Page 93 of The Love Haters

“Buthere, it’s professional—andthere, it’s personal. It’s you brushing your teeth and eating Cheerios. Putting on your pajamas. Doing dishes. Answering the phone. It’s intimate.”

At those words, Hutch looked slightly miserable. “Even more reason to get it over with.”

“I don’t want to make you do this,” I said. “What if I just… refuse?”

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because then I’m in more trouble with Cole,” Hutch said. “And I’m already in enough trouble with Cole.”

I felt so indignant. Nothing happening here was any of Cole’s business, and he was butting in where he absolutely did not belong. But, of course, it was alsoallCole’s business. It washisbrother,hisaunt,histransferred assignment. I was only here—had only even met Hutch—because of Cole and all of his complicated motivations. Whatever they were.

“Is there no way out of it?” I asked.

Hutch just frowned into my eyes for what felt like an eternity. Then, as if our fates had already been sealed, he said, “I’ll text you my address.”

Fifteen

I WASN’T GOINGto make a “Day in the Life” documentary about Hutch, of course.

Not to put up on YouTube for all the world to see.

I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t. Not knowing everything I knew now.

Here was my plan: I’d make the video—and make itamazing—and show it to Sullivan and her executive team to prove my worth and save my job. I’d do my normal thing—but then I’d just never upload it.

That could work, right?

If Hutch didn’t want to be famous, then I wouldn’t make him any more famous.

I’d just use Hutch’s infinite charms to make a video so kick-ass that Sullivan had no choice but to let me keep my job. What was that Steve Martin quote? “Be so good they can’t ignore you”? I would be soamazingthey couldn’tdownsizeme.

Not as catchy, but still.

And if I had to objectify Hutch a little bit to delight my she-wolf boss and get that done?

There were worse penances to pay.

This was a way for everybody to win, right?

I typically started the “Day in the Life” sessions around ten in the morning. This gave me plenty of time to get good footage before the sun went down, a night to sleep on it, and then a little time the next morning to capture anything I’d missed.

The next morning at ten sharp, I showed up at Hutch’s house. Except it wasn’t a house.

It was a houseboat.

Of all things.

In case this needs to be said, it’s a very strange feeling to pack up all your favorite camera equipment and borrow your landlord’s Mini Cooper and drive to a sleepover with a man who does not want you there.

Twenty-four hours can be a very long time.

And then when your map app leads you to a place called the Sunshine Marina? And the house turns out to be a houseboat? Even stranger.

At first, I thought I must have the address wrong.

Until I saw the hand lettering on the hull that readRue the Day. Perhaps in honor of the only person I’d ever met named Rue. And then, above it, on the rooftop deck, wagging his tail at the sight of me, I saw George Bailey.

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