The photo portion of the shoot wrapped up, thankfully, so Joey and I couldn’t continue our conversation. Talking about Drew and me… well, it wasn’t something I was used to or even ready to do. And while I was glad the air was clear between Joey and me and we would be friends, she wasn’t someone I’d known long enough to actually have a conversation with about this.
Hell, she was lucky I said anything at all. Clearly, though, she knew something was up, and I didn’t get the slightest bit of judginess from her, so there was that.
“They took like five hundred pictures of me,” Drew grumbled as he approached. “Now I know why Braeden and Romeo get so pissy with photographers.”
I chuckled. “Better get used to it.”
“I just want to drive.” He moaned.
“And you will. But to drive the way you want to drive, you have to make people want to watch. You have to give them someone to root for,” Joey pointed out.
“Got any tips for that, Miss Pro Racer?” Drew teased. Then his eyes slid to me slyly as if he were checking to make sure I wasn’t going to lose my shit.
I wasn’t the possessive one. He was.
Fine. Yes, I’d been jealous. But I wasn’t anymore. After all, I was the one sneaking into his bed this morning.
I slung my arm around Joey and pulled her into my side. “Yeah, he needs all the help he can get.”
Drew acted like he was offended, but I knew deep down he was relieved I was giving the girl a chance.
“Just be yourself, Drew,” Joey told him. “That’s why my father likes you so much, because you’re real. That’s what’s going to sell you and this racing division. Real drivers. Real competition. No rules. Just honor.”
The smooth rumble of an engine cut through the air, and everyone around turned to look.
A white Corvette drove up and slid to a stop. The purring engine cut off several seconds later. Beneath my arm, Joey stiffened slightly.
“I thought you said he couldn’t come here?” she asked Drew.
“He’s not supposed to be,” Drew said, flat.
I didn’t know much about what happened Friday night. We didn’t get into it beyond the little bit they told me in the car on the way from the bar. I wasn’t sure how bad the beef was, but it didn’t really matter.
I didn’t like him.
And he fucked with Drew, who had a damn woman in the car with him.
That was all I needed to know.
Lorhaven stood out of the driver’s seat and looked around curiously. He didn’t act like he was somewhere he shouldn’t be or somewhere he was unwelcome.
Tension in the air had everyone on edge. It was like the very vibe that surrounded him screamed, I’m an asshole! Arrow appeared at his side, and his fake-blond head leaned in to say something quiet.
Lorhaven straightened and swung his gaze to Drew. His eyes narrowed, and he started forward. I dropped my arm from around Joey and stepped forward, planting myself between him and Drew. We weren’t doing this today.
Not here. Not now.
Drew was working. While he might not be all that interested about his image, I understood how important it was.
“Well, there you are.” Lorhaven smirked. “I thought maybe Forrester took you to the pound.”
“You’re a real joker, Lorhaven.” My tone was bored. “You know you aren’t supposed to be here.” I glanced over at the owners of the speedway. They were already halfway to us.
“I’m banned from racing here. Placing bets here.” Lorhaven nodded. He gestured around. “The place is closed. I won’t be racing or betting today.”
“Just sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” Drew drawled, stepping up beside me.
Lorhaven looked away from me. “Can’t blame a guy for being curious. Especially when my little bro is sending me some damn interesting texts.”
“Your little bro?” Drew repeated like he was trying to put together a puzzle.
He looked at me. I looked at him. We both grinned.
“Bieber’s your brother?” I cracked.
Lorhaven sighed insufferably. “I told him to lose the blond.”
Drew and I burst out laughing.
“Well, that explains why he always does what you tell him,” Drew mused.
“Fuck you,” Lorhaven growled, hostility in his tone.
The two men who owned the speedway stopped on either side of Lorhaven. “You know you aren’t supposed to be here.”
“Cool your hemorrhoids, Earl. I’m not doing nothing,” Lorhaven muttered.
I suppressed a laugh. Lorhaven was an asshole, but that shit was funny.
“You’re banned from this track, son. You know that.” The other man who wasn’t Earl reminded him.