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Damn.
* * *
I steppedoff the elevator that night, and Hale was walking to me.
I tipped my head for his kiss, and he gave it to me.
He jerked his chin up at Rocco, who the elevator doors were closing on, also who’d escorted me up, as well as escorted me from the car to the front door, then Hale asked me, “Were they assholes?”
“It wasn’t too bad.”
“Wine or cocktail?”
“Are you imbibing?”
“Having a beer. Got back later than I’d hoped, so I didn’t cook. There’s a place around the corner. Great Italian, fucking amazing pizza. Thought we’d walk there.”
Since we were now unofficially official, so it didn’t matter who saw us, why not?
Nugget of news: his question about assholes referred to all the paps who were now stationed outside his building and had just taken a million photos of me walking in, at the same time shouting questions at me. Thus, my need for an escort.
I’d seen one or two there before, but either they didn’t put it together, or I wasn’t big enough news, or they’d snapped shots and I’d just never seen them. It hadn’t been a problem.
Now, I could tell, considering Sunday night when we arrived it was an absolute onslaught, and it wasn’t much less now, it was going to be a thing.
“Sounds good,” I responded to Hale’s plans for dinner.
“Glass of wine before we go?”
I nodded.
He headed to the end of the island that held his wine stash and pulled out a red.
I slid on a stool, “Dad called today.”
“Hmm?” he prompted while getting the wine key.
“He’s dating someone.”
Hale’s eyes came right to me, and I endured his close inspection.
He then requested verbal assurances. “You cool with that?”
“Tickled pink.”
His lips tipped up, and he returned to the wine.
But Hale’s eyes came right to me.
Right to me.
Assessing. Knowing that was news that could go either way for me and he wanted to look right at my face to see which way it swung.
“Mom and Adam broke up. She’s looking for somewhere to live,” I went on.
“Coulda called that,” he said, reaching for the aerator. “It’s all fun and games when it’s behind someone’s back, but when it’s every day, the thrill is gone.” He glanced at me. “You gonna call her?”
“I should. I haven’t yet.”
