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  “Weren’t you the one that said they were both adults, and I shouldn’t worry about them hooking up, or something like that? So now you’re worried that they’re spending too much time apart?”

  “Okay, let’s drop it. I think you just want to argue,” Sebastian said.

  “I just want to argue?” Caleb asked, shaking his head. Caleb started to say something but he was interrupted by another vibrating text. He showed the text to Sebastian. Good news on the condo. Call me.

  ‘Wow! You think the real estate agent sold the condo that fast? We just listed it last week.” Sebastian glanced up from Caleb’s cell. “Look over there, don’t you recognize her?” Sebastian nodded to an attractive woman with curly hair that touched her shoulders.

  “She looks familiar.” Caleb’s phone buzzed again. This time it was his agent. Call me when you get a chance.

  Caleb was about to show his agent’s text when Sebastian tapped Caleb’s shoulder. “She was the nurse at the hospital. She was one of the ones that checked on you. I think she knows Olivia. What do you think she’s doing here?”

  Caleb shrugged. “Maybe she’s here to be a Big Sister.”

  “Let’s go say hello.”

  They both walked over to greet the nurse. “Hi, I’m Caleb. Sorry, but my husband says you looked familiar and thinks you work with our friend, Olivia.”

  The nurse scrunched her face for a moment, as she shook both their hands, then her eyes lit up. “Yes, you’re Olivia’s roommates right? Friends of Tristan?” She snapped her fingers. “The hospital, right? You were a patient I checked on? Car accident, right?”

  “Kinda sorta.” Caleb detected a slight accent. “Yes, Tristan and Olivia went to high school with Sebastian.”

  “Right,” Sebastian said. “I’ve known them for a long time. I could tell you stories.”

  “Did you attend the orientation just now?” Caleb asked.

  “Actually, I’m here for a match meet-up. My name’s Daisy Ramirez, by the way.” Daisy squinted. “There’s the coordinator now. Or program manager. I forget what their titles are. She said she had someone she wanted to have me meet.”

  Caleb and Sebastian turned to the figure that approached. Before formal introductions were made, the coordinator beamed. “I have the match papers here, but Daisy it looks like you’ve met your twins’ potential Bigs.”

  The three of them laughed. “We’ve met before,” Caleb said.

  “Yeah, we have! And really, these are my sons’ Bigs you’ve lined up?” Daisy asked. “These two are my girlfriend’s roommates.”

  “Yes, they are pending formal approval,” the lady said. “The social workers and couple other people have to sign off, but yes, unless there’s an issue. The only thing is they live in south Manhattan.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem,” Daisy added. “I work not too far from where they live. At least not by subway. And the kids go to a public charter school in Manhattan.”

  “Okay, I’ll start the next step in the paperwork, so it’s good to know that you all know each other at least.”

  “Wait! Olivia’s your girlfriend?” Sebastian asked after the coordinator left them.

  “Yeah. We keep it on the down low at the hospital because she’s part of administration, and I’m on the nursing staff there, so technically she’s kind of my boss. Besides everyone in the hospital gossips. We wanted to keep it out of everyone’s water cooler chat. Believe me it’s been tough keeping it a secret for the last few weeks that we’ve been going out, even from my Puerto Rican mom. She’s so nosy and worried about me and her grandkids.” Daisy paused then added. “When are you going to settle down? When are you going to find someone again?” Daisy took on a heavier Spanish accent. “That’s a common refrain from my mom. Oh my God.”

  The coordinator returned. “So, it’s okay this match then? I mean you still have to meet her sons and see if you all mesh,” the coordinator said.

  “They’re outside right now with Olivia,” Daisy said. “And I’m cool, if they’re cool.”

  “We should meet them,” Sebastian said.

  “What are their names?” Caleb asked.

  “Langston and James Weldon. But we all call him JW. He hates James, and he hates being called Weldon. I named them after two of my favorite poets.”

  * * * *

  Caleb stifled a laugh. Sebastian was in a little trouble with the twins, and he found it amusing. The twins wore matching blue shirts and shorts required by their school. To top it off they had matching blue baseball caps. And they couldn’t sit still. Caleb figured out in a second after their introduction by Daisy who was who, but Sebastian kept guessing wrong in their game.

  “Okay, turn around,” JW said. JW was licking the last remnants of an ice cream cone, which he had switched with Langston. “Who am I?”

  “Langston?” Sebastian asked.

  Both kids chuckled and this time Caleb couldn’t hold back and he laughed, as well.

  “They got you each time. What is this zero and three, their favor?”

  “And you can tell them apart?” Sebastian asked, his voice betraying frustration.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay guys let’s play with Caleb. Ready?”

  Caleb threw his leg over the picnic bench, ignoring the stream of cars and pedestrians walking the sidewalk on the other side of the chain link fence of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters recreation area. The early summer sun beat down so Caleb took a napkin and wiped his forehead. For several minutes the twins tried to stump Caleb but they failed. When the kids were done with their ice cream, Olivia and Daisy finally broke off the private conversation they had been having a few feet away and came over to join them.

  “So Caleb got you every time, huh?” Daisy asked. Without waiting for their replies, Daisy faced Caleb. “How’d you catch on?”

  “JW’s face is slightly rounder, not much. His voice has a slight tone difference to it also.”

  “That’s pretty impressive,” Daisy said.

  “Not really. I mean it is, but he’s got eagle eyes and notices every little difference in things,” Sebastian said.

  “Does that come from racing?” Daisy asked.

  “I guess. When you’re just inches away from the other car you have to pay attention to the slightest things,” Caleb said.

  “Can we race your car? Please!” Langston shouted.

  “Yeah, please!” JW stood up. “I like cars. I want to have a souped-up Mustang when I can drive!”

  “Souped-up?” Sebastian asked, laughing.

  Caleb laughed, too. Where do they get these words like souped-up?

  “Sorry, but you caught me at the tail end of my racing career.” Caleb ignored the side eye Sebastian gave him. “I’m pretty much retired.”

  “But you’re not that old,” Langston said.

  “Yeah, you’re not even old as our abuela,” JW said in perfect Spanish.

  “Wow. I hope you never let her hear that!” Daisy chimed in as she tapped both boys’ shoulders. “Come on, we better get a move on.”

  “You both going to be our Bigs? Our last one moved to California. JW liked him even though we only did things twice a year,” Langston said.

  “Yeah, if it’s okay with everyone,” Sebastian said.

  Caleb caught Daisy’s eye. She smiled. So did Olivia. Somehow the universe had plotted that they were all here together and even though they hadn’t gotten the formal approval yet, Caleb knew that for the next year, Sebastian would want them committed to the boys. His chest clenched at that thought. One year. He watched Sebastian talk to the twins more while both Olivia and Daisy looked on and when JW and Langston came over to Caleb to shake his hand, Caleb smiled when they broke out in wider smiles than his.

  “I hope you’re our Bigs,” JW said.

  “Me, too,” Langston said, laughing. “But it won’t be as fun since you can guess who is who!”

  Caleb had the urge to hug them but he shook both their hands. “See you guys soon.”<
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  As Daisy led them away toward their subway stop back to the Bronx, Olivia came over. Sebastian followed Daisy to the entrance of the building.

  “You’re a hit with those kids,” she said.

  “Yeah? You really think so?”

  “When I went across the street with them to buy ice cream, they asked me what you both did. They want to see Sebastian’s TV station. But when I told them you’re a race car driver, their eyes lit up. They said their last Big was a writer. They thought he had a boring job.” Olivia squeezed Caleb’s arm. “I think you’ll like being a Big Brother.”

  “Was a race car driver. Fate is telling me it’s over, and it is.”

  “Are you okay with that?” Olivia asked.

  “Yes and no. Yes, because it’ll make Sebastian happy and he wants to live here in New York. I mean we could make it work, me racing in different cities and all so being here is not the issue. No, because I’ll miss racing. It’s not a very long career path anyway. But in many ways I had my place in the sun.”

  “You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?”

  “Still am.” Caleb waved his wedding ring. “I don’t regret this for a moment. He really makes me happy.” Caleb paused. “And you and Daisy? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Olivia shrugged. “You guys knew I was dating someone. I just never brought her around. It’s tougher with women. We’re not like you guys. Hop in bed one night and then bing, immediate status change on Facebook. That’s not women. And definitely not lesbians. Daisy and me are…let’s say, complicated. We work together and she’s got kids. She can’t just bring kids over to meet me. The kids have gotten to know me and like me, and then she can bring them over. But that’s when everything’s more serious, more developed, you know?”

  “I get it. But have you thought what Sebastian and I being Bigs would mean? This means you and Daisy can spend some more time together. And you can even hang out together in our apartment. Without anyone knowing anything.” Caleb exaggerated his facial expression.

  “Okay, smart ass. I get the sarcasm. But, you know I’ve never really thought about it. I guess you’ve got a point. That apartment is sure getting smaller now, huh?” Olivia paused. “Did you hear the building owner is ready to rent the larger empty apartment that they’ve working on for months? And the renter downstairs tells me that the landlady told her they’re thinking about making the building a co-op. That’s a long way off if that’s true.”

  “I’m surprised it’s not a co-op. Most places are in Manhattan.” Caleb scratched his chin. “Maybe the universe is telling me something.”

  “What?” Olivia asked. She slung her arm over Caleb and hugged him. “That you’re meant to stay here in the Big Apple with Sebastian, me, Tristan, your new Littles, and watch my life unfold, good or bad with Daisy?”

  “Well…I…” Caleb laughed. As he was about to finish what he was going to say, Sebastian came over.

  “Hey, why do you have your arm around my man?” Sebastian asked, laughing as he came over.

  “I was keeping him company since you ditched us,” Olivia said.

  “So what you think of Langston and JW?” Sebastian asked Caleb.

  “I like them. Maybe if Tristan can score some tickets to the Yankees like he did for Cujo, we could take them to a baseball game,” Caleb said.

  “Yeah. And you’d go see some musical theatre like Cujo, too, right?” Olivia asked.

  “If that’s what I have to do to get some tickets, sure!”

  Caleb sighed and hugged both Sebastian and Olivia as he studied the Manhattan skyline. “I have a good feeling about all this after meeting JW and Langston.”

  “And Daisy,” Sebastian said, winking at Olivia.

  Chapter 8

  Cujo drove up the ramp and scanned the crowd. Vehicles weaved in and out of the airport loading zone and blocked his view. Finally, he spotted Caleb under the JetBlue sign. Wearing a black suit jacket, Wayfarer Ray Bans, black T-shirt, and jeans, Caleb looked more like a Hollywood movie star than a driver who had a racing career in the NASCAR circuit. As Cujo pulled into a spot, Caleb broke away from a man and woman, handing one of them a pen. Cujo got out after popping the trunk to Joan’s Volkswagen.

  “Fans of yours?” Cujo asked.

  “Yes, but not sure if they’re race fans or not.” Caleb fist bumped Cujo after he loaded his small carry-on into the trunk. “Thanks for picking me up. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

  “No problem, runt.” After they both got in the Passat, Cujo smiled. “I’m glad I got to pick you up and Joan couldn’t do it.”

  “Oh?” Caleb asked.

  “Yeah, I wanted to ask you a few things, but let me get out of this mess,” Cujo said. He maneuvered out of the busy airport and headed to the highway. Once they cleared from the stop-and-go traffic and were on their way to Daytona, Cujo spoke. “Do you regret coming out?”

  Caleb faced Cujo. “Why? What are you thinking? Is this why you’re not home resting after today’s qualifying? You’ve got a race tomorrow to think about!”

  Cujo shook his head. “Be honest with me. Please.” Cujo’s stomach churned. For the past few days, all he could think about was Tristan. Even though they talked twice a day, including Facetiming at night, Cujo’s thoughts since boarding the plane from New York had been centered on Tristan and their relationship. Frankly, he didn’t even know how he’d qualified today at the speedway. His mind had been on Tristan in the morning, every other minute, and throughout the day.

  “You’re thinking about him right now, aren’t you?” Caleb asked. “Pull over to the shoulder.” Cujo didn’t argue and complied. “Let’s switch seats. I’ll drive.”

  Cujo nodded and got out and sat in the front passenger seat. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  Caleb put on his turn blinker then merged to traffic. “I didn’t really have the opportunity to time my coming out. Remember that disastrous interview I gave to that magazine?”

  “Yes. Do you regret that?”

  Caleb shook his head. “I do not regret coming out. I wish I’d had better control of the timing. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I’d come out after that 400 we raced. But let’s face it. It was pretty much an open secret. Everyone in the small community of drivers either knew or suspected it. Anyway, I didn’t get as much shit as I thought I would.”

  “Anyone that gave you crap would get their ass kicked by Garrison or me.” Cujo paused. “Or Joan.”

  “You never talked about you and Sebastian. How did you know he was the one? If he was worth throwing caution out the door?”

  “I knew the moment I met Sebastian he was the one. When he shook my hand and started talking to me and asking questions like why I raced, my heart beat like a million times faster, my palms sweated, and I kept stammering. It’s funny. Sebastian said that when he met me, he saw that I was nervous and felt an immediate connection, and he couldn’t wait to ask me if I would grab beer with him before our meeting was over. It wasn’t a very long interview. We grabbed that beer at another pub, and that night he was in my bed. He made me feel things like no one ever had. But, still I had a hard time saying that I loved him. You know my family, we weren’t good about talking through our emotions. But, I’d like to think that Sebastian had been a good effect on me.”

  Cujo nodded. “When I first met Tristan I thought, this guy is flirty, sweet, and attractive. And the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to be closer to him, to be with him. It’s like he sucked me into this vortex and I’m in it, trying to stay in, and not get out. I think about what he’s doing every day when I’m not with him, and I want to know the day-to-day things he’s doing. What he had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve never been like this with any girlfriend. I feel like I’m lacking something when he is not around.”

  “Dude,” Caleb laughed, “if you start quoting Jerry Maguire, next I’m going to fucking rag you. Does he know how you feel?”

  “
I don’t know. I haven’t actually said to him, I love you. Not yet anyway. What if I say it, and he doesn’t love me? Has he said anything to you?”

  Caleb laughed. “No, he hasn’t said anything like that to me. But if you were to ask me to guess how he feels, I can tell you that he walks around the apartment with the phone glued to his hip. When he sees your text, or your number coming through his face lights up and he’s like some crazed teenager, and he runs to his bedroom to talk. So, yes, he is definitely into you. So if you said you loved him, he wouldn’t hesitate at all to say the same thing to you.”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do if he doesn’t,” Cujo said.

  “You don’t have to worry about him not saying that,” Caleb said. “Now, the bigger question is if you’re going to be out, or not. Isn’t that why you asked me if I regretted being out?”

  “Yes,” Cujo said. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “There’s good news on that front. I’ve already taken the element of shock and surprise by being the first to come out while still racing. My dad won’t care if you come out. Neither would Garrison or Joan.”

  “I haven’t even told Garrison,” Cujo said.

  “I don’t think you have to. You’re going to introduce Tristan to him, right?” Caleb asked. “And if he’s got too much Valvoline in his brain, tell him Tristan’s your boyfriend.”

  “And your father and sister won’t care, probably. They’ve got their hands full. I heard them talking to the bankruptcy attorney on the phone when I stopped by the office. Even if Garrison or I win money from the 400 race, it wouldn’t be enough. We’ve been bleeding red for several months now.”

  “Yeah, Garrison talked to me while I was waiting to board the plane from New York. They’re going to wait until after the 400. Joan’s planning to go back to school and get her MBA, or something. Garrison said he’s been sending out feelers to other racing families to see if you and he could be a part of another team. It’s definitely going to be a sad day.”

  “I know. And end of an era.”

  “But, as long as I can remember, the family business always encountered money problems.” Caleb paused and for a moment, no one talked. “I guess now, it finally did catch up. But you’re a talented driver. So’s Garrison. Any team would be stupid not to have you or my brother.”