Ethan didn’t want to, but he could tell he needed to help Theo out. “Have a seat and start with the fruit and you can tell me what just happened.”
“What’re you, my mother?”
“What’re you, a moody toddler?” Ethan shot back. “Stop with the tantrum, Theo, and tell me what’s going on.”
He earned a dirty look for that, but then Theo huffed a dry laugh. “Fine.” He slammed the lid shut on his laptop and shoved the computer away so he could pull his lunch toward him. He dropped into the chair again and picked up a fork, stabbing it into a chunk of pineapple. “That was Loren. It was his idea to chat today. Except, surprise, surprise. He forgot and invited a bunch of dudes over.” He jabbed the pineapple between his teeth and chewed with force. “Or so he claims.”
“Is it a big deal that he has friends over?”
“It is when it’s those guys.” Theo pointed at the laptop with his free hand. “I know them. A whole group of queers do this party circuit, going from house party to house party, trying to hook up with producers and directors. They’re all leeches and whores. Loren’s never been a part of that scene until now. He started going to parties after we wrapped up the show. Someone told him going to them would be good for his career.”
“You’ve been to the parties?”
“Only once. I saw what they were right away. It’s the casting couch in party form. Not my scene and it shouldn’t be Loren’s, either.” Theo swallowed hard and stabbed a piece of cantaloupe. “He doesn’t need to do that. I told him I’d take care of him. He wouldn’t even have to work. I can earn enough for both of us.”
“Maybe he was only hanging out with those guys today. He wasn’t actually at a party, right?”
“No. But probably they’ll go tonight. Especially now.” Theo groaned and cast a baleful eye at Ethan. “He told me he’d been thinking about things since last night. That’s he’s not sure. Can you believe that? Is he for real?”
“I thought things were good between you two.” Ethan wished he could be surprised that it wasn’t proving to be the case. He’d seen hints that the relationship was slightly one-sided.
“That’s what I thought. But he’s sort of wishy-washy. It’s—” Theo broke off and stared blindly at his plate. His expression crumpled. “It’s sort of the issue with him, right? He went on a show to find romance with a woman. Then I ‘converted’ him,” he said using his fingers to form quotes, “and he turned gay for me. That’s a flip-flop if there ever was one. It’s why all these jerks get on my Instagram and Twitter and accuse me of preying on him and forcing him to be gay. Damn, do I hate those assholes. I know they got to him. It’s the only explanation for why he’s doubting this.”
“You did say you’d be spending time with him after these promotions,” Ethan reminded him. “Being together in person might help him overcome his doubts.”
“Maybe,” Theo said, but he sounded unconvinced, and a hard set had come to his face. He blinked and picked up his sandwich. “Whatever. Let him go whore himself tonight. I can’t control him and I can’t make him love me if he’s now decided he doesn’t.”
Watching Theo try to choke down his sandwich was too painful for Ethan to watch, so he returned to his seat on the sofa. He checked his watch, glad that only another forty-five minutes remained before they had to be at their last event for the day. Theo needed to get his mind off of Loren.
About twenty minutes later, Theo stood up and grabbed his phone. “I need to make a call.”
Guessing he was going to try talking to Loren again, Ethan nodded and let himself out of the room to give them privacy. He walked the length of the hallway to the window at the end of the wing and looked out at an uninspiring view of a parking garage.
After Theo’s outburst, it struck Ethan how fortunate he truly was. Though he and Max had experienced their own drama due to miscommunication about Ethan’s application to the FBI, jealousy hadn’t really been an issue between them. Not enough to cause a blowout, anyway. Max had been standoffish in the beginning, trying to keep Ethan firmly in the role of companion, but Ethan had recognized what he was doing and hadn’t given life to the possibility of giving up on their relationship. Their attraction and chemistry had been too strong for him to believe things wouldn’t ultimately work out.
Theo and Loren’s relationship was strange, born in a fictional pressure cooker and played out in the media. And Theo, at least, displayed flashes of insecurity and desperation. That didn’t bode well. After overcoming his own insecurities about the damage he could do to Max’s reputation and career, Ethan understood the danger here. Theo could become his own worst enemy.
Eventually, the door to Theo’s room opened and he stuck his head out. “Hey, I’m done. You ready to head out?”
Reminding himself to sympathize and empathize—things Max had made sure he didn’t do while he was an agent, amusingly enough—Ethan walked back down the hall.
“One more stop,” he said brightly. “Should be a fun one to end the day.”
Theo smiled. It was strained, but it was a smile, giving Ethan hope that the other man had managed to make some progress with Loren during the call.
“Sure, Ethan. Should be great.”
~~~~~
The photoshoot and VIP fan event were held at the Henderson Executive Airport. Theo was scheduled to pose with various private aircraft and their owners and afterwards, take a helicopter flight over the Strip with five fans who’d been chosen from an online competition.
Ethan worried that Theo’s bitterness would carry over into his interactions with the fans, but his concern proved to be unnecessary. Once again, Theo turned on his celebrity persona, hiding any irritation or impatience he might have felt, and presented the façade of a television star who was thrilled to be there. He posed for photo after photo with prop planes, helicopters, and five squealing fans.
There wasn’t much for Ethan to do but observe since the tarmac was restricted access and the event filming hadn’t been publicized. He found himself swept up by Theo’s charm, smiling along with him and laughing at his jokes. If he hadn’t seen the true side of the man, Ethan would have been as smitten by him as those in attendance.
“You look like a very skilled pilot,” Theo was saying to one of the owners of a Cessna who’d paid, like the others, to get this piece of advertisement and meet a TV celebrity. “When I get my first jet, I’ll give you a call.”
The small group of plane owners laughed, believing Theo’s compliments. They proudly showed off the interiors of their planes and pointed out various mechanical features. Theo nodded and asked questions as though he’d never come across a more fascinating subject.
Then it was time for the photoshoot with the fan winners. They were all women, mostly young. Two of them had brought along posters they’d made, extolling their love for Theo. They giggled and bashfully went along with Theo’s suggestions for prom poses and dance dips as the photoshoot commenced.
Ethan checked the time and saw that they were running slightly over, but since it was Theo’s last event of the day, he didn’t plan to cut the event off when the time came. Theo could yell at him later for not rescuing him. It was Theo’s fault the events went on too long in the first place.