Page 77 of Call Me Sir

I don’t believe him, I don’t believe anything he’s saying. He’s changed? Yeah right, it’s all a facade so he doesn’t seem like a bigot and loses money. No one changes overnight. All I can do is hope that Cole is not falling for this bullshit.

“Which is why I want to introduce you both to someone.” My father gestures to one of the staff who rushes to the patio door.

“I’d like you to meet, Jeff.”

I roll my eyes.

What? He’s got some PR guy who’s gonna set up some press conference on our reuniting? Unlikely as that’d reveal that my father was a terrible person to begin with. It wouldn’t be past my father to try that anyways though.

Except the PR guy doesn’t stop at the table to greet us and shake our hands.

No! He keeps going right up to my father and wraps his arm around him!

This well dressed, friendly looking man touches my father. His large red frames contrast his salt and pepper hair. The man is more tan than me, around the same height and at least two decades younger than Hammond.

“This is my partner, Jeff.”

No fucking way… did my father just say partner?

This has to be a publicity stunt!

Everyone is staring at me and I’m caught between yelling at my father, and fleeing.

“I know how I treated you was insane. I guess I didn’t realize I was fighting my own repression.”

My tongue spasms in my throat and I just keep swallowing trying to cold back a coughing fit.

“The smoothies are ready!” Jeff says as a platter of different colored smoothies travel toward us.

What the fuck?!

Jeff takes a seat beside my father and my blood boils as they gently rub thumbs over each other’s hands.

Unable to speak, I watch as Cole nervously gives me a smile then picks a purple smoothie.

“Sir?” Someone I don’t recognize offers me a drink.

“No thank you,” I manage to mutter.

“Sal’s not much of a talker,” my father says with laughter before sipping his mango drink.

He’s having a blast, enjoying his riches and fucking some dude. Or being fucked. Why does thinking about that bother me so much?

I shouldn’t care, right?

It shouldn’t bother me, right?

“For dinner I had simple caesar wraps, I hope that’s alright.” He’s so cheery as he begins, chattering away about something else. As if he hasn’t completely upended my entire life, and our entire relationship for no reason. As if he didn’t just tell me that he’s gay? Or at least bi?

“Sal?” The gentle touch to my arm, pulls me out of my thoughts, and I slightly jerk my arm away.

His imploring gaze calms me. Despite everything I’ve done, he’s here with me right now at my father’s house. A small part of me regrets telling my father that we’re not boyfriends.

Rolling my shoulders back, I offer a halfhearted smile and look to my father who is still going on about God knows what. Thankfully, it seems he missed the exchange between Cole and I.

There’s a fluttering in my chest that I hate. How do I wash these growing feelings for my employee? I can’t be feeling this way.

The sun begins to dip into the horizon after we’ve eaten our meal. Jeff asks questions and I give short responses.

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