Page 14 of Announcing Love (Sporting Pride #5)

Artem had a massive revelation. He didn’t give a fuck if he got fired.

There were other jobs. There were no other men like Tip.

Their relationship was a constant show of trust and he saw all the ways Tip added him to his life.

They were truly building something. It was beautiful. No job could compete.

Tip had known going to New York that Artem would see his dreams realized.

He hadn’t expected the feelings it would bring to the surface in him.

The whole way home, Artem had looked exactly like Tip felt all the time.

Part of him wanted to regret coming here.

He didn’t want Artem to change. Watching him in that barn, petting his horse in an expensive suit and with his hair combed to perfection, Tip had been so torn.

Artem looked sexy as hell, but that suit wasn’t his Artem.

He wanted back his wild boy. Tip didn’t want them to match.

So, Tip had just opened his mouth, and all the confessions had poured from him.

The moment he had started speaking, Tip had realized Artem could never be like him.

Not only was his life nothing like Tip’s, but Tip would also protect him from vultures.

Now Tip had to deal with his own bloodsuckers.

His desire to remain calm flew totally out the window the moment he pulled into the driveway and spotted the supposed totaled vehicle in the driveway in perfect condition.

Tip wasn’t surprised. Quince had already taken a walk and found the car collection, proving Artem’s theory.

But they weren’t even trying to hide the way they fucked him, and it was just too much. Tip stormed his way to the door.

His mom answered, looking surprised to see him. “Tip. Hi. Um. We didn’t know you were coming.”

“I intentionally didn’t tell you. The Benz is looking pretty good for being totaled.”

“Ah, well.”

He took a step forward, forcing her to take a step back. He walked inside like he owned the place because he did. “Gather the troops. Family meeting.”

She looked every bit as worried as she should. Her brown gaze eyed him for a moment before leading him into the dining room where everyone sat for lunch.

“Oh, good. Everyone’s here.”

Miranda’s eyes widened. “Tip. Hey. We didn’t know you were coming.”

“Obviously, since you didn’t bother to hide the car.”

“Well, we just—”

Tip swiped his hand through the air, cutting her off. “Save it.”

“Listen man,” Kyle cut in, making Tip’s eye twitch. “We—”

“I said save it.” Tip enunciated each word, making sure they understood he didn’t want to hear a thing they had to say.

“Let me save everyone a lot of wasted words.”

His mom refused to relinquish control. “Sit down, Tip. Have lunch with us.”

Tip didn’t let her start her usual smoothing things over for Miranda. He was beyond fucking done. Tip simply spoke over her.

“I’m done with you. All of you.” He eyed each one, making sure they understood no one was above this speech. “If you can’t make a go of life with what I’ve given you over the years, you deserve to be poor.”

“Tip Alan Ramos. I brought you into this world and you won’t speak to me this way.”

He held her stare and hardened his heart.

“I don’t think you heard me. We’re done.

” He motioned between them. “While I appreciate all that you did for me as a child, you didn’t do anything millions of other parents do every day without using it to hurt their kids.

Over the years, I’ve given way more than I ever received, and you know what? Not a goddamn one of you deserves it.”

“None of us have jobs, Tip. What about your nephew?”

Tip rolled his eyes at Miranda’s words. “You’ll be fine. God knows you have enough cars to sell.”

“Hey, wait. That collection is mine.”

Tip leveled a death stare at Kyle, making him fall silent.

“You can’t be serious.” His mom finally sounded nervous. “Like Miranda says, we don’t have jobs. I haven’t worked in years. Who would hire me?”

Tip shrugged. “You’ve had nothing but time to get your life together.

If you’ve done nothing but sit around spending my money, that’s no one’s fault but yours.

You’ve all accumulated a lot of shit on my dime.

I suggest you start selling it because you won’t see me again.

You made your choices. Now I’ve made mine.

No real family would treat me like this, so I’m out. ” He headed for the door.

His mom was hot on his heels. “You only get one family. Don’t burn that bridge. Some things you can’t take back.”

“You’re right and you’ve done them all.” He slammed the door closed behind him and tried to breathe steadily as he made his way back to his SUV.

The pains in his chest made him wonder if he was dying.

Throughout the years, he had told himself he did everything for love.

That love went away one day, and he didn’t understand when that happened.

How had his mom gone from being his mom to being this person?

It was like she died. He had to see it that way now, and it was killing him.

The trip home didn’t take long. As he pulled into the driveway, his vision blurred. Somehow, he made it, but he couldn’t see a thing. Tip didn’t know how long he had sat there.

The driver’s side door opened, and Artem was there. “Come on, baby. I’ve got you.”

Tip let himself get towed into the house. His body moved on autopilot. Then he blinked, and he was on the couch with Artem covering him like a blanket with an actual blanket covering them.

He wrapped his arms around Artem and held on. “What did you do while I was gone?” Tip’s voice sounded dead, but he wanted to be normal with Artem. He needed the peace.

“Gave myself a tour. I like this house better than the other one.”

“It’s way smaller.”

“That’s why I like it. It’s cozy. You can’t hide from me.”

“I’d never hide from you. I love you too much.” Considering his voice still sounded dead, it wasn’t too surprising when Artem didn’t panic. He probably thought Tip was out of his head.

Artem shifted slightly and pressed his ear against Tip’s chest in a different spot, as if getting a clearer listen. “Say it again. I want to see if your heartbeat matches the words.”

A smile exploded across Tip’s face. Artem was so incredibly strange and amazing and he loved him so fucking much. He wasn’t afraid of loving a good man. After all, he had spent his life loving shitty people. “I love you.”

“Wow. Not even the tiniest shift in rhythm. You meant that.”

“That’s definitely one thing I wouldn’t say if I didn’t mean it. No other man has ever heard it.”

“Good. You got to be the first in my bed. I got to be your first I love you. You’re still one up on me, though. I love you too. You’re the only man to ever hear that.”

Tip’s throat swelled. He blinked at the ceiling, trying to call his emotions under control.

Tip couldn’t recall the last time someone said those words to him.

More than that, he felt the love. He suddenly realized why Bandit had given up his expensive lifestyle for Sacha.

Tip would give up anything, but his desire to give everything to Artem was bigger.

A loud knock interrupted his thoughts. “It’s Quince.”

“It’s unlocked.”

Tip held Artem, ensuring he didn’t get away. They weren’t moving from this spot. His heart needed this too badly.

His longtime foreman strolled inside. His features were set and his gray eyes were hard. “Kyle’s coming down the road.”

Tip sighed. He motioned Artem’s way. “This is Artem. Artem, Quince.”

Quince’s gaze slid Artem’s way. His features softened. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.” Artem sounded so sweet and happy.

Pride swelled Tip’s chest, but it seemed his family wasn’t done for the night. “You know what to do.”

With a sharp nod, Quince grabbed a shotgun off the wall and headed back out.

A soft chuckle vibrated against his chest. “That’ll do it.”

A smile exploded across Tip’s face. He didn’t know what would happen with his family in the end, but he knew exactly where his life was headed. He held the future in his arms.