Page 27 of Wilde About You

"No, it wasn't with her."

"But it was with someone." Colin's eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "But who? I'm not enough into their social world or into their worlds at all to know what sex partner would cause a scandal." He laughed. "Unless it was Gregor going down on Buck." He laughed again and then realized I wasn't laughing.

I stared back at him.

Colin's feet stomped the ground as he sat forward and smacked the table. "You're shitting me. Gregor and Buck?"

I reached over and took his hand and gave him my best pleading look. "You can't tell anyone, Colin, please. It can't get out. I'm keeping the photo somewhere secure."

"It could make you famous and a fortune all at once, Sadie."

"It would also ruin some lives, and that is my conundrum. I've been chasing that earth-shattering, viral photo my whole career. I could finally show my dad that my photography isn't just some frivolous, silly hobby. And now I have it, and it's a good one. It's full of raw emotion and passion, and it's between two men whose entire lives circle around their incredible masculinity, their unbeatable strength and virility."

"Makes sense now. Shit, Sadie, that's a big deal. But you're in danger. Do you really think it'll be worth it? Sounds like your main goal is to show your old man that you're good at this."

So far, this man was perfect in many ways, but he did occasionally manage to say exactly the wrong thing at the exact wrong time. "I think I should probably head out." I stood, picked up my plate and put it in the sink.

As I passed him, Colin grabbed me and pulled me into his lap. "I'm sorry. Just an observation. I've been working hard to impress my old man, even though he's not really the kind to be impressed. When I crashed on that hill, he told me it was my fault I lost that competition because my mind was always scattered and I never focused. That was the way it was in school. Barely graduated high school because I couldn't concentrate. I know what it's like to have an overbearing old man, and yet, I still want nothing more than to make him proud of me. Can you imagine that? The man nearly got us killed more than once, and he never did shit for any of us, but I still want him to say 'well done, Colin.'"

The tension melted from my body, and I rested my head against his shoulder. It might have been his words or the way he was holding me but something told me I could trust this man. "You can't tell anyone."

"I won't say a word, but I think if things get too dangerous you should give up the photo and move on. You'll get another viral shot one day. I'm sure of it." His phone rang. "I've got to take this."

I hopped off Colin's lap, so he could take the call.

"Hey, Jake, what've you got for me? Please let it be a new sponsor."

He got up and walked into the front room. Colin grew quiet on the phone. I peered around the corner to where he was standing. His expression assured me this was not a good call. Since he was asking about a sponsor, I could only assume Jake was someone who managed his finances and possibly his career. Colin raked his fingers through his thick hair and his head dropped lower. His devastated posture made my throat tighten.

"Yeah, talk to you later." Colin hung up and walked to the front window. There was no view except more buildings, but he stared absently out the glass as if there was something to see. His broad shoulders were suddenly wearing the weight of the world on them.

I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist and nestled myself against his back. "Anything I can do?" I had minimal knowledge about the logistics of being an athlete, but I knew sponsorships were a big deal. They supported athletes between seasons so they could keep training, and they supplied the athletes with new equipment and gear. Back when he first went pro, I'd joked with Ace that he was a walking billboard. He was quick to point out that being a walking billboard earned you big bucks.

"My biggest gear sponsor just dropped me."

"Shit, I'm sorry. Was it because of the crash?"

"Nah, it wasn't that." Colin turned around. He had a hard time looking at me, and a light chill fell between us. He walked past me, pushed aside the game controllers on the couch and sat down.

"Colin? What is it?" I smacked the side of my head for being so ignorant. "It's Ace, isn't it? This is how he's getting his revenge on you, on both of us."

"He was the title winner last season, so he's got all of the clout. He told the company he wouldn't share the same logos with me. I'm sure this will only be the first of a number of shitty calls."

"No, that's bullshit. Not fair. I'm going to make this right." I went to the bedroom and rummaged through my backpack for the stupid burner phone. It was dead. I threw it back in and marched out to the front room.

Colin was looking around at his apartment. "It was nice while it lasted."

I picked up his phone and scrolled down to Ace on the contact list then hit call. The weasel picked up after a few rings. "Yeah, Wilde? What do you want?"

"You are the biggest fucking asshole on the planet," I said.

"I consider that a great honor. What the fuck are you doing with him?"

"None of your business. Here's the deal. I'll go see Mom and Dad, but you have to lay off this vigilante shit you're pulling with the sponsors. No more. All right? I'll go over there today."

"Yeah, but that's not the whole deal. You've got to stay away from Colin."

I glanced back. Colin sat on the couch with a difficult to assess expression. It was a mix of anger and of fuck it all, I'm done. I walked into the bedroom. "Not sure how it's any of your business who I date."