#Rev (GearShark #2)(88)

Plus, this was good for Arrow. We’d sort of taken the kid under our wing, and that sort of meant I had a truce with Lorhaven.

He still wasn’t my favorite person; he never would be.

We clashed in the most basic way. Maybe I was pissed because the second I met him, he was a lot of things I always wanted to be. Confident, unapologetic, and had a whole turf in town where everyone respected him.

He’d caught Drew’s attention, and that was an automatic dislike. Part of me always worried the deeper Drew got into racing, he would pull away from me. I never told him that. I always supported his racing and I always would. My insecurities were mine to bear, and besides, I knew it was partly those demons I mentioned trying to tell me I just wasn’t good enough and eventually Drew would realize.

You can’t hold so tight to people. The ones you love—hell, even the ones you hate.

Maybe I didn’t hate Lorhaven after all. Maybe I just intensely disliked him. Besides, I had a feeling he was going to be an ally for Drew on the track in the coming months.

The GearShark team was already here and setting up. Drew parked the Fastback beside Arrow’s Camaro, and we both got out.

It looked a lot like the shoot we did with Drew. The photographer had a white backdrop set up for photos, some lighting already in place. Beyond that, I saw his assistant scouting for other locations for more organic shots.

There was definitely plenty to pick from out here. The sky was blue and the temps were finally warm. It was a good day to be outside. I was hoping we did a couple shots with some of the older planes in the background. That would be kinda cool.

Even though they had a wardrobe person here, Ivy insisted on dressing me anyway. I didn’t argue like Drew had. I just put on the clothes she handed me so we could leave.

She picked a dark pair of jeans, a black fitted T-shirt, and a white collarless leather jacket. Usually, Drew was the one to wear the leather, but this one was preppier and had less street style.

I was keeping it because it was obvious Drew liked it. His eyes lingered on me just a little bit more, and when I first stepped out in it, his tongue ran across the front of his teeth.

There was a big table with coffee, pastries, and fruit where Arrow, Lorhaven, and some of the crew were gathered around. I waved at them on my way to Emily.

“Let’s get him into makeup,” she said the second I was within earshot. I was gestured toward a director-looking chair, so I slid the jacket off my arms and sat down.

“Oh my,” the makeup artist said, staring. Then she glanced at Emily. “Less is more with this one.”

Emily turned thoughtful and smiled.

Drew made a rude noise. “You didn’t say that about me.”

“Someone’s jealous,” I told the girl.

She giggled.

From behind her, Drew glowered, so I gave him a wink. It only made him glower harder.

“What happened to your eye?” she asked as she started dabbing my face with a sponge. “You have some discoloration.” Her finger ran over the part that was still slightly bruised.

“I got in a fight,” I told her.

She drew back and looked at me. “Really?”

I nodded.

“Did you win?” she asked. Why was it women always thought it was hot when guys seemed dangerous?

Drew rolled his eyes. He was totally pissed this girl was flirting with me. I settled back a little more in the chair and enjoyed it. Maybe I liked it when he got all possessive.

“Did I win?” I mused, smiling at the memory of Con in his tightie whities with his hands tied behind his back. “Oh yeah, I won.”

“Guess all those muscles came in handy.”

“Oh, for shit’s sake,” Drew muttered.

Emily announced the photographer was going to do the photos first and then we’d do the interview. “Drew, would you mind taking a minute to talk to me while Trent’s doing the photos?” she asked.

“Sure thing.” He agreed. Even though technically, it was me doing the interview, he was still a part of it. This was our story.

“What about a cover shot of him without his shirt?” the makeup girl called over her shoulder to Emily.

“A cover shot?” I said.

Emily nodded. “We’re considering putting you on the cover.”

“Why does he need to be half naked?” Drew asked.

“Muscle cars, muscles on men… It sells magazines,” the makeup girl mused, still dabbing that sponge around my eye.

Drew appeared silently at my side, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’s with me.”

The girl straightened, and her surprised expression bounced between us. “You’re together?”

“Yeah, so forget about it,” he quipped.

I burst out laughing. “Go get some coffee, Forrester. You’re cranky.”

“I’m not bringing you any,” he said as he walked away.

“Thanks!” I called after him.

“I can still admire your muscles,” the girl told me.

“I heard that!” Drew yelled.

Everyone within earshot laughed.

The photographer came over and looked at me. “Mess his hair up. Lose the shirt.”

“Told ya,” the makeup girl sang. She set aside her tools and reached for some hair crap.

“Maybe we should ask him how he feels about being shirtless on the cover of a magazine,” Emily told the photographer.