Chapter Thirty-Four

Leo

After finishing fifth in the race, I climbed from my car and managed to remove my helmet before Andy grabbed me. He swung me around laughing, pressing wet kisses against my face before he placed me back on my feet. I knew I had to be an absolute mess. My hair was plastered to my face, mixed with sweat and dirt. My fire suit clung to my body like a second skin. But Andy didn't seem to care. He was smiling at me like I was the most important thing in the world.

"That was amazing, Ricky. I'm so proud of you!" He cupped my cheeks in his hand.

I hummed happily. "You had fun then?"

The sound of cheering and laughing caused us both to turn just as the twins rushed toward RJ. He was the lucky winner of today's race, and sure, I wanted that checkered flag for myself, but I was just as happy it was one of my friends. A big smile spread over RJ's face as Felix and Ford ambushed him, wrapping their arms around his large body and hugging him.

"They're so into him," Andy commented, then let out a low whistle. "Oh, shit."

Rand Shepard was walking toward his son, his eyes narrowed and hands balled into fists at his side. The man was scary on a good day, but right now he looked like he had just walked out of a nightmare. The twins jumped away from RJ the second they spotted him.

"Oh, fuck no," I growled, only to have Andy hold me back. "Let go of me, hon. I'm about to kick a homophobe in the balls." My voice trailed off the second Rand grabbed his son in a tight hug, his mouth against his ear and a big smile on his face.

Andy chuckled. "You were saying?" His arm snaked around my shoulders as Rand greeted both twins, shaking their hands and then grinning when Felix insisted on a hug. Okay, maybe he wasn't as scary as I was making him out to be. Like Maverick.

I was whisked away from Andy by my PR person for interviews and photographs, but he promised he would be waiting for me when I was done. I caught up with Noel and Carson on the way, but my mind kept going back to earlier when Andy got nervous about the cameras catching us together. I had given him my phone before I got into the car, and the sudden itch to check my socials had me wishing I had grabbed it before I left him. Were people talking about us? Did they hate me? Did they think I wasn't right for Andy? Or maybe he wasn't right for me?

"Hey." Noel touched my shoulder. "Everything okay?"

I chewed on my bottom lip. "Perfect."

"Why does it feel like you're lying to me?" Noel tilted my head up to meet his gaze. "You and Andy good?"

That brought a smile to my face. "We're great."

"So why do you look so nervous? Did someone say or do something?" Noel asked. He popped his jaw. "If you need me for backup, I'm there. You don't even have to ask."

I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped my throat. "You don't have to hulk out on anyone right now, I just..." I sighed. "I think Andy's worried about us being seen together."

"Excuse me?" Noel exclaimed, causing a few people to turn to look. "Why would he be worried about that? You're a goddamn catch, Leopold."

Carson's brows dipped. "Like he doesn't want you to be seen together, or is it something else?"

"The press loves a good gossip story. He wanted me to be ready for the stories that were going to pop up with him being here, for sitting in my pit and watching the race. I mean, I still have Andy's pictures on my IG from years ago, so it wouldn't take a genius to figure out we have history together. And for the media to start digging around for my background." I grimaced at the thought.

Noel nodded in understanding. "That's what you're afraid of."

"I don't want my childhood splashed all over the front page of some gossip rag. About how our parents were too buried in gambling debt to care about their children." I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.

Noel pulled me into a hug. "Fuck them if they do. I've got your back."

"Me, too, Leo. And you know Ezra will literally fight anyone who says anything," Carson reminded me. That was the absolute truth.

"Thank you, both of you." I squeezed Noel tightly before we headed into the media center.

***

I had hoped that Andy would be waiting for me when I finished my interviews, but I was left disappointed. I stepped out into the warm, dark evening air, and disappointment hit me hard. I walked back to my RV alone. Carson and Noel were long gone, heading back to their significant others. I could hear laughing and talking coming from the other RVs as I made my way home, and when mine came into view, I stopped to take in the sight. The lights were blazing inside. Someone was waiting for me. A smile stole over my face. Andy. Andy was waiting for me, and he was the only man I had ever wanted. I had cried myself to sleep over and over again, wishing he hadn't broken up with me. I'd begged and pleaded the universe for Andy to come back to me.

And now he was here.

I quickly rushed inside, expecting to find Andy waiting for me on the couch. When he wasn't there, I moved to the bedroom, but that was empty, too. Once again, I wished I had my phone, and as I started to get worried, I heard the sound of the shower running across the hall.

I knocked lightly on the door before I pushed it open.

"Andy?" I could make out his blurry figure sitting in the bottom of the stall. "Hon, what's going on?"

He didn't answer.

I quickly stripped off my fire suit, compression clothes, and underwear. I didn't bother to warn him I was coming inside; I opened the door and climbed down next to him. The warm water beat down on my skin as I stared at Andy. He gripped his head, his hair plastered to his scalp. I forced him to look at me.

"Don't." He gently pushed me away and tucked his head back against his knees.

My heart felt like it was ripped from chest. "What's wrong? Did I do or say something to upset you?"

"Ricky, it's not...It's me. It's always me and my stupid"—he smacked himself in the head—"fucked up"—another smack—"head."

"Stop it." I grabbed his wrist. "There is nothing fucked up about you. You're so beautiful, hon, and perfect. I love you. Your parents love you. Everyone loves you."

Andy's body trembled. "I only want you to love me. No one else matters."

"I love you," I said again, and when I moved to wrap my arms around him, Andy didn't stop me. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

A loud sob escaped Andy's mouth, and he began to cry again. I held him tightly, rubbing circles into his skin, murmuring how much I loved him and how amazing he was. That he was my favorite person now and always. He cried into my shoulder, his fingers digging into my shoulders until long after our had skin pruned. Finally, Andy pulled away and pushed his wet hair back from his face, looking completely broken. He dragged his thumb over my bottom lip, over my cheek, and gripped the back of my head. He stared at me, his chin quivering as fresh tears slipped down his cheeks.

I pressed my lips to Andy's mouth, then stood up and turned off the water. I grabbed two towels, drying his hair and body before I wrapped it around his waist. Then I did the same for myself. Normally I did my skin care routine, but I figured that it would be okay to skip it tonight. Instead, I brushed my teeth, Andy staring down at his feet without a word. I rinsed off the toothbrush, grabbed his, and held out to him. When he didn't respond, I moved closer, pressed the brush to his lips and helped him when he wouldn't do it himself. Then I led Andy into the bedroom, pulled back the blanket, removed the towel, and eased him down onto the mattress. Then my towel joined his on the floor, and I climbed in next to him.

The room was plunged into darkness when I turned off the light. I could hear the faint sounds outside but mostly Andy's breathing. It was coming out in heavy pants and then he was crying again, his face pressed to my chest, his arms wrapped around me.

"Hon, what happened?" I combed my fingers through his hair. "Talk to me."

Andy shook his head. He grumbled against my skin and then pulled back. "My mom." He gasped. "My mom, she... After the pictures of us went up on some social media sites, she went to the press and... She said my dads are horrible people. That they turned me into this dirty person. That I wasn't like this when she was raising me."

"What!" I exclaimed. I reached over and flipped on the light.

Andy ducked his head. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? For what exactly? You didn't do anything wrong, hon, and neither did Maverick or Jackson. Your mother is a horrible person. She used you, abandoned you, and is now trying to manipulate you to get what she wants. You're the man you were born to be. The one I fell in love with as a young, confused, sweet boy, who wanted nothing to but to make me and his fathers happy. The man who has sold millions of records, won Grammys, and rocked the faces of everyone. You, Andy Olson, are the most amazing man I have ever met."

"Leo, Ricky, I don't..."

I shook my head. "You don't have to say anything." I brushed my lips over his. "I've loved you since we were fifteen years old, and nothing is going to change that."

"I love you." Andy sniffed. "I love you, and I'm sorry that I fucked everything up. I never..."

"I know. You don't have to say that to me anymore, hon. I forgive you. I forgave you the second you showed up outside my RV and passed out on my couch."

He chuckled softly. "That was the way to win you back, huh? Sexy?"

"So, so fucking sexy." I smirked.

Andy nuzzled his nose against mine. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you back in my life."

"Good thing you'll never have to find out again," I whispered.