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I’m hanging onto every word, but I’m not the only one. Cash and Jenny haven’t moved either, transfixed by the interview. “My new agent doesn’t make me play a part. She doesn’t expect me to fit into a box.”
“And you’ve felt like you have to do that?”
Sebastian chuckles, but there isn’t a lot of humor in it. “My entire life. But I’m done with that.”
Leslie smiles, and it’s genuine. “That’s good.”
“It is.” He looks right into the camera. “I have the best record in racing this year, and next year, it’s going to be even better. I’m a damn good race-car driver and have always been.”
Leslie, the seasoned journalist she is, reads the cue and helps him along. “But you’re more than that.”
He nods. “I’m a son. I’m an uncle.” He swallows hard, looking into the camera, and I swear my heart tries to escape my chest as I watch, waiting and knowing he’s going to go through with it. A fierce, beautiful look of determination sweeps his features. “And a gay man.”
Leslie smiles at that, but she doesn’t go into much more. Instead, they talk about his future plans in racing and a charity he’s doing some work for. She doesn’t dwell on him being gay. It’s just part of the package.
And it’s a beautiful thing. When they wrap, Jenny pats my shoulder with her hand and beams in his direction, that proud mama-bear look aimed right at him. “He’s going to change a lot of things for a lot of people.”
“By being the face of gay racers.” I try to hold back my bitter tone, but it doesn’t bother her at all.
“Nope.” She moves to stand directly in front of me. “By being the badass racer he is, who also happens to be gay. By being out and proud—but still the man he’s always been.”
Acquiescing, I give her a slight nod. Then when Sebastian walks over to where we are, I do something stupid. Something I shouldn’t do if I want to remain in the closet, considering there are a hell of a lot of journalists around. But I grab him by the neck and pull him in for a deep kiss.
He stutters for a second, but then he kisses me back, a smile on his lips. “You know how many people know about us now?”
I’m breathing heavily when I pull my mouth from his, still holding onto him and let my forehead rest against his. “I’m not doing an interview. But fuck if I’m hiding what we have.”
“And what is that?”
“You’re a real pain in the ass,” I say, pulling him closer to me.
“I love you too.” I grin at that, kissing that smile off his damn face, unbothered by anyone who sees us.
I’m not going to do a big interview, but I am going to live my life. I don’t want to hide away what we have. And I definitely want the world to know who’s mine.
And Sebastian Harris is all mine for as long as he’ll have me.
12
SEBASTIAN
Three years later...
“So how does it feel to be the winner today?” I grin at Leslie, my smile wide because I just won the last race of the year. The big one.
“It feels damn good, Leslie.”
Mischief plays in her eyes now. “And beating your husband out on the track? That had to feel pretty good too.”
I laugh at that, shaking my head because Leslie hasn’t changed, but a lot of other things have. Of course, there was some bullshit to wade through after my interview three years ago. But mostly, all anyone cared about was me winning the season or not.
Which I did.
The next year, Axel took it. When pictures broke of us on vacation a month later, scantily clad and frolicking out on the beach, hand in hand, people went wild wanting the story.
And we didn’t give it to them.
But we didn’t hide it either. And a year ago, when he proposed to me—out on the track for the world to see—after I won the same race, I said yes instantly.
