Page 73 of Parting Shot

“Something,” I pressed him.

“I would simply point out that you’re here with me, and people could see you.”

“Yeah? And?”

“When we go to more crowded places, it will become harder to hide that we’re actually on a date together.”

“I know that.”

“Well, I bring it up because you’ve been closeted your whole career but for a few close confidants, and now you’re just going to kick the door down and step out into the light?”

I returned his stare. “I’m not going to take out a front-page ad in the Trib or call a press conference, no. But I do feel different, and I’m not gonna lie about that.”

“I have to ask.”

“G’head.”

“Your last serious⁠—”

“Only serious,” I corrected.

He cleared his throat. “Your only serious relationship—was the reason you broke up because you were in the closet?”

“I’m sure there were other reasons as well, but that was the main one, yeah.”

“Tell me, why now? What’s changed? Why this time and not then?”

It was hard to explain because it made no sense. “I dunno. Maybe almost dying gave me a new perspective. Maybe, deep down, I knew I was kidding myself with Nate for two years because I was never really what he needed. And maybe it’s just simply that I wanted to.”

His lip curled up in the corner.

“I mean, it would bother me if people thought, after all this, after us deciding to date⁠—”

“Exclusively,” he reminded me.

“Yes, exclusively.” I smiled.

“Sorry.”

“No. It’s nice to be reminded.”

“I told you, I’m territorial.”

“So am I, and that’s what I’m getting at. It would bug the shit outta me if, after you gave me these fobs, people still thought you were available just because they didn’t see you with anyone.”

He nodded. “You want people to know we’re together?”

“Yeah.”

“Very brave of you.”

“I think it’s just human of me. That’s a pretty basic desire. Kinda primal, right?”

“To claim a mate?” he baited me.

“Don’t be an ass.”

He laughed softly. “I’m simply worried about you. We had this conversation about your job previously.”