Page 89 of Call Me Sir

“No.”

Lifting his brows and cocking his head to the side, he waits for me to say more.

How does he look so casual and comfortable? A question dances around in my head, but I let it drift away like smoke dissipating into the air. I don’t need to ask why he’s never seemed afraid of me.

He’s answered that before. He’s good at his job. Maybe I’ve intimidated him, but it doesn’t change the quality of his work.

“Where are we going?”

The brilliant light that shines in his eyes makes him sit properly, for once.

“My house.”

Now he’s got me enticed.

“I know it’s not anything fancy, and maybe I should’ve offered your place, at least it’s fancier…”

I shake my head. Bayfront, especially Ace, could use some humbling.

“I was planning on cooking for us all…”

“Yes.”

Why is he chuckling?

“Did I say something funny?”

The eye roll doesn’t give me an sort of answer.

“You’re ridiculous.”

He doesn’t answer me, instead he stands and starts for the door.

“Oh… Um, he kinda knows my boyfriend is coming.”

The news hits me like a bag of bricks.

“I thought you said Tony and I are going?”

“I did… kind of a triple date. Tony’s girlfriend will be there too.”

“Why?” The anger hanging to the question isn’t masked.

Cole’s jaw sets to the side. It’s crooked and kinda cute. It does nothing to quell the anger growing in my chest.

“Why are you so bothered by it? You just want to be a secret forever?”

Folding my arms, I shake my head. “No, it’s been three weeks, Cole.”

Gripping the door handle hard, he leaves without another word.

Why is he not understanding how delicate this is? No one knows I’m gay.

A notification on my desktop catches my eye.

The HR person has responded. The gist is a congratulations with a rainbow gif. Ugh.

Strike that, there’s at least two people in the company who know I’m gay now. I don’t bother responding.