Chapter 29 – Richard
I never thought I would ever be in a position that would cause me to quit Montague racing.
But here I am. What is worse, there is a part of me, deep inside, that can understand why they did it.
Can understand the benefit it would have for the team, and yet, I need to be out. Not just for Dave, but for me, too.
My future had been so clear cut a few days ago.
Now, it’s not. Everything is blurry, and I have no idea what to do.
I, potentially, have to go and find a new team, a new position.
I have to start again. That in itself is scary.
I have been with Vincent for over thirty years.
Would we even still be friends after this?
Tapping in the code to my gate, I wait for them to open, and as I drive in, I see a car that I recognise, and the man leaning against it. I should’ve known he would come here. Maybe I should’ve gone back to the office. Typed up what I needed to there. Maybe start to clear out my office.
“I need to change the gate code,” I say over to Vincent, as I get out of my car.
“I would’ve still gotten in,” Vincent replies, giving me a slight smile.
“What do you want, Vincent?” Which is a stupid question to ask. I know what he wants, but I’m still too angry. Too raw to deal with him right now.
“You’re not serious?” Vincent asks, and I know that he means about quitting.
“Deadly,” I confirm.
“Can we go inside to talk?” Vincent asks, pointing to the house, and there is no mistake to pleading edge to his voice.
“Nothing to talk about,” I tell him. “So I think that it’s better for you to leave. I will make an appointment to see you in the morning.”
“Richard,” Vincent starts.
“No, Vincent. I’m too angry with you. Hell, at myself, at the moment, to talk to you.” And I watch as Vincent takes a step back at my outburst. In all our years of friendship, I know he’s never seen me like this.
“This isn’t something I decided to do lightly,” Vincent starts and that is something I believe but doesn’t take away my hurt.
“You know what, Vin? I actually understand that. That’s what makes me so angry at myself. The knowledge that I understand the reasoning. And the benefit it has for the team.”
“Then…” Vincent starts, taking that step towards me again.
“But that doesn’t change the fact that this was decided without consulting me. Maybe we could’ve come to an arrangement that worked best for us all. Maybe we could’ve gone to the FIA and gotten their advice. But you took that away. The three of you decided on my life.”
Vincent just looks at me, not sure what to say. I thought that, maybe, we might have been able to salvage a friendship, but as we stand there looking at each other, I don’t think that’s going to happen. If we’re not careful, words could be said that once spoken, can’t be taken back.
“Vin. I’ll see you in the morning. You might need to call the lawyers,” I say as I turn and head over to the front door, opening it and walking in as quickly as I can. Breathing deeply. Fuck, that was harder than I thought it would be.
I lean against the door, listening, and after a few minutes, I hear the sound of an engine starting, and the tell-tale sound of my gates opening. Part of me wondered, maybe hoped, that Vincent would come over and bang on the door. Demand that it be opened.
Fuck, I need a drink.
Walking over to the living room, I head straight for the cupboard where I keep my whiskey.
I take out one of the crystal glasses and grab the closest bottle of whiskey at the front.
Pour myself a large measure, knocking it back in one go.
I feel the burn as the liquid travels down my throat. It’s just what I needed.
Closing the door to the cupboard, I grab the bottle, pour myself another large measure, and head over to the couch, glass and bottle in hand. Sitting down on the edge, I place the bottle on the floor and just stare straight ahead.
Taking another sip, I try to go over the events of the day, and it doesn’t feel real.
This morning my future had been so filled with promise.
Dave had explained that he was going to take up Vincent’s offer to be a test driver, come designer.
I was so excited. We were going to be together, with the team.
It would have been a new era for Montague Racing.
Now that’s all changed. It would still be a new era for Montague Racing, but I wouldn’t be there to witness it.
“Rich.”
I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard the front door open, or close, and so I jumped when I heard my name being called.
Looking up, I see Dave and Jasper standing there.
Dave looks awful. His eyes are all red, like he’s been crying.
I know I should go over to him, but I still just sit on the couch looking at them.
Jasper is the one that makes the first move, he comes over to me and tries to take the glass out of my hand, but I grip it tighter.
“Fine,” Jasper says, but picks up the bottle, “but you don’t need this.”
“Hey,” I start.
“Richard, stop being a shit. Talk to that man.” He points to Dave. “I know what is going on, and it sucks.” Jasper doesn’t give me time to answer. “Oh, and I’m taking this bottle home, it’s too good to be wasted on self-pity.”
Jasper goes over to Dave, and I watch as he places a hand on his shoulder, and gives it a squeeze, before looking over his shoulder to me, and gives me a smile. Then, just like that, he’s gone. Leaving me and Dave alone. This is our home. I can’t run away anymore.
“Rich,” Dave calls over to me, and when I look, he has his arm reaching out to me, leaning heavily on both of his crutches, which he is now holding in his other hand.
I hesitate for a second before I get up off the couch and head over to him.
Clasping my hand in his. He tries to turn and take a step, but he wobbles.
“What are you trying to do?” I ask, as I steady him.
“Trying to lead you to the bedroom, like they do in the movies,” Dave replies, giving me a smile.
“Most of the time, the main characters don’t have a busted-up knee,” I replied. “But…”
I pull Dave to me and seal our lips together, his tongue pushing into my mouth, and I think that he needed this connection as much as I did. He drops his crutches and wraps his arms around my neck. Deepening the kiss.
“I’m so sorry,” Dave whispers, as he finally breaks the kiss, but never drops his arms from around my neck.
“I know,” I reply, giving him a quick kiss.
“Please, let me show you. Help me to our bedroom,” Dave pleads.
There is still so much that needs to be said, that needs to be decided. But I need him. Need to forget what’s going on for a few hours. Sweeping him off his feet, I wrap one arm around his waist and place my other arm under his knees. But he still yelps in surprise.
“Rich,” Dave says, as I start striding over to the stairs.
“Is this something that happens in the movies? The hero sweeps the love interest off their feet and carries them away?”
“Most heroes aren’t in their fifties,” Dave replies with a smile.
“Are you calling me old?” I say over to him, holding him tighter to me.
“If the shoe fits.”
“Cheeky bastard.” But we’re both laughing as I carry him up the stairs to our bedroom, and it’s what we needed to help break some of the tension between us.
Kicking the bedroom door open, I carry Dave over to the bed and place him on the edge of it.
We haven’t done anything since before his accident, and I have no idea how this is going to work.
Dave is going to need to be careful. Maybe I can ride him.
I enjoy it when we switch positions every now and then.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask him, as I run my fingers through his hair, and he looks up at me.
“I think that’s obvious,” Dave replies. “We’re going to get naked, and we’re going to scream each other’s names.”
“Do I need to get the rope?” I ask.
“No. Not today. I don’t want a scene,” Dave replies.
“You don’t?” I ask, surprised.
“I want us to do something that we haven’t ever done before,” he says to me.
“But I don’t want you to strain your knee and set back your recovery.”
“What I have planned won’t affect my knee. Now, help me up, and strip me naked,” Dave asks, as he raises his hands up for me to help him to his feet.
I want to question him again. Ask him what we’re going to be doing, but I don’t. I’m sure that he’ll tell me, or show me, when he’s ready, but I’m intrigued to do something that we have never done before.
I pull off the polo shirt that Dave had put on this morning and proceed to run a finger down his chest. I can’t resist, I lean forward and place a kiss over his pec. His skin feels warm against my lips.
“Mark me,” Dave asks.
“What?” I take a step back so that I can see his face, not sure that I heard him correctly. That is definitely not something we’ve done before.
“I need you to mark me,” Dave repeats.
“Why?”
“Because I’m yours as much as you are mine, and I need you to see that. Need you to know it,” Dave replies. “Even if I want to keep you as my secret, for now.”
“Let’s not spoil this by talking about that now,” I say to him.
“Okay. But will you mark me?” he asks, again.
“If that’s what you want.”
“I do. Over my heart please.”
Oh, sweet lord, he is going to kill me. I always let him choose where he marked me. But if this is something that he needs, then I’m not going to deny him. I just need to remember how to do it. It’s been a long time.
Leaning forward, I place a small kiss on his chest over his heart, before going back and starting to gently suck. A moan escapes from him. So, I keep going, only stopping when I see the start of the purple circle appearing on his skin.
“Thank you,” Dave says as I finish, “But I need you to finish stripping me now.”