Page 12 of Silent Fidelity
Richard nodded, clearly in agreement. “It is. But I can’t protect them forever when protecting them is hurting them. They deserve to be flaunted. They deserve for me to love them publicly and openly. This is me trying to right the wrongs of keeping them hidden. Of keeping how I feel for them hidden.”
I couldn’t fucking breathe.
“Sounds like you really love them.”
“I do,” Richard confirmed confidently. “They’re my entire world. I’d give everything up if it meant I just got to be with them. Nothing matters outside of them.” He looked at the camera then. “I hope they’re watching this now. So they can see I’m upholding my promise. No more hiding.”
I couldn’t contain it anymore. I dissolved into a puddle of tears, burrowing my face in Spike’s neck.
This could very well end Richard’s career if he wasn’t careful. It could ruin ours. I’d wanted to no longer hide, but he’d…
He’d gone and dumped it for the entire world to see and hear. And now, I couldn’t help but worry for him and his company. Of what this meant for our family, our careers… I’d wanted something like Spike and I had, where we just never hid. We let everyone speculate what they wanted, but we were just us. Just as we always had been.
But I should’ve known if Richard was going to be with us openly, he was going to go big with it.
“Just let it out,” Spike soothed, gently rocking me. “He’s ours, baby. He’s always been ours, and now, we no longer have to hide.”
8
Richard
Despite the concern I still felt over what the media may do to Spike and Kalin, a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders now that I’d finally come out about my relationship with them. Now, I could be seen out in public with them, loving them both the way they deserved. I’d kept them hidden for long enough—too fucking long, really.
I’d appreciated Spike’s endless patience with me, letting me do this on my own time, but Kalin had been right. They deserved more. They deserved better. But I was too selfish to let either of them go when I knew what the three of us had together was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. I wasn’t letting that slip through my fingers.
So, I was determined to be the better they deserved. I was going to give them more than the bare minimum I had been.
My phone rang as soon as I was off the stage, and I slipped it from my pocket, honestly expecting it to be from Darwin to discuss our next steps in keeping this situation managed since he was usually so on top of things, but it was Kalin. My chest tightened at the mere sight of his name, warmth sliding through my veins. With a small smile tilting my lips, I lifted the phone to my ear.
“Good morning,” I greeted.
“Don’t you good morning me,” Kalin snapped. I frowned, wondering what the hell I’d done now. Had he not watched the show? Spike said he would make sure he watched it. Or was he too irate about me leaving—like I always tended to do before he woke up—that he didn’t care?
Couldn’t blame if he was. I’d done too much to hurt him. I couldn’t expect all our issues to suddenly be resolved just because I’d opened up to the world about how much I loved both him and Spike.
“Little one…” I murmured at the same time I could hear Spike in the background saying, “Baby.”
“Why did you do that?” Kalin demanded. “You weren’t ready. And what about your career? The company? Why?—”
“Breathe,” I commanded, my voice firm but gentle. He was spiraling and would end up having a panic attack, and fuck knew that didn’t need to happen. He was already at his wits’ end. “Breathe for me, little one. It’s all going to be okay. I promise. This was set up by the publicity team—specifically Darwin. We’re handling this as a company. I’m okay.”
“You’re so stupid,” he whispered, but there was no heat behind his words.
I chuckled as I pushed out the back door of the studio where my driver was waiting for me. He tipped his chin down at me respectfully before opening the back passenger door of the car for me. I patted his arm in thanks before I slid onto the seat, the door shutting behind me with a soft click.
“Well, will you take pity on this stupid fool and come spend the day with me?” I asked hopefully. “I’m not going into the office today. I took the week off to be with you two.” It was something I’d never done before, but I was changing things. They were my priorities now, and nothing came before them.
“You… did?” Kalin’s swallow was audible over the line. “You don’t do things like that, Richard.”
I sighed. “I know, little one. But you were right. I wasn’t giving you two enough. In fact, I was giving you two the bare minimum while hoping you’d stick around, and that’s not okay. It’s not fair. I love you boys—” he sucked in a sharp breath— “and I want to start doing things right. Start putting you two first. So, will you come spend time with me?”
Kalin sniffled. “Yes,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Can you give us a bit though?” I heard someone knocking on their room door, and a moment later, I could vaguely make out who I thought was Salem demanding they ‘get their asses up and come have a family meeting’. “I think the guys have found out.”
If last night hadn’t made them aware of our relationship, coming out on The Wellston Show certainly had.
“Take your time, little one,” I soothed. “I’ll be at home waiting for you.”
The call ended. Sighing, I leaned my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes for a moment.
