Page 26 of Spite Crush

“Enough,” Sutherland snapped, rolling his eyes at me. “Team management feels the same way. We would have cleared it with your agent…but you don’t have one at the moment. So, you’ve had your fun. But it’s over now.”

Like being chastised for who I fraternized with wasn’t enough. Sutherland just had to take the opportunity to dig at me, again, for firing my agent in a contract year. But that was a different fight for a different time.

“No one is hinting at any impropriety—” Sutherland continued, but he was cut off immediately.

“Impropriety?” Kellen snapped. “There’s nothing improper about two men being together.”

“Oh, grow up,” I told him. “You think I’ve spent my life in the closet for nothing? Of course people are going to find it disgusting. People are fucking awful, Kellen. If they weren’t, the LGBTQIA-plus society wouldn’t still be fighting tooth and nail for basic human rights. And the fact that yourflag isn’t flying loud and proud means you know it, too.”

“Don’t tell me how to live my life,” he said coldly. “I’ve never hidden who I am.”

“Which is why I found so many pictures online of you and other men out in the world, living your truth for your fans to see,” I reminded him.

“You know what—”

“Jesus Christ, knock it off.” Craig said, his tone thick with irritation. “We’re having this meeting because we assumed neither of you areinterested in making your situation public. Were we mistaken?”

“No,” Kellen said softly.

I knew that was entirely for my benefit, and while I appreciated his willingness to keep my life private, I couldn’t help feeling a small twinge of guilt that I was forcing him back in the closet.

“Right,” Sutherland said. “Then the matter is settled. You will cease all communication. And that includes no longer sniping at each other through Naomi Rose.”

“And how do you expect us to pull that off?” I asked incredulously. “She’s not going to let this go. We get Hockey Tonight way too many clicks.”

“Like you said, you’ll make a statement advising that you worked out your differences at your meeting last night, and the whole situation was a misunderstanding. You’ll wish each other the best. And that’s that,” Sutherland said.

“So, we shouldn’t do J.C. Penney photo shoot together?” Kellen asked.

I kicked him under the table and fought like hell to keep from laughing.

“Kellen, this isn’t funny,” Craig said.

“This is hilarious,” I insisted. “The nerve of you two fucking guys.”

“This is in both of your best interests,” Craig insisted. “Mr. Dempsey is correct that Kellen’s sexuality hasn’t been splashed around and I’m not in any rush to break the hearts of millions of women around the world.”

“Stop it,” Kellen said, glaring at his manager. “I’ve never kept my sexuality a secret.”

“You’ve never flaunted it, either,” Craig reminded him.

“What are you going to do when one of my exes finally talks to the press?” Kellen asked his manager.

“They can’t,” Craig said.

“What do you mean?” Kellen asked, his gaze narrowing as he stared at his manager.

“I mean they’ve all signed NDAs and received compensation for their silence.”

“You…what?” Kellen’s fingers curled into my leg, digging his nails in ashis body started to shake. “How could you?”

“I was doing my job,” Craig answered, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “I was protecting you.”

“Protecting me from what?” Kellen asked.

“From yourself,” Craig snapped.

“We’re getting off track,” I interrupted, reaching down to grip Kellen’s hand in mine and stop him from clawing into my thigh.

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