#Rev (GearShark #2)(42)

Coming out from where? Hiding? The closet? La-La Land?

I never had to “come out” when I was dating a girl. I wasn’t hiding my relationship with Trent… Okay, fine. Maybe I was. But it was a defense mechanism.

Kinda pissed me off I had to be defensive for falling for my best friend.

I looked back at Lorhaven and nodded. Seemed like starting right here, right now and telling him what was between me and T was as good a place as any. Besides, Lorhaven was an *. Maybe his reaction would give me some practice for the rest of the world.

“Makes sense. That’s probably why I never pegged you as gay.”

“I’m not gay,” I said insufferably.

“You know what I mean,” he rebutted and rolled his eyes.

Okay, so maybe he wouldn’t be great practice because it really seemed he didn’t give two shits.

“So the Biebs is gay.” Trent mulled it over.

“Watch it,” Lorhaven growled.

“Like you don’t agree he totally looks like Justin Bieber.” Trent scoffed. “And you’re here because he’s into Drew.”

The black boots on Lorhaven’s feet planted a little more firmly into the concrete, his weight settling into an almost alert stance and his fingers flexing. This guy was a lot of things, but clearly, he was loyal to his brother.

And this was why his brother was loyal to him.

“He’s never brought anyone back to our place before,” he said, his voice a little vulnerable compared to his body language. I understood that paradox far better than he likely realized.

It was the way a man acted when he felt vulnerable but, even so, would fight to death to protect himself and anyone else he cared about.

Trent looked like that a lot.

Looking between the two now… Trent and Lorhaven had a lot in common.

“He’s young, he’s trying to figure shit out, and for some reason, he likes you.” He looked at me straight on.

“And you’re afraid I’m going to hurt him,” I surmised.

“It hasn’t always been easy for my brother. I came to warn you off.”

Trent made a sound. “You mean scare him off.”

Lorhaven shrugged like there was no difference between the two.

“And now?” Trent asked.

Lorhaven lifted an eyebrow.

“Now that you know about me and Drew?” He elaborated.

Lorhaven’s dark, intense gaze came back to me. “He said you gave him some pointers today. Worked with him on his driving.”

I shrugged. “A little. He’s a good driver. Seems like he really wants to learn.”

“I’ve always been into cars,” Lorhaven said. “It’s more recent for Arrow. Racing is an outlet for him. A place to channel his energy. It’s become a passion. I think it’s good for him.”

I understood that. There was nothing quite like the freedom of flying down an empty stretch of road.

“And Drew gives him a hard-on,” Trent said.

You know, if we were a bunch of women standing around, everyone would be all offended by that. Good thing we weren’t women.

“Pretty much.” Lorhaven shrugged. “He told me you left kind of abruptly today. He didn’t seem to think too much of it, but he always wants to believe in people.” He shook his head like the idea made him sad.

“You thought I figured out he was hitting on me and couldn’t get away fast enough.”

“Pretty much. There’s a lot of bigoted *s out there.”

That’s what I was afraid of.

“Now you know you don’t have to worry about me or Trent making it hard on him. We get it,” I said.

His stance changed. It was like this invisible weight lifted off him. He looked between me and T again, studying us. “I’m guessing the bruises on your face and the reason your favoring your one side is because you’ve met some of those bigoted *s.”

“Yeah,” Trent replied.

“Look, I know we have the whole rivalry thing going on…” Lorhaven motioned between me and him. “And you and I…” Lorhaven turned back to T. “Well, we kinda hate each other.”

“Why the hell do you hate each other?” I wondered out loud.

They both shrugged.

Unbelievable…

“That shit doesn’t have anything to do with this. This isn’t something I would use against you. There are some lines a man just doesn’t cross. You don’t have to worry about me. You have my support.”

“You support me and Drew,” Trent reiterated like he wanted to be sure.

Lorhaven nodded. “You gotta let people be who they are.”

“Your brother is lucky,” I said.

“No. He struggled for a while before I realized what was going on. I was caught up in my own life, my cars, women… but I know now, and I’m trying to make up for it.”

“You can’t make up for it,” Trent said nakedly. “But being there now counts.”

“It’s hard,” Lorhaven whispered. It was like Trent’s truth allowed him to speak his own.

“I know,” Trent replied.

Are they getting along? Bonding?

Was that a little bit of jealousy stirring in the depth of my belly?