“Me, too.” As the doors closed with aclunk, she turned away, heading back to Ted’s hospital room, brusquely brushing away her tears.
Chapter Thirty-One
Early Thursday
It was hours later, nearly two in the morning, before Andrea dropped Tasha off at the hotel.
It had been a long,longnight, but she was still marveling over the fact that, essentially, she’d nearly died because the internet thought she wasn’t skinny enough.
“You’re all checked in, room 508,” the queen’s assistant briskly said as she handed Tash the key card and three of the shopping bags. “That’s pajamas, fresh undergarments, an outfit for tomorrow. The room is equipped with toiletries, but if you need anything else, just give me a call—wait.” She dug into her handbag and pulled out a phone. “New phone—your old number. Your contacts have been uploaded. Don’t forget to set a passcode.”
“Thanks, Andrea.” Tasha got out of the car.
“Call me if you need anything,” the woman reiterated.
Tasha had to hit a buzzer to get the doors to open via the tired-looking person who stumbled out to the front desk. Andrea waited until she was safely inside before she drove off, heading back to the hospital, no doubt.
The hotel lobby was nice. It was decorated in clean lines and bold colors. At this time of night it was empty, save for the sagging front desk clerk.
And Thomas.
Her always-hopeful heart skipped a beat.
He’d been sitting near the entrance, clearly waiting for her, because he stood now as she came in.
He’d showered and changed. He was wearing a pair of nicely worn jeans and a Coronado T-shirt under a Patriots hoodie that he must’ve picked up at a gas station nearby.
She didn’t wait for him to start. She dove in, headfirst, herself. “I know you love me. You said you do, and I believe you, so whatwasthat? I also know you hate hospitals, and maybe being there started you spinning, but on what planet do you think, after everything that happened, after everything I told you, after the way we made love, that I’d suddenly goHuh, looks like the prince is into me after all. Guess I’ll choose him instead of the man I’ve loved forever.”
Thomas had the good sense not to try to argue. He just nodded. “You’re right.”
“You didn’t trust me,” she continued. “I asked you to and you didn’t. Give me one good reason I should listen toanythingyou have to say.”
“Okay,” he said. “Okay. How’s... I believed you thought you were right about Ted. I didn’t doubt that for an instant, but I thought you were mistaken because I was projecting. I couldn’t believe that someone who knew you as well as Ted did wasn’t completely, head-over-heels in love with you. Like I am.”
Tasha felt tears spring to her eyes. “Okay, that was a good one. But still. Thomas.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said, taking her hands and pulling her over to sit with him on the sofa. “You’re right. I should’ve trusted you.” If only he’d stopped there. But he said it. “But...”
He realized he shouldn’t’ve said the b-word, even before she narrowed her eyes and pulled her hands free. He shook his head.
“No, just say it,” she said, glancing over at the front desk, double-checking that the clerk had gone into the back room—that they truly were alone. “You started, so finish. But what?”
He cleared his throat. “I don’t know why you just didn’t tell me.”
“Because I promised Ted that I wouldn’t,” Tasha informed him. “The only reason we’re talking about this right now is because I finally got a chance to talk to him. He told me it was okay to tell you... what you’ve already figured out because of Jeff.”
“Still,” he said. “You couldn’t have given me even just alittleclue—”
“No, I couldn’t.” She was absolute. “He’s keeping his sexual orientation private, at least for right now. Do I wish he’d come out and live his life openly? Of course I do. It’s the twenty-first century. The world is way more welcoming than he thinks. I think his mother is, too, but that doesn’t give me the right to give youlittle cluesthat out him to you. And believe me, I thought about it.He’s in love with someone else. How easy wouldthat’vebeen to say to you? It’s true, he is. But if I said something like that and you pushed me in terms ofwho...? As soon as I use even vaguetheypronouns, well, there’sanotherlittle clue. Or am I supposed to lie at that point, and sayshe?” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to lie to you.”
“You could’ve said,There’s something important that you don’t know.”
Tasha looked at him. “Andthat’snot another giant, flashing neon clue? If I said that to you? There’s something important about Ted that you don’t know? You’re gonna assume, what, that he has six toes on his left foot? No. Nope. You’re gonna assume he’s gay. Which, I repeat, shouldnotbe an issue today, but sure as hell is with all the hate out there, being intentionally stirred up among the deplorable, the fearful, and the willfully ignorant.”
Thomas nodded. She knew he understood. “You know, what you said about his mother...? When we were on that conference call, it was Queen Wila who made the request for Jeff Willems to be released and brought to the hospital. She said, I’m sure my son would appreciate his support.”
Tasha shook her head in disbelief. Andtherewas a potentially amazing twist. What if, all this time, the queen’s seemingly active dislike was because she knew—or at least suspected—that Tasha’s relationship with Ted was fake. “Will you do me a favor and tell Teddy that? I’m not sure he’ll believe it if it comes from me.”
