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My brows shot up. “Parker?”
“Yeah, they, uh... were attacked, and Lucas happened to be the one to stop it. They’re all right, just a little shaken. They have some cuts and bruises. They might need to see a doctor just tomake sure.” Leo’d hand trembled as I took my pants from him. “Maybe I should call Mason. I don’t... What should I do?”
I wrapped my arms around Leo. “You said it yourself; they’re all right.”
He buried his face against my chest, and my clothes dropped to the floor. I pressed a kiss against the side of Leo’s head.
“Let me get dressed, and we’ll figure this out together, Ricky.”
Leo watched wide-eyed as I quickly pulled on my clothes, and then I guided him back into the front of the RV. Lucas was sitting on the couch with Parker, their head against his shoulder. They both jumped apart when we walked into the room, and Lucas quickly climbed to his feet. Parker kept their gaze on their hands in their lap, but I saw the swelling of their cheek and cuts on their knuckles and cheeks. Their shirt was ripped around the collar, and bruises were darkening against their skin.
“What happened?” I hooked my arm around Leo to keep him close. When neither of them spoke, I grunted.
Lucas shook his head before he cast his eyes on Parker. “Nah, bro, it’s not for me to say.”
“I...” Parker’s voice cracked, and Leo was instantly next to them, murmuring things in Parker’s ear, coming his fingers through their hair. Parker nodded, fat tears slipping down their cheeks. “Go ahead, Lucas. I want you to tell them. It’s okay.”
Lucas’s dark eyes narrowed. “Some assholes were taunting Parker. Calling them names and shit. Things I’m not about to repeat because they were vulgar and disgusting. I didn’t recognize either of them as drivers, so maybe they were pit crew or something? Anyway, they pushed Parker, hit them, and that’s when I intervened.”
“You saved my life,” Parker whispered. They wiped their face, and makeup smeared across their cheek.
Lucas shrugged. “Dude, it’s nothing a good human being wouldn’t do.” He chewed on his bottom lip. “You sure you’re all right? You don’t need a doctor or anything?”
“We could call your father,” Leo suggested, smoothing the hair around Parker’s face.
Parker shook their head. “No, please, I don’t want my parents involved.” They pushed their face back into Leo’s shoulder. “I’m okay. I’ll be fine. I can just go back to my RV, and—”
Leo cut them off. “Absolutely not. You’ll stay here.”
He glanced at me like I would say no. I mean, sure, it would suck because I wasn’t about to have sex with my boyfriend with my brother in the other room, but Parker was clearly shaken and didn’t want to be alone.
Parker shook their head. “I can’t impose on you like that, Leo. Your boyfriend is here, and the last thing you want is someone to rain on your parade. I’ll be fine at my own place. It’s not like they’re going to come back.”
“I could stay with you.” Lucas gripped the back of his neck as his cheeks burned crimson. “I mean, if you don’t want to be alone. That way, Andy and Leo can get their freak on.” He snorted nervously.
I opened my mouth to snap at my brother until I saw the look on Parker’s face. It was a mixture of surprise, relief, and admiration. I pressed my lips together to keep myself from interrupting whatever was going on between them. It might be nothing, but it certainly looked like something.
“You’re more than welcome to stay here. It’s not my RV, so I don’t have a say, but we’d love to have you.”
“I don’t want to intrude.” Parker was still staring at Lucas. “I think that maybe I should go to the infield care center to get checked. I’m not feeling so good. It’s probably nothing, but I just want to make sure.”
Lucas took a step toward them. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”
“You don’t have to... Take me or stay with me. I’m an adult. I can take care of myself. Go back to doing whatever you were doing. I appreciate your help, rescuing me like I was a damsel in distress. But that’s not who I am.” Parker managed to get to their feet. They swayed slightly and might have gone down if my brother had jumped in to catch them.
Lucas’s lips curved up slightly. “You were saying?” He scooped Parker effortlessly into his arms. “I’ll take you.” He glanced at me. “Are you guys going to come with us or stay here?”
Leo was already shoving his shoes on. “We’re coming with you.”
I had no choice but to put on my sneakers and follow them all out the door.
Chapter Thirty-One
Leo
Parker was going to be okay. They didn’t have any broken bones or internal bleeding or anything that would keep them from racing tomorrow. Of course, they were shaken up; anyone would be after they were attacked. Parker seemed more embarrassed than anything else. Maybe they hid their fear better than I did. Once we got back to their RV, I forced them to into the bathroom to shower and freshen up.
“Could you stay?” Parker tugged their ripped shirt up over their head, revealing a lean torso. “I’d rather not be alone, and I, uh... wanted to thank you.” They gave me a shy smile.
