Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Whatever you want,” I told Rush as I unlocked the door to my unit. I closed the door behind us and tossed my keys on the bar near the kitchen on my way to the living room. It was a smallish, one-bedroom condo with tiled floors, white and light blue furniture, and two large windows in the living room. It wasn’t perfect, and I could hear everything that went on in the unit next door, but it was mine.
When I plopped down on the couch, Rush sat down beside me. “Spit it out,” he said.
“Spit what out?”
“At Fever Pitch, you were looking at me funny. Something’s wrong. Tell me.”
Ugh. Why did Rush Alexander know me so well? He got me, and a lot of people didn’t. “I’m not sure if I should. It’s really not my business.”
“And when has that stopped you before? You’re Linc. You say what’s on your mind, well, unless it’s something personal, and then you keep that shit locked up. But we’re not talking about you; we’re talking about me.”
“Gee, thanks, Rush.” He was right, but he didn’t have to call me out on it. “Fine.” After taking my shoes off, I turned to sit sideways on the couch, with my legs crossed. “I think you should do it.”
“You don’t get what it’s like. I don’t want my riding to be about my sexuality, Red. Would you want to be known as the gay nurse? Or just a nurse?”
“It’s not. You’re an incredible fucking rider. You know that, and so does everyone else, but the truth is, you are gay, and no other active riders are out. It’s part of who you are, and by being so closed off to discussing it along with anything supercross related, it’s like you’re ashamed or something.”
He jerked back as if I’d slapped him, and his eyes, always so soft and laid-back, went hard. “You think I’m ashamed of being gay? Are you fucking kidding me? You have no idea the shit I took when I came out. My managers and trainers wanted me to keep my sexuality a secret, but I refused. I wouldn’t do it, but that also doesn’t mean I want my career to be about who I sleep with. Christ, Linc. I can’t believe you just said that.”
He tried to stand, but I reached for him, put my hand on his shoulder, and he eased back down. Obviously, I couldn’t force Rush not to stand. He could have gotten out of my hold easily, but he didn’t; he wouldn’t do that. “That came out wrong. I know it took balls to do what you did. I’m so fucking proud you’re my friend. I brag about you all the time, but—”
“You brag about me?”
Damn it. I smiled. Couldn’t help myself. “Focus, Rush.”
“I think I’m focusing on what’s important here. This is a major development.”
“Of course I brag about you. You’re kind of a big deal.”
He pretended to brush off his shoulder with his good hand, and I rolled my eyes. Fucking Rush.
“Glad to hear you admit it,” he said. As simple as the words were, they were like a dagger to my heart. Did Rush really not know how incredible he was? Or did he not know how incredible I thought he was?
“One thing at a time. First, I want to finish talking to you about the interview. I just…” My eyes found his. He was studying me, waiting, curious, supportive. This was Rush. He was…different…special. I could share personal pieces of my life with him. He wouldn’t find a way to hurt me with them. But I also had to find a way to do it without sharing Trey’s private information. “There’s this boy…”
Rush tensed up, his dark brows pulling together.
“Oh God. Not that kind of boy. Jealous much? He’s a teenager.”
“Because I’m the only one of the two of us who gets jealous?”
Okay…maybe he had a point there. Moving on… “He has cancer—leukemia.”
Rush’s face paled. “Holy shit. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. It’s fine. You have no reason to be sorry, and he’s going to be okay. I know he’s going to be okay.” My brain refused to believe anything else. “He lives with his dad. His mom bailed when he was a kid. His dad is a totally dude bro straight guy. And he’s…well, he’s fabulous. I could see it in him from the start. His dad knew, but it was something they didn’t discuss, and, well…it was hard on him. His dad is great. He loves his son and accepts him, but having a gay son who likes feminine things is just so far out of his wheelhouse. And this kid didn’t know anyone else who was gay. No one in his whole life, can you believe that?”
“Until you befriended him, right?” Rush asked, surprising me.