Page 80 of Coming Clean

Front Row turned aroundagain. “Please show some respect.”

Angela made a face thatsaid “uh oh, we’re in trouble” and Jeremy bit his lip to keep fromlaughing.

Jeremy leaned closer,speaking right into her ear “He’s been in the closet until reallyrecently. So I didn’t think….”

She nodded and squeezedJeremy’s hand. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

What seemed like aneternity later but was probably only about half an hour, Jeremy hadhis award in hand and was ready to make his exit. It was a terriblebreach of etiquette not to stay for the post-awards dinner andthank the donors and Mrs. Renquist again. He’d seen a photographermilling about. Probably he was expected to take some photos withthe other winners, but he didn’t care. He was more concerned aboutsetting things right with Connor.

“If anyone asks, tell themI’ve taken ill,” he told Angela.

She smiled. “Shall I sayyou’ve retreated to your chaise? Do you need smellingsalts?”

“I might if this goes asbadly as it could.”

“Hopefully, it won’t cometo that,” Angela said.

Jeremy slipped out a sidedoor and headed for the parking lot. When he pulled out his keysand unlocked his car, it hit him that he’d driven Connor. How hadConnor gotten home or wherever he’d gone? He pulled out his phone.Still no messages. He called Connor but the phone went tovoicemail. He doubted there was any point in leaving amessage.

Fuck. He started the carand backed out. Hopefully, Connor was home. Once Jeremy was on thehighway, he called Sabrina.

“Hello.”

“It’s Jeremy. Have you um…heard from Connor”

“Yes, I gave him a ride,”her tone was clipped but she didn’t sound truly angry.

“Ah, shit. I’m surprisedyou even took my call.”

She sighed. “I’m assumingthere are two sides to this story, like most.”

Jeremy wished he couldjustify his behavior. “There are, but this time Connor’s in theright.”

“Then go tell himthat.”

Thank God she wasn’twarning Jeremy off. “Is he at home?”

“I assume so. That’s whereI took him.”

Then that was where Jeremywould go. “Thanks.”

“Don’t hurt him,” Sabrinawarned.

“I already have, but I’mgoing to do everything I can to make things better.”

“Good, because if you don’tyou’ll be hearing from me, and I promise you I’m way scarier thanDavid.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Jeremysaid before ending the call. Jeremy had no doubt she could make hislife hell if she thought he deserved it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Several minutes later,Jeremy parked near Connor’s apartment. He didn’t get out of the carright away. Instead, he laid his forehead against the steeringwheel and took a deep breath. He could do this. He could faceConnor’s anger, own up to hurting him, and somehow—please let himfigure out how—make things at least a little better.

He opened his door andstood. One foot in front of the other, step by step, he covered thedistance to Connor’s door. His hand shook as he lifted it toknock.

No answer.What if he refuses to come to thedoor?