Page 50 of Not My Fault

“I have to do the interview with Pride11 in five minutes. Do you wanna grab a drink and we can meet at our table?” Emily asks.

“Sure.” I nod and she hands me a ticket. “Good luck.” I kiss her, and she disappears with Viv.

I walk farther inside the building and find the bar serving drinks. I get a tequila sunrise and look around the room. It’s draped in sheer rainbow curtains to make the light inside look like a rainbow. There’s a stage and a podium at the front, with a team of people setting up the microphones. Each table is round, with a rainbow number sign in the middle. I find my table and take a seat but there is no one with me so I take a sip of my drink and look around.

I feel a little out of place but I know I’m not here for me. This is the kind of thing Emily needs me to do so she could continue being LULY. And I saw firsthand how happy it makes her to be onstage, so I want to do everything I can to make sure she doesn’t lose that.

“Gus?” My name being called makes me twist in my seat. I jump up when I realize it’s Kenzie calling my name.

“Holy shit! What are you doing here?” I greet her with a hug.

She’s wearing this dazzling black dress that shows off her full figure. Her wife, Barbie, is behind her in a pink dress similar to Emily’s but different enough there won’t be a report in any magazines.

“I’m a gay supermodel, did you think I wouldn’t be here?” She laughs. Of course she’s at an event like this.

“Barbie, it’s good to see you again.” I smile.

“Is your girlfriend here? I heard she was on the guest list,” Kenzie asks.

“She’s doing an interview right now, but she’s here somewhere. I definitely want you to meet her.” I smile. Especially now that things were real, I want Kenzie to see that I’m happy with someone.

“We’re at table eight, why don’t you find her and bring her over? I have a few people to say hello to.” Kenzie smiles and I nod.

“Okay, I think I’ll get her now.”

I go to look for Emily. She’s probably done with the interview by now and I don’t want her to miss meeting Kenzie. I look around the press room, trying to see if I spot my girl. A flip of blonde hair catches my eye, and I see her across the room. It’s right by another set of doors, so I go the long way to get her so I’m not accidentally in the middle of any other media. Last thing we needed was the headline ofLULY’S PARTNER CAUSES MEDIA BLACKOUT AFTER RUINING SEVERALINTERVIEWS.When I come around the other side, Emily’s back is toward me so she can’t see me, but I can hear everything.

“Would you give our fans any insight to your relationship with Gus?” the reporter asks.

“We like to maintain a pretty private life,” Emily says.

“Is it a serious relationship?” the reporter questions.

“I’d say it is, yes.”

“Are you in love?” The reporter is nosey as hell, but I want to hear her response. This isn’t something we’ve talked about yet.

“I think I’m getting there. Falling in love takes time, and if they’re patient, I think I just might be.”

“Wow, you heard it here folks. LULY is falling in love. We wish you and Gus all the best, and thank you for joining me tonight.”

“Thanks for having me, Jeremiah,” Emily says.

The interview ends when someone yellscut!And then it’s all murmurs. I can’t hear anything else they’re saying without the microphones. But my heart is beating in my ears anyway. Emily is falling in love with me? Did she really mean that? I knew she had to, because why would she lie about something like that? Emily made a point of telling it like it is, especially when it came to our relationship. Was that why she didn’t want me to hear it?

“Oh! Gus!” Emily rounds the corner and almost bumps into me.

“Hey.” I kiss her cheek, and she stills.

“You’ve been here the whole time?” Her eyes widen, and I get confirmation that what she said was real.

“Uh no, I just came to find you. My best friend, Kenzie, and her wife are here so I wanted to introduce you,” I say quickly. I hate lying to her but I don’t want her to be nervous about what I heard. Or feel any pressure to say something before she feels ready.

“Oh okay, I’d love to.” She relaxes and takes my hand, letting me lead her back to the party.

Kenzie and Barbie aren’t at the table, but we find them grabbing a drink and I get Emily one too. Barbie and Emily hit it off right away, talking about the other’s dress and who designed it. They start talking like they’re old friends and I laugh. I’m glad Emily is getting along with my friends so well.

“You two look really good together,” Kenzie says.

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