Page 78 of Strut

Alec turned his back on the photographer. “Afternoon, Gary,” he said primly.

“What the hell areyoudoing here?” Gary scowled and it was clear Darcy had been spinning his lies. Gary saw Darcy’s eye and blanched. “Shit. You need to get that looked at.” He pulled a cloth from his pocket and pressed it to the man’s forehead. “You hit him?” He glared at Alec. “Haven’t you done enough?”

“Can’t blame me for fighting back.” Alec turned and raised a brow at Darcy. “But I’d be happy to explain all this to the cops if you want. Show them the footage.”

Darcy hesitated, weighing his options, then grunted. “Get the fuck off my shoot, both of you.”

I looked around. “I do believe we’re on public ground, Darcy. Although to be honest—” I narrowed my gaze at him. “—the stench is starting to get to me. See you around.”

I grabbed Alec’s hand to leave, but he tugged me to a stop and turned to Gary. “I don’t know what you think you know about your boss or what happened on Friday. Then again, maybe you know everything and you just don’t give a shit. But I suggest you seriously consider which side you want to be on when shit eventually goes down about this. Did you wonder why Darcy would give you Friday off when he was shooting Ray and me for a major label like Berlini? Who the fuck does that?”

Gary’s gaze darted to a puce-faced Darcy, then back to Alec, and he frowned.

Alec shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He turned to Darcy. “You have a good day now.” Alec tugged my hand and I fell in beside him without a word.

We walked away without looking back, but once we were out of Darcy’s sight, the acrimonious exchange and threats started to sink in, and Alec’s silence was telling.

A hundred metres and he was shaking. I slid my arm around his waist and pulled him close. Another twenty and all colour had drained from his face. I steered him off the path toward a quiet bench under a tree where I pulled him onto my lap and wrapped him in my arms as the adrenaline crashed. He held on for all he was worth, his body trembling, his face buried in my neck, and I didn’t give a fuck who saw us.

A minute or so later the shaking settled and Alec’s breathing evened out. “I hit him, Hunter. Holy shit, I hit him,” he muttered against my damp neck, still not letting me go. “I’ve never done anything like that. I was so fucking angry.”

“Good for you.” I stroked his hair. “It was kind of impressive, actually. Remind me never to make you that angry. And good luck to the fucker getting through that shoot today without some major painkillers and an icepack.”

Alec slid off my lap to sit sideways on the bench and I turned to do the same. He cradled my face and searched my eyes. “I thought he was going to push you into that lake. What did he say?”

“Shit, I forgot.” I broke free of his hold and pulled my phone from my pocket to stop the recording. “He didn’t admit anything to substantiate your side,” I said, repocketing my phone and taking Alec’s hand. “Just kept insisting it was you. I imagine he guessed that I’d be recording the conversation.”

Alec’s face fell. “Fuck.”

I shrugged. “Don’t worry. We’ll get him.”

“How?” Alec’s blue eyes sat uneasily on mine and he fell quiet. “People will believe him. You know that, right?”

I slid a hand around his neck and pulled him close so I could kiss him, long and slow. “But I know you didn’t do anything, baby.” I breathed the words against his lips still pale from shock. “And so will everyone who knows you.”

Alec leaned back a little and stared at me for a long time. A woman pushing a toddler in a stroller, two joggers, and a man and a woman holding hands all cast curious glances our way as they passed but Alec never flinched. He ran a finger slowly down my face from my hairline, down over my nose, my lips, my chin, and down my throat to my chest where he rested his palm over my heart. His eyes glistened. “I love you, Hunter.”

The words hit like thunder in my chest and my heart tripped over its own stupidity. “I love you too, Alec. So much.”

He smiled at the croak in my voice.

“It appears we’re switching out that syllable already.” I kissed him softly.

He took a deep breath like he was gathering courage from the touch. “We lasted less than half a day, Hunter. It’s almost embarrassing.”

“No shame here, baby.” I tunnelled my fingers through his silky hair. “To be honest, I’m kind of loving the idea.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous.” But a smile tugged at his lips.

I leaned in close and kissed him. “Falling.” I kissed him again. “Falling.” And then again. “Fallen.” I licked along the seam of his mouth and slipped inside, the taste of him spearing through my body. It was short and sweet and over in a few seconds, but it meant everything to my gobsmacked heart.

We walked hand in hand to the Strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial and stood on theImaginemosaic, staring down at the single word for what seemed the longest time, not caring about the tourists milling around all wanting their turn. If Alec needed that time, he could have it. Those who wanted to argue the point quickly changed their mind with one look at my face.

When Alec finally looked up, I nodded my thanks to the grumbling tourists and pulled him back onto the path. We walked all the way to Central Park North in near silence, letting the warm still of the day, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the splendour of fall’s rainbow work their magic. Then we caught another Uber back to my apartment where we found Tim waiting on the steps.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Alec

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