Page 96 of Holding On to a Hero
“That’s fine, Bridgette. We’re not ashamed of our relationship. And we realize a lot of people aren’t going to react positively.”
“Maybe it’ll make it easier for more gay actors to come out of the closet,” Will joked. “Being gay won’t have nearly as much shock value as being gay and in a triad.”
I laughed. Felicia and Bridgette did not.
Bridgette asked and received permission to give a head’s up to Charla’s publicist. We’d already decided to say I was bisexual so Charla and my relationship would seem legitimate. Rumors would no doubt imply we’d broken up because I’d cheated on her with Jason, but I didn’t mind coming off as the bad guy.
Ranger Ramirez asked Bridgette to put Anne’s security team in touch with her so they could be in the loop for taking down the shooter.
We wrapped up the call and, after changing into more comfortable clothes, we closed up the house and packed up the cars to start the drive to Austin. Fucking finally.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Jason
Spence and I were able to park both cars in the garage of the house Brian had found for us to stay in while we waited for the interview on Monday. Apparently it belonged to a cop friend of Malcolm’s. Cop friends meant I had to allow Malcolm might not be the incompetent idiot I’d assumed he was after the landlord story.
We’d made good time from Oklahoma, about nine hours including a few stops for food and restroom breaks. But it was 3:00am when we arrived and we were all exhausted. Will had been awake most of the trip but he’d gone quiet for the last leg of the journey. Which probably meant his back was bothering him again. Shit. I wanted to be able to fix all of his problems, and I couldn’t fix any of them.
We all breathed a sigh of relief when we filed into the kitchen from the garage. We’d left our luggage in the cars for now, but Spence carried Dave’s box inside. Brian had warned me that the owner of the house would be waiting for us so he could show me the security system. It turned out Will had already met him.
“Hey, Foster, right? It’s good to see you again. I’m Will, in case Malcolm didn’t tell you my name before.”
Foster greeted him and shook Will’s hand. After Foster was introduced to the rest of us, Will said, “Please tell Craig I really appreciate him driving me to the airport.” Foster was associated with Malcolm’s landlord? I needed to meet this Malcolm guy. After I slept for about a week. A wave of exhaustion came over me. I’d need to catch some sleep later. The overstuffed couch in the living room looked like a great place to nap.
“Damn, if cops had been this hot where I grew up, I’d have changed my career path!” Spence set Dave’s carrier down as he winked at Foster.
Foster chuckled, and – was that a blush? “Er, uh, thanks?” I had to admit he was pretty good looking, with lush black hair and dark brown eyes.
Suddenly Cole said, “Will, is your back hurting?” He was standing stiffly.
I suggested, “Why don’t you go lie down while Foster shows me the security system. Cole and I will bring the bags up later.”
Foster nodded and said, “The master bedroom is upstairs on the left. The guest room is to the right. There are clean sheets on both beds.” He knelt down to look at Dave in his carrier.
Will shook his head. “I think I’ll just lay down here on the couch. It looks really comfy.” He started to walk toward the huge brown sofa I’d been admiring earlier. It looked like you could spend an entire weekend in it and not move.
“No!” Foster shot to his feet and we all jumped. He stepped back and said, “Sorry. That couch is a menace. It’s not comfortable at all. I bought it online and then I was in the middle of a case when it was delivered, and…. Well, I just haven’t gotten around to replacing it. Craig keeps reminding me but I hate shopping.” He grimaced ruefully.
“Hah, I’ve got to try this out now.” Cole headed for the couch and we all watched him take a seat. He leaned back. “Yeah, that’s um, wow.” He stood up. “Come on, Will, Spence, let’s go check out the bedrooms.”
Foster laughed.
* * *
Later that night, Cole and I were getting ready for bed while Will talked to his sister on the satellite phone. It was only a little after 8:00pm, but the overnight car trip had thrown off our sleep schedules.
This morning we’d napped before Cole and I had called Trixie and Arturo to let them know what was happening. Trixie was thoroughly pissed she’d not been told the real story, but then she was even more pissed when she found out Will hadn’t been told either. Cole also called Charla Fenton to give her a head’s up on the gossip that was about to break. She demanded to meet Will over Facetime, and by the end of the call Charla informed Cole that she’d be visiting us early next year.
We spent the rest of the day watching the gossip sites. Anne Shipman had eagerly rearranged her schedule so she could be in Austin on Monday for the interview. Bridgette sent out the press release announcing Cole’s recovery from his coma and the upcoming interview first thing this morning, and her minions began leaking the reason for the interview about an hour later. The story started to gain traction by midday, and by early evening the press was frothing at the mouth to figure out who the mystery Good Samaritan was. My name was brought up almost immediately, since it was no secret I’d lived with Cole for years. So far they didn’t have Will’s name, but the shooter would have no trouble connecting the dots.
After dinner we’d all decided just to get some sleep. Spence had gone to his room a while ago, taking Dave with him because, as he put it, “It’s been a while since I’ve had a bad boy in my bed.”
Cole and I were in the bathroom together to give Will a little privacy with his sister. “You know,” he drawled as he watched me brush my teeth, “We haven’t discussed how we want our relationship with Will to move forward once all this is over.”
“Guh?” I gurgled intelligently around the toothbrush. I raised my eyebrows at him in the mirror, and he glared at me.
“When this is over? When we’re all safe and we go back home?”
