CHAPTER 33

Reagan

 

My desk had papers lying everywhere. A pretty good indication I had too many things on my plate. But I would not let my first solo case be a failure when I knew I could win. The pieces were all there. All I had to do was put the puzzle together. I ordered lunch an hour ago thinking food might help. It still sat in a bag on the corner of my desk.

Two years at the firm and I’d been waiting for this moment. The time when I would have a case and not have to completely rely on one of the senior associates to guide me through. I grabbed my sandwich from the bag, taking my first bite, when my cell phone rang. Setting my food down, I wiped my hands on a napkin and pulled my phone from my pocket. A quick glance at the screen told me how late it was.

I hadn’t heard from Sawyer in hours. Not completely surprising. I knew his publicist wanted to talk tour dates with the band today. They’d probably just finished up. I opened the message to see that it wasn’t from Sawyer, but Heath.

Heath: Watch this

The next message was the link to the news website. My stomach dropped. Not that it stopped me from clicking on the link. A video opened up and that one bite of sandwich turned sour in my stomach. Sawyer stood behind a podium, his gaze focused on the people seated in the chairs in front of him. Whether he realized it or not, his fingers lightly tapped out a rhythm on the top of the podium.

He greeted everyone. I wasn’t listening to a word that came out of his mouth, too busy trying to figure out what in the hell he was doing up there. Then he let the bombshell drop and you could hear a pin drop in that room. “The reality is I’m gay.”

My ass flew out of the chair, but I couldn’t stop watching the wreck happening before my eyes. Sawyer had mentioned a picture of him kissing another man.

Oh, fuck.

He’d kissed me when we were getting into the car last night. When he realized what he was doing he backed away quickly, looking around to make sure no one saw what we were doing. The place had been deserted. We thought we were in the clear. Apparently, we’d been very wrong. I held my breath, waiting for the question I knew was coming.

Was Sawyer seeing anyone?

I had no idea whether I was ready to be outed publicly, but the time to worry about it had come and gone. My reality had changed. For Sawyer’s sake I had to accept it with grace and move on. Sawyer would need me by his side when he faced down the media. And even if it tanked my career, I would be right next to him, holding his hand and doing everything I could to shield him from the bullshit.

“Who’s the man in picture?” Not exactly the question I expected, but still the same answer.

“No one of importance.”

No one of importance? I had to be hearing things. My nerves had taken control of my brain. Then he answered about having a boyfriend. The moment he said no, I knew exactly what he was doing and I had no plans on letting him. He figured if he pushed me away, I’d be safe from dealing with the hoard of paparazzi about to descend on his life. And at the same time be able to keep my job at the firm. Which wasn’t even close to what I wanted. If he had to face the masses, I’d face them with him. I wasn’t delusional enough to think we wouldn’t face hurdles. Plenty of people would hate us for loving each other, especially my boss.

Suddenly, I wanted to slam my head against the wall. I still hadn’t told Sawyer that I loved him. In his mind, I could find a woman and fall in love with her without any of the damaging consequences to my career. I glanced around my office. The simple desk and chair. A picture of my parents on one corner. Papers strewn everywhere. Would I be able to give this up if they couldn’t accept the fact I was in love with a man?

For Sawyer?

I’d give up anything.

Ignoring the mess on my desk, I grabbed my keys and went in search of my assistant. If I wanted the firm on my side through all of this, I needed to give them the courtesy of not running out without an explanation. Not that I had high hopes for that, but it was worth a shot. Bridget was seated at her desk amongst the multitude of cubicles.

“I have a family emergency to take care of. Let anyone who’s looking for me know I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened. Leaving halfway through the day didn’t really fit my style. I worked late. “Okay.” She nodded slowly. “I’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you, Bridget.”

“My pleasure. I hope everything’s okay.”

“Me too,” I called out on the way out the door.

My steps ate up sections of pavement on the way to my car. The first thing I needed to know was where he went. I texted Heath.

Heath: The Homestead Hotel

Why would he go to a hotel? In the end, it didn’t matter. I knew I needed to find him and soon. There was no way I planned on letting him push me out of his life. Not without a fight.

I slammed my foot on the gas, the smell of burning rubber filling my nostrils as I peeled from the parking lot. My phone rang and I hit the button on my steering wheel to answer it. My mom’s voice filled the car.

“Reagan Michael Setton, you better start explaining why I just saw Sawyer standing up there all alone to tell the world he’s gay. Why wouldn’t you stand up there and face it with him?”

My hands tightened on the wheel. Normally, I’d be more sympathetic of her ability to jump to conclusions. Not tonight. Not when I needed to find Sawyer.

“That’s not what happened, Mom.”

“Well, that was sure what it looked like happened.”

I held on tighter, doing my best not to lose my temper on her. “I didn’t even know Sawyer was giving the press conference. Heath sent me the link when it started. I would never leave him to the wolves like that.”

“You didn’t know he was going to announce that?”

“No. I would have gone with him. Whatever happened it has something to do with the photo he mentioned. He kissed me in the parking lot of my office last night. We thought we were alone. Turns out we weren’t.”

“Oh my, poor Sawyer. Do you know where he is?”

“Yeah, Mom. I’m on my way there now.”

She was quiet for a long minute and I was curious about what might be going through her head.

“Are you going to be okay when all of this comes out?”

“I love him.” The answer was so simple in my mind, no other words needed to be said.

“Then go to him and call us if you need anything.”

“I will. Thank you, Mom.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. We love you.”

I disconnected the call when I pulled into the lot of the hotel. I’d call her back after I talked to Sawyer. Heath texted me with his room numbers and I made my way immediately to the bank of elevators on the right and took one up to his floor.

I stepped up to his door and lifted my hand to bang on it.

No more hiding. It was time for both of us to come clean.