Page 100 of The Truths We Find

“Of what, sweetheart?”

“I broke up with him. What’s stopping him from releasing it? How do I know he hasn’t already? Oh my God… what if he did?” My breath comes in ragged gasps.

“Considering how fast things spread online these days, we would’ve heard by now,” he says calmly.

“I guess… that’s true. But how are you so calm? I’m not the only one in that video. It could ruin your career, too.”

He cups my face, fingers pressing gently against my temples. “Because we have each other. Everything’s going to be okay. I didn’t have faith in us before when I should have. But it’s different now.”

“Why?”

His eyes lock with mine. “Because I know we’re it. You and me. You came back into my life after ten years, when I didn’t deserve it. Fate is screaming at us that we’re meant to be. You are the love of my life, Dani. I’m so beyond in love with you, it hurts.”

Tears prick my eyes. “I love you, too. I think… it’s always been you, Gavin.”

He leans in, kissing me soft and slow. His body presses against mine, heart beating in sync with mine, and I know he feels it too.

“Take me upstairs,” I breathe against his lips.

“Don’t we need to figure out⁠—”

“No. I’m not letting that man get between us anymore. We can deal with it tomorrow. Right now… I just want us.”

A low growl escapes him, and before I can protest, he scoops me up in a basket carry.

Our issues can wait. Right now, this—us—is the only thing that matters.

I can’t stop bouncing my knee during the morning story meeting.

On the way to work, Gavin and I agreed that it’s time to tell Mr. White about us and formally report our relationship to HR. It’s just a formality really, but my chest tightens anyway. I can’t stop spiraling, imagining the worst. What if they decide we can’t work together? They can’t fire us over a relationship, but a shift change… that could happen. And that thought gnaws at me for two reasons:

One, I fought tooth and nail to land the afternoon weekday executive producer slot. That’s prime real estate. I shouldn’t be moved just because of who I’m dating.

Two, if the roles were reversed and I was News Director, with Gavin as Executive Producer? Twenty bucks they wouldn’t even think of moving him. Welcome to misogyny in news. I’ve been navigating it my whole career.

Hopefully I’m blowing this out of proportion, I tell myself.

“Dani? Does that work for you?” one of my producers asks.

I shake myself out of the spiral. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I just wanted to make sure you were good with Mia’s story going ahead of Gene’s.”

“Yeah, that works. Let’s wrap up here. Any other questions, feel free to come by my desk. Thanks, everyone.”

There’s a murmur of thanks as people file out of the room.

“Dani,” Gavin calls from the doorway. “Can you come with me?”

I follow him down the hall in silence, until we’re out of earshot of everyone.

“We’re doing this now?” I ask.

“Might as well rip the Band-Aid off,” he says.

Oh wow. This is happening.

“I’m nervous,” I admit, my stomach twisting into knots.