Chapter forty-five Round 5 Race
Chapter forty-five
Angel had worked with the race officials to get the press area for their little conference.
She knew Davey hated the media circus and didn't want to suck Tyler into everything, but Apex stated their intentions very clearly, and that this needed to happen.
Angel wasn't sure if it would help or make things worse, but the majority of the press for Davey had been good, supportive, and she expected this event to be a good one as well.
How could they not love these two boys, anyway?
The reporters jostled each other, working out where their equipment would go. She saw representatives from Sports News, , Motocross Magazine, , Fox News, ESPN, and a few other smaller entities. Angel would have sworn there was a politician showing up if she didn't know better.
The bodyguards hung out with Davey and Tyler behind the back drop.
Stewart stayed back at the RV. He couldn't be seen anywhere around, and that bothered her.
Angel wanted him with her, supporting her and helping her.
They made a great team, but he still hadn't been released from his non-compete contract despite Apex's efforts to get him out of it.
Princeton would not budge. She didn't know how they could be so ruthless when they had dropped Davey just for being gay in the first place. None of it seemed right.
The press seemed to be settled in, so she figured she'd better get the show on the road.
She tucked her head around the corner and motioned for the guys before approaching the center of the staged area.
A mic had been set up, thanks to the Fox Sports crew who had most of the major coverage on the event anyway.
"Hello. Thank you for coming. First, let me say that Davey McAllister and his entire team are thankful for Apex Corp.
for their continued sponsorship, as well as Kawasaki, Michelin, X-top Energy Drink, Zahr Parts, Tide, and RynoPower Sports Supplements as well as so many others that have been so supportive of what seems to be a first. A driver and mechanic team with a.
..with a romantic relationship. We all love Davey and Tyler and support them in every way we can.
This is more than a team, it's a family.
So, without any further delay. Davey McAllister and Tyler Whitmore. "
Davey and Tyler walked up to the mic stand, holding hands.
Angel couldn't be more proud of them. They wore matching jerseys with the Apex logo and a huge Twenty-Seven graphic on the front.
Tyler's blond hair was brushed back and his eyes shimmered a brilliant green.
She thought he looked absolutely ethereal.
Davey, tall and thin next to Tyler's stocky, muscular build, offered the press a million-watt smile.
His dark hair and boy-next-door good looks made him a darling of the sport.
He had been the orphan rider when his father died, now he was the Avant guard.
As he adjusted the microphone, Angel realized Davey was a loving, caring person at his core and a dynamo that would do whatever he had to in order to get where he wanted to go.
"So," Davey started. "I first want to make an announcement." He pulled Tyler closer, cradling Tyler's hand in his. "I've asked Tyler to marry me and he's said yes. So, officially, we're engaged."
The press erupted with questions and comments. Davey was truly a professional though, he continued, "We'll be getting married after the season ends. No, no plans on the honeymoon, yet. You know it revolves around Supercross and I have to train during the offseason."
"Will Brad Falcon be training you?" someone yelled out.
"No, uh, unfortunately, Brad is on contract at Princeton. I'll be training with Tim Albright. He's great on the track. Brad will always be family, though."
More questions were shouted out. "How do you feel about Princeton dropping you?"
"And Cole Lindt firing Tyler?"
"You know, we didn't like it, of course, but it's all worked out well. Apex has been fabulous and so supportive. I love working with Tyler. You can see, he's the best mechanic."
"What about Shorty?" someone asked, referring to his previous head mechanic.
Davey shrugged. "He stayed with Princeton. He'd been with them a long time. I couldn't expect him to follow me into the unknown."
"Tyler, are you excited to be working on the number one race team?" someone asked. Angel thought that had come from the Fox guy. He had shaggy brown hair and inquisitive eyes, not missing anything that happened around him.
Davey shoved Tyler to the mic. He reluctantly leaned in, eyes on Davey and his teeth sinking into his bottom lip.
"Uh, hi," he said. "I, uh, like working with Davey a lot.
Um, we make a good team. I learned a lot working with the KTM team.
Cody Barret and his team were professionals.
Uh, I have the utmost respect for those guys and I miss them.
But, uh, this is better." He glanced back up at Davey and you could see the love pouring out of his eyes.
"Better how?"
"Uh, you know. Davey's number one. I've watched his career for years, as have all of you. We all know he's the best racer in Supercross and I'm his mechanic. Come on! But, it's more than that. I love him."
"What's it like being the only gays in motocross?"
Angel looked around the room, wondering where that question had come from. She shouldn't have worried. Tyler and Davey laughed. "Right!" Davey said.
Tyler leaned over to the mic again. "We're not the only gays. You're nuts if you think that. We're just the first to come out."
"You think others will come forward now that you have."
Davey had that Hollywood smile plastered across his face.
"We have no idea. We're not the gay police.
We didn't do it to be role models. We were outed.
Don't be stupid. You've all seen the picture.
I would hope that everyone in this industry would feel safe to be true to themselves but that's not the world we live in.
We wouldn't have come out either. Incidentally, it's none of anyone else's business who we choose to love. "
Tyler leaned in again. "I'm glad though. My worst nightmare has turned into something so unbelievably great."
The Fox reporter stood up straight. "I've heard there have been threats made against you. Parker Shannon and Cole Lindt have made it utterly clear on and off the track how they feel. How are you holding up against all that hate and discrimination?"
"Along with all the bad, there's always good," Davey answered. "The love and support has been over the top, ten times more positive than negative comments."
"What about the threats?"
Angel jumped in front of the boys. "There have been some threats made and we have turned the information over to the proper authorities. It's being investigated and we cannot comment further on it at this time."
Several other questions were thrown out, but Angel thought they'd done enough for one day. "There's an autograph session Davey has to get to, so this over. I thank you again for coming."
She shoved Davey toward Broady, who went with him to the tables, while Tyler went with Pilot back to the pit area.
Angel was relieved that the conference had gone well.
She was even more proud of her boys than ever before.
She thanked several people in the press, smiling brightly before heading off to join Davey at the autograph tables.
Tyler and Pilot walked up to the pit area. Mickey paced around and Luke stood beside the bike with his arms crossed over his chest, leering at the world, daring anything to mess with him. "What's going on?" Tyler asked.
"That fuck-tard Cole!" Mickey barked, throwing his hands in the air.
Tyler cocked up an eyebrow and looked to Luke for an answer.
The man could be very intimidating if you didn't know him.
He wasn't as big as Pilot and Broady, but he was bulky enough and he had a bald head that made him look like a scary biker.
The leather vest over his t-shirt with faded jeans and work boots probably helped that image as well.
Tyler knew he was a big teddy bear, but wouldn't want to cross the guy.
Tyler suspected that his hard image over all that softness was why Angel had hired him to start with. He made a great big brother.
"Right. That Cole guy and his sidekick—"
"Shannon!" Mickey interrupted.
"Shannon, right. They stopped by here a few minutes ago. Harassing Mickey, shooting their fat mouths off and acting like dickheads."
Mickey stopped pacing. "I'm so glad I left them. Andy's talking about leaving, too. They're fucking poison."
"They didn't get physical did they?" Tyler asked.
"No, but that's probably thanks to Luke."
"As soon as I walked up and started glaring at them, they backed down and left," Luke said.
Tyler pulled out his phone. "I'm texting Angel. We need to make a complaint to the race officials. This is enough bullshit. We shouldn't have to put up with their harassment."
After shooting off a text to Angel, he grabbed a couple of waters from the cooler, handing them around. "Come on. Davey's heat starts in less than an hour. Let's get to work."
Every third person in line asked Davey about Tyler and could they get his autograph as well.
It completely surprised him. His fans had started viewing them as a team.
It was no longer all about Davey McAllister, Supercross pro.
It was Davey and Tyler, the sweethearts of Supercross.
The positive and loving response of his fans overwhelmed and amazed him.
He signed a twenty-seven plate with a sharpie for a boy, nine or ten years old, who raced bikes himself. "I like your boyfriend. He's cute," the boy said.
Davey smiled. "I think so, too."