Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Epilogue

Charlie

A few years later

I stopped outside the door to Brooks Racing and turned to find that my husband wasn’t next to me. In fact, Jones was still standing by the car, staring at the building with wide eyes. I watched him for a second as he dug his teeth into his bottom lip, before he caught me watching him. I knew Jones was worried about what was going to happen. This was a big step for us. He had left Richardson Racing to come race with me, only for everything to change in an instant. My father became ill, and he realized that he couldn’t keep up with running the company while managing his health. Or run for president.

I made my way back over to where Jones stood. “Bashful.” He glanced up at me with fear in those beautiful hazel eyes. “You know you have nothing to be scared of.”

“How can you be so sure?” Jones whispered.

I dragged a thumb over his jaw. “Because they wouldn’t have asked us here if they didn’t want both of us.”

“Watts hates me,” he muttered. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Charlie. You know he’s still mad about when I hit his husband.”

Right. Watts and Holt were married now. Stepbrothers. Like us. I had a feeling that was also why they wanted us to race for them. After that horrific accident and a few minor setbacks, everything came out. That Holt and Watts were together. That they were in love, and well, now they were together.

“I can assure you that Watts does not you hate you,” I said for the millionth time. “He might be upset with you, but the man doesn’t hate you.”

Jones rolled his eyes. “Doubtful.”

“Now you’re just being bratty.” Which was making my dick hard, and I didn’t want to go into this meeting like that. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll make you come when we get home.”

He whimpered softly, and his pupils dilated. “Yes, please.”

“Mm, that’s better, Bashful.” I leaned forward to drop a kiss to his mouth.

Loud clapping and hollering caused us to pull apart. When I glanced over my shoulder, I found Killian Hampton, the lead singer of the infamous rock band Mulligan Downtown, grinning at us. He, along with his husband Matthias, was a silent partner in Brooks Racing. His chestnut brown curls were a messy halo on his head as he walked toward us and held out a tattooed-covered hand.

“Killian Hampton.” Like he had to introduce himself. The man was a legend. A hot one at that. He shook both of our hands, and I noticed the shellshocked look on my husband’s face as he stared at him. “Let’s get the two of you inside so we can talk business.”

I took Jones’s hand as we followed behind Killian. The shop was enormous, bigger than the one my father had built, and there was a good reason for that. Brooks Racing was a championship winning team. If we signed with them, we would become the third and fourth drivers racing for Brooks Racing. We would join Carson Carey and Noel McCormick. I was excited about the opportunity and everything that would come with it. Especially since everyone who raced here was openly queer.

Jones came to a quick stop when he saw everyone sitting around the large table in the conference room and tightened his grip on my hand. It wasn’t just our maybe soon-to-be teammates but Watts, Holt, and Killian’s husband, Matthias. I had to admit it was a little overwhelming having them all staring at us.

Holt quickly climbed to his feet and hurried over to us. “Jones, hey. I’m so glad you’re here.” He smiled brightly. “I mean, I’m happy to see both of you, but you know... About what happened... It’s all good. It was years ago and, well, I’m over it.” He glanced over his shoulder. “We’re over it.”

“Maybe.” Watts muttered.

Holt wrinkled his nose. “Ignore him. He’s fine.”

“Is he going to punch me? Because I know I deserve it, but I don’t want a broken nose,” Jones asked as he pressed his small frame against mine.

Holt giggled. “You have nothing to worry about. Watson’s harmless.” He held out a hand. “Come on. Come sit with me.”

Watts grunted from where he sat, only to beam at his husband when Holt shot him a glare over his shoulder.

“Charlie?” Jones turned those big doe eyes up at me.

I smiled at him. “Go ahead, Bashful. I’ll be right behind you. ”

He smiled as he took Holt’s outstretched hand and followed him to the table. They sat down, heads pressed together, and smiles on their faces. I quickly joined them, sitting down next to Jones, who instantly placed his hand on my thigh without breaking conversation with Holt.

“You’ll like it here.” Carson smiled at me from across the table. “I used to think that Watts hated me, too, but we’re cool now.”

Killian chuckled. “Watts acts like he hates everyone, but he’s really a big softie.”

“What does that even mean?” I popped a brow.

Killian broke into a giant smile. “Carson and Holt used to date. Oh, and he dated Noel, too. Carson is married to the most adorable little twink now, who also happens to love me.”

“You know what?” Carson reached over to smack Killian on the back of the head. “Ezra is not in love with you, so cut that shit out.” He huffed. “Killian is a dick. You can just ignore him.”

Noel leaned forward. “Carson and I dated for like two seconds. We had zero chemistry, and Watts only set us up because he thought Carson wanted Holt.”

“And I was in love with my best friend, which is why I went after Holt in the first place,” Carson added. “And Noel’s engaged to two guys now. Kinky bastard.”

Noel nodded. “Guilty as charged.”

I grinned as at stared at my hopefully soon-to-be teammates. I think I was going to like it here.

** *

“And Holt wants us all to hang out sometime. Like there’s a group chat, too that all the significant others, including Noel and Matthias, are part of. There’s a bunch of them. They call themselves the WAGs.” Jones was practically bouncing with excitement.

I hummed happily. “Is he going to add you?”

“Oh, yes. He already did.” Jones jumped onto the couch next to me, his phone in his hand. “Maverick Frost is part of it. Maverick Frost, Charlie! He’s just so...” He sighed and dropped his forehead against my shoulder.

What the hell? “He’s what, Jonesy?” I tilted his head back up. “Do you have a crush on Maverick?”

“I mean, maybe?” Jones turned beet red.

I narrowed my eyes. “Should I be worried about this? You know you’re mine, right?”

“Oh, Charlie, yes, I do, and I love you so much. Besides, Maverick is married to a hockey player, and he’s kind of scary. He has a son who’s dating Noel’s younger brother, Leo. Did you know that Leo is a driver, too?” Jones was off the couch again, smiling and rambling about his new friends and how excited he was.

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. Seeing Jones this happy made me happy. He had been so worried about signing with Brooks Racing. About Watts and Holt. But now he was envisioning a future with new friends. Even if that meant a friendship with a guy he had a little crush on .

“Jonesy.” He spun around to look at me. “Come here, please.” I wiggled a finger at him and watched as he scrambled up onto my lap. “I love seeing you like this. You’re a fucking sight.”

He beamed. “I’m so darn happy right now, baby.”

“I know, and it makes you even more beautiful. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is.” I smoothed the hair down on the side of his head.

Jones leaned forward to slide his lips over mine. “Everything is so perfect.”

“Just like you.”

“Like us.”

My heart thumped against my chest as I surged forward to kiss him, our lips colliding. Jones groaned as our tongues slicked together, and I flipped him onto his back on the couch so I could stare down at him, his fingers digging into my shoulders. He smiled at me, his hazel eyes searching my face.

“I love you so much,” I whispered.

Jones nipped at my chin. “I love you more.”

“Impossible,” I teased, then grew serious. “Do I have to worry about you leaving me for Maverick Frost? Don’t make me chain you up, Bashful, because I will. I don’t have a problem with you being friends with him, but I won’t let him steal you from me.”

He gasped. “Charlie, baby, no!” Jones shook his head. “How could you... I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. The moment I saw you, that was it. No one else would ever do. ”

“Is that so?” I nuzzled his neck and inhaled the scent of his lavender bodywash. The one we shared.

He hummed in agreement. “Yes, it’s always been you.”

“And it’s always been you for me, Jonesy.”