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“Oh! Cole—”
“Send it in an email, Mr. Glover.” I turned the corner before getting the head of marketing’s affirmative.
Phones rang, papers shuffled, staplers stapled, and the pain pills I’d taken earlier had lied. They didn’t last four to six hours. They hadn’t even kicked in.
Waltzing past Leland’s desk without a word, I strode into my office, tossing my coat in the general direction of the sofa before circling my desk and taking a seat. I flipped through the paperwork left there for me, pretending I hadn’t heard Leland come in and that I didn’t notice him glowering near the closed door wearing a cocktailed expression of rage, concern, and pity. “Get it off your chest, Leland,” I said eventually. “I’ve got ten minutes until the board meeting.”
“You’ve survived years without him, and now you’re back in his life and this is what one night apart does to you?” He flung his hand toward me, and I smoothed down my tie. There wasn’t anything I could do about the rest of me.
“It’s not that simple, and you know it.”
“Did you think he’d have a come-to-Jesus moment and leave his husband?”
“I’d hoped,” I admitted.
“Why would he? Because he loves you? They never leave, Cole,” he said with conviction, stopping my senseless clicking of my pen.
“Are we still talking about me?” I asked, to which he scratched at his nose and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “Who hurt you, Leland?”
“Everyone who mattered. But enough about me. What can I do?” He’d closed himself off to me. It was what he always did when the conversation turned to him and his past.
“You’ve been a great friend, Leland. When will you let me return the favor?” I implored, searching his eyes for an opening.
“You can return it by telling me what I can do for you.”
It was always about what he could do for me, which was why I didn’t miss an opportunity to pay him back in other ways. “Tell me your uncle found something on Daniel.”
“No. I believe his exact words were ‘squeaky clean, neat freak boy scout.’ Couldn’t turn up so much as a parking ticket. Although, he did win the overachiever award four years in a row back in high school. If that isn’t a crime, I don’t know what is.”
I slumped in my chair, the day wearing on me already and there was still so much of it left. “What about phone records? Emails?”
“Everything sent and received has been aboveboard.”
“How long have you known all this?” I asked, observing him carefully.
“All week,” he said. “You were having a good time, so…” He trailed off with a shrug. “I didn’t want to ruin it.”
“There has to be something,” I said to myself. “Have him look again, or find me someone else who can.”
He agreed, checking the time on his watch. “Your ten minutes are up. It’s showtime.”
“Leland,” I called before he could leave, he waited with raised brows. “You actively seek out lovers who are unavailable. You of all people should understand me on some level here.”
“I understand you aren’t built for this life. Maybe I didn’t take it seriously before. Maybe because I genuinely thought he’d leave him—despite my claims of it never happening. I’d hoped for your sake this was different. But I’ve had a front-row seat to how this is playing out. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. And I hate it,” he said. “Oh, and speaking of favors, stop paying my rent or I’ll quit.” And without another word he was gone.
Two hours later I was back at my desk, crisis averted. Daniel had brilliantly presented our options to the board in dealing with the Delnewik scandal, assuring them that legally we had nothing to worry about, but if we wanted to uphold our reputation, we’d need to act swiftly in getting the CEO removed, and show our unyielding support for the victims. For now they were mollified.
I went online and booked a suite at The Sharai Hotel down the street. I reserved it for the next few weeks as my work calendar was cramped and unavoidable due to all the things I’d been pushing off lately. Now, there’d never be a missed opportunity for Jasper and me to see each other in the middle of the day when his schedule allowed for it. We could meet up at the hotel for lunch and other things. I could’ve asked Leland to book it, but after our talk I’d decided to keep my stupidity to myself.
I took a look at my planner and saw a small gap between meetings in the evening, so I texted Jasper the hotel details and told him to be there.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” I said, lying back on the pillows amid the crumpled hotel sheets.
“It’s too soon to forgive you,” he said jokingly, buttoning into his shirt near the window.
I climbed off the bed and ventured over to him, taking his face in my hands. “You already have.” I’d left a key for him at the front desk, and had only provided him with a time and place. He’d entered the suite equally worried and confused.
“What’s going on, Cole?”he’d asked as the door swung shut behind him.
