#Rev (GearShark #2) (20 page)

“I’m sure she’d like that.”

The inside of the house basically looked like it could be in a magazine. It was contemporary but comfortable, with a touch of country. The room we walked into was one huge great room. The floors were hardwood with various scrapes and dings that gave them character. The walls were painted a light but warm shade of tan, and there was a giant stone fireplace on the far wall that stretched all the way to the ceiling.

Wooden beams crossed the ceiling and were stained the same color as the floor. Area rugs in muted tones and patterns defined different areas of the room and provided a guide for where to look.

A huge leather sectional sat near the fireplace, above which hung a huge flat-screen TV. There were candles everywhere, most of them lit, and the entire room smelled of melted vanilla and sugar.

Artfully arranged on one wall near the front door was a huge collage of family photos. In the center were black letters that spelled out the word
family
. My eyes went instantly to all the images of Drew at various stages of his life, and a knot formed in my throat.

The kitchen was open to the great room as well, separated by a huge granite island with high-backed stools lining the front. The cabinets beneath the counter were painted a rustic red, adding a pop of color in the otherwise fairly neutral space. Behind the island, the rest of the cabinets were made of distressed wood in a creamy finish. The hardware on them wasn’t black, but more of a bronze brown. The appliances were all stainless, and the stovetop was sunk right into the countertop, making it look like it had been there all along.

“Burke! Drew’s here!” Adrienne called toward a hallway that led out of the great room and then went ahead toward the kitchen.

“Office is that way,” Drew explained as we passed. “Dad’s probably working.”

“Can I make you boys a sandwich?” his mom offered.

“No, thank you,” I said, and Drew shook his head.

I wanted to reach out and stroke my hand down his back and remind him to breathe. I’d caught myself twice already reaching out to touch him before remembering I couldn’t.

Drew’s father appeared out of the hallway and stepped into the kitchen. “Son!” he said, rubbing his hands together like Drew was a delicious meal. “Good to see you!”

“Hey, Dad,” Drew said and stepped forward for a quick hug.

Drew’s father held out his hand to me, and we shook. “Trent.”

“Sir,” I said. Even though I’d met these people before, I couldn’t help but feel awkward, like this was a movie and I was in high school picking up this guy’s daughter for her very first date.

But this wasn’t high school. This wasn’t my first date… and Drew wasn’t a girl.

“Wasn’t it nice of Trent to come along with Drew so he wouldn’t be alone to travel?” his mother said.

That’s when I really knew this wasn’t going to go well. I liked Drew’s parents, but, man, they were old school and lived in their own little world. I was also beginning to see how Drew was so good at ignoring things (like his phone, like the way we felt for each other for so long), because I was beginning to think his mother was the same way.

Honestly, there was nothing wrong with that. I respected it. I lived in my own little world, too, I supposed. Everyone did.

I just wished the worlds we occupied weren’t so incredibly different.

Burke crossed the kitchen toward a large coffeepot taking up a spot on the counter. The red light on top was lit and dark liquid filled up the pot about halfway.

“Coffee anyone?” his mom asked us.

We both shook out heads.

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense anymore, son. Give us the good news!” his father said, turning from the pot with a mug in his hand.

“Good news?” Drew asked.

“You must have some. After all, you did come all the way home for an awfully short visit.” His mother agreed.

“I did come because I wanted to talk to you about something.” Drew hedged.

“Let’s go sit down,” his mother directed and headed toward the sofa.

I sat on the end near the armrest and propped my elbow on the cushion. I was surprised when Drew sat right beside me. He didn’t touch me or even glance my way, but I knew.

I knew he needed my closeness, because in his position, I would need the same. Again, I fought the urge to touch him but consoled myself with the knowledge he knew I was here.

Drew’s parents sat nearby, on the other side, so we were almost facing each other.

Burke took a drink of his coffee, then set the cup on a polished wooden table in front of the couch. “How’s the job going?” he asked.

“It’s, ah, fine,” Drew replied.

His father heard the hesitation in his voice and nodded like he understood. “You’re too qualified for that place. You need more of a challenge. I called Simon, my contact at the large software company that rivals the one I work for, and they’re going to be hiring this spring, soon. I put in a word. Just send over your resumè—”

“Dad.” Drew cut him off. “I live in Maryland now.”

“Of course.” He nodded. “There are plenty of great software jobs there. That’s probably why you’re here. Who hired you?”

Drew took a deep breath, and I reined in my patience. “I’m driving now, for the new racing division.”

“That’s not a full-time job,” his father argued.

“Actually, it is. I’ve just come from a meeting with Ron Gamble. He owns the new division I’m racing for. He’s going to pay me to drive full time. I’m going to be training and touring to different races. I’ve also got some endorsement deals coming in. It’s lucrative, pays well.”

“Computers pay well,” Burke rebuffed.

“You know my passion is cars, Dad.”

“Ever since you were a little boy,” his mom mused.

I kept my eyes trained on his father, measuring his reaction.

His lips thinned. “Cars is a hobby.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Drew argued. “I told you when I moved up there with Ivy I was going to pursue a career in cars.”

“But you still work in computers.”

Drew sat back, a little stiffer. “You didn’t think I could do it.” He huffed. “You thought it was just a dream.”

“Cars are not a career, Drew,” he replied in a no-nonsense tone. “We discussed this. This is just a phase. Your degree, your skill set at software and technology is your future.”

“That’s not what I want.”

I wondered if anyone else heard the hurt deep in his voice.

“What do you mean it’s not what you want?” his dad said, incredulous. “You’ve been working toward this for half your life.”

“No, Dad!” Drew spit out. “You have. You’ve been shoving your chosen profession down my throat since I was just a kid.”

“Andrew,” Adrienne said, shocked.

“Haven’t you been listening? I know you’ve heard me when I said it before. We had this conversation when I moved to Maryland. You were disappointed then, too, Dad. I can’t keep living the life you want me to live. I’ve tried…” His voice faltered, then came back. “My whole life I’ve been trying to please you and live up to everything you wanted me to be. I can’t anymore. I can’t be who you want.”

God.

How could they not react to the pain in his voice, the absolute anguish? How the fuck could they just sit there and stare at him?

I couldn’t.

It was physically impossible.

“Forrester,” I whispered and reached out a hand. My palm slid over his thigh, a touch meant to comfort. A touch meant to let him know not only did I hear what he said, but I was
listening
.

Drew made a sound, and his hand fell over mine. He grasped at my fingers like they were a lifeline, like I was the only thing keeping him grounded.

You could have heard a pin drop.

The silence in the room was so loud it muffled my ears. Suddenly, everything seemed to happen in slow motion, like were in a movie and someone hit the wrong button.

Both Burke and Adrienne looked down. Their gazes zeroed in like arrows on a bull’s-eye right to where we touched. Confusion crossed their features, and it slowly gave way to horror.

That single touch told them exactly what Drew had yet to say. It wasn’t that I was trying to hurry it along. I’d only been wanting to give the person I loved some support.

“What the hell is this?” his father said, glancing up from our hands. His voice was dangerous and low.

Drew let go of my hand, and I pulled mine away.

“It’s why I came,” Drew replied. “I do have news.” He cleared his throat. “But I don’t think it’s the kind you were hoping for.”

“Andrew,” his mother said, pressing a hand to her throat.

“I’m in a relationship with Trent. We started out as best friends, but we’ve become more.”

I admired the way he went right to it. He didn’t try to explain in a roundabout way. It was hard, but he did it.

“What!” Burked exclaimed and leapt up off the couch.

Drew nodded. “I know it’s a shock, which is why I came home. I wanted to tell you in person. We’ve been together for a few weeks now… I wanted you to hear it from me before
GearShark
breaks the story.”

His mother made the sign of the cross over her chest and sighed.

Seriously.

His father, on the other hand, appeared murderous. He was angry, almost beyond angry, like he thought Drew was just saying this to hurt him. “You aren’t
gay
.”

“No.” Drew agreed. “I’m not. But I’m in love with Trent. He makes me happy, just like racing.”

“Why are you doing this?” Burke erupted and stalked toward the fireplace. “Are you that angry with us for pushing you, for wanting our son to reach his full potential?”

Ah, the guilt trip. I hadn’t seen that coming.

“I’m not angry with you,” Drew said. “This isn’t about you.”

“But I don’t understand,” his mother said. She at least didn’t look angry.

“I know, Mom.” Drew rubbed a hand over his face.

Suddenly, Burke swung around, his blazing eyes locked on me. “How dare you?”

I pulled the hat off my head so I could meet his gaze head on.

“How dare you try and turn our son against us?”

Drew went rigid beside me, but I forced myself to remain calm. “I’m not turning Drew against you. Clearly, you don’t need help in that department.”

His mother gasped, and it made me feel contrite.

“Is this the kind of influence you’ve allowed into your life?” Burke raged at Drew, jabbing a finger toward me. “You move up to Maryland to be with your sister, and now you want to turn your back on your career, drive cars, and… and…
sin
with a man?”

Aaannd here we go.

“No one is forcing me. No one is trying to influence me, except you,” Drew replied, tired.

“We just want the best for you,” his mother said.

“Then let me live my life the way that makes me happy.”

“This can’t make you happy,” she replied.

“I forbid it!” Burke demanded.

“I’m a grown-ass man. You can’t forbid anything,” Drew snapped.

“Language.” His mother gasped.

I wanted to laugh. I couldn’t, though, because this was pretty much everything we’d been afraid of. They weren’t going to accept this relationship. Drew was going to suffer for it.

His father turned his glare back to me. I wanted to flinch because there it was. That look. The one someone gives a stranger. I was no longer the man they met several times in the past. I was the enemy. I was a bad influence, and I was trying to take their son.

“How do you live with yourself?” his dad implored. “Are you jealous of my son? Jealous his life was better than yours? Is this some sick game to you? Do you get joy out of ripping away another man’s life, driving a wedge between him and his family?”

“That’s enough.” Drew cut in and stood. Gone was the weariness and even the sadness. In its place, anger was taking over.

Drew was as tall as his father, so when he closed the distance between them, they were eye to eye. “Don’t talk to him like that. Not ever. This isn’t his fault. He didn’t
make
me turn gay and certainly didn’t rip away my life.”

I wasn’t sure what to do. It seemed I didn’t have a place to speak, like I needed to let Drew handle this his way. But honestly, Burke’s words stung. How could they not?

Hadn’t I worried for weeks and months about how my love might ruin Drew’s life?

“You weren’t like this until you moved up there.”

“Yes, Dad, I was.” Drew pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m the same person I’ve always been. It’s you who never wanted to see. I’ve spent my entire life trying to live up to your expectations, being the son you always wanted. But this is me. Who I’ve always been. You and Mom just never saw because I didn’t let you. I’ve never wanted to work in software. I hated college, and my day job makes me feel like I’m dying inside. I’ve always felt a little different. I’ve always felt like the son you wanted just wasn’t who I was. But I tried.” His shoulders sagged. “I tried so hard.”