Headlines (Prime Time #3) - Ella Frank Page 0,56
no way in hell I would. Jim’s remarks were baseless and completely unfounded, but he sure seemed to have an opinion.
That was when it hit me. Oh shit.
No. There was no way what I was thinking right now was true. That Jim had been the one to call Entertainment Now! and out Sean. But as I crossed the newsroom toward my office, the idea began to take root.
Ever since that article had come out, I’d been trying to work out who would’ve leaked it, who would’ve had something to gain from handing over that piece about the two of us—and this made the most sense.
Damn it. I needed to talk to Marcus, because if I was right, Jim would have to go. I couldn’t work with people I didn’t trust, especially my executive producer.
I headed to my office to email Marcus about setting up a meeting and saw someone standing inside. Knowing I didn’t have anything set up this close to broadcast, I pushed through my office door, and when Bailey turned around to face me, my breath got caught in the back of my throat.
“Hey,” Bailey said as the door swung shut behind me, and when it was clear I was at a loss for words, he added, “I hope you don’t mind me just showing up here, but—”
“I don’t.” In fact, I was so happy to see him standing in front of me that I thought I might be dreaming. “I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.”
“I know. I…” Bailey twisted his hands around themselves and gave me a crooked grin. “I probably should’ve called instead of just showing up. But Sean said you wouldn’t mind, and—”
“You spoke to Sean?” He hadn’t told me he was going to see Bailey.
“Yeah, uh, this morning. He tracked me down out at Graceland.”
The cemetery where their parents were buried. “Good. That’s good. I know he’s been worried about you.”
Bailey nodded and lowered his eyes to the ground. He stood there like that for several seconds, and then we both said, “I’m sorry.”
Bailey raised his head, and when his troubled eyes met mine, I offered up a half-grin. “Some pair we are, huh?”
I took a step forward and went to reach for him, but at the last second, I hesitated. Bailey saw my indecision and quickly made up the difference, and the next thing I knew, he was wrapping his arms around me.
“I’m sorry, Xander. So damn sorry.”
I pulled him into my arms and held on tight, and it felt so familiar, so right to comfort my friend this way. When he finally pulled back, I took his face between my hands and said, “Can you stay? Wait for me?”
Bailey nodded. “Yeah, I was hoping I could take you to dinner.”
I ran my hand over the back of Bailey’s head and squeezed his neck. “I’d love that.”
“Me too.” I was reluctant to leave, now that he was here. But when he smiled and said, “Go. Cynthia will kill you if you’re late for hair and makeup,” I couldn’t help but grin.
“Don’t leave.”
“I won’t.”
I narrowed my eyes and pulled open my office door. “Ryan?”
“Yeah, boss?”
“Can you keep an eye on this guy? Get him whatever he wants, make sure he’s comfortable?”
Ryan walked over to the door and smiled. “Bailey? Oh my God, hi. It’s been too long.”
“It really has been,” Bailey said.
“Okay, so how about I take you into the studio and you can watch Xander do his thing?”
“I’d like that.” Bailey brushed by me, about to follow Ryan and get comfy, but then he stopped and reached for my hand. “Have a good show.”
“I will.” As he headed off through the newsroom, I quickly pulled my phone from my pocket and shot that email off to Marcus. Then I pulled up Sean’s number and hit call.
“Did he find you?”
The smile on my face was so big that I was surprised Sean couldn’t see it from wherever he was. “He did.”
“And?”
“Aaaand we’re going to go to dinner after work and talk.”
“Good. That’s so good, Xander.”
“I know.” I could barely contain my happiness. “I have so many questions, but right now I just want to say thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Just make things right between you two, that’s all I want.”
I stopped outside of Cynthia’s room and closed my eyes. “I love you. You know that, right?”
Sean chuckled. “You better. ’Cause I’ll be the one waiting for you in bed tonight.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Me either. See you later, anchorman.”
“See you then.”
“DO YOU KNOW