Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Wow. Gossip gets around here even faster than I thought.”
Angela looked taken aback. I realized how sharp my tone was.
“I’m sorry. No one was supposed to know about the job offer. I had to get a recommendation letter from Buxton. As a courtesy, I told him I’d received an offer. He was supposed to keep quiet but obviously he told Ash, and now Connor overheard and…” I didn’t know what else to say. I might have lost Connor for good.
“Connor didn’t know?” Angela asked. Thank God there wasn’t any judgment in her tone.
Someone in the front row turned around and glared.
Angela grinned at me. “Looks like we’re the troublemakers today.”
“If they don’t hurry this up, I’m really going to make some trouble. I need to go find Connor.”
Angela patted my arm. “I hope you work things out. He seems like a great guy, and he’s also fucking hot.”
I was glad I didn’t have a drink at the moment. I might have spewed it all over both of us.
“What?” she said. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
“I’ve… noticed.” I realized Angela hadn’t said how she knew about Connor. “Did you talk to Connor?”
“Yes, I introduced myself. He’d been accosted by Ash and his posse and looked like he needed saving.”
Shit! There was no telling what they said to him. He was probably already angry before he heard about the Campton position.
“Did he tell you he was my boyfriend?” That was the last thing I would’ve expected.
Angela smiled. “Yes, though he was adorably shy about it.”
Ms. Front Row turned around again. “Please show some respect.”
Angela made a face that said, “uh oh, we’re in trouble,” and I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
I leaned closer, speaking right into her ear. “He’s been in the closet until really recently. So, I didn’t think…”
She nodded and squeezed my hand. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
What seemed like an eternity later, I had my award in hand and was ready to make my exit. It was a terrible breach of etiquette not to stay for the post-awards dinner and thank the donors and Mrs. Renquist again. I’d seen a photographer milling about. I was probably expected to take some photos with the other winners, but I didn’t care. I was more concerned about setting things right with Connor.
“If anyone asks, tell them I’ve taken ill,” I told Angela.
She smiled. “Shall I say you’ve retreated to your chaise? Do you need smelling salts?”
“I might if this goes as badly as it could.”
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” Angela said.
I slipped out a side door and headed for the parking lot. When I pulled out my keys and unlocked my car, it hit me that I’d driven Connor. How had he gotten home—or wherever he’d gone?
I pulled out my phone. Still no messages. I called him, but the phone went to voicemail. I doubted there was any point in leaving a message.
Fuck. I started the car and backed out. Hopefully, he was home.
Once I was on the highway, I called Sabrina.
“Hello.”
“It’s Jeremy. Have you um… heard from Connor?”
“Yes, I gave him a ride,” her tone was clipped but she didn’t sound truly angry.
“Ah, shit. I’m surprised you even took my call.”
She sighed. “I’m assuming there are two sides to this story, like most.”
I wished I could justify my behavior. “There are, but this time Connor’s in the right.”
“Then go tell him that.”
Thank God she wasn’t warning me off. “Is he at home?”
“I assume so. That’s where I took him.”
Then that was where I’d go. “Thanks.”
“Don’t hurt him,” she warned.
“I already have, but I’m going to do everything I can to make things better.”
“Good, because if you don’t, you’ll be hearing from me, and I promise you I’m way scarier than Connor. He plays by the rules. I don’t.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I said before ending the call. I had no doubt she could make my life hell if she thought I deserved it.
22
Jeremy
Several minutes later, I parked near Connor’s apartment. I didn’t get out of the car right away. Instead, I laid my forehead against the steering wheel and took a deep breath. I could do this. I could face Connor’s anger, own up to hurting him, and somehow—please let me figure out how—make things at least a little better.
I opened my door and stood. One foot in front of the other, step by step, I covered the distance to Connor’s door. My hand shook as I lifted it to knock.
No answer. What if he refused to come to the door?
I knocked again. “Connor, it’s me. Please let me in.” What would the neighbors think? It didn’t matter. Only seeing Connor mattered.
Nothing. Not a sound. His truck was in the lot, but maybe he’d walked somewhere else. Maybe he was with another man right now. Maybe there was another guy in there getting a taste of what was mine. Fuck no!