I whirl around. He’s caught me offguard.
I want to punch him. Not becausehe’s done anything wrong, but because he’s the closest thing to me.
Instead, I cling onto the lavaliermic.
“Would you mind giving this toEmily?” I ask, handing it to him and hurrying down the hall.
Fifty
Bryce
“You okay?” I ask for the seventh time as we enter hisDallas penthouse.
He glances at me, a lovely look inhis eyes. Like he appreciates that I’m here for him. “I’ll be fine,” he says.
“I noticed you haven’t beentalking to Kiernan much,” I say. I haven’t just noticed it. He’s made itglaringly apparent, and it’s clear that Kiernan has been equally uneasy aboutbeing around him. After the interview, Tad didn’t so much as look at Kiernan aswe returned to the hotel.
“I don’t have anything to say tohim right now.”
“He’s rattled by all this too,” Isay, hoping to remind Tad that despite how much of an ass his dad can be,they’re in this together.
Tad’s jaw tenses, and I realizethat I put my foot in my mouth.
“Oh,he’srattled?” heasks.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You know what he’s rattled about?Losing sponsors. Losing this life that we’ve acquired. That’s what’s making himnervous right now.”
“Tad, cut him some slack.”
“Cuthimsome slack? Why?He’s never cut me any! I don’t know if you haven’t noticed by now, but Kiernandoesn’t care about me. He cares about his bottom line. He cares about how muchsuccess I have and if it can make up for what a fucking faggot I am.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“Who are you to tell me what Ibelieve? You come here and fuck me for a few months and suddenly you think youknow me?”
“He’s your dad.”
“He’s also a first-rate asshole.”
“I get that, but let me tell youwhat a real shitty parent is like.”
“Just because my dad didn’tabandon me, I’m supposed to be thrilled that he can’t accept me for who I am?”
“Why do you always do this?” Iask.
“Do what?”
“Act like this heartless bastardwho doesn’t give a shit about anyone’s feelings but your own.”
“What?”
“You put on this show aroundpeople like you don’t give a shit about them, but that’s not the real you.”
“Isn’t it?” he asks.
“I know what you did for Debra.”
