Page 79 of Coming Clean

“You aren’t thinking ofturning it down, are you?” Angela asked.

“Well… probably notbut…”

The back of his neckprickled. Connor was there. He was sure of it. He was going to turnaround and Connor would be standing there and he would know.Please let me be wrong. He glanced to the side without turning.Fuck. There hewas, holding his wine so tight Jeremy expected the glass to shatterany second.

“I have to go.” He walkedaway before Angela and Ash could say anything else. “Connor!” hecalled, but Connor was already walking toward the door.

“At least talk to me,”Jeremy said when he caught up with him.

Connor turned to faceJeremy, his expression flat and cold. He set his wine down on anempty table by the door. “Congratulations on your award. It soundslike you have a bright future. Best of luck with it.” He turned andleft before Jeremy could say anything. Jeremy longed to run afterhim but he couldn’t leave before the ceremony.

“May I have yourattention?” Mrs. Renquist was at the podium now. Jeremy glancedback and forth between the formidable elderly woman and the doorConnor had just blown through. What should he do?

Angela caught his eye andwaved him toward a seat next to her. After a final glance towardthe exit, he gave up and joined his friend. He’d find Connor assoon as the awards portion of the night was over. Maybe it was agood idea to let him calm down first.

Or maybe you should goafter him. You don’t want to be here, you want to be withhim.

I also don’t want to makea fool of myself, even if I’m not returning in the fall.

Even if it’s forConnor?

Jeremy ran a hand throughhis hair.

“Are you okay?” Angelaasked.

“Yes. No. Physically I’mfine, if that’s what you mean.”

Angela nodded as though sheactually comprehended Jeremy’s convoluted answer. “Trouble withyour new boyfriend?”

“Wow. Gossip gets aroundhere even faster than I thought.”

Angela looked taken abackand Jeremy realized how sharp his tone was.

“I’m sorry. No one wassupposed to know about the job offer. I had to get a recommendationletter from Buxton. As a courtesy, I told him I’d received anoffer. He was supposed to keep quiet but obviously he told Ash, andnow Connor overheard and…” Jeremy didn’t know what else to say. Hemight have lost Connor for good.

“Connor didn’t know?”Angela asked. Thank God there wasn’t any judgment in hertone.

Someone in the front rowturned around and glared.

Angela grinned at Jeremy.“Looks like we’re the troublemakers today.”

“If they don’t hurry thisup, I’m really going to make some trouble. I need to go findConnor.”

Angela patted his arm. “Ihope you work things out. He’s seems like a great guy and he’s alsofucking hot.”

Jeremy was glad he didn’thave a drink at the moment. He might have spewed it all over bothof them.

“What?” she said. “Don’ttell me you haven’t noticed.”

“I’ve… noticed.” Jeremyrealized Angela hadn’t said how she knew about Connor. “Did youtalk to Connor?”

“Yes, I introduced myself.He’d been accosted by Ash and his posse and looked like he neededsaving.”

Shit! There was no tellingwhat they said to him. He was probably already angry before heheard about the position at Claxton.

“Did he tell you he was myboyfriend?” That was the last thing Jeremy would haveexpected.

Angela smiled. “Yes, thoughhe was adorably shy about it.”