That seemed like a good sign, even if none of them had to do with Brandon.I kissed the tip of Danny’s nose.“Go shower.I’ll make you coffee, and I’ll be here when you’re done for the day.”
Danny’s smile was sad and so unlike him.“Yes, ma’am.”He was a few steps across the room when he paused.“Fuck, I almost forgot.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”I wasn’t sure I could handle any more surprises now.
He looked at me.“I think it might be.Good, that is.Did you know Todd is married?Or at least, someone thinks they’re married to him.”
“Uh, no.”Not that I gave a shit about his personal life, and why wasn’t I surprised that the sleazeball trying to coerce me into sex had someone at home.Poor woman.“That’s good news?”
Danny huffed out a tight laugh.“Her sister works at the hotel where we had the Christmas party.She—the sister—posted the video of us that went viral.”
It was early and my brain hadn’t switched all the way on, but the pieces came together in my mind to form a picture that both made sense and didn’t, and was infuriating.“Do you think Todd had her post it?”
“It seems like something he’d do, doesn’t it?Especially now that you know why he’s held this contract over you?”
Fuck me.He was married.He was even sleezier than I thought, and that was both impressive and disgusting.“I assume you have links?Proof?”
“I do.”
“Get ready for work.I’m sending this to Dominic.”
I didn’t expect to hear back until later in the day—a guy like that had to be busy, and probably had an assistant screening his messages—so I was surprised when a reply came through before Danny emerged from the shower.
This is beautiful.Send me the links when you have a moment.This will make everything easier.I’ll get back to you with more by Monday.
Talk about conflicted.This was the most hope I’d had in years about getting out of my contract, but the mood was tempered by my concern for Danny.
And Brandon.I hoped he was okay.
I sent Danny on his way with a kiss, which was so odd but so right.The thought about Brandon wouldn’t leave.
Going to see him was probably a bad idea, but it wasn’t like he’d take my calls.And who knew?Maybe I’d piss him off enough for him to stop being a dick and go after who he needed.
I made myself wait, to give me time to talk myself out of the stupid idea, but by ten, I couldn’t think of anything else.When I got to Brandon and Danny’s—I had to still call it that, or I was giving up—Brandon’s car was in the driveway.
I knocked and waited.
He opened the door, rolled his eyes, and flung it shut again as he turned away.
This wasn’t going down like that.I wedged my foot into place, and stepped into the house behind him.
“You’re literally the last person I want to see right now.”Brandon walked into the living room, never looking back.
I followed him.“So don’t look at me while I talk.”
He stopped in the middle of the room, his back to me.“What do you want, Reese?If you’re here to gloat, fuck off.”
“I’m not.”Did he really think that little of me?I was going to bet onhe’s being pissy, don’t take it personally.“I’m here because this isn’t right.Because you’re about to fuck up like I did.Don’t do that.”
“In case you heard a different story, I wasn’t the one who left.”
I wouldn’t argue semantics with Brandon.“Adam told me what happened to your dad.”Why did I say that?
Brandon faced me with a scowl.“Now I think you’re just trying to make things worse.”
“Maybe.I’m not good at thisgiving advicestuff.”
“No shit.If the next thing you say is comparing your loss to mine, the two aren’t even in the same country.Your mother didn’t want to leave.My dad couldn’t find a reason to stay.”