#FinishLine (GearShark #5)

by Cambria Hebert

  “So you want to go to Seattle?”

  “Yeah, sounds good. I miss my sisters.”

  “I know you do.”

  “It’s not going to be much of a honeymoon, though. We can’t be walking around my parents’ house naked, and we can’t be making all the noise we made last night.”

  Arrow made a sound. “We aren’t staying with your parents.”

  “No?” I was surprised once more.

  “Hell no. I want to get some on my honeymoon. You’re too sexy to stay at the in-laws.”

  I laughed.

  “I rented us an island.”

  The bed jolted with my shock. “You did what?”

  He laughed. “There are some islands off the coast of Seattle, you know. We can have some family time, explore the city time… then boat back to our island for some naked, sexy husband time.”

  “An island,” I echoed. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me and you, a house in the center of a small wooded island, water all around…” He seduced me with the picture he painted.

  “Now that’s a fucking honeymoon.”

  “You like it?”

  “I like it. But I love you.” My chin dipped so I could claim his mouth in a gentle kiss.

  “You really put some thought into that, into something that would be good for us but also something that might be good for me.”

  The fact that he singlehandedly reunited me with my family, gave me a piece of my life I didn’t think I’d have again, and then added to it made me love him even more.

  “I’m just glad you like it, ‘cause renting an island for two weeks ain’t cheap.”

  “Two weeks!” I exclaimed.

  “I have to share you with your family, Hopp. One week ain’t gonna cut it. I’m a needy bastard. I need my time, too.”

  “You’re always gonna come first, babe. Always.”

  Arrow leapt up, bounding out of bed.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” I demanded.

  His sexy, naked ass rushed out into the other room. Seconds later, he dove back onto the bed, still naked, but gripping his cell. “I have pics of the island and the house.”

  “Pull that shit up,” I said, pulling him against me again. Sleep could wait; life could not.

  Arrow settled back, leaning against me the way I leaned against the headboard. His email looked like a hoarder’s den when he pulled it up to find the pics.

  “Damn, babe. You need an intervention.”

  “Nah, I just use the delete button.”

  I groaned. “Babe, there may be work opportunities in there. Sponsorship shit.”

  “Aren’t they supposed to go through you and the PR team at work?”

  I groaned. “I love you, babe, but I’m gonna need your email password. You can’t be trusted to run the account on your own.”

  He laughed. It vibrated through his back and into me. “It’s your name and birthday.”

  I groaned again, this time louder and more dramatic. “You shouldn’t use my shit. That’s asking to get hacked.”

  “But it’s easy to remember. And you’re my favorite.”

  Pressing a kiss to his head, I smiled. “You’re my favorite, too.”

  “Okay, let me find the pics the real estate place sent.” He was quiet a second, then paused. “Hey, look. An email from GearShark.”

  “I don’t work on my honeymoon,” I muttered.

  “It’s your interview and cover shot.” He sat up a little farther, glancing at me over his shoulder. “Holy shit, that was fast.”

  My voice was dry. “Yeah, well, when you pay someone two million for an interview, they’re probably anxious to start getting an ROI.”

  “I still can’t believe they paid that much,” he murmured, opening the email and scrolling down to the attachments. Before I could answer, he made a sound, shooting up into an upright position.

  “Holy fucking hairy goat balls!”

  “Something wrong?” I asked, amused.

  “Jesus,” he muttered, lowering the phone and rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

  “Hey.” I laid a hand over his back, concerned. “What?”

  Arrow lifted the phone, extending it back to me without looking.

  I took the phone and stared down at the picture filling up the screen.

  Damn.

  I looked like a fucking sexy beast, if I did say so myself. Which I just did. Clearly, A agreed, hence the colorful language.

  No shirt, hands up behind my head, and the sweats riding low on my waist. The magazine went with a red and black color concept and a black-and-white picture. The coloring made it that much hotter… because I knew I didn’t look like that all the time.

  “Babe.” Dropping the phone, I rubbed a hand up his tense back. “I can tell them to change it.”

  “You’re so fucking sexy, Hopper.” He almost sounded forlorn. I grinned at his back. “Don’t you smile at me, you bastard. This is serious. One dude thinks he can hit on you, I swear I’ll knock him into next week.”

  “I don’t think it’s going to come to that, babe,” I remarked dryly.

  Without turning toward me, Arrow felt around for the phone, sliding it into his lap, bringing the picture back up onto the screen. “Fuck.”

  “You’re just as sexy as I am,” I told him, thinking of his magazine cover. Secretly, I did admit to myself I was glad as hell he wasn’t shirtless for it, though.

  “I kinda wish our tattoo was across your chest like mine. Kind of like a brand. Assholes need to recognize.”

  I held in a laugh. “I’ll get one on my chest.”

  “You already have one on your wrist. Which just happens to be behind your head on the cover.”

  I shrugged. “I’ll have two.”

  Arrow made a sound. “I like it.”

  “Two tattoos?” I mused.

  “No. The cover shot. You look amazing, babe. So amazing it makes me mad with possession.”

  Snaking an arm around his waist from behind, I pulled him across the mattress, back into my body. “I don’t care about the magazine cover, but I do like being possessed by you.”

  He grunted, settling farther against me. The back of his head hit my chest, and he lifted the phone. “Wanna read the article?”

  I shrugged. “I’d rather see the pics of our island.”

  “Article first, then island pics.”

  A yawn stole over me. “Any chance we might get some sleep before boarding the jet?”

  “A few hours, then we have to be at the airstrip.”

  “Come here,” I murmured. He wasn’t close enough.

  His sigh was heavy, the skin of his cheek smooth against my chest. “Looks like this will hit the stands next week. We’ll still be in Seattle,” Arrow informed me, still looking at his phone.

  “Good. An island should be a pretty good way to keep the press away.”

  Arrow made a sound of agreement.

  “Here’s the article.” He held it up, showing me the header. “Want to read it first?”

  Wrapping my hand around his and the phone, I shook my head. “How about we read it together?”

  Pushing up off me, Arrow climbed into my lap. His arm wound around the back of my neck and his lips brushed over my cheek. “I’m proud of you for doing this, getting it all out there and finally letting yourself have peace.”

  “I only did it because you gave me the strength and inspiration, babe. So I’m not proud of me… I’m proud of us.”

  His lips rubbed over mine in a brief but very wanted kiss. “Let’s do this thing,” he announced, then held up the article for us to read.

  Nearly six years ago, the entire Motocross world was shaken by tragedy. At the center was rising superstar Jayson Hamilton, who placed among the top ten Ducati racers in the entire country. Not only that, he had just signed a deal that would launch his career internationally.

  Unbeknownst to all his fans and the Motocross club owners, a deep-seated rivalry had roote
d, one that ended in death.

  Motocross racer Matt Lewis was also a bright star in the Ducati world, racking up wins and placements throughout the three years he drove for the division. The guy who always wore a smile was loved by everyone, even those who only knew him from his photo on TV.

  Matt Lewis was involved with Jayson Hamilton, romantically. They lived together, drove together, and very rarely did the press see one without the other. Some hypothesized Matt sacrificed some of his own success to propel Jayson farther up the ladder, a rumor (or is it?) that only made him more likable.

  The couple was never secretive about their relationship, but they didn’t flaunt it either. They lived a low-key life based in Seattle and often described each other as their better half or best friend. Their same-sex romance never caused a splash in the media like Drew Forrester and Trent Mask’s relationship or even the GearShark’s recent cover model Arrow Ambrose. Perhaps because Motocross wasn’t as popular as it is now, or perhaps because their relationship flew under the radar.

  Until, of course, it ended in heartbreak that shattered their world and dominated headlines around the country.

  Jayson’s rivalry with fellow Motocross driver Roger Blaine came to a head when Blaine issued a challenge Hamilton couldn’t refuse. A street race to be held at Pinnacle Ridge, known to the locals as a dangerous road filled with twists, blind spots, and danger. The road also boasts a lot of loose gravel, as it’s an old road that has not been maintained well throughout the years.

  The winner of the illegal street race would take Jayson’s spot at MotoIntercontinental.

  On that fateful morning, Jayson was hit in the head by a heavy metal door while getting his Ducati out of his trailer. With a possible concussion, he was unable to drive, but he was also unable to forfeit or his coveted spot would be lost. In a simple solution, Matt suited up in Jayson’s leathers and mounted his Ducati to take his place in the race.

  Blaine arrived at the race with friend, Josh Rockford, and unknowingly began the race with who he assumed was Hamilton. Jayson stayed out of sight in the back of their trailer, nursing his bleeding head with his partner’s sweatshirt. The sound of Rockford unloading a second Ducati caught his attention, and soon Jayson realized Rockford planned to join in on what was supposed to be a man-on-man race.

  Worried for Matt, Jayson jumped on his bike and drove off in the direction everyone had gone. What he found when he came upon the racing men was a nightmare. Blaine and Rockford had set up the street race, planning the entire time to manipulate it so Hamilton would lose. Their plan? Force.

  The next series of events ended in Blaine and his partner Rockford running who they thought was Hamilton off the precarious road. Despite trying to stop what was happening, Jayson was too late.

  When first responders arrived at the grisly scene, they found Matt’s broken and mangled body on the side of the road, the Ducati he’d been riding totaled.

  And Jayson? He was discovered unconscious, lying on top of Matt as if he’d been trying to resuscitate him before losing consciousness.

  When Jayson woke in the hospital, he learned what the rest of the world already knew: Matt Lewis had died on Pinnacle Ridge that day.

  The story was highly sensationalized and reported on for almost a year after Matt’s death. But shortly after being released from the hospital and attending a massive funeral for his beloved partner, Jayson disappeared.

  Not one interview.

  Not one comment to the press.

  The second the sentencing was over for Blaine and Rockford, Jayson vanished. No one knew where he went, who he became. It was as if he simply ceased to exist.

  Some said he should have gone to jail. Some said he got what he deserved. Others passionately defended him against the ugly rumors and theories that swirled. But everyone wondered what had become of the man who was once on the path of international celebrity.

  Fast forward six years. Jayson Hamilton is found! He sits in front of me today. He isn’t alone, though, and he doesn’t go by Jayson anymore. His longer hair and scruffy face make it hard to recognize him as the clean-cut young athlete we all knew.

  His blue eyes appear colder than the pictures of the past—more piercing, more guarded. Even without speaking to him, I can tell you this is not the same man the world once knew. He’s older, harder, and most definitely more private.

  But even so, I have a feeling if I had met him just six months before, he would have been even more closed off. In fact, this interview probably wouldn’t be happening at all.

  We know what changed Jayson Hamilton all those years ago, but what changed him again? Who changed him? Where has he been all this time, how did he elude the press for so long, and why did he never speak out and give his side of the story?

  GearShark scored an exclusive interview with this ghost. For the first and only time, Jayson Hamilton has agreed to sit down and tell us the answers to all our burning questions.

  And I can tell you right now, his answers are going to rock your world. So much so, we’ve designed this entire issue around his exclusive. We’ve also been inspired to dig deeper, catch up with some of our past cover stars to bring you updates on where they are now. Settle in, turn the page, and read the interview the entire racing world has been waiting for.

  Then head on over to the GearShark App (If you don’t have it, be sure to download it!) and watch a short recording of a portion of this interview for an even more in-depth look at Jayson Hamilton… a man most of you already know as Hopper.

  That’s right. He’s been right under our noses this entire time. And double yes, he’s involved in a new relationship with hot up-and-coming NASCAR driver, Arrow Ambrose.

  Once your curiosity thirst is quenched, turn to the back of this issue for the mini articles on all the race stars we love.

  Without further ado, race fans, let us cross the #FinishLine of this introduction and veer off the racetrack to where the real story lies…

  Jayson Hamilton

  aka Hopper

  GS: First of all, I want to thank you for sitting down with me today. It’s quite the honor you have given to GearShark to trust us with your story.

  JH: GearShark has been good to my family. Trust is earned.

  GS: By family, you mean Arrow Ambrose, who is sitting beside you for this interview.

  JH: His name is Arrow Hamilton now.

  GS: Our entire staff noticed the rings on your fingers the second you walked in.

  JH: We noticed.

  GS: Let me backtrack for a few minutes before we get to the obvious exciting news.

  JH: This is your show.

  GS: This is not actually the first time we’ve met. I met you on several other occasions for interviews with previous NASCAR and NRR drivers, such as Joey Gamble and, more recently, Arrow.

  JH: Nice to see you again.

  GS: Being the journalist I am, I have to admit it’s a little insulting I had the hottest story of the year right under my nose and I didn’t even know it!

  JH: I wasn’t trying to insult anyone. I was trying to survive.

  GS: You go by the name Hopper now. No last name, just one name.

  JH: You asked me at Arrow’s interview why I only had one name. Now you know why.

  GS: So Hamilton is still your legal last name? Is Jayson or Hopper your legal name?

  JH: Legally, I’m still Jayson Hamilton. The only people that knew that was Ron Gamble and my accountant.

  GS: No one else?

  JH: You do now.

  GS: Th
is is a tell-all, you know. You’re supposed to tell me all.

  JH: Wanna know what color my underwear are?

  GS:

  AH (Arrow Hamilton, formerly Arrow Ambrose): She doesn’t need the color of your drawers, Hopp. It’s bad enough they took your picture with half your clothes off.

  GS:

  JH: Arrow isn’t too happy about my lack of shirt for the cover.

  GS: Okay, so forget backtracking. You boys make it nearly impossible. I need to know about your relationship. Then we’ll get back to the past.

  JH: Boys?

  AH: Men.

  GS: I stand corrected. How did you meet?

  JH: Through racing. Joey Gamble, who is a friend of mine—

  GS: You managed her when she was with NASCAR, correct?

  JH: Yes. Joey is dating Lorhaven, Arrow’s brother.

  GS: So Lorhaven introduced you?

  AH: My brother would have preferred I never dated.

  JH: We met when he auditioned for Gamble for NASCAR.

  GS: Did you hit it off right away?

  JH: We avoided each other for months.

  GS: Why?

  JH: Because we were attracted to each other, and, ah… I wasn’t ready.

  AH: I wasn’t either.

  GS: You’ve both had painful pasts. Do you think that drew you together?

  JH: In some ways, but mostly, I think it just made it harder.

  GS: How so?

  JH: Some pain is a lot to overcome.

  GS to AH: Would you agree with that?

  AH: Absolutely. I think it takes a lot to make a man want to move out of his comfort zone.

  GS: And Jayson did that for you?

  AH: I call him Hopper. But yeah, he did.

  GS: How long have you been together?

  JH: Long enough.

  GS: This is the first time you’ve been seen in public with wedding rings. We are in Vegas… Did you just get married?