Race With a Heart
Chapter 170: Hopes

Chapter 170: Hopes

Martin stared at Paxton in sleep. It was an emotional day for Steve and the driver felt very tired surprisingly early. Perhaps he wanted to return to work too early, or perhaps the whole Don thing had exhausted him mentally and physically. Whatever the cause, by the end of the workday, Steve started looking pale and had run out of energy. He was starting to look pathetic, and he probably felt that way, because he handed Martin the car keys and asked him to drive him home.

Martin was concerned, but Steve announced that he must have gotten an used to the noise in the stables, because even through the headphones the roar of the engine pierced his head. Paxton assured him that nothing was wrong with him, only his ears were ringing annoyingly, so his head hurt a bit.

Probably everyone’s ears were ringing sometimes, and it usually faded away after a few moments. Nothing big. It could have lasted longer when working in noise. Martin suffered from this inconvenience more than once, so there was nothing to worry about. Something else bothered the boy more.

Steve left the hospital a while ago and it looked like he was recovering as expected. Paxton smiled more and more and seemed happy. But sometimes when he thought Martin couldn’t see him, his expression took on a serious, even sad expression.

When Martin saw the knife being stabbed at Paxton, he was in horror. So how must Steve himself have felt knowing that someone was trying to kill him? They hadn’t talked about it, and with Martin, Paxton had acted as if nothing had happened, but when he was alone, he must have had unpleasant thoughts. Probably because he wanted to be among the people and not to think about what had happened to him, Steve surprised everyone by returning to the stable. Not at the wheel yet, but at least to the pits, where he will be able to breathe an atmosphere saturated with the smell of gasoline, engine oil, exhaust fumes and burned rubber from the tires. But wasn’t this return too early? Maybe Steve’s beaten body needed more rest?

Paxton was asleep very deeply. He went to bed very early, which was unusual for him. He must be really tired.

Or maybe he wanted to end this day as soon as possible and let tomorrow finally come?

Martin was amazed that Steve forgave Don so easily. Nor could he understand how someone could have had a sick ambition to defeat someone as dishonestly as Alston had done. And Don really dared to call himself an athlete?

Steve decided to forgive him and leave it behind him, but he must have suffered knowing that someone was deliberately targeting him. After all, he mentioned that he had wondered before why anyone hated him so much? But before, Paxton hadn’t spoken to Martin about it. He never shared his fears and his thoughts with him. He always pretended to be strong.

Or maybe he wasn’t pretending? Steve had said that when he was with Martin, those things ceased to matter to him and he forgot about them. Maybe he was actually pushing them out of his consciousness, but somewhere in the back of his mind and his hearts were nesting like starlings, to eat all the host’s cherries one summer day.

Steve was strong, Steve was very strong, but today he was too stressed and that’s probably why he was so tired.

And at that moment, the sleepy, beautiful dark-haired man who had so much courage and strength in him looked utterly vulnerable. Martin would have given anything that Steve could forget all the worries and pains he had in his life so that Steve wouldn’t have to forgive anyone anymore because no one would hurt him anymore.

Martin quietly undressed and tucked under the sheets. Paxton was on his side, facing the edge of the bed, so Martin wrapped his warm arm around him from behind. Though he wanted to let him know at the moment that he would always be there for him, no matter what.

***

Kevin Moore wondered how once again he, a university lecturer respected in and out of college, had once again been carried away by uncontrolled passion. He, a rational man who always preferred books over dating and never had much interest in sex, turned into an insatiable beast in the company of Jack Lambert. And although he knew perfectly well that he would have to atone for his evening, night and morning games each time, he could never - and would not! - stop them.

But how could he hold back when bright, beautiful eyes stared at him so seductively? How could he defend himself when every cell in his body trembled at the mere sound of Jack’s erotic voice? Okay, if he really wanted to, he could resist this carnal temptation, but why would he want to resist?

Kevin beamed at the university all morning, and even more and more talk about a charity party did not spoil his mood. They only dimmed it for a moment. He had to appear at this event as a research fellow at the university and as a representative of the Moore family. Nobody cared that he really didn’t want to be there - not this year when he was flooded with rage at the mere sight of his father. Being at this party and pretending to be on top of his relationship with his father was his duty not to cause problems for either the corporation or the college. Private affairs between the Moores were private, this party was official.

Fortunately, the professor did not have fifteen years of age to arrange the puberty tantrum, so he would be able to smile at his father without any problems, even though he would have thorns stuck in his heart.

But the party is waiting for him a few weeks away, and meanwhile Kevin was enjoying a beautiful fall day where the rain fell so romantically that Moore wanted to transform into a black and white musical hero and sing in the rain.

Then he got a very unexpected invitation to lunch via SMS.

The invitation was sent by Paul Denning.

The invitation came as a surprise as Moore was currently not helping with any case, and with Denning himself, although he liked the young policeman, he did not maintain a very close relationship. Yes, they had lunch together a few times, but with Sullivan, when they were too engrossed in the investigation to waste time comfortably eating alone, because even during the meal they discussed information. He had lunch with Denning alone once, and they were talking about Paul’s past. The policeman then admitted that he had good talk with Moore about it. Did he then want to elaborate on the topic? Or maybe he needed to talk about another topic?

After all, Kevin had no other appointment or found Denning’s company unpleasant, so there was no reason not to eat lunch together.

They met in a little diner they already knew. At first glance, Kevin knew Denning was unnaturally excited.

"Did something happen?" he asked the young policeman.

Denning nodded and invited him to the table.

"Let’s order first," he suggested.

Kevin noticed that there was an envelope with a blue logo on the table in front of Denning. From this angle, Moore could not read the writing, but he could guess where the envelope came from.

"After talking to you," the policeman began, "I dared and volunteered for the program you were talking about. A friend who works there was a bit surprised and I think he made my case a priority because there are already results. Someone was really looking for me ... "

Kevin smiled broadly. He wanted to congratulate Denning, but mastered his enthusiasm. He glanced at the envelope that contained vital information about the young policeman’s past.

"Have you looked inside?" he asked instead.

"No," admitted Paul Denning. "I honestly admit that I was afraid to do it. I should probably do this in the company of my wife, but I don’t know what I will see there and I don’t want to stress her during pregnancy. It’s just a kinship and contact details, so I won’t know what kind of person this person is, but ... "

"But it’s your family that you don’t know about. He is someone very close and at the same time so strange. "

"I’m sorry to involve you, but you are the godfather of the idea that I should take part in this program and only you in this city know about my past ..."

"Fine. I am also curious. "

Even more than Paul could have guessed.

Kevin knew the probability that the man in front of him was Jack’s brother was extremely low. Every similarity between the two, or similarities in their past, could be explained by dozens of other reasons. All the kids in the orphanage were either orphans, or they were abandoned, or their parents were denied custody. Paul Denning couldn’t even remember if he had siblings or if it was just a dream. There really was no reason to think rationally about these two men being brothers.

And yet it was so hard to deny his hopes...