Chapter Twenty-Three
DELILAH
I should probably feel more surprised regarding the picture that is spreading across the internet like wildfire today, but honestly, I really don’t. I think I knew when I kissed Ian after that game that someone would capture it, and maybe a part of me was fine with the idea of it. Rip off the Band-Aid, as it were.
My team, however, is currently in full crisis mode.
“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Theo is saying, and I’m reminded again at how grateful I am that he dropped everything to come to this meeting. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You practically shoved this whole thing onto her.”
“Now, now,” Ben interjects, wringing his hands and looking as nervous as always. “We never made any statements regarding who Delilah should or shouldn’t see in her personal life.”
Theo rolls his eyes. “Sing that song for someone else, doll. We all know that you were happy to let her dally around with Ian Chase as long as it was doing good things for the show. Changing your tune now is hypocritical.”
Ben’s cheeks flush because of what I assume is Theo’s flippant use of doll, which I’m sure he will second-guess later, but quickly recovers.
“No one is saying that Delilah has to make any sort of personal decisions here,” he says carefully.
Theo scoffs. “Then why call a meeting over a picture? It’s a fucking kiss. They weren’t having sex on the rink.”
Gia has been listening to this while rubbing her temples, her eyes shut and her lips pressed together as the two men argue back and forth. Her dark brown eyes open now to assess us, her fingers coming to rest on the top of her desk, lacing together as she seems to try to choose her words.
“Dee,” she starts slowly. “I think the first thing we need to know is what is this thing between you and Ian? Is it something casual or…?”
I straighten my spine, looking her in the eye. “No, it’s not.”
“So it’s going to be something that will continue, then,” she clarifies.
I nod. “It will.”
Gia bobs her head as she sighs out a slow exhale, tapping one perfect nail against a knuckle of her other hand as she considers. I can see the gears turning in her head, and I know that this is her job, that her main priority is this show and the viewers it brings, so I do my best not to feel bitter about the way she’s treating my personal life like a puzzle she needs to solve for her own benefit. She didn’t sign up for this, after all, not really.
“As your friend,” Gia says carefully, “which I would like to assume we are after all this time, of course I am happy if you are happy. It’s clear that Ian means something to you, and as your friend and a fellow woman, I say hell yeah.”
“But?”
“But unfortunately, I am also your EP, which means I have to look at this thing from all angles and be up-front with you about what it could mean. The fact of the matter is that while Ian’s public opinion has drastically improved while the two of you have been…hanging out, there will always be the undercurrent of naysayers and ill will because of what happened before he was traded to Calgary.”
“He chose to leave.”
It’s not the entire truth, but it’s not exactly a lie either. But that’s none of their business.
Gia holds out a hand, continuing. “Be that as it may, we can’t change what people say about him. And I have to be real with you and tell you that there might come a time when that could hurt you professionally. I hate that this is the way it is, but unfortunately, it is the way it is. Public perception and social media are two sides of the same coin in today’s world, and that means it would only take one viral post, one bad photo, to have your image tanking right along with his. You’ve done so well to maintain a high opinion with the public thus far, so I just have to ask you straight up.”
I take a breath, nodding. “Then ask.”
“Are you prepared for that? Is Ian Chase worth the possibility of losing all that you’ve worked for? Because it’s possible, Dee. Flirting with the idea of something between you is one thing, but an actual relationship can be messy. Are you okay with the possibility that if things take a turn, it could hurt your image right along with his?”
I have to tamp down the immediate flare of irritation, reminding myself that Gia is just doing her job. Even looking out for me, in her own way. I know that my anger is not aimed at her, but at the people who have turned Ian into something he’s not, based on a few measly photos that they don’t even know the truth of. That he’s had to carry the repercussions of a lie for years with hardly anyone in his corner. Remembering that makes my answer easy.
“Yes,” I tell her firmly. “I’m okay with that. He’s worth it.”
Gia studies me for a long moment, her chin finally dipping with a nod as she leans back in her chair. “I will talk to the guys upstairs. See if there’s a way I can spin this positively. I have to advise you—as your EP, not your friend—to tread carefully going forward, mainly because I would hate to see—as your friend, not your EP—everything you’ve worked for taken away from you because of a bunch of people making assumptions.”
“I appreciate you being straight with me,” I say honestly. “There are a lot of things regarding this matter that aren’t my business to tell, but I can say with certainty that I trust Ian, and if something happens, I will be right beside him to weather it.”
“We still have to address the pictures,” Ben chimes in quietly.
Theo rises from his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Then address them. Tell them the truth, if that’s what Dee wants. You set the world up for the possibility of something between them, so you should be fine with confirming that there actually is.”
Ben eyes me warily. “And you’re okay with that, Delilah? If we confirm?”
I remember the conversation from just last night with Ian, smiling softly to myself, confident that he would be okay with my answer.
“I am,” I say. “Do it.”
Ben looks less than enthused as he nods his agreement, but I notice a small smile on Gia’s face as she bobs her head idly.
“Are we done here?” Theo reaches out to offer me his hand. “I have other meetings.”
I let him help me from my chair, only half listening to Gia’s and Ben’s answers as I pull my phone from my pocket, glancing at the pictures I’ve already saved to my gallery again. Seeing myself kissing Ian from multiple angles is a little strange, but the way he looks at me just before I lean in, the absolute adoration on his face that is so evident even in a still like this…It fills me with confidence for my decision. It makes me one hundred percent sure that I would stand by him through anything.
I’m only half surprised to find Ava waiting in the hall for us when we step out of Gia’s office; I’m surprised she didn’t find an excuse to be in there for the meeting, honestly.
“Were you listening at the door?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “Duh. Damn thing is thick though. How did it go?”
“As good as can be expected,” Theo answers for me. “They can’t tell her not to date him, so there’s really nothing they can do here but suck it up and get with the program.”
“Love that for us,” Ava says with a grin.
I notice the way it slips soon after as her eyes land on me, and she suddenly looks nervous.
“What?” I ask. “What is it?”
“Um…So Jack is here,” she tells me. “He’s in your dressing room.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “That tracks.”
“Yeah…I don’t think I’ll be attending that meeting with you,” Theo says.
“Thanks,” I snort.
Theo claps me on the shoulder. “You’re on your own, kid.”
“I can handle my brother,” I say with what is mostly complete confidence. “Probably.”
Ava looks sympathetic, but I tell myself that it’s going to be fine. This is Jack, after all. My biggest cheerleader and my oldest friend. One of the very few people I have in the world.
With that in mind, I leave my friends behind, heading downstairs to find him.
Rip off the Band-Aid.
Jack is pacing back and forth in my dressing room when I open the door, muttering to himself. I know from experience that he’s most likely practicing every outcome of the conversation we’re about to have, and if I couldn’t see the frustration etched into his features, that would make me laugh. He halts midstep when he hears the door shut behind me, watching me lean against it, his brow furrowed.
“Hi,” I say.
His fists clench, his phone in one hand. “Hey.”
“You, uh, wanna sit?” I gesture to the small couch pushed against the wall. “Or did you want to yell at me standing up?”
More muttering under his breath, but he stomps over to the couch, plopping down on one side and patting the other aggressively to signal that I join him. I settle into the cushion with less force than he did, lacing my fingers together in my lap as I watch him chew on what are most likely a dozen different sentences as he tries to land on the one he actually wants to say.
I decide to throw him a bone. “So…I guess you saw.”
“Yeah,” he snorts. “I saw.”
“You obviously have feelings about it.”
“That didn’t look like pretending, Dee.”
I take a deep breath. “Because it wasn’t.”
“So you lied to me.”
“Not on purpose.”
“How long has it been ‘not pretending’?”
“Not as long as you’re probably thinking. It just…sort of happened. Hazard of the ruse, I guess.”
“And why didn’t you tell me? Why did you think you had to keep lying to me?”
“I…” My words trail off as I frown, considering that. It’s a simple question, but my answer is less so. “Honestly? I just…I wanted him to myself for a little bit.”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Jack huffs.
“It does to me,” I press. “Look, we both know that I was head over heels for him as a kid.”
“Yeah, but that was only a crush.”
“Maybe at first, but can we really say that? It never actually went away. The second I saw him again, I just…”
Jack eyes me, studying whatever he’s seeing on my face. “Really? Why didn’t you say anything? Why agree to this whole thing then? What if it didn’t work out? That could have really hurt you, Dee.”
“I know.” The concern in his tone makes me smile, because even when he’s irritated with me, he can’t help but worry for me too. “I know that. But I couldn’t help it. I mean, he was right there, and suddenly I had the chance to live out all my daydreams as a teenager, even if they weren’t real. Maybe I thought I would get some closure out of it, I don’t know. Plus, it’s Ian. He needed my help too. There was no way I was going to say no.”
“So when did things change?”
“I don’t know if I can pinpoint the exact moment, not for him, anyway—” I cock my head, realizing something. “Have you said anything to Ian?”
“Yeah,” he scoffs. “Fucker told me he wasn’t telling me anything until I talked to you first.” I can’t help but grin, and Jack rolls his eyes. “Fuck off. I can’t deal with the cutesy shit right now.”
“Are you really mad?”
“I’m not…mad. Not about the two of you, at least. I mean, it’s weird as hell, and it feels like my brother has been running around with my sister doing”—he shudders—“shit I don’t ever want to know about, but I am a little hurt that neither of you thought you could tell me.”
“Don’t blame Ian,” I say immediately. “He left it up to me to tell you.”
“Of course he did,” Jack grumbles. “Noble bastard.”
“He would never intentionally do anything to hurt you,” I assure him. “He loves you, Jack.”
“Not as much as he loves you, apparently,” Jack mutters petulantly.
The implication of that sentence makes my chest swell, but I brush it off for the moment.
“Wow, did I steal your boyfriend?”
“Actually, I changed my mind. I’m totally mad. I forbid you from dating.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You really think you can forbid me from doing anything?”
“No,” he sighs. “But it felt good to say.”
“I’m really sorry that we didn’t tell you sooner,” I say, meaning it.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I guess. Maybe.” He runs his fingers through his hair, glancing at me. “Is this…Is this like a real thing? Or some kind of fling?”
“It’s real,” I answer with full confidence. “I…I love him, Jack.”
His brows shoot up. “Does he know that?”
“I haven’t explicitly told him…but I plan to. Soon.”
“This is so weird,” he mutters.
“But he’s better than Etienne, right?”
“The rat from Ratatouille would be better than Etienne,” he huffs. “Like, straight up, hiding under your chef hat better.”
I bark out a laugh. “Of all the French references that you could have used, that’s what you come up with?”
“I have a condition,” he says primly. “Don’t make fun of my broken brain.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s not broken. It’s wonderful.”
“Don’t try to butter me up.”
I lean in close, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I love you, too, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. I love you, too, Dee.” He wraps his good arm around me, squeezing my shoulders, making a disgruntled sound that puffs against my hair. “I’m going to need at least six months before I’m subjected to the two of you kissing in front of me.”
“Two weeks,” I counter.
“Three months.”
“One month.”
“Deal,” he grouses.
“Don’t be too hard on Ian,” I urge, tilting my chin up to look at him. “You know he would never hurt you.”
“I know,” he sighs. “He’s such a good friend. The dick.”
“Speaking of—”
“Not on your life,” Jack says, shoving me away. “As far as I’m concerned, you are both celibate and happier for it.”
I laugh as I try to hug him again, fighting against his one-armed shoves to fight me off. We wrestle on the couch for a minute more—him poking me in the side and me trying to lick his cheek while he shouts about how gross I am—only settling when the sudden and constant pinging in his pocket finally has me pulling away with curiosity.
“Is someone trying to hunt you down or something?”
He shakes his head, fishing out his phone with his good hand and swiping it awake. His frown is immediate, and it’s much more dour-looking than the one he wore when he was just here to gripe at me for keeping my relationship with Ian from him. The one he wears now makes my stomach twist.
“What is it?”
“Google alert,” he says in a clipped tone, scrolling furiously as he skims whatever he sees there. “Fuck.”
He shows me the screen, and one look at the headline has my heart thudding violently in my chest, and I’m already scrambling off the couch. “Where is he?”
“Home,” Jack answers. “Should we—?”
But I’m already out the door, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone as the singular focus that drives me carries my feet one after the other. Only one thought in my mind dominating my every step.
Get to Ian.