I think I can safely gloat about that without being called an asshole.
When we arrive at the hotel where the event is being held, I get out first so I can help her out, and stupidly enough, as someone on the rope line snaps our picture, it hits me why Chris was so adamant I couldn’t tell anyone hewas my boyfriend.
The senator is single. I am single, and have an ex-wife. I’ve never given anyone a reason to believe I’m gay.
The initial optic is now set into place, especially once people learn who I am to the senator.
Considering how much we’ll be seen together, there’s no honey to dig out of that hive. No whispers that we’re cheating with each other. Let people wonder if we’re doing eachother. Who cares? Two consenting, single adults.
I can live with that.
And I owe Chris an apology for getting pissy with him over it. He owes me no explanations. One of the deals I made by agreeing to this was that he’s in charge, he has final word, and if he wants to explain, that’s up to him. I’m to trust.
Ineedto trust.
She looks up at me with an odd little smile. “What’s going on?” shequietly asks.
I shake my head. I can explain it later—definitelynothere and now. Meanwhile, I remember to slow my stride as we walk into the hotel. Lauren hates heels and usually can keep up with me with no trouble, but she’s also a little taller than Shae.
Once we’re inside at our table, I subtly scope out the surrounding tables. Sure enough, right where Chris told me he’d be, I see CalvinMattis. I’ve never interviewed him before, and something else Chris was correct about was the man’s distinctive, braying voice. I’ll have zero trouble overhearing him.
I feel a hand touch the back of my arm and I turn to find Jorge Gonzalez standing there, one of the current morning FNB anchors on the show the hour before Lauren’s.
“Hello, Kev. So how are you doing, buddy?” From his too-widegrin and his too-perfect hair, I’ve never liked the guy. He’s always rubbed me wrong.
He’s only five five, which is impossible to see when he’s sitting behind a desk in a chair that’s jacked up higher than his other co-anchors, or literally standing on a box so he looks taller.
And he’s a total fucking bitch if you forget his box, or if he’s not sitting higher than his co-anchors.
Or if he’sawake and breathing.
Seriously, he’s a bitch.
And I am most definitely not, and never have been, his “buddy.”
I smile, giving nothing away. “Doing well, Jorge.”
The practiced TV concern comes out, including the appropriate head nod. “We’ve all been sooo worried about you.”
Yeah, riiiiight.I nod back. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“Soooo. You doing okay?”
I plaster a commentless smile tomy face. “Doing great.” That’s all he’s going to get from me. Shae’s turned away from me, talking with a senator from California, and it’s not obvious that we’re together, unless someone saw us walk in.
“Where’s Lauren?” Jorge asks.
I hope my smile doesn’t slip. “I don’t know.”
You know, I’m actually enjoying this cat-and-mouse game with him.
His façade cracks just a hair as he realizes he’sgoing to have to dig deep if he wants any answers. But then Shae turns and touches my arm. “Kevin, I’d like you to meet Senator Catherine Monroe.”
God, I wish I’d had my phone ready to snap a picture of the jaw-gaping shock on Jorge’s face when Shae hooked her arm through mine.
“Oh, hello, Mister…Gonzalez, isn’t it?”
I fight the urge to laugh out loud. That was deliberate on her part, I’d betmoney on it. He’s now not only shocked my who I’m obviously there with, he’s crushed she seemed uncertain of his name.
