Page 39 of The Arrangement (Executive Suite Secrets #3)

LIAM ROSE

Quitting my job had one major drawback—other than the obvious sharp drop in money flowing into my bank account. I now had way too much time on my hands.

The college where I lectured part-time was on holiday break until the start of the new year. I didn’t have the day job to occupy my brain. And I was trying not to call or text Rome while I was working my shit out.

I had plenty of time to think. But my brain had turned into a cesspool of dark thoughts, and I didn’t know how to break free.

So, I began taking a lot of long walks and revisiting the places where I’d gone on dates with Rome.

The pinball arcade was a sad thing without him there.

His stupid laugh and all his trash-talking had made me smile.

The wild race of the silver ball across the field, bouncing off bumpers accompanied by the flash of lights—it lost its excitement and the sense of satisfaction without Rome.

There were no cooking classes at the moment. They were on a break through the holiday season.

The zoo was nice, though I limited myself to day trips so I could skip out on the evening crowds as they gawked at the lights.

As I strolled through the zoo, acclimating to the hills, I couldn’t help imagining trips here through all the seasons.

We’d see the spring flower bloom and the return of all the green leaves.

The summer heat and ice cream cones as we watched the gibbons on their bamboo towers, flying from pole to pole.

I’d get to see the infamous Fiona and her hippo sibling, Fritz, in their outdoor habitat.

Then the changing of the leaves and the rich scent of fall as we sipped cider. I wanted all of that with Rome.

But was I the right person for him?

I wanted to be, but that wasn’t enough. Everything about Rome’s life felt overwhelming, and I was this nobody.

The weather remained gray, but the temperature was more tolerable in the low fifties. I’d bundled up to wander around the park across from Music Hall. As soon as I saw the old gazebo, my brain cursed me. I should have kissed him that night.

“You’re Rome’s friend, aren’t you?”

I spun at the gentle voice to find myself faced with a smiling blond man who looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

It wasn’t until I glanced down and noticed the violin case hanging from his right hand that I realized that this was the Simon we’d seen perform at Music Hall.

“Holy crap! You’re Simon!” I gasped, the words slipping out of my mouth because I had zero chill.

The man tossed his head back and laughed lightly. “I don’t think anyone has had that reaction to me before.”

“No! I mean, sorry. I-I-I’m a big fan. I attended your performance with Rome a couple of weeks ago. Your playing was sublime.”

His large blue eyes widened, and his smile grew even wider. “Sublime? I think I like you better than Rome already.”

“Sorry. I’m an idiot.” I shoved a hand into my hair, likely making a mess of it. “Rome would be the first to tell you I’m horrible at talking to other people.”

“I think you’re doing just fine talking to me, but when I spotted you, it looked like you were having a bad day. Is Rome being an asshole?”

“No, definitely not. If anything, I’m the asshole. I—” I stopped myself from pouring out my life’s misery and shook my head. “Forgive me. I don’t mean to keep you.”

“You’re not.” He lifted the case into the air a bit. “I came over early this morning to use one of the hall’s practice rooms to get some work done on a side project. But I’m free for the rest of the afternoon if you’d like to grab some coffee and chat.”

I hesitated. While I admired his skill with the violin, Simon was a total stranger to me. Did I really need to pour out all my problems to a stranger? Especially one who was a friend of Rome’s? He didn’t need all my dirty laundry.

Of course, he was a bystander with almost no interest in any of this. Maybe he would have a fresh perspective.

“Nope. That was way too much thinking there.” Simon stepped up and looped his arm through mine before spinning me away from Music Hall.

“I discovered a great coffee shop down the block from here. Excellent coffee and tea. Great pastries. Cozy and quiet enough for some pleasant conversation. You’re coming with me. ”

Wisely, I didn’t argue.

Simon released me as soon as he was sure I wouldn’t run, and we walked to the coffee shop, which was moderately busy.

We settled into a pair of comfortable chairs near the front window, giant mugs of coffee on the table.

I might have also bought Simon a raspberry scone as thanks for the intervention while I grabbed a lemon square.

“So, I might have heard through the grapevine that you recently discovered that you’re bisexual and that you are possibly falling in love with Rome,” Simon began lightly.

Thank God I hadn’t been taking a drink because I almost choked on the breath I’d drawn in.

He smirked at me. “Sorry, but if you’re going to date Rome, you’re gonna have to learn that these boys gossip worse than a Southern sewing circle.

They don’t mean any harm, but ever since Sebastian started dating Byron, they’ve all been about trying to get the rest of them happily settled into relationships. ”

“And Sebastian hasn’t tried to meddle in your love life yet?”

Simon’s smile turned enigmatic. “Oh, not yet. But it’s unnecessary. I already found the person I want to spend my life with. The situation is…complicated.”

I winced. “Married?”

Simon frowned. “No, he’s just a stubborn fucking asshole.”

“Ah.”

He broke a corner off his scone and waved in the air as if it could dismiss our conversation detour. “My problem won’t be resolved over coffee and scones. Maybe yours can. How are you dealing with your new sense of self? Your family giving you static?”

“Being bi hasn’t been the upheaval I thought it would be. Work is accepting. Rome’s friends obviously have no problem with it. I would imagine the first time I have to deal with hate from a homophobe will be hard, but I want to believe that I’ll push through.”

“Having good friends helps with that part a lot.”

I nodded and gazed at my coffee. “I haven’t told my family.

My father is dead, and I’m not all that close with my brothers, though I kind of think their reaction is going to be the same as my mother’s, which will be terrible.

Truth be told, I’m not too worried about it.

I’ll tell them eventually and stop talking to them.

My life won’t change all that much.” I paused, and a wicked grin spread across my face.

“I am tempted to wait and tell my mother on her deathbed. If I give her a heart attack, no one would notice, right?”

Simon laughed hard and suddenly snorted, which made me giggle like a lunatic. The sounds of talking and the clink of glasses seemed to quiet as half the coffee shop turned to stare at us for a moment, but everyone returned to their business.

I took a deep, cleansing breath, soaking in the scent of coffee, sugar, and yeast. The shop was sprinkled with the glow of Edison bulbs and decorated with dark wood and old iron, giving it a rustic charm. Everything about it felt like a warm hug.

“Okay, so the problem isn’t being bi,” Simon said after clearing his throat. “What’s really got you tied up in knots?”

“You’re going to think it’s stupid.”

“I doubt it, but even if I do, who cares? Who am I? Trust me, I have no room to comment on stupid behavior. Right now, I feel like I might be the king of it.” He broke off another piece of his scone, a bit more violently this time, and shoved it into his mouth.

Yeah, definitely a story there, but I was afraid to ask.

My lemon square sat there untouched, looking delicious but sad. The idea of shoving it all into my mouth and returning to the counter for a scone was more tempting than I cared to admit.

Gathering up what little courage I had, I leaned across the table so that I was nearly whispering in Simon’s ear. “I’m having trouble dealing with Rome’s money.”

Simon’s eyebrows shot to his hairline, and he said nothing for several seconds as I dropped back into my chair. “Well…” he began slowly. “Disputes over money are the number one reason most relationships fail.”

“Yeah, but most of the time, the problem is not having enough of it. You and I know that is not an issue for Rome.”

“True.” Simon took a sip of his latte. “Could you be more specific?” He lowered his voice, in case anyone was close enough to overhear us. “Do you have a problem with rich guys?”

“No!” A scoff broke from my throat. “It’s nice to know that he won’t borrow a crap ton of money from me or constantly stiff me on the rent.

That sort of stuff. I guess I wasn’t prepared for people to use me to get to Rome and his money.

I don’t know how to protect him from people like that.

How do I recognize the con artists? Does he ever worry I’m going to use him for his money?

I don’t think he does, but what if I take him and his money for granted?

And shouldn’t he have, like, a bodyguard or even bodyguards to protect him?

I’ve been to his place, and as far as I could tell, he didn’t have a cook or a butler or a live-in housekeeper?

Dating him feels like I’m taking on a full-time job of trying to protect him—not that I have a problem with protecting him.

Absolutely not. It’s that I’m just a freaking paleontologist and a part-time university professor.

What do I know about that kind of lifestyle? ”

By the time I’d spilled all of my guts, I was panting and frantic. And yet, Simon was staring at me with the biggest grin on his face.

“What?” I snapped. Yep, he thought I was stupid.

“Rome is so lucky to have you.”

“But he doesn’t. I’ve left him hanging out there because I needed some space to figure my shit out. Except I haven’t figured anything out. All I’ve done is panic.”