I should probably just shut up, but I also feel the need to clarify so she doesn’t think we’re trying to cover up a relationship. “If I was gay, he would probably be my first choice, but unfortunately I’m straight,” I explain.But damn, that sounded bad too.“Not unfortunately, because being straight isn’t bad. Not that being gay is bad either,” I add.
“Oh my god, how do you manage to be so endearing even when you’re bumbling?” Adrian asks with a laugh. “Stop stressing, this is a formality. We don’t actually directly work together, so you can calm down. It’s not like I’m your boss.”
Natasha laughs too. “Yeah, thank God Beckett Caldwell has never tried to date a player. That would have been a problem. But Adrian is right, no need to stress. And honestly, even if you twoweredating, I don’t think it would matter. It’s the same form, you’re just disclosing a personal relationship outside of your professional one, and like Adrian said, you’re not reporting to each other, so there’s no real conflict. This is just so that the team can have your back in case anyone tries to point fingers and make anything up later on. But thank you for sharing so much about your opinion on sexuality,” she says with an amused smile.
“Can we all just pretend that I handled this whole thing very calmly and professionally?” I ask with a wince.
“Nah, this was way more fun,” Adrian teases.
And yeah, if Adrian looks that happy, I don’t mind embarrassing myself a little. I wink at him, waiting to see his cheeks turn pink again before turning back to Natasha, and pulling the papers closer. “So I sign these?”
“Yes, everything is highlighted so it should be pretty straightforward.”
“Thank you.”
And a few minutes later, my nonprofessional roommate relationship with Adrian is official.
“Should we celebrate declaring our relationship?” I tease as we walk back to our cars.
“Oh my god, Hudson, you can’t say it like that, what if the media heard you?”
“Who cares.” I shrug, earning a very confused look from him. “They always say whatever they want to anyway. I have a game tomorrow, so I can’t really eat anything fancy, but I could watch you eat something more fun if you want me to pick up food on the way home,” I offer. “I can enjoy the smells and live vicariously through you.”
He smiles at that, shaking his head a little. “Want to do that takeout place right next to my building that has the grilled chicken and veggies and stuff you liked last time?”
I groan and my mouth is already watering from picturing the pasta he had. “Hell yeah, you want the same rigatoni with breaded chicken?”
“As long as you don’t mind me having a way better meal.”
“Not at all. Like I said, I’ll pretend I’m enjoying it too,” I assure him. “Plus, you should always have whatever you want. Don’t let me hold you back.”
He smiles up at me as we get to his car, his dimples drawing my focus for a moment as he looks around. “Where are you parked?”
“The other side of the lot.”
He turns back to me, wide eyed and staring at me like I’m crazy. “Then why the hell did you keep walking with me?”
“We weren’t done talking.” I shrug. “Plus it’s dark. Can’t I make sure you get to your car okay?”
“I am perfectly capable of walking myself to my car,” he insists, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.
“Obviously,” I agree with a short laugh. “But I still wanted to.Anyway, I’ll call and order the food now so it’s ready when I get there. Want to watch that design show you introduced me to last week while we eat?”
He uncrosses his arms, eyeing me skeptically. “Do you actually like it, or are you just suggesting that because I like it?”
“I liked it too!” I insist. “And I need to study before I have my own place for the first time in years.” Shelby moved in shortly after we started dating almost six years ago. We got married about a year later, but that all feels like a different lifetime now.
“Fine, I’ll get everything ready for when you’re back. You sure you don’t want me to pick up the food?”
“Fuck no, I’m living with you and you refuse to take any money, so buying food is the least I can do.” I turn away before he can argue and shout “See you at home” over my shoulder, ready for another fun night of ignoring the fact that my life looks nothing like I thought it would a month ago.
At least it’ll be with Adrian.
4
ADRIAN
Ijust finished emailing the documents I need Beck to sign to approve the latest marketing campaign, focusing on ticket sales for different theme nights, when he walks up to my desk in the small lobby outside of his office and hands me my large iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso. I’ve already confirmed everything the marketing department put together after our last meeting with them, and it looks great, so he literally just needs to sign it.
