Page 19 of The Truths We Find

“It was a rough first day. We had some disagreements that led to a tense moment in the story pitch meeting, which led to an even worse lunch. Feelings were had.”

“Yours, or hers?”

“Both.” I wince.

“Gavin, maybe this is a sign. I know how you believe in all that mumbo jumbo. Geez, you both do. Maybe it’s time to really tell her what happened. I’m sure enough time has passed. There’s no way⁠—”

“Yeah, I thought that too. Until I found out who she’s dating.”

Emmett freezes, his mind catching up to what I just said. Suddenly, the phone slips from his hand, and I hear him shout off-screen, “That motherfucker!”

“Oh sure. That you put together at the speed of light but not the Dani thing?”

The image shakes as Emmett grabs the phone again. His face snapping back into frame.

“How are you not in jail for assault right now? Or worse?” Emmett says, trying to calm himself down.

“Every ounce of willpower.”

“Gavin, you have to tell her.”

I drop my head. “Dani can’t know. You know what Sam will do. This is my way of protecting her, even if it means she’s dating him. I’m planning to keep an eye on her. The minute I see anything I don’t like, I’ll handle it.”

“You know I trust you. You always protect everyone around you. It’s who you are. But…” I can see he’s trying to collect his thoughts. “I saw you after you guys broke up. You were not okay. It scared me, Gavin. I don’t want to see you go back to that place.”

“I promise, Emmett, I won’t go there again. You know that.” I smile. “I’m in a better place now. I have you. I have my career. I’m good.”

“I’m always here if you need me,” he says softly. “Love you, brother.”

“Love you back. I have to get to work. Call you this weekend?”

“You better, or I’m flying out there to do a welfare check.”

I bring the back of my hand up to my forehead and pretend to faint. “Oh, the horror. My baby brother coming to visit me.”

“Hey! I’m only three minutes younger! And don’t forget who’s taller.”

“Yeah, yeah. Bye!”

I click the end button and drop the phone on my desk. We’ve talked about Emmett eventually moving out here, so we aren’t alone in our respective cities, but I don’t know if it will ever happen without me giving him a kick in the pants. Even though he has the business, there’s nothing else tying him down back in Pennsylvania. He’s never been one for a committed relationship, and honestly, now that he has employees, he mainly runs things from behind a desk anyway. He could technically do that from anywhere. I make a mental note to bring it up to him during our call this weekend.

I decide to check in on Dani’s fill-in for the afternoon shows and see how they’re looking for air.

After discussing a few changes, I’m satisfied with what we’ve come up with and make my way towards the area that houses the editing suites.

Down the hall, I hear the faint sounds of Dani and Alexa’s voices filling the space. I find them in one of the darkened enclosed spaces, with the sliding door cracked. Alexa is staring intently at the dual monitors, with her interview in one, and old footage of Tate from City Council meetings in the other. Dani has her head down, scribbling notes onto a pad.

I quietly knock, careful not to interrupt their flow too much.

“Come in,” Alexa says without turning around.

“Just came by to see how it’s going,” I say cheerfully.

“We have the outline figured out.” Alexa turns towards me. “Now we’re deciding on the exact sound bites to use. Once that’s done, it will be easy to cover it with the different pieces of video.”

I see Dani checking time codes on the computer and writing them on her pad. Even though she hasn’t turned around, I see a scowl on her face.

“She okay over there?” I ask Alexa, pointing towards Dani.