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  “Are we going home a different way?”

  “Yeah, I thought we would take this route. Is that okay?”

  Sebastian nodded. “I’m cool. I just wished you’d stopped me from eating so much. But God that food was good.”

  “For some reason, I thought you’d eaten at the Columbia before.”

  “No. Not until today. I can see why your mom liked that place.”

  “She loved that place. Every birthday.”

  Sebastian moved closer to Caleb and kissed him on the cheek and then sat normally in his seat. “Your dad gave a nice toast today. He sounded still in love with your mom.”

  “Yeah. They loved each other a lot. I felt her presence there at her favorite table, you know. Does that sound kind of weird?”

  “No,” said Sebastian who put his hand over Caleb’s.

  “Hey, I’m trying to drive stick here.”

  “Is that a sexual come-on?”

  Caleb chuckled. “Everything is sex, sex, sex.”

  “Happy sex life means happy love life, right?” Sebastian looked out the window and took in the sights of St. Augustine as they started heading toward Palm Coast. Saw palmetto, cabbage palms, and laurel oak trees lined both sides of the road as they made a turn. “Where are we going?”

  “Washington Oaks State Park. I wanted to take you here before the sunset. That’s why we had to leave Earl, your mom, and Joan behind.” Caleb pulled into the state park and parked the car. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  Caleb stepped out, and Sebastian followed. They left the parking lot and headed over the park’s wooden steps that cut through protected sand dunes. The sun had started its march down the horizon. Caleb grabbed Sebastian’s hand and walked down from the steps and headed left toward a pile of coquina rocks. When Caleb motioned them to sit, Sebastian followed and sat on the rocks with Caleb.

  “We used to take picnics here as a kid, mostly on the other side of this park, where there’s a garden, and small area off the Intracoastal, but Mom always loved watching the sunset here.” Caleb shuddered, and Sebastian drew close and hugged him.

  They watched the sun go lower on the horizon, and before it disappeared, Caleb turned to Sebastian. “When I was racing the 400, as I was about to cross the finish line, you were on my mind. And I knew.”

  “Knew what?”

  “That I couldn’t finish the race if I knew it would mean losing you. I realized that you were more important to me than crossing first. I didn’t care if I crossed first or second. And I knew.”

  “You’re being silly. You wouldn’t lose me if you finished first.”

  “No? If I finished first, Dad would expect me to stay in racing. And staying in racing would be tough. I’m glad I didn’t finish first. I’m okay being known as the gay racecar driver who left the sport to focus on sports marketing. I’m glad on how everything turned out. Cujo is going to race at Youngblood Racing again. And…and, I’m going to start this fall at UCF.”

  “Wow! That’s awesome! When were you going to tell me?”

  “I wanted to tell you when I got the letter two days ago but I wanted to wait until we got here. To this place.”

  Sebastian’s eyebrows arched. “Okay.”

  Caleb faced Sebastian, and his voice choked. “Look at me. I’m in love with you, Sebastian Rush. I won’t go to UCF if you said no. If you want me to stay in New Smyrna so you focus on writing and work for the station, then I’ll continue to work in sports marketing.”

  “Don’t be stupid. I want you to go back to school. I know you’re going to have to take a full load of courses. I can freelance from any location, and the news channel has a sister station in Orlando. I can apply for a transfer.”

  “That’s not the only thing I wanted to talk to you about,” said Caleb, barely able to get the words out without a tremor. Caleb raised his hand and two men walked close to Caleb and Sebastian from around the stairs. One held a large sign, another carried a CD player and a red rose.

  Sebastian squinted to see who and why they were headed towards them and when he recognized who they were he turned to face Caleb. “What are they doing here?” asked Sebastian.

  Caleb had knelt on the sand next to the large coquina rock where Sebastian sat and smiled. In his palm was a ring—grey tungsten with mother of pearl that looked blue in the vanishing rays of the sunset. Garr turned on the CD player and Jason Derulo’s song, “Marry Me,” softly played.

  “Look,” Caleb pointed to the sign that Cujo carried. Cujo had flipped it over and it read in big bold letters, “Will you marry me?” But the word ‘me’ was crossed out and Caleb’s name was written next to it.

  Sebastian turned to Caleb and Caleb half-stood from his kneeling position and wiped the tears that formed in Sebastian’s eyes.

  “Well, will you marry me?” Caleb laughed, nervously, as he waited for the answer.

  “God, I never thought you’d ask!” said Sebastian, who tried to speak through the tears.

  Garr whistled as Cujo clapped.

  “Yay! Come on! We want to see a kiss!” Cujo fiddled with a Go-Pro camera that was strapped to his head.

  Caleb shrugged and moved towards Sebastian. Caleb kissed Sebastian’s lips tenderly, tasting the saltiness of some of Sebastian’s tears.

  “I love you, Caleb. You can start my engine anytime. Drive us to these beautiful sunsets like tonight.”

  “I love you, Sebastian. You are my heart, and I can’t wait to be married to you.”

  THE END

  Too Tough to Tame

  To my husband, who brought me to my first Daytona 500 race and to the MM Romance Critique Group for all the feedback, so Caleb and Sebastian can tell their continuing love story.

  Chapter 1

  Caleb glanced at the emailed instructions next to him and pulled over to the side of the road. He checked the GPS, slid the screen on the phone, and then read the email Sebastian sent him. The sun’s glare bothered him even though he wore sunglasses, so he put the visor down to help him see ahead and double-checked that he had read the email right. Caleb guessed that if he followed the dirt road past the arborvitae, he’d be at his destination.

  The arborvitae must have stood close to fifteen feet high. He tried to peer in the small opening where the red clay road led. He didn’t see a mailbox with any numbers on it and he didn’t see a post with a street marking. He moved forward, then drove his truck through the opening in the tall greenery, passing the “beware of goat” signs. As soon as he drove into the clearing, the dirt road ahead wound about fifty yards to a small, ranch-style house. He passed by cabbage palms and palmetto stands. As he got closer to the dark brown home, the red clay driveway ended and the natural Myakka sandy soil appeared, covered by a layer of pine needles.

  He parked his truck and didn’t even bother locking it. As he approached the small screened-in patio by the front door, the wooden door opened. A thin woman stepped outside, her dark red hair pulled back behind her head. A small girl, maybe two years of age was cradled on her hip and Ginny Rush, Sebastian’s mom greeted him.

  “Caleb, honey. What a pleasant surprise!”

  “Hi, Mrs. Rush. Hope I didn’t bother you by just calling you out of the blue since I was in the area.”

  “Stop calling me Mrs. Rush. I hear that and I think my ex mother-in-law is behind me.” Ginny moved forward and angled the young girl to face Caleb. “Now Mindy, this is Uncle Caleb. Say hello.”

  The two-year-old shook her head and then Mindy buried her face on Ginny’s chest, shaking her head back and forth as she did so.

  “So this is Sebastian’s niece?”

  “Yes, one of them. Her older sister will make a better flower girl. You’ll have to meet her.” Ginny walked toward the house. “Come on in! Can I offer you a glass of sweet tea?”

  The Florida heat and humidity didn’t make Caleb hesitate. “Yes, that would be nice.” Caleb stopped at the doormat, wiped sand off his shoes, then followed Ginny. Ginny put Mindy on the ground as Mindy took
off for a toy in the corner, scurrying far from Caleb.

  Ginny called out from the kitchen. “So what brings you to Lake Wales, Caleb?”

  “I was out here to meet a few citrus growers about a marketing campaign for orange juice.”

  “Oh? That’s why Sebastian said you were going to be in the area!” Ginny handed Caleb a glass of ice tea in a plastic tumbler. “Here you go.”

  Caleb nodded and smiled. “Thanks.” He noticed as Ginny drew closer that Sebastian had her blue eyes: a light robin’s egg color with a dark blue ring around it. “I also came to ask you to forgive me.”

  Ginny cocked her head. “For what?”

  “I kinda did things the wrong way. I should’ve come to you and Sebastian’s father for permission to propose—”

  “You didn’t need my permission.”

  Caleb gulped his drink, and after he had swallowed, he spoke again. “I know we’re not getting a traditional marriage in many folks’ eyes but I wanted to know if you would give me permission.”

  “Honey, you don’t need my permission,” said Ginny in a flat tone. She sipped her own tea then put the glass she had down. “Sebastian seems very happy and I haven’t seen him that happy in a while. So if you can make him happy, then yes, of course, I give permission even though I don’t think you need it. It is sweet that you are asking though.”

  Caleb relaxed his shoulders when he heard her give her blessing. “I’m very honored that you approve. Is there any advice you can give me?”

  Ginny curled her lips for a second. “You’ve only been with Sebastian eight or nine months. I know you’ve got a date in September that you’re both been talking about. You know there’s no rush, right?”

  “We want to be married.” Caleb’s eyebrows scrunched. He then realized his response might have sounded too curt. “Do you think we should put off the wedding?”

  “No. That’s not what I’m saying.” Ginny shook her head and crossed her arms. “Let me just spit it out.”

  Caleb watched Ginny as she looked off in the distance away from him, away from Mindy who ran behind him, her little bare feet slapping the old linoleum that lined the kitchen floor as the toddler ran.

  “Before Sebastian met you, he was in a very serious relationship.”

  Caleb nodded. “I know. He told me.”

  “Did Sebastian tell you that his ex, David, also proposed marriage and that they had set a date?”

  Caleb’s face flushed. Sebastian had told Caleb that his ex and Sebastian had talked marriage but Sebastian had never said they had been engaged. Or had set a wedding date. “No. He never told me that.”

  Ginny came closer and put her hand on one of Caleb’s shoulders. “You’re a good man, Caleb. I know Sebastian loves you. I just think you need to let your engagement run a little longer.”

  “Because of his ex?”

  “Yes, because of David. It’s for your sake as well as Sebastian’s.”

  * * * *

  Caleb took Highway 27 up to the Four Corners area, where traffic from four counties blended, encountering traffic lights in the sprawl. When he finally hit the interstate, he headed east for downtown Orlando, passing through the tourist traffic near Disney and then the ever-present construction traffic that snarled around the Universal Studios exit. As he passed the next string of exits, he saw the small cluster of high rises that announced Orlando proper. It marketed itself as the City Beautiful and from the distance, it appeared that way.

  Sebastian had texted earlier that he was working at the station until six. Since it was five-thirty when Caleb arrived at the television channel, he pulled into the parking lot and debated if he should walk in the building. After a couple of minutes had passed, he turned off the engine, and locked the truck.

  The station receptionist greeted him as he walked in the building. “Hello, may I help you?”

  Caleb guessed the woman, who remained seated, was twenty-one or twenty-two. “Yeah, I’m meeting Sebastian Rush.”

  Her left eyebrow arched before she continued. “Sebastian Rush?”

  “He’s one of the cameramen.”

  “Oh. Let me see what I can do. Is Sebastian expecting you?”

  Caleb crossed his arms. “Yes. He knows I was going to meet him here at six.”

  She picked up the phone. “Hi, there’s a gentleman here to see Sebastian, one of the cameramen.” The young woman looked at Caleb and then spoke. “What’s your name, sir?”

  Her eyes grew wide as she repeated Caleb’s name over the phone and when she finished the call, and took her headset off, she then stood up. “I thought you looked familiar!”

  Caleb smiled and shook her hand once she offered it. “Nice to meet you.”

  “I’m Isabel My whole family’s into NASCAR. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

  Caleb noted how the pink clingy sundress she wore showed off a small bosom. She had light brown hair that could easily turn blonde. “No worries. It’s all about the context. I’m sure if we were in Daytona and I was dressed in my safety suit you’d recognize me.”

  Isabel giggled, her hands clasped together in front of her. “You’re right. You know I’m not supposed to do this, but could I get your autograph?”

  Caleb smiled. “Sure.”

  Isabel tore off a page from her yellow pad and handed it to him with a pen. Caleb placed the paper on the counter and started signing his name and wishing her the best.

  “Do you mind if I ask you a question?” asked Isabel.

  Caleb looked up and handed the autographed note to her. She accepted it without even looking at the regards he wrote out for her.

  “What’s Jeff Gordon like?”

  Caleb caught his half-smirk before it formed, and he cleared his throat before he spoke. “Jeff? Nice guy. Very smart, too.”

  “Yeah, he’s my favorite. He’s soooo hot.” Her face then turned red. “Obviously, you’re one of my favorites as well.”

  Caleb laughed. “No worries.” He glanced over to the waiting area, hoping not to miss Sebastian.

  “I read the People magazine article. I guess you’re out and off the market.”

  “I am. I’m out and proud now.”

  Isabel smiled. “I’m glad. I know a lot of people in NASCAR aren’t ready for gay drivers. But I’m okay with it and I know some of my friends don’t care. Will you ever go back to driving? Do you miss it?”

  “Yeah. I do. I do a lot, but it’s for the better. And I wish a lot of people thought like you, Isabel.”

  “It’s a shame,” said Isabel. “Last year’s race was pretty good. I was there and I saw the photo finish. Dammit. I wish I had my program with me instead of this office paper.” Isabel looked down at his autograph and smiled. “Thank you for this. I can’t wait to tell my friends how nice you are. And hot.”

  Caleb blushed, and before he had a chance to say anything further, he saw Sebastian.

  “Hey!” he shouted.

  Sebastian smiled and beckoned him to come closer. Caleb moved toward Sebastian and waved at Isabel. “See you later and take care.”

  “Bye,” said Isabel.

  Sebastian put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder and squeezed, but once they walked around the hall, away from Isabel, Sebastian kissed Caleb briefly on the mouth. “How was your day?”

  “Marketing pitch went fine,” said Caleb. “I don’t know if they’re going to hire the firm. But it was fifteen minutes of pitch and thirty minutes of people asking me questions about racing.”

  Sebastian combed his wavy brown hair with his fingers. “Well, it’s not every day that they meet a sports celebrity, right?”

  Caleb shook his head. “I’m sure some of them have met a few. I’m just a novelty to them, that’s all.”

  “How was the visit with Mom?” asked Sebastian.

  “Fine. It went fine.” Caleb thought about what Ginny had said but decided not to address it. “She gives her blessing for our wedding.”

  “Yeah. She texted me that you had a good
time reminiscing about me and she gave you a couple of pictures of me to use in the wedding.” Sebastian glanced at his wristwatch. “I’m ready to leave in a few minutes. I just need to grab my schedule for the next week.”

  “Okay.” Caleb followed Sebastian to a small office where several desks had been pushed together. A few computers were spread here and there. Across the hall was a more organized mess of chairs and desks, used by the different anchors.

  “Got it!” Sebastian clutched a piece of paper and grabbed his book bag as they both made it back down the hallway. As they headed back to the lobby, they saw two men walking from the other side headed their way.

  “It’s Bob, the station manager,” Sebastian whispered. “We need to say hello.”

  Caleb nodded but saw the lean, broad-shouldered man next to him. He appeared less tan than what he remembered from magazine covers, but there was no mistaking the former swimmer who’d taken two bronze medals in the 2012 Olympics.

  “Leaving already?” asked the swimmer who glanced at Sebastian then Caleb.

  “Yeah, we’re heading out,” Sebastian said to him. Sebastian acknowledged the station manager. “Hi, Bob.”

  “Sebastian.” Bob nodded then extended his hand to Caleb. “You’re Caleb Youngblood.”

  “Caleb, please.” Caleb shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine,” said Bob. “I know Sebastian recognizes this gentleman right here but let me introduce you to him, Caleb.”

  Caleb tensed, his shoulders pulled back. “Yes, we’ve never been formally introduced.” Caleb made sure to draw out the words.

  “David Benoit. Sebastian and I go way back.”

  Caleb caught David’s smirk directed toward Sebastian.

  “Way back,” repeated David as he shook Caleb’s hand.

  The last phrase hit Caleb in the gut. Sebastian’s face flushed.

  David laughed. “But we haven’t seen each other in a while, right? Maybe eighteen months, give or take a day.”

  “David’s going to Rio for us to do announcing for the Games. Local boy covering other Florida athletes. It’ll be great coverage. And we’re sending Sebastian here to be the cameraman.” Bob pulled his loose pants up and laughed along with David. “That’ll give you guys a chance to catch up.”