Self Preservation (12 page)

“Shit!” Jack screamed. Davis and several passersby jumped.

Davis looked over to see Jack holding a paper. He dug some money out of his pocket and tossed it at the man in the newsstand. Jack spun around and ran over to Davis. He grabbed his arm and took off running, dragging Davis behind him.

“What's wrong, were they out?” Davis asked as Jack shoved the paper into his hands.

“He'll be an absolute wreck.”

Davis glanced over the featured article in the tabloid. It was led by an outsize picture of Tadd, obviously intoxicated, holding a beer in one hand, with his other arm tossed over the shoulder of a shirtless guy standing next to him. BLOGGER IMPLICATES TADD AUSTIN IN SEX SCANDAL WITH MALE PROSTITUTE.

Davis's mouth fell open.
I'm so going to kill her.

Jack pulled Davis behind him as he ran down the sidewalk. “I have to get to him.” He flagged a cab.

* * *

Tadd's office building was all glass and steel, very modern. As Davis followed Jack into Tadd's office, he noticed that all the interior walls were glass. It felt very open and voyeuristic to him. The charcoal-colored slate floors were beautiful, and Tadd's large office felt bright from all the windows despite the cool dark colors of the interior. His desk sat in the middle of the floor with a couple of chairs covered in a dark gray silky fabric that had a pearl-like sheen to it. There was another sitting area with two more matching chairs and a sleek black leather sofa.

Tadd slammed the phone down. He folded his arms and shook his head as he stared at the computer screen on the desk. He noticed Jack and attempted a smile. Davis had to admire the effort to distance his lover from his foul mood. Tadd stood as Jack approached him. Davis stood near the doorway, shifting his weight.

Tadd hugged Jack. “I was so afraid you might believe this.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” Jack said, pulling away and following Tadd back around the other side of his desk. “And neither will anyone else,” he added with a smile as he placed his hand on Tadd's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Who's going to believe you'd go anywhere else when you have me?”

Tadd laughed as Jack smiled up at him. “This story is ridiculous. I hope like hell it doesn't affect my ability to keep working with the youth groups.”

“Oh, surely not,” Jack said. “You love mentoring those kids.” But he'd dropped his voice, and there was pain in the statement. It was entirely possible that Tadd could be separated from work that he loved and that he thought was important.

Davis left the doorway and went over to the desk, standing next to Tadd. He patted him on the arm. “I'm so sorry.”

“It's not your fault,” Tadd said, reaching over and squeezing Davis's hand.

“I…”
Christ, me and my evil minions have really done it now. The poor guy does all this charity work, and I come along and cut him off at the knees for it.

Tadd sat back down in his chair, and Jack knelt next to him as they looked over the monitor.

“I'm going to sue the pants off this bastard,” Tadd said, pointing at the picture.

“Baby, you do look a little worse for the wear,” Jack said, smiling

“It was a vacation, for Christ's sake. I was visiting some friends.”

Jack looked back at the computer and began reading the gossip blog out loud. “'Sources say this beefy media darling'…he got that part right.” Jack leaned over and gave Tadd a peck on the cheek.

Tadd laughed at Jack's obvious yet sweet attempt to diffuse the mood, but he took up the reading where Jack had left off. “'Vacationing in Palm Springs two years ago where he allegedly hired a well-known male escort for a raunchy evening of sex, drugs, and debauchery!'”

Bad, bad, evil minions, Davis thought.

“It's disgusting,” Tadd sneered. “I have no clue who that guy is, but I damn well didn't have sex with him, paid or otherwise. All I did was go to that party with my friends. I sure as hell never took any drugs. I don't do drugs. I never have.”

Jack winked at him. “My big, hunky Boy Scout.”

Jack's presence and lighthearted flirting began to ease Tadd's frustration as he looked over the picture. “I don't even know where this prick got the picture.”

“It's not really that big a deal, is it?” Davis asked.

“You don't know what it's like being in the public eye, Davis. You have to be perfect, and I've always done my best to put good back out there. I want to be a role model for gay teens, show them they could be out and still live a very full, successful, and respectful life.”

“And that's really great, Tadd.” Davis began to fidget. “I'm sure no one is going to lend this any credibility.”

“I can't believe the newspaper actually ran a story based on this, baby.”

“All they said in the article was that the blogger alleged it.” Tadd shook his head, looking over at the paper. “The article never says that the paper itself lends it any credibility.”

Davis watched Jack look lovingly at Tadd. “That's shady as hell.” Davis closed his eyes as they kissed, completely pissed that merely an hour before he'd been holding hands with Jack. Guilt swept over him for thinking about himself, especially considering it was probably his fault that Tadd was even in this situation.

“I'm calling a media conference right now,” Tadd said decisively. “Let's put an end to this here and now.”

* * *

Tadd sat a long conference table with a group of microphones placed in front of him. His attorneys flanked him right and left. Reporters peppered them with questions, and Davis found himself astonished by Tadd's discipline as he answered each insulting, prying query calmly and concisely. Another two men sat at the table, friends who'd accompanied Tadd on the trip and who were there to support him and to confirm the events. Davis felt wretched; he wouldn't wish this on someone he hated, and he certainly didn't hate Tadd. He wished he could be that kind of person, but it just wasn't in him. Tadd was good people. The blogger had named the prostitute, and Tadd's lawyers had tracked the guy down and gotten a sworn statement from the man that none of the allegations were true.

Davis reached into Jack's pocket and took out his cell phone. Jack turned, feeling the hand in his pocket, and smiled. He nodded his head as Davis slipped through the glass door into the hallway with the phone. He flipped it open, punched in the numbers, and placed it up to his ear. Tapping his foot and placing his hand on his hip, he waited as it rang.

“Hello, Deseree Wildwood.”

“It's me,” he whispered.

“I had nothing to do with it, so don't even start.”

“Then who the hell did?” Davis asked.

“What am I, psychic?” she asked. “How the hell would I know?”

“You don't think…?”

“What?”

“Alex?” Davis asked.

“Well, he was there when we overheard the conversation.”

“No…like he'd really care what happens here.”

“You're probably right.”

“This is so unfair,” Davis said, feeling relieved that he wasn't to blame after all. He turned and saw Jack watching him from inside the conference room. He smiled and waved, and Jack smiled back. “We had a great lunch. I really felt like something was getting ready to happen and then this shit. I don't know what else to do.”

“I did have one thought.”

“At this point I'm getting desperate,” Davis said, looking back to see if Jack was still watching. When he saw Jack had turned his attention back to the press conference, he added, “I'm willing to do whatever.”

“I'm not sure I can pull it off. I'll have to call in a few favors.”

“Just tell me, for the love of God,” Davis said, smiling as a woman in Tadd's office walked by.

“Snappish.”

“Sorry.”

“Well, we know Jack wanted to move to New York for his career.”

“Right,” Davis said, rolling his hand in the air and shaking his head.

“Perhaps we could dangle a little carrot in front of him.”

“Such as,” Davis said, rolling his eyes.

“Well, there's a casting director for NBC that I'm on really good terms with. I've dressed her for several public events. I could make a call on behalf of a very dear old friend from college.”

Davis stopped fidgeting and stood up straight as a grin spread across his face. “Oh, you are a naughty girl.”

“Do you know who his agent is?” she asked.

“Jessica something… She's here for the wedding,” Davis said, pulling Jack's phone away and looking at it. He put it back to his ear. “Her name and number would be in his phone, right?”

Deseree instructed Davis how to access the numbers in Jack's cell phone while berating him for not having one of his own. He swore to Deseree he'd get one, though, if she made this happen. He felt a little bad for orchestrating this right after Tadd's trauma, but at the end of the day, he could tell Jack still had feelings for him. It was obvious at lunch. He was really doing Tadd a favor in the long run.

* * *

Davis followed Tadd and Jack into the lobby of the hotel where most of the out-of-town guests were staying. As they entered the hotel bar, Davis looked around the swanky room, which had a slight antique feel to it. The rich, golden-colored walls, dark hardwood floors, and deep red upholstered chairs all had a slight patina to them that betrayed their age. They walked past the large dark-stained walnut bar and made their way to a table in the back where Alex, Candace, and Deseree waited. Davis gave Deseree a what-gives look. She closed her eyes, barely shaking her head back and forth.

“Tadd,” Candace squealed, getting up to hug him. “I watched the press conference. You were very strong. I'm so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Tadd said, sitting in the chair next to her.

Davis felt a sharp pain in his chest, nearly having an aneurysm hearing that, as he slid into the booth next to Alex. Jack sat down next to Davis.

“I agree, Tadd. You were completely brilliant,” Alex said. “It was all very dramatic, the shame you cast on the blogger, chastising the newspaper for not hurting you but the sweet little children who look up to you. I could almost envision them standing in the cold, cruel world, lips quivering, very Dickens. I never knew you had it in you.”

“That was my beautiful husband-to-be here's idea. Thanks, baby.” Tadd smiled as he leaned over and kissed Jack.

Davis shot a suspicious look over at Alex and found him sitting back in the booth, staring at Davis with a smooth smile on his face. Alex leaned over and said, “Tough break, love,” as he motioned to Tadd and Jack.

Davis let out a little huff, which caused Alex to laugh under his breath. Alex winked and poked him in the side playfully. Davis rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh.

“What is it exactly you're doing here?” Davis asked, swatting Alex's hand away.

“Oh shit,” Tadd said, tearing himself away from Jack's gaze. “Davis, this is my best friend, Alex Parker. We were roommates at Yale.” Tadd started to turn back to Jack and asked, “Wait… I thought you both met last night?”

Candace's eyes widened. “I'd say so.”

Davis smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he laughed a little. “Ha ha!” He glanced over at Deseree for help, but she deliberately looked away. Davis poked Alex in a not-so-playful way. “You!”

“Ouch, bloody hell, darling. I bruise easily.” Alex rubbed his side and looked at Tadd. “I may have neglected to mention we were such old friends.”

“Yeah!” Davis said, a little louder than he intended.

Alex slid his arm around Davis. “But, in all fairness, Jack neglected to tell anyone how absolutely adorable his ex was.”

“Well, maybe Jack doesn't think he's so adorable anymore,” Deseree finally piped in.

“Something tells me this is one of those situations where saying nothing is my safest option.”

“My son, everyone,” Candace said, with a raised eyebrow.

“That is rude, Jack. Davis was very supportive to me this afternoon. I consider it the act of a very dear friend. He never once even hinted that he thought that story might be true.”