Chapter 23 #2
“They wouldn't guarantee someone could sign for it. They don't know us, really. Not yet. Getting set up at a new place can be challenging. Joey will meet you there Tuesday.”
“Fuck. I guess I better go buy a truck.”
“Your boyfriend doesn't have a truck?”
Tate lowered his cup of heaven and stared at Oz. “What the hell does that mean? He's got a muscle car, dude. That ain’t gonna haul a bike.”
“Are you serious about moving in with him? How permanent is this?” Oz sounded irritated, even more than he had when Tate had moved in with Donny. “Tell me this isn't because of your lack of housing. You have enough money to buy something, Tate. You don't have to—”
“Stop right there.” Tate walked away to catch his breath and control his temper and then came back.
Other racers stood around waiting for their turn for the interview and photo shoot, but none he knew well.
They talked to each other or to their managers, ignoring Tate’s drama completely.
Tate sucked in his bottom lip, thinking about what he wanted to say and what he didn't want to say.
He didn't want Oz in his private business, but if he didn't give him some reassurance, he would be.
Oz was more than just his manager, even if Tate treated him like that sometimes.
The door at the far end of the space opened and Davey McAllister walked out with Angel, his manager. “Tate!” he called out and waved.
“We'll get back to this,” Oz grumbled. Tate knew Oz wouldn’t forget about their conversation but was happy enough to deal with the distraction.
“Davey! 'Sup?” They did a fist bump and Angel leaned in and hugged him. “Hey, sweet lady! Haven't seen you around.”
“I seem to spend most of my time with the big wigs lately. I'd rather be closer to the track, though.”
Tate had heard some of how Angel ended up in charge of the Apex team.
She stepped up and helped out when Davey's previous manger, Stewart, couldn't because of his contract with Princeton.
That shit storm didn't stop any of them and gave Tate hope.
The way they handled Davey being outed made Tate want to be friends with them and after getting to know the team better, he really liked them.
Everything about Davey McAllister screamed integrity, pride, and determination.
That was the caliber of people Tate wanted to be around.
He glanced over at Oz's scowling face. His own manager lived up to that standard, and Tate needed to treat him better.
He bumped shoulders with Davey. “So, how bad is this interview thing?”
A heavy set woman with bleach blonde, spiked hair and a clipboard came out of the room and roared into the large room. “Cole Lindt! I need your team now.”
Tate hadn't realized Cole was even there. He frowned automatically, watching Cole cross the room, blatantly ignoring their group.
Davey cleared his throat. “Yeah, it's not that bad. They didn't ask many personal questions. Apex tried to get them to shoot this with Tyler, too, but no one else has their spouses or partners. We get what they want to promote, but damn...”
“They could give it a rest,” Angel added. “There has to be some balance. It's equality across the board, not just homosexuality. If you keep shoving the gay around, it becomes an us versus them thing instead of being inclusive.”
“Hadn't thought about it that way.” Tate took another sip of his coffee.
“Is that why you have a female racer in the 250?” He'd met Sarah and seen her around the track.
Davey had been working with her and planned on starting her in the 250 East class this season.
There had been girls racing before, but none seemed to be able to qualify.
“Sorta, but she's really pretty good. So, we need to get you down during the first break. You can bring Joey to help...and Pilot.” He wiggled his eyebrows, knowing that they were living together.
“I'd have to. He's already grumpy because I left him in the hotel room for this.”
Davey gave him a playful leering look. “I bet.”
“Enough of that. Leave the boy alone.” Angel tugged Davey's jersey sleeve. “Come on. We gotta go. See ya later, Tate.” She nodded at Oz and he smiled back at her, politely.
Once they left, Tate sighed. He'd rather hang out with Davey's team than sit around this crappy warehouse, waiting to be shoved in front of the camera, or worse, discussing his love life with Oz.
He shoved his bangs out of his face and glanced up.
Oz studied him with creased eyebrows and a pinched mouth.
“Okay, Oz. I get you're concerned. But, I really like Pilot and we're going to try and make it work. He's nothing like Donny. Trust me.”
“It's not a matter of trust, Tate. I just don't really know this guy and you're moving awfully fast. I worry for you.”
Tate sipped the rest of his coffee, emptying the cup. Cole came back out of the camera room and shot a quick grin as he passed Tate. It wasn't friendly, but it wasn't rude, either. Just an acknowledgment. Tate figured that was an improvement.
He walked across the room and dumped his cup in the trash, trying to avoid the rest of the conversation with Oz. The blonde woman called out for Tate, saving the day.
“Want me to go with you?” Oz asked.
“Nah. I got this. Relax. Seriously. About everything.” He paused and gave Oz a hug, before following the assistant.
He needed to remember Oz had his best interests in mind, always, even when he didn't get what was going on with Tate.
He smiled to himself, realizing he needed to stop taking that for granted that.
Bryce had his earbuds in listening to some punk-reggae fusion while he packed the back of the sedan his parents had rented. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a large man moving closer and he looked up. He pulled the headphones down and shut off his MP3 player.
The guy walking up to him was intimidating.
Large. He couldn’t keep his hands from shaking a little and he looked around, in case he needed to run.
But then he recognized the guy. He was the big bodyguard Apex had hired, Pilot.
The one he saw with Tate at the race. His boyfriend.
Did he know what had happened at camp? Was he going to kick Bryce’s ass for talking to Tate?
He stopped next to the car. “You’re Bryce, right?”
“Yeah...”
The guy looked him over, making Bryce feel a bit unsettled. He could not even believe how gorgeous the guy was and if he really was Tate’s boyfriend, Tate was so lucky. He stuffed his shaking hands into the front pocket of his jeans.
“You know Tate, right?”
Bryce gave a curt nod, not sure of what to say. “He’s nice. ‘Bout the only friend I have. This industry...hard to know who to trust.” He wanted to trust Tate and his boyfriend. He liked the way the big guy looked at him, making his stomach flutter.
“You can trust us—trust Tate.”
“Thanks, that means a lot.” Bryce started to relax a bit. It didn’t sound like the guy wanted to beat his ass or anything.
“Bryce!” He looked over at where his mom called him from their hotel room and rolled his eyes.
“That’s my mom. She’s great for my image.”
Tate’s boyfriend smiled and his eyes softened. “It’s cool. Really. Call Tate if you need anything. Really.”
Bryce nodded and put his earbuds back in his ears. He didn’t really want to hear his mom calling him again. He turned and watched the guy walk back across the parking lot. Bryce wished he had a boyfriend like him or Tate.