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“Are you holding up all right?” Noel’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I met his two different colored eyes and gave a quick nod. “I know that you usually go to Ezra for these types of things, but I’m always here for you.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Thanks.”
“And if you need me to beat him up a little bit, I can do that, too. Well, I’d probably send Wyatt, because he’s bigger, but still. You get the idea,” Noel teased.
I barked out a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.” But I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
***
I didn’t win the Daytona 500. I never expected to. I was racing against the best drivers in the business. I was more than happy with my tenth-place finish, missing the two wrecks and costly mistakes on pit road. It didn’t matter because that achievement belonged to my brother. I couldn’t have been prouder of Noel. He had worked hard for this, and as I watched Seth rush over to congratulate him before Wyatt appeared out of nowhere, I started to cry. He must have gotten here during the race. I felt like my face was going to split in two. No one deserved this more than my big brother. He had sacrificed so much for me andhad found love and a family he wasn’t looking for. Even if he pretended he hated it.
I wanted what the three of them had. Love, laughter, and friendship.
Gross, now I sounded like cheesy wall art people hung up in their living room.
Before the race started, I didn’t have time to go looking for Andy, but I had figured he was off with the twins, or maybe he’d run into some fans. The few races of mine he had come to before we broke up, Andy was always quiet. He didn’t want to interrupt me on the radio while I was driving, and he liked to concentrate on what was going on. I was more than surprised when my crew chief, Riley, told me that Andy never showed up. That didn’t stop me from looking for him. I had a nagging feeling...
Andy wasn’t here. He had left. Again.
“Boo.” Ezra wrapped his arms around me, his familiar scent invading my senses.
I didn’t know how he managed to stay so flawless after sitting in the sun all day, hair perfect, and makeup not even smudged. I felt like my insides had been ripped out of my body and shoved back inside.
Ezra tilted my head up. “Tell me you’re not looking for him, Leo.”
I rolled my eyes and untangled myself from his grip, my chin trembling. I didn’t want to cry for Andy again. But when my vision blurred, I shook my head and turned away from my best friend.
“I’m sorry,” Ezra whispered. He dragged his palm over my back. “Leo, babe, I know this is hard for you, but maybe it’s for the better. I would hate to see you break again.”
I sniffed. “I know.”
“Would it help if I told you some gossip? Some good tea?” He giggled when I turned to look at him, his dark eyes dancing with mischief. “The twins were in RJ’s pit box for most of the race.”
“I already know about Felix, Ford, and RJ.” Not all of it but most of it.
Ezra’s eyes went wide. “And you haven’t told me? Are you holding out on me?” He squealed with excitement when Carson came up behind him and yanked him off his feet, his laughter filling the air. He twisted around in his husband’s arms and planted a wet kiss against Carson’s mouth.
“Hey, princess.” Carson’s smile was so wide you would have thought he had just won the race. “I actually came over here to grab Leo. They want to take some pictures of the whole team together.”
Ezra wiggled in his arms before Carson placed him on his feet. “That’s a great idea,” he said before he raised a hand and waved at Seth and Wyatt. “I’ll go hang with the other WAGs. And”—He leaned forward—“don’t think about him, Leo. You’re much better off.”
My chest felt like it was ripped open and my bleeding heart was exposed for the world to see.
Why didn’t it feel like I was better off?
Chapter Six
Andy
I should have been at the race right today. I should have cheered Leo on as he ran his first Daytona 500, but instead, I chickened out and came back to my hotel room. My brain was telling me what an idiot I was, while my heart reminded me how much was at stake. I wasn’t afraid of Ezra, Noel, or anyone else. I was terrified that Leo was going to friendzone me. Force me to stand back and watch as he fell in love with someone else. Married them. Started a family. Lived happily ever after. I couldn’t be just friends with him. It would destroy me.
I smacked myself across the face.Get it together, Andy. You’re a huge star. You could have anyone you wanted.
Yeah, and I still wanted Leo. He was the only person I had ever wanted. The only one who I truly wanted in a sexual way. It wasn’t for my lack of trying. I had been set up on plenty of dates with models, actresses, and reality stars. I just didn’t feel any connection. I posed on the red carpet, put on my best fake smile, and held their hand or kept my arm around them, but it was all fake.
The heart wants what the heart wants.
And mine wanted Leo McCormick.
