“Yeah,” I said.
“Oh, yeah, uh-huh? It sure sounds like it,” she snorted.
“I can’t talk—”
“—about work, yeah, yeah.” She sighed. “Snapper’s been around a few times since you’ve been gone. He said you’re doing good. Got a promotion or something?”
“Maybe. Boss said he’s gotta see how it goes, but if I do okay…” I didn’t want to talk too much about it, partly because it was an unsecured line, and partly because I didn’t want to jinx it.
“It’d be nice to have the extra money,” Mari said, reading my mind. She took a breath. “Seriously, Teo, is everything okay? You don’t usually call when you’re away.”
“Yeah. No. I don’t really know.”
“You need to work on your communication skills if you want that promotion.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I hung up after making her promise she’d tell Snapper to stop talking business around her.
* * *
The day wore onand it soon occurred to me that Aidan was as keen on keeping someone with us as I was. Somehow it hurt to know he didn’t want to be alone with me, either. Obviously what I’d said to him had finally gotten through, and he realized now exactly what I was. I hoped it’d make him think twice about being so friendly with Mr. D as well, once we got home.
Midafternoon, we both got a reprieve when O’Hara asked if I wanted to come over to check on some security plans for the day of the ordination. “Shanahan can stay here with your guy,” he said, thumbing at the large man behind him.
“He’s not my guy,” I snapped.
O’Hara blinked at me. “Okay, then. So you coming, or what?”
I glanced back at Aidan, hoping he hadn’t overheard me. “Let me check in,” I growled to O’Hara. “I gotta let him know about the new guy.”
Aidan, who was sitting with Tara and discussing the history of Boston Cathedral, barely even glanced my way when I went over.
“O’Hara wants a confab,” I said generally, figuring Tara should probably know what her security guy was up to, as well.
“Oh, yes,” she said brightly. “I asked him to collaborate with you, since you’ll both be in charge on Sunday.”
“Both?”
She smiled vaguely. “I’m sure you’ll work well as a team.”
I decided to keep my mouth shut. “I’m going over the road,” I said to Aidan. “This dude’s gonna stay with you. His name’s Shanahan.” I waited, but nothing. “Okay, then,” I said, and stalked off.
“Maybe he’s not your guy, but he sure acts like he caught you cheating on him or some shit,” O’Hara observed as we walked a little way down the street to the command office.
“Fuck off.”
“Okay,” he chuckled. He gave me a curious look. “Still, must be nice.”
“What?”
“Being out and proud and no one giving a rat’s ass.”
I shot him a look from between narrowed eyes, but he seemed genuine, so I shrugged. “Guess so.”
“Reason I ask,” he drawled, as we reached the door, “is because I play for the same team.”
It wasn’t exactly a revelation. “Wouldn’t think your Boss would care,” was all I said, watching him punch in the door code and memorizing it, just in case.
