Page 36 of Heart of the Race

“I thought you were happy. I didn’t want to mess that up.”

“I am happy.”

“You’re pleased with the stability because you need that, but you’re not happy.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know you.” His smile lifted the edge of his lip. “And you need me with you for you to be all-the-way happy.”

Some would call him cocky. “You think?”

“’Course,” he groused, the scowl adorable. “You’re in love with me.”

Yes, I was. “And you’re okay being bi?”

“I’ll get to be with you, right?”

I couldn’t answer; I was barely pulling air into my lungs.

“Bri?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then. I’ll be whatever as long as I can be that.”

“Giving up women, you’re sure?”

“It’s not about giving up, it’s about getting.”

God. “You know there’s still prejudice and⁠—”

“You know me,” he interrupted. “When have I ever cared what anyone thought of me, besides you?”

“Never.”

He shrugged. “So I’m going to start now?”

“You’re not worried or scared? What about your new boss?”

“I explained that when I saw them at the TT, I’d have my partner with me.”

The man was always so sure of things. “That’s what you said?”

“Yeah. I mean, if Del Toro was a homophobic asshole, I had to know, right?”

“And what did he say?”

“He said he was looking forward to meeting you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He yawned suddenly, turned away from me, and walked around the bed to sit down. I watched as he pulled off his motorcycle boots. “It’s funny, ya know, you always worry what other people think, but really, why would you care what anyone else thinks but me?”

“So you’re the focus of my world, is that it?”

He turned to meet my gaze over his shoulder. “Aren’t I?”

“God, you’re so vain.”