Revving It Up Box Set Page 3

  Garrison smiled, “Caleb—’’

  “How’d you find out?” asked Earl.

  Joan held out her hand to stop Earl from saying anything else. “Relax, Dad. I called him.”

  “I texted him, too,” said Garrison.

  “So you’ll talk, Caleb, to everyone but me?” blurted Earl. Garrison couldn’t tell if the tone was hurt or angry. Maybe it was both.

  “This isn’t the time to fight,” said Joan.

  Earl crossed his arms. “I wasn’t planning to fight just like—’’

  Joan raised her voice. “Dad! Stop!”

  “It’s okay. I’ll step out,” whispered Caleb.

  “No, I’ll step outside. You guys stay here,” offered Earl.

  “I’ll leave the boys to talk and walk about with you. I could do for an afternoon coffee. Meet us in the cafeteria? Garrison’s being discharged so walk down with him, Caleb.”

  Garrison didn’t say anything until Joan and Earl left the room. Caleb moved closer and hugged his brother. “Glad you’re okay, man.”

  “Thanks. What’s in the paper bag?”

  “Clothes. I figured you needed to borrow a fresh shirt and shorts. Joan suggested I stop by your place and get you some clean clothes, but I wanted to come over right away without stopping at New Smyrna, so I just grabbed you some of my clothes.”

  Caleb handed the bag to Garrison who peered inside.

  “What’s this?” He lifted a pink muscle tank top. “Holy shit! I’m not wearing this!”

  “What about the shorts I brought?”

  Garrison took out the blue shorts and eyed them. “These are girl’s shorts.”

  “No. They’re male shorts, just a really, really, really short pair, meant to highlight posterior assets.”

  “I’m not wearing these: my balls would be hanging out of them!”

  Caleb snorted while Garrison threw the clothes at him. “You’re never appreciative of the things I do for you.”

  Garrison mouthed the word, “asshole” and then laughed.

  “Did you expect anything less?”

  “I guess not, little brother. Where have you been, by the way? You’ve been MIA for like two to three weeks.”

  “Dad and I, well, I don’t know how to explain it,” said Caleb.

  “Joan told me. She said Dad wants Youngblood racing to focus on one driver for marketing and endorsements.”

  “I guess that’s one way to put it,” said Caleb as he walked toward the window. “I asked him why, you know. He said he didn’t have to explain himself. That’s when I told him I didn’t want to ever talk to him again.”

  “Dramatic much?” Garr laughed.

  Caleb turned away from the window and sat next to Garr. “If he never wanted me to race the majors, why would he even let me drive period?”

  “I don’t think we ever had a choice, did we? I mean, this is the family business. At least I didn’t have a choice—not like I’d want to do anything else. But you? You shouldn’t have dropped out of college. I know you came back because of Mom.” Garr patted Caleb’s thigh. “I’ll talk to Dad and see if I can talk some sense into him. I don’t know what’s going on lately. I know Joan and he like to keep the business side of things to themselves, but we all need to know why Dad is doing what Dad is doing.”

  “You’re the better driver, Garr.” Caleb paused. “If he just came out and said, we’re going with Garrison because he’s the better, I’m fine with that. But to just say, I’m not racing anymore, especially the majors? I’m not ten years old. Dad should just give me the reasons why, not just say, I’m out. I’m done.”

  They both sat in silence for a moment before Garrison spoke. “So, what have you been doing lately? Bob says you show up in the shop and check out the cars when Dad’s not there and then leave.”

  “I’ve been trying to send out feelers here and there about Formula racing and maybe racing for another team.”

  “Does Dad know this?”

  Caleb shook his head. “Nope. And don’t tell him either.”

  “Joan said you’re dating a new guy?”

  “That’s old news. We’ve been dating for more than a little over six months.”

  “And you’ve never introduced him to me?” Garrison raised his shoulders and shrugged, and gestured for more information with a wave of his hands. “And?”

  “I like him.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Sebastian.”

  Garrison’s eyebrows arched. “Sebastian?”

  “He doesn’t like to use his middle name, Harry.”

  “Last name?”

  “Rush.”

  “Okay. Are we going to do very short answers, now? I’m your brother. You don’t have to be secretive around me.”

  Caleb exhaled. “I know.”

  “Did I say or do anything to drive this wedge between us?”

  “No, it’s not you. It’s just—’’

  “I think I know.” Garrison searched for words for a moment. “Remember when we were kids and we said one day we would change the name from Youngblood Racing to Youngblood Brothers?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I still want that. And I’m sorry if I ever acted like I wanted to be the one in the spotlight or whatever because I never intended that. I never wanted that. I know that is what Dad is doing, and Joan to some extent.” Garrison waited for Caleb to say something but when he didn’t hear anything he faced Caleb and saw Caleb wipe a tear just in time.

  “Oh, don’t get weepy on me now.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” whispered Caleb, who smiled and hugged his brother. Caleb then stood and removed his T-shirt. “Here, wear my shirt, and I’ll wear the tank top. But you’re wearing the shorts I brought.”

  “I’m not wearing those shorts. I’ll walk out in this patient gown if I have to.”

  “Fine,” said Caleb, taking off his shorts. He stood only in his boxers as he pulled the flimsy pink tank top over his head and slimmed it down his torso. Meanwhile, Garrison grabbed the shorts that Caleb took off and put it on, and put on the shirt that Caleb removed. “Alrighty. I’m ready.”

  Garrison looked at his little brother, dressed in the tightest brief-like shorts he’d ever seen on a guy and the form-fitting, clingy tank top that showed off Caleb’s chest and biceps. “Holy shit! You’re going to the cafeteria in that?”

  “Why not? I work out a lot to get these quads, chest, and biceps.”

  Garrison laughed. “You are going to cause a little scene, aren’t you? I tell you what, you should never change, Caleb Youngblood.”

  “Who said I was?”

  “Well, let me grab this patient gown just in case we have to cover any bits.” Garrison threw his arm over Caleb as they walked out of the room. “Don’t ever change,” he repeated in a whisper as they stepped out into the hallway.

  Caleb chuckled. “I can’t wait to see what Dad says.”

  Chapter 4

  Caleb drove his Chevy pickup truck through evening traffic on the interstate and then the back roads. His mind was on autopilot since he was taking the same route to Ormond Beach from Daytona that he took countless times before. Caleb reached his rented home in Ormond Beach in less than thirty minutes, still reeling from the family meeting at the cafeteria hospital with Dad, Joan, and Garrison.

  The humidity hung in the air of the 1940s-style two-bedroom bungalow as Caleb walked past boxes stacked in the living room and hallway to turn on the window air conditioning unit in his bedroom.

  He headed to the small kitchen and searched for a glass so he could pour himself some water. When he found the moving box marked glassware, he found a coffee mug on top and turned on the faucet.

  He moved the unplugged shredder that was on the counter away from the faucet and stacked the medical records he hadn’t finished shredding including the negative HIV tests for both Sebastian and himself that they had taken twice at three-month windows.

  As he sipped, he heard a gentle knock on the door. Ca
leb walked to the entrance, peered through the peephole, and let Sebastian in. “Hey, I didn’t hear you pull up.”

  Sebastian moved in for a kiss and Caleb gave him a quick peck on the lips. “What’s with the moving boxes?”

  “That’s what I wanted you to see. My answer is yes.”

  Sebastian’s eyes lit up. “Really? You’re agreeing to move in with me?”

  “I am.” Caleb stood there as Sebastian hugged him. Caleb circled his arms around Sebastian and brushed the back of Sebastian’s hair, a recent habit he couldn’t avoid. “Are you still offering? I hope so because I’ve been packing and I have a few boxes packed already.”

  “Of course! I’m so fucking happy!” Sebastian moved closer and kissed Caleb hard while Caleb held Sebastian’s face and invaded with his tongue. They stood there, kissing for a minute before they broke it off.

  Caleb stood there with his eyes closed and when he opened them he saw Sebastian, his gaze beaming love. “I spoke to my dad earlier.”

  “When?”

  “At the hospital.”

  “Yeah, how is Garrison? You said he was okay on the phone.”

  “He’s doing fine. Still a little dizzy and complaining about headaches.”

  Sebastian raised his eyebrows. “And? Did you and your dad iron everything out?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Sebastian moved toward the bar and sat on a stool. “Want to tell me what happened?”

  Caleb nodded and joined him in the empty barstool next to Sebastian. “Well, after my dad stopped judging me for this pink tank top and shorts I’m wearing—”

  “Which, by the way, looks really good on you!”

  “Yeah.” Caleb smiled and shook his head. “Thanks. It was meant to prank my brother. Now let’s focus here, okay?” Caleb paused and gathered his thoughts for a moment. “My dad thinks—and Garrison and Joan agree, surprisingly—that my being gay and being a NASCAR driver would expose me to a mob of hatred. That’s what I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the last hour or so. Trying to find arguments to rebut my dad’s thinking. I agree with Joan that NASCAR is changing but many people who follow NASCAR, I think, aren’t ready for an openly gay driver. We’ve had gay drivers come out but they haven’t done well in the circuit.”

  “Well, what about the argument that if you’re talented, you’ll be accepted?”

  Caleb grasped Sebastian’s hand. “I love you and I love you for thinking that talent conquers everything, but there are a lot of stereotypes in play in NASCAR. Look at the rumor mill about some drivers being gay.”

  “Yeah, but the world’s changing!”

  “I agree, but where NASCAR is popular, the world hasn’t changed as much as the rest.” Caleb bounced his leg on the barstool a few times. “I guess on the bright side, there’s no reason to keep hiding. I don’t have to worry about some intrepid reporter following me to your place and forcing me out of the closet. I’m coming out on my own terms.”

  “Are you happy about doing this?”

  “Yes. You know I am. I am tired of looking over my shoulder. I’m going to be so happy to live this life with you, if you’ll share it with me.”

  “God! I can’t believe it.” Sebastian kissed Caleb. “Should we start moving tonight?”

  “No, let’s do it tomorrow. Let’s order some food and take it back here. And if you want to have someone write up my story. I’m okay with it.”

  “I know just the guy. Are you sure?” asked Sebastian.

  “Yes. Tonight starts a new chapter in my life. Out of the closet!”

  * * * *

  Caleb ate the last lo mein noodle from the take-out container and waited to see if Levi had any more questions. In the last hour, after Caleb and Sebastian showered and ordered take out, Caleb spoke to Levi and vomited his whole life story to Sebastian’s contact at “Gay Sports Online Magazine.” Sebastian, meanwhile, logged into Caleb’s computer, accessed Dropbox, and sent over HD-quality pictures of Caleb that Sebastian had taken several months before. Sebastian also submitted his write-up of Caleb in the local weekend journal. A vanilla write-up of Caleb.

  “Thanks, Caleb. I think that’s all the questions I can think of, for now anyway. If I do come up with more, is it okay that I contact you or Sebastian?”

  “Sure, I have no problem with that.”

  “Okay,” said Levi. “Let me turn off the tape recorder.”

  Sebastian nodded and slid off the audio recording function of Caleb’s cell. A second passed before Levi started talking again. “And we’re off now. Let me just give you my editorial comment here: I think a lot of people will want to read about your life story. If you don’t have an agent, you should consider one.”

  “Thanks. To be honest, I’m not sure what to expect.”

  “Really? Because NASCAR fans have been clamoring for a gay racecar driver.”

  Caleb shook his head. “I don’t see that. I know these guys. I know these fans. I think many of them wouldn’t welcome a gay man racing. There’s still a lot of flak about women driving.”

  “Equality sometimes requires baby steps,” countered Levi. “One more thing. I would appreciate that you not give any more interviews until we publish this story first. Is that okay?” asked Levi.

  “Sure. That’s fine.”

  “Tell Sebastian I got the pictures he emailed me. I’m looking at them right now. They’re good quality images. As I explained, we’re completely digital and web content-based so the good thing is that there won’t be a magazine cover to be embarrassed about if you live in a less than progressive town. But the upside is we have more than one hundred thousand Facebook followers, and as many, if not more, on Twitter so we’ve got good internet presence. Have you ever modeled?”

  “No.”

  “I was just wondering because these pictures Sebastian took are really high quality. I guess that comes with the territory of running a TV camera in the local newsroom, eh?”

  “He does have talent. Did you want to talk to him?”

  “No, just tell Sebastian I’ll be in touch. I’ll give him photo credit if I use any of his pictures and obviously since we’re living in a digital age, this piece will probably post within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Thanks again for the interview. Bye.”

  Caleb saw the cell screen go blank when Levi ended the call. Caleb turned to Sebastian who was eating the last shrimp. “He sure asked a lot of questions.”

  “But, you sounded relaxed and happy talking about your life.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Caleb heard a phone buzz. Sebastian picked up his phone and smiled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Levi sent me a text.

  “Oh?”

  “It’s about you.”

  “About me?”

  “Yeah.” Sebastian showed him the phone, and Caleb read Levi’s text. You lucky ass. Your boyfriend is smoking hot gorgeous.

  Caleb smiled. “Funny. I hope I can trust him to be right about the details.”

  Sebastian nodded. “I think you can.” He picked the empty Chinese take-out containers on the counter and threw them in the trash. “Now what?”

  “I think I should get a reward for coming out. Coming out sex?”

  Sebastian moved toward Caleb who sat on the barstool, a towel around Caleb’s waist. Sebastian moved inches from Caleb’s face then kissed him, brushing his hands over Caleb’s firm, defined pecs and eight-pack abs with his right hand before he took off Caleb’s towel. “What do you have in mind?”

  Caleb half-smiled. “Surprise me.”

  Sebastian kissed Caleb, then moved to bite Caleb’s nipple, one hand slowly jerking off Caleb who groaned appreciatively. Sebastian moved down from the nipple, kissed Caleb’s belly button and flicked his tongue over Caleb’s dickhead.

  “Ugh. You’re teasing me,” blurted Caleb in frustration.

  “Let’s see if I can start your engine,” Sebastian smirked.

  Caleb watched Sebastian get on his knees, look up at him as
he took in part of Caleb’s dick, swirling his tongue around the crown. Sebastian cradled Caleb’s balls as he sucked. Caleb spread his legs, placing his feet on the lowest rung of the barstool, his left elbow on the bar to steady himself as Sebastian tried to take half of Caleb in his mouth.

  “Do you like that?” asked Sebastian, who freed his mouth off Caleb’s cock.

  “God, yes. Don’t stop.”

  “Do you have any lube, babe?”

  Caleb shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Is everything packed?”

  “Pretty much, except for some food items.”

  Sebastian stood up, his dick tented out from the shorts he wore. He walked to the kitchen and opened some cabinets. “I have an idea. Want to come join me here?”

  Caleb stood, his dick throbbed as he quickly walked to where Sebastian stood. Sebastian grabbed his hand and kissed him. “Guess we can use this.”

  Caleb eyed the can Sebastian held and laughed. “Crisco? I forgot I had that. I think I was using that to cook fries. Isn’t it expired?”

  “Who cares? I’m not eating it. It’s lube. Come on, lay down on the linoleum.”

  Caleb knelt on the floor and maneuvered himself between the dishwasher and the bar, as he stretched his legs and lay down, his broad shoulders barely fitting in between them.

  Sebastian removed the top of the Crisco. “You didn’t really use a lot of this. There’s quite a bit.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t get to bake a lot of pies with it or make Mom’s Sunday fried chicken. Been a little busy.” Caleb drawled out the last word as he spoke.

  “Whoa. A little sarcasm there huh? I may have to punish you.” Sebastian dropped his shorts and straddled Caleb’s chest, inching toward Caleb’s face as he pushed his dick toward Caleb’s mouth.

  Caleb took his hand and grabbed Sebastian’s dick, his large hand covered the whole length as he stroked it and tongued the head of Sebastian’s cock. Sebastian took a scoop from the Crisco and moved his hand over Caleb’s cock.

  “Man that feels weird. I’m not sure vegetable shortening was meant to be used this way.”