Headlines (Prime Time #3) - Ella Frank Page 0,45

the finer details of Sunday’s party, I’d noticed Ray watching me with a serious look of contemplation in his eyes.

Now, I wasn’t exactly the type to be scared off easily by confrontation, but considering this guy had borne witness to my misspent youth, I found myself shifting uncomfortably under his inspection. He had something on his mind, something he’d been dying to ask ever since Xander had steered all conversation toward the non-personal after the shrimp and happy-hour mishap. But I had a feeling my luck was about to run out, because while the other two were distracted, that left me wide open for—

“So Xander’s living with you now.”

—the probing personal questions. “He is, yeah. It was difficult for him to go back to his place after everything that happened.”

Ray settled back in his seat. “That was over a month ago.”

“It was. But there’s no time limit. He’s welcome as long as he wants to stay.”

“So he hasn’t moved in with you? This thing is…temporary.”

I narrowed my eyes, wondering if he meant our living situation or our dating situation. But not wanting there to be any confusion, I turned to face him, making sure to keep my back to Xander and Laura.

“Let me be crystal clear here so there’s no misunderstandings. I know this all seems fast and strange to anyone on the outside looking in. But what we have, it’s real.”

Ray opened his mouth to interrupt, but I wasn’t done. Chalk it up to bad timing, I guess, because if Bailey hadn’t been such a stubborn ass these past few weeks, I might’ve had more patience for the suspicious undercurrents in Ray’s words.

“We shouldn’t work, trust me, we both know that. We’re the last two people who thought something between us would spark when I took this job on—but it did. Something clicked, something really special. I’m in love with Xander, and nothing about that is temporary.”

Ray slowly nodded, then his eyes flicked over my shoulder and I turned to see Xander and Laura looking at me.

Shit. Okay, so maybe I’d gotten a little overzealous in my explanation. I was about to apologize when Xander leaned over, took my face between his hands, and kissed the ever-loving hell out of me.

Caught off guard, I reached for his wrists and held on, and when he finally released me, the smile on his face was worth whatever hell old Ray was going to give me.

“I have to admit,” Laura said, picking up where her husband left off, “I was a little taken aback when Alexander first told me the two of you were dating. Not only because you’re Bailey’s brother. But we also thought you were—”

“Into the ladies.”

Xander glared at his father. “Dad.”

“What? We all know it’s the elephant in the room, Xander. You’ve been steering us clear of it all night. But I think your man here can handle a little bit of truth. He sure knows how to dish it out.”

I held a hand up and then looked to Xander. “It’s okay. We knew this was coming. We’re out of our bubble now, remember?”

“Yes, but I don’t want you to feel pressured,” he said.

“I don’t feel pressured.” I looked between Ray and Laura and smiled. “I feel extremely lucky that I finally got a chance to know your son.” I took Xander’s hand and brought his knuckles to my lips. “I only wish I’d gotten the chance sooner.”

“Well,” Ray said, inclining his head in our direction, “that’s good enough for me.”

I was about to respond when the waiter stopped by the table with the check. I reached for it, and Xander protested.

“Uh ah,” I said, shaking my head. “Tonight’s my treat.”

“Nonsense,” Laura said, and tapped Xander on the arm. “You pass me that right now.”

Xander went for the check again, and I held it out of his reach. “Sean, you don’t have to do this.”

“I want to do this.”

Xander frowned and sighed. “Okay.”

As the three of them went back to talking, I opened up the leather fold to put my credit card inside, and the price at the bottom of the slip almost made me revisit my dinner.

Fucking hell. This meal had cost more than most people paid for rent. But, trying to play it cool, I slid my credit card inside and prayed to God I had enough left on there that shit didn’t get embarrassing.

Ten minutes later, as we stood out on the curb waving to the back of the Uber we’d just put Xander’s parents in,