I roll through the track in my brain, trying to picture where my weak points are and almost want to scream. This is the perfect track for Harper, damn it.
Caleb’s arm slips from mine as the pilot announces our descent and people around us start to stir.
‘Jesus, who’s pinging off your phone?’ Caleb asks as we finally land in Austin. Whoever put Qatar and Texas back-to-back needs their head checking. Worst flight of the season so far.
Peering down at my phone, I’m met with ten excited texts from Harper, letting me know that Kian’s flown into Texas for the next five days to surprise him. Plus, three selfies of them together– one, very topless that I didn’t need to see.
‘That would be Harper. Kian’s surprised him by flying in for a few days. He can’t stay for the race, but I think they’re both suffering withdrawal symptoms. Harper is of course very excited. He practically combusts any time Kian does something nice for him.’
‘Hey, do you think they’d be up for a double date whilst we’re out here? Maybe in the next couple of days before things get crazy.’ Caleb’s leaning across the middle of our seats and I’m so tempted to kiss him, but we aren’t in private and the team would crucify us at this point in the season. We can’t afford any distractions in these final weeks, and I’m sure a relationship between a driver and his race engineer would be nothing but.
‘You serious? I think Harper would die if I even suggested it. He’s been desperate to conduct a Spanish inquisition.’
‘Well, on second thoughts…’
‘Kidding, kidding. I’ll make sure Kian keeps him on his leash.’
‘Now I’m imaging your best friend in a harness and leash. Why would you even suggest that?’
‘Stop imagining my best friend naked. That’s gross.’
Nils finally stirs from the seat across the aisle, his fluffy blond hair sticking up in every direction. ‘Did we land?’ he mumbles.
‘Yeah, we landed. You okay, bud? You look very dazed right now.’ He’s rubbing sleep from his eyes, blinking like he can’t quite remember where he is. It’s kind of cute, but then heyawns like he hasn’t just slept for seven hours and I’m almost worried about him.
‘I’m at the point in the season where I don’t know which country or time zone I’m in. Plus, last night I was kept awake by two guys having very loud sex while I’m going through a dry period, so, you know.’
‘Whoops?’ Caleb offers up and I can’t help but laugh. Maybe we’re being way too obvious, but I don’t actually care right now.
‘I’m making sure our hotel rooms aren’t sharing a wall tonight if it kills me. What excuse can I give the room coordinator to make sure of it?’
‘Um…’
‘Or we could just sleep in my room tonight?’ Caleb suggests and I nod eagerly.
‘Smart man. Knew there was a reason I liked you.’ I brush the side of his arm with my hand almost about to rest it on his thigh when Nils clears his throat, bringing me back into the reality that we are currently on the team plane and he’s the only one who knows about us.
* * *
Harper’s so keen for a double date that we end up at dinner the next night. Caleb’s chosen the perfect BBQ restaurant and the conversation comes easy, considering the thing we all share in common. It’s nice as we enjoy a couple drinks and then the biggest platter of meat and sides anyone has ever seen.
‘When I first met you two, nothing could have convinced me that a few years later you’d both be in committed relationships,’ Kian says as he looks between his husband and me.
Nor me, to be honest. Even though I was more at the point where I wanted to step away from the constant sleeping around than Harper, I don’t think I was close to being ready to settle down.
‘Well, you are partly to thank for that. Considering you tied this one down and stopped him being such a slut.’
‘I mean, tied down is one of my favourite—’ Kian quickly shoves a fry into his husband’s mouth, promptly shutting him up.
‘Sorry, my husband possesses zero people skills, which is why he participates in such a solo sport.’ We all laugh as Harper pouts. This is one of the many reasons I truly love Kian for him. He balances him out but doesn’t completely restrain him from being the Harper James we all know and love.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t stick around in the sport,’ Caleb comments as our desserts arrive. Half of us definitely shouldn’t be eating them, but Caleb offered to split a piece of fudge cake and ice cream with me, and I’m weak when it comes to chocolate cake and this man sitting next to me.
I’m diving into the cake before Caleb can even finish his sentence because it looks so damn good. I’ll happily pay for this with an early-morning run with Caleb tomorrow.
‘Trust me, I had plenty of chances. Jackson’s still trying to convince me to come back, but I can’t leave the farm now. I don’t even want to, which is still a shock to me considering how much I love this sport.’ I’m surprised, too, because I thought Kian would die at Hendersohm. But nope, he’s hardly even an affiliate at this point, except for his legacy.
‘How much say does he have in the team?’ Caleb asks as Isteal another chunk of cake and glob of ice cream. Eating gives my hands something to do while they discuss my least favourite topic.
