I studied him, looking for any tale-tell signs that he was being anything but honest at the moment. So far, everything he said seemed genuine. I leaned forward, picking up the photo again, examining it. “Son of a bitch!” I snapped. “All of those other photos he showed me, claiming some mysterious asshole was sending them to me, was actually him.” I turned to Aiden. “You know, after we broke up, I didn’t get any more photos, then as soon as we got back together, here came the photos again.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Aiden asked.
I shrugged. “I had just found out about it a few days before we got back together. At the time, it came with a blackmail note, but no contact info. I didn’t give a shit anyway, because I had already made up my mind to be with you regardless.” I turned to Troy. “Thank you for letting us know, Troy. How did you know to come here?”
“Rupert told me you were coming out here to see him. Wanted me to get some images, clearer images of you two together. I told him I would because I didn’t want him going to anyone else with this story who would take him up on his offer.” Troy looked at Aiden. “He really doesn’t like you.”
“Like I give a fuck,” Aiden stated. “I hate him for what he’s doing to Macio.”
“I’m going to handle this shit,” I said, thinking that I was about to come out on my own terms, no one else’s. I looked at Troy. “Since you’re freelance, would you be interested in taking our first official couple photos?”
Troy cocked both eyebrows. “Are you serious? You want me to take your pictures?”
I looked at Aiden. “What do you think?”
Aiden seemed to mull it over. “I’m okay with it.”
“Well, I’m honored, but who am I taking the photos for?” Troy asked. “I mean, I’d like to get paid for these photos. My generosity only goes so far.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ringside Magazine. It’s the biggest sports publication out there. Aiden, you can write the story about our relationship and have it on the website’s daily blog in a few hours.” I wanted to grab this bull by the horns.
“Are you sure, baby?” Aiden asked. “I mean, this is a really big move.”
“I was sure about this move before I flew out here. All Rupert’s done is put a little fire under my ass,” I stated.
“Okay… well… if you’re ready, I’m ready,” Aiden said, giving me his support.
Knowing that my brother was all right with me being gay made coming out even easier. I was actually really looking forward to it. “Okay, let’s get dressed and you get your cameras ready.”
Troy nodded. “How soon will Ringside be able to pay me for these images?”
“True to nature,” I taunted.
“Hey, you make a living beating people’s asses. I make a living taking photos of celebs. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a heart. I split a lot of the money I make off my photos and donate it to the local LGBT center for youths,” Troy explained.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Are you gay?”
“Maybe I am. Ever wonder why, out of all of my scandalous photos, I never outed anyone? Like I said, I have integrity. Now, I don’t give a shit about some asshole cheating on his wife or her husband. I’ll expose them all day long,” Troy said.
Now that I thought about it, he had never outed people. The magazine he worked for a lot seemed to have no problem with that. But they were a sleaze rag and I wasn’t going to give them this exposé. “You’re right. Okay… fair enough. Are you ready?” I looked at Aiden. He was still fuming over the photo Rupert had taken of us, but he nodded. We waited for Troy to return with his camera and told him to make himself at home… on the sofa. Aiden got him something to drink and we both left him alone to go get dressed.
“He better not get too nosy down there,” I said as I slipped on my t-shirt.
“He’s not going to find anything but family photos and nick-knacks, but let’s not leave him down there too long, okay?” Aiden replied as he slipped on a pair of khakis.
I loved the way his ass looked in those pants. I was hoping to wake up to some afternoon nookie, not this bullshit, but I was about to put an end to this right now. There was one thing I wanted to talk to Aiden about before we went back downstairs.
“He did this because he’s jealous of you,” I said.
“I know.” Aiden finished buttoning the last button on his lilac shirt. Not many men could pull off that color and look damn good, but he could. “I knew the moment I met him that he had an unhealthy attachment to you. I was highly suspicious of that first photo he brought to you. And when you broke up with me, I could see the happiness in his face as I walked out of the hotel.”
It was all making sense to me now. “I was so clueless about him. Listen, Aiden… baby, I’ve got to tell you something. Please try not to get mad.”
Aiden froze. “Please tell me you didn’t fuck him.”
“No! Hell no.”
Aiden exhaled deeply. “Oh, thank goodness.”
