Page 29 of His Choice

“I didn’t tell Mikey that I would share the information with you,” James explained. “But the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t see any other option. Even though he and Aaron might do everything possible to keep you from mistakenly choosing Aaron, I couldn’t live with keeping a secret like that from you. Their hands were tied about communicating the truth to you, but there’s nothing in the contracts that you all signed that keeps me from talking.”

“I appreciate that.” I shot him a smile to back it up. “You’re a good man, James.”

“Thanks. So, what’s the plan?”

I shook my head. “Well, I can’t make the producers aware that I know. Even if I received the message because of a technicality, I worry it could still tie up Mikey in litigation or get him ejected from the show for sharing. I think Aaron’s plan to broadcast the truth during a televised confessional could do the same to him.”

James nodded. “I thought that, too. I warned Mikey that might not be the best way to go.”

“I think before the crew returns tomorrow and cameras start rolling, I should find Aaron then let him know that the cat’s out of the bag and warn him to keep quiet. No camera confessions until the finale. That’s when Aaron can announce that he’d made a spectacle of his alleged infatuation with Mikey with the hopes of killing any interest I would have had in him. It would still cast Aaron as the good guy who didn’t want to trick the gay bachelor. There would be nothing the producers could do at that point to punish him for his ruse, since he would have maintained their secret until the finale.”

“True. Although Aaron could balk. Waiting to tell people he wasn’t really falling for Mikey will have everyone he knows, other than his parents who have a heads up on his plan, thinking he’s attracted to men the entire time the show is running,” James pointed out.

“Too bad,” I muttered. “If he has a problem going a few days with people believing he’s gay or bisexual, then he’s a dick. I don’t think he is, though. Would someone be as close to his gay roommate as Aaron seems to be if he was uncomfortable with how others view queer people?”

James shook his head. “Want me to go to his room and let him know that you’d like to talk to him in private?”

I nodded. “Sure. Send him here.”

James chuckled. “He might worry why he’s being summoned to your bedroom.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but the idea of making him squirm for a few minutes suddenly seemed appealing. I was still annoyed that he had played me earlier, even if his long-term intentions weren’t bad.

I shrugged. “It might be the only time I get to have any fun during this fiasco.”

After James tsk-tsked me, he left the room to summon Aaron.

I stood from the bed and unbuttoned my shirt, ready to create a humorous story I’d be able to share with my friends when the series was over. I kicked off my shoes and placed them at the foot of the bed just as there was a knock on the door.

“Cliff?” James called out, reopening the door a crack and peering in. He held back a laugh when he saw me stand, shirt opened. “Aaron is here, as you requested.”

“Send him in,” I commanded in as serious a tone as I could muster.

When Aaron stepped by James and saw me waiting by the bed, he visibly gulped. James closed the door as he exited, causing Aaron to jump and look behind him. He realized that he was alone with me. When he turned back in my direction, the apprehension was all over his face.

“You wanted to see me?”

I put my hands on my hips, purposely grabbing the tails of my shirt while doing so, exposing my chest and abdomen to him. He appeared nervous as his eyes flicked up and down my torso. “Yes. As much of you as I can. I rather hoped you’d already be stripped down, ready for bed.”

Aaron’s mouth opened for a moment without speaking. “Um, I just got back to my room. Mikey was sleeping, but I was looking for a bucket in case he wakes and…you know.”

“Ah. You’re very thoughtful. It was one of the things I noticed about you right off. But don’t worry. If your friend has an accident, the housekeepers will take care of it. That’s what I pay those servants to do.” I thought about how Adam would have laughed at that comment.

“Servants?” he asked, surprised by my faked fuckery.

I shrugged. “Servants. Peasants. Whatever. They’re not important, Aaron.” I approached him and he took two backward steps toward the door. I pointed at him. “You.” Then I poked my chest. “And me. That’s what’s important right now.”

The panic in his eyes was comical. I was about to end the game, but the little phisher suddenly gained his composure. He forced what he thought was a seductive smile. “Sure is. Any other time, I’d be all over you. But I should get back to my room for Mikey.”

“You just said he’s out cold. We have time.” I moved a few steps closer. He swallowed hard, his eyes betraying his false bravado. “The way we connected downstairs, your comment about having a chance with someone so… What words did you use? Smoking hot? Now, the way you’ve been staring at my chest since you came in the room.”

He took one more backward step, but it put his back to the wall. I was careful not to touch him. I wanted to teach him a lesson, not cross a line.

“Uh, honestly, I… I think I’m falling in love with Mikey,” he blurted.

I crossed my arms. “Is that a fact? Then why would you come onto the show and pretend you’re interested in me? Why did you just tell me that you’d be all over me if Mikey wasn’t needing your help?” He sputtered and I held up a hand to stop him from responding. “Forget it. Don’t answer. I already know everything. If you were ever put under oath by the producers’ lawyers, I want you to be able to testify that you never communicated to me that you’re straight.”

“Huh?”