That was something so deeply engrained in Fallon’s psyche, and it left scars that even time could never heal. Fallon still suffered, and I felt powerless to help him.
He took another sip of his tea, his gaze frank and open. “You say I don’t need my parents’ approval, but you still want it from yours, which is why you’ve never told them you’re bi, I think.”
“Is that what you want? Me to come out?” Funny how the idea didn’t seem as scary as it once had. Perhaps because I had someone by my side.
“No, I’d never force you to do that.”
“Well, we don’t have to think about it now. How’re you feeling? Any better?”
Fallon nodded. “Much.” His grin was wry. “Most likely because I have nothing left in my stomach.”
“Have the toast. It’ll help.”
“I don’t know…” He hesitated, and I joined him on the couch, where I picked up a piece of toast, buttered it lightly, and held it out to him.
“Eat.”
His lips kicked up in a smile. “Come on, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know. I want to.” I wiggled the toast. “Open up for me, or do I have to play airplane?” I swooped my hand holding the piece of bread. “Zoom,zoom. Coming in for a landing.” I brought it to his lips, and this time he ate it, plus two other pieces.
“I feel better, thank you.” He rested his head on my shoulder. “What time is it?”
I checked my watch. “Shit. It’s ten thirty. I need to leave. Coach said to be at the hotel by eleven.”
He kissed my neck. “I’ll get dressed and ride down with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. The toast and tea helped, and I need to get out of this room.” I could see his face had a bit more color. “I’ll just put on a sweat shirt.”
The night might not’ve turned out the way I wanted, but it was nice to simply relax with someone I felt comfortable with.Fallon returned, hair brushed, hanging loose around his neck, and I grinned.
“My sweat shirt?”
Red blossomed on his cheeks. “I grabbed it instead of mine when I packed. It’s a little big.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. You’re a large, and I’m a 2X.” I winked at him. “You look cute.”
We left the suite and rode down in the elevator. Fallon pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Thanks for coming and making me feel better.”
Eyeing the elevator panel, we still had ten floors to go before we hit the lobby. “How about something else to make you feel better?”
Back to the doors, he tipped his face up. “Whatcha got in mind, big guy?”
I leaned in for a kiss and cupped his ass. He tasted slightly sweet from the tea and salty from the butter. It was only meant to be a brief kiss but as usual, the moment my mouth touched his, all sense of time and place went straight to hell. I heard a sound and pushed Fallon off me.
“There he is. Patrick Sloane,” I heard someone call out. “Hey, Patrick!”
With his back to the doors, Fallon froze, and my heart dropped. Over his shoulder, I spied people with their phones out filming me. Holding Fallon. That damn waiter must’ve told people I was here, and they were waiting for me. Instinctively, I thrust him behind me, shielding him from prying eyes.
Shit.
Chapter Seventeen
Fallon
“Get out quick and distract them.” I frantically wracked my brain for a way out of this mess. “I’m going to stay facing the wall. With my long hair and big sweat shirt, they’ll think I’m a woman.”
