“And… would you like benefits with this friendship?” I venture, a little too boldly.
Silence.
Way to go, Gabriel.
42
ALEX
I enter the kitchen,pull out a chair, and slide in beside a haggard-looking Gabriel.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
He gives me the side-eye.
I just can’t with him anymore.
The coffee machine hisses and sputters, and Elijah releases the steam before pouring the milky froth over mugs of hot espresso. The robust aroma fills the entire kitchen and then some.
Gabriel leans forward, letting out a long sigh. “The paparazzi are gathered outside of your apartment. I guess it’s a big deal when a supermodel turns out to be gay these days.”
I rap my knuckles against the counter and then reach for my coffee. “I think they’re more interested in my coming between the two of you.”
Gabriel perks up. “Now, wouldn’t that be lovely! You’re welcome tocumbetween Elijah and me anytime. Isn’t that right, love?”
I choke on the froth as Elijah turns around.
“Relax, amigo.” Gabriel chuckles, handing me a napkin, wise-ass grin still in place.
Ignoring his idiocy, I swing my gaze to Elijah. He tosses a spoon into the sink, then moves to stand by my side.
“As Gabriel was trying to say...” He pauses to blow on his coffee. “The paparazzi are camped outside your building. I spoke to Ana and asked them to stay inside. The last thing they need is to get dragged into this drama by hungry reporters. Emilee’s a little shaken up, but Ana’s used to this shit. They’ll be fine.”
I shoot to my feet—too fast—and spill my coffee. “I have to leave.”
I’ve spent my entire modeling career keeping Emilee out of the public eye. I’m not about to subject her to it now.
Elijah steps in front of me, righting my mug as he does. “As long as she stays inside, she’s not in the spotlight. If we go to your place now, we’ll only draw more attention. Let the PR teams handle this. We’ll go quietly in the morning.
“I agree,” Gabriel adds, tossing in his two cents.
Logically, I know they’re right, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I glance down at the spill spreading out across the counter. I should probably wipe it up, but nobody else seems too concerned with it, so whatever.
Gabriel stands, stretching his arms overhead. “Well, I’m turning in early.” He drops his mug in the sink and returns with a sponge to mop up my mess.
I swear he does this shit just to irk me.
“Buenas noches, Alex.”
The dark line of hair below his belly button leaves me completely tongue-tied, but I manage a clipped nod. Once he’s out of earshot, I turn to Elijah.
“He’s staying here again, isn’t he?”
Elijah brushes off the jealousy trailing behind my words with a casual wave. “Don’t worry about him. And please don’t stress about the public finding out you’re gay. Our PR team knows how to spin these stories—they’ll craft a better one. I promise.”
He leans in to kiss me, but my hands shoot straight to my hips.
“Is that what you think? Do you honestly think I’m ashamed of being gay?” I take a step closer. “Let me make this very clear, Elijah. Maybe having sex with a man is new to me—okay,definitelynew to me. And falling in love with one? That was a surprise, sure. But I am not ashamed of loving a man, Elijah. I’m not ashamed of lovingyou.”
