“I don’t know which one is the stupid one,” Rafael calls out. It’s a good point, since the entire Dubois clan is in town to witness Thomas’s championship-winning race.
Though he’s purposely hiding, Julien can’t help but reply, “Thomas has the most brain injuries, so he’s the stupidest one.”
“A-ha!” The door wasnotlocked. That’s a disappointment. “You could not stay in your hotel room for one weekend?!” Thomas waves his phone too fast for Julien to see, but he can guess what it’s a picture of.
“Rafael’s house is nicer.” Julien pulls out his own phone to pretend to be nonchalant about the whole thing, but even his personal feed is full of the same pictures and videos.
Standing by Rafael’s car. Sitting in Rafael’s car. Kissing Rafael in Rafael’s car. Driving off in Rafael’s car.
This entire mess has to be pretty good publicity for that model of Ferraro, since the coverage is fuckingeverywhere.
“Lay off him, Thomas.” Rafael exhales and leans heavier into Julien. “We’ve already gotten enough shit from PR and reporters.”
“And fans, and family, and friends.” Julien’s eRacing group chat is another several hundred messages deep after the pictures started circulating. “You can’t say anything we haven’t heard.”
Thomas visibly swallows as he stares down at Julien. “I hope you know what you are doing.”
Julien has no fucking clue what he’s doing. He’s never dated anyone—or hasbeenanyone—worthy of tabloid coverage.
In one day, he’s received a record amount of death threats, several requests from porn sites offering afortune, and an invitation to speak at some gala that supports gay athletes.
It’s been a strange twenty-four hours.
Julien also met one of the loudest, most welcoming, families in the world. The Souzas are a community worth keeping close to, and Julien can’t wait to return to the house tonight—even if it’s just to hide from prying eyes.
Still, Thomas makes him grumpy, so Julien says, “Just because you’re not confident enough in Sam to go public?—”
“Don’t,” Thomas warns, pointing a thin finger in his brother’s face. “I could march out that door right now and tell everyone about us.”
“Then do that!” Julien says with exasperation. “Don’t berate me because you’re jealous we got papped together. It’sweird.”
Thomas glares at the couple before he finally turns and stomps away in a huff. Good. Someone else can deal with him.
Rafael finally relaxes when the door falls shut. “I have to admit, you’re talking this a lot better than I would’ve expected.”
“It was my fault. It was stupid to ask you to pick me up.” Julien pockets his phone and leans back against his boyfriend. “I’m sorry about all of this. At the same time, I can't say I mind it.”
“Yeah?”
“I kinda like the world knowing you’re mine. Maybe I’ll finally stop getting those fan videos of your chemistry with Thomas or Sam now.”
There’s a bright side to everything.
“I get the ones of you and Hugo. You guys werereallyobvious in Formation 2.” Rafael pulls away, shifting until his arm can wrap around Julien’s waist. “Actually, it’s not a bad image. If he wants to talk about a threesome, I’d be open to hearing him out.”
Rafael probably thinks everyone shorter than him bottoms, but he’ll be sorely disappointed if he tries to open that particular door.
“I dunno, the videos of you and Sam are pretty convincing. Let’s ask him first.”
“I dare you to say that to Thomas.”
“You just want us to kill each other so you can have Sam to yourself.”
Rafael laughs and pulls Julien in tighter. When a sliver of skin is exposed, Rafael’s rough fingertip finds it and mindlesslyrubs the area. “Y’know, I wouldn’t make you suffer through all of this if I didn’t see a future with you.”
“I can handle it,” Julien says immediately. His own fingertips draw nonsense doodles into Rafael’s clothed thigh. “Though I probably wouldn’t bother if I didn’t see a future with you either. I’m too self-serving.”
“I love that about you.”
