What I had with Andrew was only a tiny fraction of this thing Rowan and I are creating. I snuggle into his arms, and the world is right again.
Thisis love. And I’d do everything to protect it.
Rowan holds me ever so gently, but his words are hard when he speaks, “That fucker is going off running his mouth.”
“They must think that just because Lance is the one doing the interview, and he’s been seen around with you, it makes Andrew’s story believable. This is an annoyance, but if we continue with the same plan, it’ll die down eventually. Anyone can go on the internet and say anything. Doesn’t make it true.”
I nod.
I get the logic. If I don’t bring light to this video, then it’ll just be another speculation on my life. I could hide until all this dies down and people lose interest in figuring out my sexuality. I could go back to how things were.
Something tugs inside me, and I look at Rowan. He’s watching me with worry in those beautiful eyes of his.
“Tell me what you need, and I’ll do it. Whatever you want,” he murmurs.
“I want you,” I blurt out. I’d said the same words last night, and they still ring true in the light of day.
I don’t want to hide. To have to pretend I’m not in love with Rowan—with a man—just to keep up the image my fans have of me.
Rowan once told me that I play the part for my job. I show them mycustomer-service side, but it’s still me. It’s a part that makes up the entire me, just like how Rowan is quicklybecoming a part that makes up my heart, and I want to show the entire world.
For the first time in a long time, I don’t want to hide away the parts of me that aren’t “marketable.” I want to be true to myself and make it clear to everyone—especially fucking Andrew—that I’m in love with someone who makes me better, and him being a man is only a tiny piece of the entire picture.
I scramble out of his hold to find my phone, ignoring the questions the two are throwing at me. I finally find it thrown under the coffee table and toss my phone to Ray.
“Make sure we look good,” I tell him.
“What are you—”
“Just take the photo!” I order, then climb back to my spot on Rowan’s lap and drape the afghan over us. “Is it—”
“Yes,” Rowan interrupts before I can finish my question.
“But you don’t even know what I’m planning.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he murmurs. “I’m all in, Milo, and that means I’m willing to go along with everything that goblin brain of yours comes up with.”
The mix of greens and blues melts behind the gold flakes that warm as he looks at me.
Hazel.
This is what love is.
His eyes on me. His arms around me. His presence filling my world like a protective barrier. It’s us. It’s always been us.
“Fuck. Even I have to admit that this is too fucking adorable,” Ray says, and I can’t even be mad about him interrupting the moment.
I catch the phone he tosses my way and open the photo of us. It’s just me and Rowan. I’m sitting on his lap, and Rowan has the afghan wrapped around us so that there isn’t enough skin showing to matter.
That’s not what catches my breath, though. It’s the way Rowan is holding me, so gently that you can see it, even through the screen.
And the love. God, the love shining on both our faces is so blatantly obvious that no one can mistake what this photo is.
“I’m gonna have to go take care of the storm after your hard launch. Good thing I already have a plan ready for this,” Ray says with a wink, then he leaves as quickly as he entered.
Rowan and I give each other a look, then burst out laughing. “Hurricane Ray has left the building,” Rowan jokes.
I laugh and snuggle deeper into his arms for the next part. Opening up my social media app, I select the photo and crop it so it only shows the top half of our bodies.
