“A friend, huh?” the captain said skeptically. It was no different from his usual distrusting tone, but the boy flushed scarlet.
“He asked if I was coming back tomorrow,” the boy admitted. It didn’t feel right to hide it from the captain. “He said he’d find me.”
“Hmph,” the captain said, and the coil of shame in the boy’s gut loosened a little.
15
the party
“How was lunch?” Arden asked.
I grunted and tossed my tie on the kitchen counter. My suit jacket came next and then the cuffs. Arden unbuttoned my shirtfront for me. He knew how I detested wearing a suit and tie.
“That good?” he asked.
I’d just come back from a business lunch with my father, Bitzy, and the contract lawyer for the television producer interested in optioning my book series. My father had done most of the talking, even going so far as to silence me when I had questions with,“We’ll work all that out in the fine print.”
“I want more creative control than what they’re offering, but my dad thinks we won’t get another deal. Or a better one.”
Arden studied me thoughtfully. “Do you want my advice?”
“Of course.”
“Hold out. These are your books and your creative vision. You have the power to say yes or no, so make sure it’s what you really want.”
“There’s a good chance the project will never make it to production. These things fall apart all the time.”
“Even so, this is your only opportunity to negotiate, isn’t it? Once the papers are signed…”
“Then it’s done.” He was close enough that I could rest my forearms on his shoulders and smell his expensive aftershave. “I should have you come with me. Be my advocate.”
“Isn’t that what Bitzy’s for?”
“Yes, but she gets flustered around my father, and so do I.”
“Talk to her about it. Or schedule a meeting without your father there.”
To go behind his back felt like a betrayal, but Arden had a point. I was the client. The agency worked for me, something I often forgot. I noticed then, that Arden seemed to be readying himself to leave.
“Working again today?” I didn’t bother to hide my disappointment. Lately, it seemed whenever I was arriving, Arden was on his way out. “I was hoping we’d have a lazy day in.”
“I’ve got party planning to do this afternoon, but I’ll be back this evening.”
The party in question was some fancy, themed event being held in a couple of weeks at Matteo’s mansion. Arden was particularly cagey about the details but told me to mark the date on my calendar. I was wary about what to expect.
“Is it coming together then?” I asked.
“It’s going to be delightful. Will you ask Liam and Franco to come too? I think they’d really enjoy it. Franco especially. I’ll put their names on the list.”
Had he thrown himself into this project as a way to spend more time apart? Other than our lovemaking, it seemed he’d been avoiding me since my launch party.
“You’ll be back tonight?” I asked. Coded within my question was whether or not he had plans with anyone else.
Arden stopped gathering his things to stare at me questioningly. “I told you already that I would.” There was a warning in the slight stiffening of his posture.
“I miss you,” I said.
His face softened and he kissed me lightly on the lips. “I’ll bring takeout. We’ll spend the whole night together.”
