Chapter forty-one
They arranged for the rep from Apex to meet them at Davey's RV.
They could have met in a restaurant or even a press box, but Stewart had convinced them to just be real.
Apex had never sponsored a race team of any kind, so it would be better for them to get down and dirty with it all and see what they were getting into first hand, right from the start.
Tyler tuned up the bike right there beside the rig and Davey had just finished his morning run.
Stewart and Angel waited in the RV. One big happy family.
"You ready?" Angel asked. Davey had never seen her so nervous and fidgety.
"Relax, Angel," he said, passing her and going into the tiny bathroom. Davey washed his face and neck, then went and changed, pulling on a Batman T-shirt, until a knock at the door had him scrambling to the front of the RV. He answered the door barefooted in T-shirt and jeans.
A nicely dressed woman stepped up into the trailer.
She wore a gray pencil skirt with a dark blue blouse with white buttons.
Her hair was up in a bun, and her pumps were classic.
"I'm Darla," she said, holding her hand out to Angel and blatantly ignoring Stewart and Davey. "You must be Angel Johansson."
"Yes." Angel stood up and shook the woman's hand. She was almost the same height as the delicate woman, but Angel wore black leather boots that had flat heels, making it hard to judge. "This is Davey McAllister," she said, gesturing to Davey.
Darla nodded. "Nice to meet you." She didn't offer her hand.
"Listen, I'll be straight up with you. This is a totally new venture for us, but we think it is worth it.
We support LGBT rights. Helping this young man and others like him is an important part of our organization.
We back lobbyists in Washington, we support local organizations and activists in California and some of the surrounding states.
So, this is another step like that. We aren't necessarily interested in the sport, per se. "
"What exactly are you offering, then?" Davey asked, curiously.
"We want our name associated with you, regardless of cost. We want a press release saying we're your main sponsor and we want Apex mentioned in every interview. In return, you have whatever you need."
"What exactly does 'whatever you need' mean?" Davey was becoming more than a little skeptical. Everybody wanted something and this woman seemed to have a hidden agenda. He wasn't sure he liked the way she skirted around the bottom line.
"It means that if you sign a two-year contract, I'll give Angel a credit card with no limit. No limit." She smiled, but the coldness in her eyes made Davey feel like he was making a deal with an ice demon.
"I've found that when something is too good to be true, it probably is. What's the catch?" Davey asked. Stewart sat at the table, silently. Davey glanced at him. His face was scrunched up as if Stewart were in pain. "I'd like someone to review the contract before I sign it."
"Of course. And, really, there's no catch.
Of course, there is a stipulation that you make a certain number of public appearances with your boyfriend.
You need to be seen with him. That's the whole point.
We want it to be a visible relationship.
That shouldn't be a problem, right? You are in a committed relationship with him?
Yes?" She raised her eyebrow as if to challenge our relationship.
Davey laughed. "That's him outside. Working on my bike."
"He's your mechanic? I was under the impression he worked for a different team?"
"They fired him when the picture surfaced." Davey shrugged. "It shouldn't be a problem."
Darla smiled again. "No, that's even better. Two gay boys against all of Supercross." Her smile was nearly predatory.
Stewart stood up. "That sounds very snide, rude even. I thought your company supports gay rights." Davey felt something move in his heart, he loved how protective Stewart was of him, even putting himself at risk with Princeton's lawyers. Stewart had become family, and it meant the world to Davey.
"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it. Hell, I'm gay myself.
" Darla laughed, her lingering gaze on Angel making more sense.
"I just don't like sports. Or men, even gay ones.
But, professionally…" She shrugged and reached in her jacket.
"Whatever. I'm good. Here." She pulled out a small envelope and handed it to Angel.
"The other stipulation is that Angel is your manager.
I'll only deal with her going forward. The credit card is in there with all the paperwork.
It'll be activated as soon as we have a signed contract.
Call me." She winked at Angel, turned on her heel, and walked out the door.
Davey could hear a very brief conversation between her and Tyler, but he couldn't hear what was being said. Tyler came in laughing, so it couldn't have been too bad.
Angel handed Stewart the envelope. "Let's look at it."
"Feels like dealing with the devil," Stewart snarled.
"I had a similar thought," Davey mumbled and leaned over to kiss Tyler. "Guess you need to know what's in the contract. It involves you."
"Me? Why?"
Davey laughed. "If we sign with Apex, they demand we be very public about our relationship."
"So?"
They had already decided to be very damn public anyway. Davey wanted to wrap Tyler up in his arms and kiss him until he begged for more, but he was covered with sweat and grease.
"Whatever you want, Davey. Let's just focus on kicking some ass this weekend." He flashed a smile and slid back out the door. Davey could tell he wasn't thrilled, but he wasn't too pissed. Davey sighed. They needed to make some decisions, and he was determined Tyler would be a part of it.
He opened the trailer. "Hey fiancé! You're still part of all this, baby."
Tyler looked up. "I know. It's fine."
"You sure?"
"Don't make me throw something at you!" he growled and waved a wrench in the air. Davey smiled and left his sexy mechanic alone.