Page 250 of Just for the Cameras
“And I said I’ll go with you.” She turns me toward the parking lot. “Follow me.”
“I need to grab my shit first.”
She crosses her arms and taps her foot. “Hurry up. I’m on borrowed time.”
I open the gate for Gretchen, and together, we head toward the flamingo building.
There is press hanging around the front of the zoo, but nothing in the back, thankfully. My gut churns from the thought of Maple being hounded by press now. And sure, it will probably—hopefully—die down, but why do they have to be here?
This is her sanctuary. She loves it here, being with the flamingos, and to have that tainted makes me feel incredibly uneasy…and guilty.
We attempt to hide from onlookers, but it’s near impossible given my size and the news that’s going around today. Phones point at me from all different directions as I make my way toward the flamingos, and I don’t even bother hiding anymore, because what’s the point? I’m a giant man walking through the zoo in my workout clothes. It’s pretty clear who I am and who I’m going to go see.
When we reach the building, I open the door for Gretchen only for her to come up short and stop before I can enter.
Confused, I look up, and that’s where I find Slutty Little Glasses, his arms all over my girl and his mouth inches from her head.
White-hot rage encompasses me, and before I can stop myself, I push past Gretchen, walk right up to them, and rip him off Maple with a roar of anger, shoving him a few feet away.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I yell.
“Graydon,” Maple says in shock, but I ignore her.
“I asked you what the fuck you were doing.” I round on Slutty Little Glasses, giving him no room to run away.
To his credit, he doesn’t back down as he lifts his chin and says, “Taking care of her.”
“That’s my fucking job!” I yell, practically spitting in his face from my anger.
“Graydon, back away,” Gretchen says from the side as my fists clench.
“I’m the one who protects her, not you.”
“How can you possibly protect her when you’re the one causing the harm?” he shoots back, his words creating a tumultuous wave of damage in my chest. “You’re the one hurting her.”
“Hank, don’t say that,” Maple says, coming up next to me. “That’s not true.”
“It’s not?” he asks. “Because from what I see, you’re crying atwork—this not being the first time—over something to do with him. You’re being hounded by press, you’re panicking so much that you’re making yourself sick—”
“You’re making yourself sick?” I ask, turning toward Maple, who is clenching her hands together, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Please, Hank, just…stop.”
“Wait, what is he talking about?”
Her eyes dart to Hank and then back to me. “I was just…it was a lot to handle this morning. I might have gotten a little sick, but it’s nothing that you need to worry about because I’m sure you’re worried about enough at the moment.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Are you, though?” Hank asks. “Because you’re the one who keeps putting her in these situations.”
“Who is this?” Gretchen asks, pointing at Hank. “And why is he here?”
“He’s a friend,” Maple says.
“I was unaware of his knowledge of the situation.” Gretchen starts tapping away on her phone while saying, “We need to talk about this privately.”
“Why, so you can continue to use her for your benefit?” Hank asks. “Because that’s all this has ever been. Using her, using this zoo, taking advantage of an opportunity to make your life better with total disregard for how she’s treated.”
