“Tonight? Uh, I guess. Sure… Yeah, I can meet you there… No, I’ve never been, but I’ve heard it’s very good.” Hayden sneaked a glance and caught Armi’s eye. Armi quickly looked away.
“I’ll leave you alone.” Vibrating with annoyance, Hayden slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him. At his desk, he had emails to answer for Armi and notes to type up. He prided himself on perfection at the job, and the fact that Armi was doing exactly what he should—dating and breaking free of his shyness—shouldn’t affect him at all.
Armi buzzed him. “Yes?”
“Please come in.”
“Be right there.”
He saved his documents, sent one to Armi, and took two pages from the printer.
“I’m sorry, Hayden. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. It’s your office, and you have the right to take personal calls.” He handed the papers to Armi. “These are a copy of what I just sent you in an email. It’s the usual question-and-answer sessions they do with every owner before the season starts,butbecause you’re an out gay owner, there will most likely be questions about that. I’ve worked up some questions and answers, but of course, feel free to substitute with your own words.”
Armi started reading, and Hayden’s heart went out to him as he saw his fingers tremble. “I really don’t understand why my personal life has to be the subject of an interview about my ownership of the team.” He chewed his lip.
“It shouldn’t be, but it’s the world we live in. I’ve kept things surface and vague. When you talk toOut in Sports, then you can discuss it more in depth.”
“Thanks, Hayden. I appreciate everything you’ve done. This is amazing, and I’m sure the call will go smoothly because of you.”
He forced a smile. “Just doing my job. You’d better go to Conference Room B, and I’ve got to finish those scouting notes for you and coordinate your calendar.”
They walked out together, and Hayden watched as Armi disappeared from sight. Breaking his rule of no personal time at the office, he did an incognito Google search of the perfect Brent Taylor. Andover Prep School, Harvard undergrad where he graduatedmagna cum laude, then Yale Law School, Law Review, and went to work at one of the biggest white shoe firms handling the major real estate deals.
“In other words, the perfect guy with the perfect background for someone like Armi.”
He gave a vicious stab to the X at the corner of the screen and squeezed his eyes shut. Obsessing over a man he shouldn’t wantand couldn’t have was getting him nowhere fast. Time to do the job he was hired for and forget about Armand Winters.
The rest of the day passed quickly, and though he waited for Armi to return after the conference call, he never reappeared. At seven, Hayden shut down his computer and left, figuring to walk off his bad mood. By the time he reached home, he’d sweated through his clothes, and in the shower decided to hell with staying home and brooding. He needed to get laid to wipe the memory of Armi from his brain cells.
He dressed in a casual outfit, ate a protein bar, and headed out. He walked along Second Avenue and picked The Factory, a place he’d previously had success in. With a Tito’s and soda in hand, he scanned the crowd.
“Looking for someone in particular?” a voice purred in his ear. A heavily muscled guy in a band T-shirt that smelled as if it, and him, hadn’t washed since Woodstock, stood way too close in his personal space.
“Yeah. And still am.”
“Ouch. Come on, sweetheart. Don’t play hard to get—just hard.” He snickered, thinking his joke was funny.
“Do you mind?” Hayden slid off the barstool and walked to the opposite side of the room. The music was hopping, and he swayed his hips as he sipped his drink. He used to have no problem losing himself in someone, but tonight found him picking out all the faults of everyone he saw.
Too drunk.
Too underdressed.
Too overdressed.
Too loud.
He finished his drink and walked out. He tried another bar with the same result. Everyone’s laughter was forced. He didn’twant to be standing in a bar, trying to make eye contact with a potential bed partner he’d never see again.
Maybe he was too old for this shit.
At home, he got into bed and stared into the darkness. Wondering what Armi and his date were doing. His stomach cramped as he thought of the two of them kissing. Maybe doing more.
He punched the pillow, lying alone in his bed, thinking about a man who could never be his.
Chapter Sixteen
