Page 34 of Finding Forever in Cedarwood

“Thanks.” Jordan followed Liam to the parking lot.

“I don’t know who did it. I came out to this.” He gestured to the SUV. “It’s not permanent, but it’s embarrassing.”

“That’s…okay.” Jordan spoke into his radio. He related the words scrawled on the windows and asked for assistance. “I can’t investigate because I rent to you, so I’m calling in backup. Why don’t you walk me through your last few hours?”

He recounted the interaction with Devin, then how he’d written in his journal before he came out to the vandalism on his windows. “I’ve talked to people at the gym and Metropark, but not today.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’d like to keep it quiet because only a few people know, but the truth is I’m gay and I’m an actor. Whoever wrote on my windows figured out who I am.”

Jordan nodded. “Understood.”

He isn’t shocked? Isn’t going to lecture me?Keeping his identity secret was a terrible weight on his shoulders. He hated it. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He withdrew the device and checked the screen. Patricia. “Shoot. I need to take this.”

“Sure. Stick around, but I’ll have Pete get the photos,” Jordan said. “He’ll want your statement, too.”

“Not a problem.” He answered his phone. “Hello, Pat.”

“What are you doing?” she snapped.

“What? I didn’t do anything.”Now what’s wrong?

“You’re all over social media.”

“That happens every day.” He rolled his eyes and perched on the seat of the bench by the diner entrance. “So?”

“This is worse.”

“How?”

“You came out?” she asked.

“Not yet.” He kept his voice low. “Jesus. Is that all? I’ve been accused of being gay and not out before. Big deal.” It was a big deal, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue it with her.

“Then it wasn’t you that put those words on your car? Are you advertising? Did you think it wouldn’t get out? Or was that the idea—make it look like defacing?” she asked. “If you’re going to do a publicity stunt, you have to tell me.”

A wave of nausea hit.God damn.“What do you mean everyone knows about a publicity stunt?” He’d mishmashed her words, but his mind spun as fast as his stomach.

“There are pictures of your SUV all over social media. The headlines claim Liam Blackwell comes out. I told you if you’re going to do this, let me handle it. Jesus. The media is coming to find you. If you’re not swarmed yet, you will be.”

“I can’t hide.” But he’d been caught. They would find him and want exclusives. They’d find Stone and anyone else they thought he was tangled with for an interview. He couldn’t do this to Stone.

“Go into hiding. You have that house. Hide.”

“My car was vandalized. I never posted anything about what happened. Whoever defaced it probably posted the photos. Doesn’t matter. I’m here with the police,” he said. “I can’t leave.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his forehead. “Has the studio contacted you?”

“Not yet, but I’ll tell them the truth. Someone vandalized your vehicle.”

He sighed. “I can’t lie any longer. I can’t be anyone but myself unless I’m on film. I’m tired of hiding.”

“You’re ready?”

“I got pushed. How can I not be ready?”

“You were and I’m sorry.”

“But I met someone, too, so it’s just as well.”

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