“Our airport lunch date,” I say with a nod. “Photo op number three of our New York trip. I’m sure it will be another smashing success.”
He sits on the couch, making himself comfortable, and I join him.
“And then back to our respective lives.”
I nod. “We’re both either working or on the road so much. It won’t be obvious that we aren’t living together.”
“If this were real, we might reasonably keep each of our separate places,” he agrees.
“They have you coming to Seattle first,” I say, recalling the schedule. “I’ll visit Boston after that. That’s good for you?”
“I’m planning to start a thirty-day routine in heavy training mode at home, but I can possibly get away for a night or two. It has to happen.”
“Absolutely not,” I say. “Do your training. I can write music anywhere. I’ll come to Massachusetts first. You can come to Seattle after your month.”
Spencer nods, looking grateful for that. “From there, the season starts up, and my schedule is a nightmare,” he says.
“I’m recording all summer. Then I’ve got mini-tours for a while.”
“The tournaments are steady all the way to January,” Spencer says, but quickly catches himself. “Oh. That’s when we’ll divorce.”
“Right. Our amicable separation. I’m sure our teams can make two impossible schedules work enough for some positive press until then.”
Spencer spreads his legs as he takes another sip from his bourbon, drawing my eyes to how thick his thighs are in the trousers.
Why does he have to be so painfully hot on top of all the other ways he’s a little wonderful? I’ve never been so annoyed to like someone. So aware that it’s a terrible idea.
“You know, this was always one of my justifications for not coming out,” he says.
“What was?”
“My tournament schedule. If I were going to have a relationship, I’d want time to actually have a damn relationship. Plenty of athletes make it work, but if I were married, I think I would want to be home with my man, not on the road.”
“Fittingly, you married someone whose schedule makes the problem even worse.”
Spencer laughs. “I did. At least we can relate.”
I swallow. “When the divorce is final, I’d be happy to introduce you to some guys if you want. I’m sure you’ll be a catch.”
The thought of setting Spencer up with another man makes me grumpy, but I say it anyway. It’s a good reminder for my dick and my brain.
Possibly another part of me, too.
He doesn’t have anyone else to guide him through all this, and he deserves to be happy. That’s what matters, and I’m not going to be an ass-hat and withhold.
“Maybe one day,” he says, a hint of sadness in his voice. “But like I told you, I’m definitely not going looking.” He gives me a playful smile. “Why would I want to sleep with one of your celebrity exes anyway?” he jokes. “I’ve already been with the guy with the magic fingers. Only way to top that is if I find someone I love.”
I snort a laugh. “Top that. I hear what you did there.”
Spencer rolls his eyes.
I finish my drink, and when I set the glass down, Spencer is standing.
“I should probably go,” he says. “I’ve got an early session tomorrow and dinner with Alyssa.”
I stand, too. “Thanks for coming by the show.”
“Anytime,” he say and quickly grabs me, pulling me into an awkward hug. Just as quickly, Spencer releases me. “Night, Gabriel.”
