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Almost immediately we were spotted by an errant camera crew. They sidled up to record us, trying their best not to be intrusive. It wasn’t working.
“Reese and I were thinking more along the lines of ‘dickhead’ actually,” I said glibly. “But go on.”
“Fine,” Devin sighed. “Dickhead, then. But yeah, I went about our conversation all wrong. I should’ve talked to you, not scolded you.”
“You should’ve talked to all of us,” I replied. “That way we’re on the same page. I mean, I know the others have raced with you before. I know you’ve got plans, strategies—”
“All true,” Devin interrupted, “but none of that should be an excuse for how I acted. I was a douchenozzle.”
“Douchenozzle!” I laughed. For a split-second I broke the cardinal rule and turned to face the lead camerawoman. “Can he say douchenozzle? Or does that get cut out?”
The woman looked immediately flustered. She turned beet-red before answering.
“I’m…uh… pretty sure they won’t let that one slide.”
“Fine,” I declared, turning back to Devin. “Pick another word then. I want the whole world to see this.”
Devin’s eyes flared at the challenge. At the moment, they matched the cerulean blue Hawaiian sky.
“I was a fucktard last night,” he smirked.
I looked at the camerawoman. Obviously she shook her head.
“An asswipe.”
“Go on,” I mused.
“A prick. A butt-munch. A shit-for-brains.”
The woman slowly lowered her camera in defeat. Her shoulders slumped.
“Let’s just say you were rambunctious,” I sighed, letting him off the hook. “And you spoke in the heat of the moment.”
“That too,” said Devin. “But in all seriousness, I really am sorry.”
The camera snapped up again. I could already hear the high-pitched whir of the auto-focus.
“Alright. That’s not a half-bad apology.”
“It was stupid to berate you yesterday,” he continued, “especially after you did so well. You rocked that challenge. You’re an amazing partner, and we’re lucky to have you.”
His hand moved upward, to rest lightly on my shoulder. I would’ve loved a hug, or any kind of contact more intimate than this. But it was about as much as he dared.
“And I’m so sorry if I made you feel anything different,” Devin finished.
Fuck it. I hugged him anyway. As his arms slid around me, pulling me against that hard body I’d made love to so many times, the tears I’d promised not to cry again ran down my cheeks.
“It’s cool,” I sniffed. “Really. Seriously.”
“Good,” said Devin. “Because we need you today. We need youeveryday.”
He buried his face in my hair. His lips brushed the nape of my neck, as he whispered something so softly that only I could hear.
“We’ve needed you since evenbeforethe race,” Devin murmured, kissing my ear so lightly my entire body exploded in goosebumps.
