Page 100 of The Blame Game

“What the fuck?” he sputtered. “Since when have I ever dated guys?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

Shea swallowed hard, looking away. “Look, I wouldn’t say dated but there have been a few guys over the years. Just sex, you know?”

“Okay … So, what, you’re bisexual but heteroromantic?”

Shea flopped onto his back and scrubbed his hands over his face. “I don’t know what I am, to be honest.”

“Oh shit, I didn’t realize this was a full-on crisis of sexuality,” she said, her tone a little amused but mostly sympathetic.

“Em …” He propped himself on one elbow again. “I’m not having a sexuality crisis. It’s … complicated is all.”

“Yeah, well, it would have been nice if I’d learned that my brother was dating a dude from him instead of a sports gossip page,” she said, her tone turning a little tart.

“Well then maybe you shouldn’t read sports gossip pages,” he pointed out. “Besides, I’m not dating anyone. Especially not Dom. We’re just hanging out and stuff.”

“Mm-hmm. Sure. We’ll go with that.”

“You’re the last person I would’ve thought would take those things seriously,” he said irritably. “Look, they’re always trying to stir up drama. They did the same thing when he was spotted with Audra! It’s all bullshit and you know it.”

“I don’t take it seriously,” she protested. “Although I do tend to agree that where there’s smoke there’s fire. And the fact that you two spent more than one night together … well, that tells me this is a little more than just sex.”

Shea’s face grew warm. “We’re not. It’s not …”

“Holy shit.” Her jaw dropped. “You’re in love with him.”

“What? How in the hell did you come to that conclusion?”

“Your fucking face told me, you dipshit.” She laughed as she tied off her braid with the elastic on her wrist.

“Look, I—I have feelings for him,” Shea admitted. “But that doesn’t mean that he returns them or that we’re dating. Besides, whatever happened to public figures having a right to privacy?”

“They do!” she protested. “But I want to know what’s going on with you.”

Shea sighed. “I’m hanging out with a guy I have feelings for. Who happens to be a public figure who is very protective of his privacy. And it’s confusing as hell and I know it’s never going to go anywhere, which sucks, and I really, really need you to not push me for any details, okay, Em?”

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. And I’m not mad I’m—”

“Protective of him?”

“Yeah.”

“You must love him then.”

Shea closed his eyes. “Like I said, it’s complicated.”

“Well, I’m happy for you.”

“Happy that some guy has me totally mixed up in the head?”

“No.” Her expression was a mixture of fond and amused. “But happy you’re not afraid to fall in love with someone despite the fact that, well, he’s a dude.”

“Yeah.” He swallowed hard. “It’s difficult when you don’t fit into the neat little boxes that society has for everyone.”

“You’re telling me,” she said drily. “People don’t know how to handle a pretty girl in a chair who refuses to be your stereotypical anything.”

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