he gave her a genuine smile.

She licked her lips. Breaking up with him would be so much easier if he were mad at her.

When he pulled her into a hug, she didn’t have the heart to pull back. The way he held on to her like she was his lifeline chipped away at her resolve.

“I’m sorry,” she said, after he finally released her. “I don’t do well with reporters and Ben…he’s just a kid.”

Davey’s understanding eyes made her resolve weaken even more. “Let’s go inside.” He pushed the front door open. “I’m not mad at you, Nora. I’m not mad at Ben, either.”

Her body sagged with relief and a little surprise. How could he not be at least a little mad? This entire dilemma had been caused by her and Ben. But she couldn’t hold Ben accountable. She was the adult and she should have ended the interview.

Davey led her into the family room where they settled on the sofa.

“Want something to drink?” he asked.

She shook her head. Even though Davey was being kind and considerate, she needed to stay focused on the issue at hand. If they stayed together, he could lose his sponsors. She needed to build her resolve, say what she had to say, and get out of dodge.

“I have some shit to deal with.” He clasped his hands together. “Mr. Steak dropped me. Outdoor America is pissed; I’m hanging on with them by a thread.” He rolled his neck. “But at least they’re still talking with me.”

That got her back on track. She narrowed her eyes, thinking about the organizations that Davey supported. Hunting and big steaks. She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry for the grief we caused you and I understand that you need sponsors. But steaks and hunting?”

She rose and crossed her arms. “Your major sponsors stand for everything I’m against. They point to why we’re ill matched.”

“It’s just the one sponsor now,” he said, rising to join her. When he took a step toward her, she took a step back.

Mr. Steak dropping Davey didn’t absolve his advertising of their product or his support of them. “So you’ll pick up Mr. Sausage instead?” She slapped a hand on her hip. “We stand for different things.”

Davey sighed heavily. “I need sponsors.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Racing is supported by folks who hunt, fish, and eat meat. It’s not likely that Tasty Tofu is going to sponsor me.”

“That only proves my point.”

Davey moved into her personal space and took her hand. “Give me a chance. I need OA to keep me for now, then I can shop for new sponsors. Okay?”

A glimmer of hope emerged inside Nora, swirling around her like the mystical blue haze that hugged their mountain peaks. If Davey found new sponsors who were kinder, compassionate, and animal-friendly, that could change everything. Then again, to his earlier point, racing sponsors tended to be more rugged and meat-eating rather than peace, love, and joy vegans.

“OA says they’ll give me one chance to state my case.” Davey rubbed his thumb on the top of her hand. “I have to head to Denver tonight for a meeting tomorrow morning. If they keep me—”

“But Ben’s field trip is tomorrow.” She snatched her hand back. Surely, he wouldn’t pick Outdoor America over Ben.

“Aw, shit.” Davey’s face paled. “I forgot about that.” His brows furrowed. “I have to go, this is my only shot at keeping their sponsorship.” Pacing the floor, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ll find a way to make it up to Ben.”

Nora crossed her arms again. She had expected Davey to choose racing over her, but not over his son. “They can’t wait one day?”

He shook his head. “I’m not in a position to call the shots. I can’t afford to jerk OA around, they’re my only major sponsor. Without their money, I can’t afford a team.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll talk with Ben. I’ll make it up to him when I get back.”

“I knew this was gonna happen.” She took another step back. Early in their relationship, she’d told Davey that she could only give him one night. That had been her intuition telling her not to get attached. But she hadn’t listened. She’d jumped in full-throttle even as caution flags had waved at the edges of her consciousness. Now, it was all the more painful to do what she had to do—red-flag their relationship.

“This isn’t working.” She forced resolve and confidence into her voice to cover up the pain she felt inside.

His lips curved down. “Come on Nora, we can work this out.” He reached for her, but she stepped back again. If he touched her, she was afraid she would fold. Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, but she wouldn’t ruin his career.

“I’m not cut out for this life.” Her throat thickened with tears as sadness welled inside her. At the same time, irritation skittered in, overlaying the sorrow. Why hadn’t she listened to her intuition before she’d gotten in so deep? “Tell your damn sponsors that we broke up. Maybe they’ll keep you then.”

“Nora, no.” The hurt in his eyes caused a boatload of guilt to rock her insides. The waves nearly made her back down. But she couldn’t. This was for the best. She knew it, and after he had time and space to think about it, he would realize it too.

“For Ben’s sake, we should stay friendly.” She silently commended herself for holding back the flood of tears as she made her way toward the door. “I’ll come by later to take care of the animals.” She also needed to figure out what to do with the animals. It wouldn’t be fair to leave them at Davey’s. But she would think about that when she was less emotional.

“Please don’t go.”

The panic in Davey’s voice strengthened the waves of guilt cresting and troughing inside her. She heard his footsteps hot on her trail but before he caught up, his phone rang.

“Damn it. It’s OA.” He put a hand on her arm, and she whirled around. “I’ve been waiting for this call.” He gave her a pleading look, which further intensified her guilt. “Please don’t go,” he repeated. “Just give me a few minutes.”

He answered the call. “I know. Yes.” Nora hovered, knowing she should go, but wanting like hell to stay. “I’m very sorry,” he said. “Right. Whatever you need.” There was a long pause. “Yes, of course. I’ll be there first thing tomorrow.” She pressed her lips together as he sucked up to the company that stood for everything she detested. “Yes, understood. We’ll clear everything up tomorrow.”

Clearing everything up meant distancing himself from her. They had come full circle back to the inevitable. As Davey’s Outdoor America masters continued to pull his puppet strings, she spun on her heel and stalked out the door.