“So, he’s gay?”
“Yes. But that has to stay between you and me, as Julian’s in the closet.”
“Why?” I frown.
“Because he has a hell of a lot of female fans who watch the show because of him and his pretty-boy looks. Coming out could damage the ratings, as his female fan base could drop when they realize that he’s not fishing in their gender pool, and the network doesn’t want that.”
“That’s stupid.”
“That’s reality, babe. Women like to see the men they watch on-screen as available.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like they’re ever really going to get with them.”
“You landed me, didn’t you?” He shrugs.
“Ass!” I poke him in his side.
“Hey! No need to go crazy and start attacking!” He holds his hands up in surrender.
“Drama king.”
“No, babe, your King.”
“God, you’re so arrogant.” I roll my eyes.
“Just the way you like me.” He chuckles.
Shaking my head, laughing, I settle back down beside him and start watching the show again.
“Anyway, it’s only like you and me,” he says.
“What is?”
“Julian in the closet. We’re in the closet, albeit together. People don’t know about us.”
“For a completely different reason.” I can feel my insides starting to tense.
“Yeah. But whatever the reason, we’re still hiding. Just like Julian.”
I don’t say anything because…what can I say?
I’m partly doing it for him—the movie and keeping his reputation clean, not attracting attention to his love life again—but I’m also nervous about us going public, which is the truth but not for the reason he thinks.
I feel like I’m deceiving him.
I am deceiving him, and I hate it.
I just don’t know quite what to do about it yet. Well, I do know what to do, but at the end of the day, even when that’s done, I’ll still have to tell him the truth. I’m just not sure what version of the truth to tell him.
“So, I’ve been wanting to ask…” He pauses the show and shuffles down the bed.
He turns on his side to face me, so I do the same.
“Sounds ominous. It doesn’t involve something kinky and dirty, does it?”
“No, but it can if you’d like?” His eyes flash at me.
“I’m not averse to kinky and dirty, but let’s put a pin in that for later, so you can ask me what you wanted to ask me.”
“Will you come to Sasha’s wedding with me?”
He’s asking me to the wedding?
My heart soars.
“I mean, I know the dress is fixed, but I thought she might need you there, just in case, you know.”
And then it drops like a rock in water.
“You want me to come to help with the dress?” My voice is stilted. I know it is. I can hear it, but I can’t seem to help it. “The dress is fine. Sasha won’t need my help.” I sit up and start to get off the bed.
“Hey, where are you going?” He tries to tug me back to lie down, but I resist.
“Back to my hotel.”
He moves across the bed, so he’s sitting beside me. “Why?”
“No reason.”
“For fuck’s sake, Charly.” His voice is tense. “Don’t play games. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
I turn my eyes to him. He looks irritated.
So, I tell him the truth, “I overheard you talking to Natasha on set last week.”
His brows pull together. “About?”
“Sasha’s wedding. You hadn’t even told me, which was fine because you didn’t have to.”
“Clearly, it’s not fine.” His tone is resolute.
“Well…it just would’ve been nice if you’d mentioned it, considering all the time we spend together.”
“It wasn’t a conspiracy to keep it from you, Charly. I’m a guy. I don’t think of shit like that.”
“Natasha knew. And she knows about us. I thought we weren’t telling anyone.”
His eyes flash anger at me. “I didn’t tell her about you and me. She guessed I liked you back in the beginning when I yelled at you on set. And I trust Natasha. She’s not a gossip; she’s good people. And, as for Sasha’s wedding, Natasha already knew that, too. I’ve known her for a long time. She knew when my sister got engaged, hence her knowing about the wedding.”
“Okay,” I say.
“What else?”
“Who says there’s more?” I frown at him.
“Your body language.” He gestures at me, and I realize I’m pointing my body away from him.