Page 110 of Faithful

“In case you don’t know who I am, I’m this young man’s boss.” She pats my shoulder and grins mushily, and I realize that she’s already buzzed. There were countless bottles of beer stashed in her office specifically for the party and I saw her opening one when I was leaving work earlier. “Anyway, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Dylan told me he was seeing someone public but never explained who exactly, and frankly I would have never guessed… after your history.” Gin’s face falls. It occurs to me that she didn’t mean to say the last part out loud. “I’m rambling. Sorry. I only allow myself to relax once a year. On Christmas. And all the beer’s getting to me.”

“No worries. We’re good,” Kai says to reassure her, his tone warm and friendly and nothing like the tone he employed when he tried to accuse me of using him as a piece in my chess game with my father. “If I pursued your line of work, I’d be an alcoholic way before thirty. Social work is tough.”

“And thankless,” Gin says.

“That too.”

“And we still love it.” She barks out a very hysterical laugh.

It’s official.

I’m seeing my boss drunk for the first time ever.

And she’s chill.

We file in and shut the emergency exit door behind us. The party takes place in the reception area and the guests can’t see the trio huddled between a utility storage room and a restroom at the end of the hallway.

“Okay, so this is just for your information,” Gin says pointedly, her gaze bouncing between Kai and me, suddenly no longer glazed and all business. “It’s a very intimate gathering. Mostly family. And everyone was politely asked not to take any photos with you or of you two together unless you consent. They were also asked not to mention your date’s name anywhere outside these walls.” She locks her eyes on my face and holds them there.

“Geez, I hope they’re not expecting a presidential visit,” Kai jokes. “I’d be sorry to disappoint.”

“Ah, trust me,” Gin whispers, “We are not that hard to please.” She throws both arms over our shoulders and then nudges us forward with her small fists at our backs. “Now, let’s go have some fun, kiddos.”

We walk in the direction of the chatter, which promptly dies down as soon as our presence is revealed.

I pause.

So does Kai.

Little shivers run up and down my limbs and I have this immediate need to take his hand, to claim him as mine, because all ten pairs of eyes in the room are suddenly on his person.

The music is still playing. It’s “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, and I find this hilarious. My heart is racing inside my chest.

“Everyone!” Gin claps her hands, and someone has the common sense to lower the volume. “I’m sure you know Dylan. You probably saw him around our office this year.”

Soft blasts of laughter fill the reception area.

“Asking a lot of questions on labor law compliance in the fine State of Washington,” she goes on, “and cleaning the coffee machine.”

More laughter.

“Dylan brought a date.”

This is where I realize Gin didn’t really tell anyone in attendance I would be coming with a date. She just said I’d be bringing someone public and asked to keep things under wraps. Perhaps she mentioned I was gay. Or perhaps not. I’m not sure because the entire room is stunned into a moment of brief shocked silence.

This was a mistake.

This was a mistake.

This was a mistake.

I didn’t think it through. Coming out in front of strangers. Dragging Kai here, without consulting his manager or any public relations agent.

My head begins to spin. I’m panicking over the fact that there’s a possibility we rushed into this and the entire “start small” thing is going to blow up into something of much larger proportions, into something I won’t be able to contain.

The first person to speak is Winona. “Umm… so… can I take a selfie with Kai?” She makes puppy eyes. “Please.”

A whisper rolls through the small crowd. I examine their expressions, trying to understand if there’s any hostility, but all I see is curiosity, which is normal whenever Kai enters the picture.

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