Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MARCUS
Iwalk back feeling relief and a hint of fear.
I think I fixed it, but I made Jeremy fucking cry.
I’m such an asshole.
When I reenter the restaurant, I rub the sweat from my eyes, and the hostess gives me an odd look, which isn’t surprising since I did sprint outside like my ass was on fire.
Sabrina is still sitting at our table, but with a large piece of chocolate cake and a very full glass of wine. I almost smile.
“Back so soon?” she asks as I sit down and put my head in my hands.
“I’m so sorry,” I moan into my palms, my shoulders slumping.
“Who’s the pretty boy?”
I look up, my cheeks heating. “Huh?”
“The pretty boy you were chasing down like you were in a nineties romcom. Is he your secret boyfriend?”
I purse my lips. “He . . . he is, actually.” I look her directly in the eye. “He’s my boyfriend.”
Saying it out loud is euphoric.
Still, how is admitting to this virtual stranger that Jeremy is my boyfriend somehow easier than admitting I’m bi?
My brain stutters.
I’m bi. Holy shit.
It’s the first time I’ve really accepted it, even if only to myself, and it feels good.
Sabrina gives me a sympathetic look. “He doesn’t know about our arrangement, huh?”
I shake my head and give her a tight smile. “But he does now.”
“You should probably tell him that we’re not on a date.”
“I tried. I think I convinced him. I’m going to his place after this to talk.”
She takes a large bite of her cake, then wipes a smear of frosting from her lip. “Mmm,” she says around the mouthful. “I’ll come with you.”
The statement leaves me a little dumbfounded. I look up at her. “You want to come with me? To my boyfriend’s apartment?”
She winks. “He’s cute. Maybe the three of us can . . .”
I glare, and she bursts out laughing, covering her mouth with her napkin. “Roy, I’m kidding. I don’t even want one dick, let alone two.”
I relax a little, sitting back in my chair and taking a very large swallow of my wine.
“It might help him to meet me. The last thing I want to do is fuck up your secret gay relationship. I know exactly what that’s like.
” She gives me a hopeful smile. “Maybe we could have a double date sometime. I showed Laura a picture of you, and she was insanely jealous, so I bet it would put both their minds at ease.”
“I’ve really been trying to keep Jeremy off Skynet’s radar. A date probably isn’t the greatest idea.”
“Tell you what,” she says with a grin. “I’ll help you win your boy over tonight, and we’ll have dinner at my place sometime. No public stuff.”
I nod slowly. “Yeah, okay.”
She slides her cake to the center of the table and hands me a spoon. “Have some cake. It’ll make you feel better.”
I take the spoon and sliver off a small bite, moaning when the rich flavor hits my tongue. “It’s so moist.”
Sabrina starts giggling. “That’s what she said.”
I snort a laugh. “Very mature.” I lick the spoon and point it at her. “So, what about us?”
She looks at me pointedly. “So since you need to put on this facade just as much as I do, it’s settled. Want to be my fake boyfriend?”
“Sure, why not. Been in enough fucked-up real relationships, so why not a fake one?”
Once I pay the tab, we head out, and even though the walk isn’t long, we take an Uber to Jeremy’s apartment.
“We could’ve split the bill, you know.” Sabrina’s long nails tap rhythmically on the soft gray upholstery.
I smirk. “I used my company card, so it was a win-win for both of us.”
She barks a laugh. “Well, in that case, I’ll let the gentleman pay.” Then she looks disappointed. “Shit. I should have ordered more food.”
“This won’t be our last date, right? Always next time.”
After a few minutes in stop-and-go traffic, the car pulls up to the curb, and we get out. I texted Jeremy on the way, so the door is unlocked when we get there, and I lead Sabrina inside.
“What in the holy hell is that?” Sabrina asks, eyeing the ugly hot dog mat.
I snicker as I push open the door to Jeremy’s apartment and look around.
His place is tidy, like always, and he’s curled up on the couch under a soft, colorful afghan that I’ve since learned was his grandmother’s.
T is asleep in his lap, though I start to suspect it’s all a ruse when his tail starts to flick.
“Took you long enough.” Jeremy’s voice is saturated with sass, and I have to smile. But when he turns to see Sabrina, he freezes.
She takes off her coat, hangs it up, and looks around Jeremy’s apartment with interest. “I love your taste,” she murmurs, her fingers trailing over one of the lacy curtains before approaching Jeremy’s bookshelf to peruse his impressive collection—a mix of old-school fantasy, horror, and romance.
“Uh, thank you?” I can tell he’s torn between taking offense and accepting the compliment.
“Jeremy, this is Sabrina. Sabrina, this is Jeremy. My . . . boyfriend.”
The blush that rises in his cheeks brightens his whole face. He stands up, pushes Toothless from his lap, and folds the blanket over the back of the couch. T sniffs and looks up at him indignantly.
Jeremy’s wearing gray sweats and a cropped sweatshirt that shows a strip of pale, toned abs. “Sorry,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
Sabrina turns to him. “I’m so sorry, hello.” Her smile is so wide that her straight white teeth contrast dramatically with her bright red lipstick. “It’s so nice to meet you, Jeremy.”
His gaze is hesitant, the distrust and jealousy in his eyes obvious, and I get it. Sabrina is beautiful. But little does he know that she has nothing on the hot mess standing in front of me. Even in his casual state, Jeremy is otherworldly stunning.
Sabrina plops down on the couch, and Toothless immediately jumps up next to her and nuzzles her hand. “What’s his name?”
“Toothless.” Jeremy scowls at him.
“Oh, it’s perfect. I love that movie.”
Jeremy starts to smile, but catches himself quickly. “Can someone just tell me what the fuck is going on? What is this?” he asks, gesturing widely at our formal attire.
I move closer to Jeremy and take his hand, twisting our fingers together.
“So,” I begin. “I told you that my father is using Seb and Charlie’s careers as leverage, right?
” He nods, and I see a hint of fear in his eyes as they bounce between me and Sabrina.
“Well, the reason is he wants me to join the board at Skynet.”
He gives me a puzzled look. “But you said you don’t want to be part of the business world anymore.”
I nod. “That’s true.”
“Then I don’t understand. If your father is blackmailing you to join the board with him, how are you getting around that? And what does it have to do with Sabrina?”
I glance up at her, and Sabrina gives me a gentle nod.
I lick my lips. “Sabrina is the future CEO of Pine Investments. Her company has plans to merge with Skynet. Basically, dear old dad doesn’t trust Ryan anymore and wants to stack the board against him by bringing on Sabrina and her father.
” I take a breath. “And he wants Sabrina and me to present a united front by getting married.”
His teal eyes widen until he looks like a Disney character. “What? Like an arranged marriage?”
“Er, yes?”
His head swivels to Sabrina. “And you’re okay with this?”
Sabrina laughs. “Absolutely not. No offense to your man, but he’s not my type.”
“Not your type?” Jeremy sputters, his stance turning defensive. “Are you crazy? Marcus is hot as fuck.”
“I’m sorry?” I say around a laugh as my stomach does a weird fluttery thing.
Sabrina snickers. “I like him, Roy. He’s like an angry kitten.” She turns her attention back to Jeremy. “I like ladies, darling.”
Jeremy stares at her for a beat, and then his eyes light with understanding. “Ohh okay, so wait. Back up. Then how does this marriage thing work? Are you actually going through with it?”
“No way,” I say firmly.
“But what about Sebastian and Charlie?”
“Well, it turns out Sabrina is also looking to fuck over her father so that she can be with her partner, so we made an agreement to fake it until we make it.” I take a breath.
“I have someone looking into Ryan’s affairs and, therefore, Skynet’s shadier business practices so that we can eventually flip this blackmail situation in a way that benefits us. ”
“So it’s not real?” he asks hesitantly.
I squeeze his fingers and bring them to my lips, kissing the tips.
“It’s not real, Starlight, but . . .” I give him a serious look.
“Now you understand why we have to keep us quiet a bit longer, right? Ryan can’t find out this is fake any more than my father can.
Ryan will use us against my dad, and my dad will use us against my siblings. ”
“Hold up,” Sabrina cuts in. “What kind of shady stuff?”
I glance at her apologetically. “Right now, nothing more than some money laundering connections, but it sounds like he’s onto something worse. I promise to tell you more soon. I know it affects us both.”
“Jesus,” Jeremy mutters. “This is heavy. But I guess I’m glad it’s not just because you’re . . . ashamed of me or your sexuality.”
I pull him into my chest and squeeze him tightly. “I was never ashamed, Jeremy. I was scared and confused. I still am. But that’s not the main reason why I wanted to keep us a secret. It’s bigger than us. It puts other people in danger—my siblings and now Sabrina, maybe even you.”
His face presses into my shirt, and his voice comes out muffled. “Me?”
I kiss the top of his head, his hair soft beneath my lips. “I just worry that if Ryan or my father sees you as a threat, they’ll do something to hurt you. It’s an unknown that I don’t want to risk.”
“I have a girlfriend, Laura,” Sabrina says. “She’s just as worried as you are, but we’re going to fix this. Marcus and I have a plan.”
“A plan?”
She nods eagerly and pats the couch. “Sit, and I’ll tell you all about our engagement.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “You can even help me pick the ring.”
I feel a hint of relief when Jeremy gives her a shy smile and moves to sit next to her because I’m pretty sure she just won him over.