“If you didn’t want to suck my dick, you could’ve just said so.”
“You aren’t listening to me! I’m not one of your club conquests—I am yourequal. And if you still can’t see that, then I want nothing to do with you.”
The last words hang in the air between them, but Julien refuses to apologize. His mind races, replaying every positive interaction they’ve ever had and tainting it with the knowledgethat all this time, Julien was just a little pet project to Rafael. A side piece. Never an equal partner.
“I’m not going to do that.”
Julien stands straighter. “Then don’t you dare text me again.”
He shoves past Rafael when he leaves, letting the heavy hotel door fall shut behind himself. In the cavernous hallway, the sound echoes.
It’s finished.Trulyfinished now.
Julien drags his feet towards the elevators. He was stupid to think everything would be fixed. To think Rafael would come to his senses. That they could go back to the way they were.
Of course it couldn’t be so easy. When has a relationship ever been easy for Julien Dubois?
The elevator pings before he reaches it, and Sam fucking Campbell strolls out like he’s king of the world. He’s so happy, whistling and shit. He chuckles when he realizes who else is in the hallway.
Happiness pisses Julien off. “Red Boar isn’t at this hotel.”
“My team isn’t here, no.” Sam’s smile only grows bigger. “I’d love to ask why you’re upset, Little Toe, but someone is expecting me.”
Ew. That’s Julien’sbrotherhe’s talking about.
Still, if anyone would understand, then maybe— “Hey, Sam?”
Sam’s plastic smile falters as he stops midstep. “Please tell me this will be a fast conversation.”
“How do you and Thomas make it work? How can you show up here all happy and excited after he just beat you to the finish lineagain?”
“Okay,ouch.”Sam grasps his chest like he’s been shot. “I dunno. I’ve raced him for most of my life, so I reckon this is our dynamic. It’s different for everybody.”
That’s not helpful. “Thanks.” Back to square one again.
“I don’t know what everyone sees in Rafael, though,” Sam continues. “He always seemed like a little bitch to me. He treating you good?”
Julien doesn’t know what to say.
No is the answer. No, he doesn’t treat Julien good. Not anymore.
“Oh, whoa, whoa,whoa!”Sam says in a hurry. “It’s not a crying thing. I’m sorry.”
Julien wipes at his stupid, traitorous eyes with frustration. It’s not acrying thing, obviously. There’s just something wrong with his face. Allergies or something.
“I thought I heard you out—what is wrong?” Of course. OfcourseThomas finds him crying in a hotel hallway. “Julien? Did Sam say something to you?”
“Me?!He came out of Rafael’s room!”
“You need to tell him not to downshift so fucking early,” Julien says as he wipes at his nose. “He won’t listen to me, but Lorenzo told me to stay ready—to be ready to race again.”
“Oh shit.” Sam probably wasn’t supposed to hear that. Too late.
Thomas draws in a quick breath. “When did Lorenzo say this?”
“Yesterday.I watch Rafael’s laps, I see his data, I know his car, but I’m just areserve driverto him. Look—” Julien pulls out his phone and opens his chat with Hugo. “Hugo listens to me and he’s been doing better with every race! Itworks—Ihelppeople.”
Instead of looking at the screen, Thomas stares at his brother with horror. “You are helping McLean?”
