“If you do that, I’ll support you,” I tell him. “But you’ll be leaving a lot of money on the table, Vox. Money you’ll potentially need if this shit with Grey ends up requiring an attorney, or if he proves us wrong and fires us both.”
His jaw clenches, and I can tell he’s on overload. Vox doesn’t want this drama. He just wants to race.
But suddenly, Vox’s eyes light up as he whips his head toward me.
“In that case, what ifyourace, too?”
My stomach drops out of my ass.
“What? Vox,no.”
“Connor, you kicked my ass on those runs the other day. You told Grey you let me have the win, but we both know you got to the bottom before I did. Hell, you board better now than you did five years ago.” Vox gains speed as he talks, his excitement over this idea clear as day.
I’m not really considering it, but then his dad chimes in.
“I’ll sponsor you. Let me get a patch on your jacket. I can sign you up as a late entry. You missed time trials, so you’ll be given the shit-end on starting position, but you’re Connor Lang. You can outboard damn near anybody.” Placing a fatherly hand on my forearm, he adds, “Maybe we can both get a redemption story out of this.”
My mouth is dry.
“The race is in less than forty-eight hours,” I say weakly.
“Baby, you’ve been riding with me forweeksnow, and it’s like you never missed a beat,” Vox says.
I can’t deny that the idea excites me, but what if I panic? What if mycomebackturns into asetbackfrom all the progress I’ve made?
Vox brings one hand to my face. “Hey, I’ll ride if you do. You owe me a race anyway, remember?”
I nuzzle into his hand before kissing his palm. Itwouldbe nice to have a little extra cash. Even the second-place prize purse is worth chasing at this event.
“Okay,” I finally agree in a whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.
Vox’s dad clears his throat.
“You two seem like a good team.” Looking right at me, he says, “Watching you guys now, it’s clear I was wrong when I said you cared for him.”Oh, shit.Vox and I haven’t used theL-wordyet. Danced around it?Yes.Claimed each other?Also, yes.Actually admitted tolovingeach other?No.And I’m about to be outed. I know it. But before I can stop him, Turner says, “It makes me really fucking happy to see someone love my son for who he is and not what he can do for them.”
Vox laughs next to me.
“That’s a little presumptuous, Dad. Connor and I?—”
Turner’s eyes go wide as he interrupts Vox, repeating my internal monologue. “Oh, shit. You haven’t told him.”
Vox turns to me. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, whatnow? Do I have a tattoo on my forehead that says ‘Loves Secrets’? Because I don’t. I don’t love them.”
With a tight smile, I explain. “I may have told your dad that I’m in love with you. I thought he was trying to take advantage of you and cause trouble, and he said it was clear that Icareabout you…and that didn’t feel strong enough, so I corrected him without thinking,” I ramble.
“Hey, Connor?”
I sigh, waiting for Vox to tell me this is moving too fast. “Yeah?”
“I fucking love you, too. But from here on out, you tellmethat shit first, got it?”
A smile spreads across my lips as I nod.
“Yeah, hotshot. I got it.”
Vox kisses me despite our current company. When he pulls back, he looks at his dad. “Oh, uh, yeah…Dad, this is my boyfriend.”
His dad grins. “I figured as much when you came in holding hands. Not to mention, Mr. Lang here can’t peel his eyes off you for more than three seconds at a time.”
