Page 26 of GDL

"About what?"

"About you not being able to last the two weeks before things with you and Kynan progressed?"

Grayson had to return to Australia right after we shot the interview, and this is the first time he's been back to the States.

"I can neither confirm nor deny anything."

He chuckles, taking the drinks from the bartender, and raises his glass. "You deserve to be happy, mate. I'm stoked for you. This interview is going to be a smash hit, and you've somehow managed to convince a hot, young, successful guy to take a chance on a decrepit old fart like yourself. Cheers."

"I am not cheersing to that," I say, moving my glass away and taking a sip of vodka. "How do you think people are going to react when it comes out about Kynan and me?"

So far, we've managed to keep our romance under wraps, but once the interview goes live, we'll be releasing a joint statement to hopefully get ahead of things before anyone else beats us to it and twists our relationship into something it's not. Despite our massive age difference and the fact we met in a work capacity, there's nothing inappropriate or lewd or twisted about what we've done. This isn't some cheap and tawdry work fling; it's the real fucking deal.

"I have a feeling it'll be just fine." And with an unnerving smirk, he claps me on the back and walks away.

I make my way back to the boys as a timer on the big screen starts counting down from ten. I snuggle up with Ashton on my lap and Kynan next to me. Grayson, my boys, and Kynan's brothers are seated all around us.

Five, four, three, two, one!

The interview opens with a montage of the footage we shot and my voiceover. "To the world, Kynan Parker-Gillis is…."

Everyone is watching the screen, but I've seen this package so many times during the editing process I can recite it off by heart.

Instead, my focus is split between the little man I'm holding and the incredible man next to me. My heart is filled with so much love and joy and excitement about the future. Yes, I want this interview to be a huge smash and make my sons proud of me, but I'm also really excited about the prospect of starting a new chapter of my life with Kynan and Ashton.

The interview segment begins. Kynan was so nervous on the day, changing his shirt at least half a dozen times. He looks great on the big screen in a tight-fitting navy-blue Ralph Lauren polo, his hair swept loosely into a ponytail.

I go through a few of the usual standard questions, and then we get to the part I suspect is going to bethe thingpeople talk about. The key takeaway from the interview. The headline-generating story.

It was Kynan's idea.

On the big screen, I say, "I believe you've recently experienced a major change in your personal life."

"That's right." Kynan smiles through his nerves. "I recently found out I'm a father to the most beautiful little boy in the world, Ashton Parker-Gillis." As he talks, a photo montage of Ashton plays on the screen. There are no face shots, just touching images of father and son, taken in a way to protect the bub's identity.

The crowd murmurs, and Kynan looks at me expectantly. "It's all good," I assure him, running one hand over his knee while keeping Ashton secure on my lap with the other. "It's all good."

I have no way of predicting how this audience, or the global audience who will watch this online in a few hours, will react, but no matter the response we get, we will be good because we'll get through anything together.

The interview ends shortly after. When the screen goes black, there's silence in the room. Deathly silence. One of thebartenders slides a glass across the counter, and we can all hear it. It's that quiet.

The silence seems to stretch on forever, and then…applause.

People push to their feet and start clapping, whistling, hollering. Kynan sags in relief beside me, and I'm about to tell him we should probably go up front to say a few words when the screen flickers back to life.

People stop clapping and sit back down. I have no idea what's happening. The package is over.

I look over at Grayson and mouth, "What's going on?"

"It was all his idea," he mouths back, pointing at Kynan.

I turn to Kynan. "Care to fill me in?"

"Watch." He tips his head toward the screen. "And all will be revealed."

Kynan appears on the screen again, shirtless and standing in front of a clothesline. "Thank you for watching my interview with the incredible Sawyer Banister. You've heard my story, and you've met my son… but there's one thing I haven't shared with you. Yet."

My heart starts racing. What is he doing?

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