Page 123 of If This Gets Out

Best,

David Cranage

Publicity Director

Chorus Management

Tue, 6:13 p.m. (3 days ago)

Ruben

To: David, Zach, Geoff

Hey.

Zach and I actually have some questions (not strictly about the above, but more in relation to the fact that we’re not going to be touring Europe for another year at the earliest). Can we organize a time to speak? I don’t think this concerns Jon and Angel (not yet, anyway).

Thanks,

Ruben

Wed, 10:21 a.m. (2 days ago)

David

To: me, Zach, Geoff

Hi Ruben.

Absolutely. Geoff and I can meet you for a video chat on Friday. How does 11 a.m. suit?

Best,

David Cranage

Publicity Director

Chorus Management

Our four faces fill the screen in equal boxes.

Small talk is done, and it’s time for Zach and me to bring up the reason for today’s call. David and Geoff are pretending that they have no idea where this is going, but they have to know what we’re going to say. In fact, I’d bet alotof my net worth that they were chatting together to finalize the plan right before calling us.

None of us are smiling.

Zach looks down at his lap, and I take it as my cue to kick us off. “So, Geoff, when Zach and I told you about our relationship—”

“Oh, it’s official now, is it?” Geoff cuts in with over-the-top enthusiasm. “Congratulations!”

“I—yeah, it is. Anyway, at the beginning, you said—”

“It must be hard to be apart right now,” Geoff interrupts again. “I trust you’re practicing discretion in regards to visits?”

He’s trying to buy time. That, or he’s hoping if he changes the subject enough, or puts me on the defensive, I’ll lose my nerve. “Yes, we are. You said that we could come out publicly after Russia.”

Both Geoff and David keep their expressions carefully blank. Zach peeks up at them, then turns back to his lap.

David answers first. “Russia is still a year away at this stage.”

---