Page 106 of The Goat in the Bedroom
“Well, well, that was golden. The cameras sure loved the two of you.”
Sloane appeared like she'd been waiting for us.
“Mind if I grab you both for a quick chat? Just want to get your thoughts on the international experience while it's fresh.”
Artie tensed beside me, but I'd agreed to cooperate with filming, and she had already been in my home life segments. We knew the deal.
“Sure,” I said, though everything in me wanted to tell her to fuck off.
We foundourselves in the hotel bar, Sloane sitting across from us. She started with softball questions like how was the game, how was the city, how were the fans. Normal stuff.
Then she shifted, and so did my protective instincts. I shifted closer to Artie and took her hand.
“You two make such a beautiful couple,” she said, smiling in that way that didn't reach her eyes. “It must be such a relief to finally be in a normal relationship after all that experimentation in college.”
I felt Artie's hand tighten in mine.
“Experimentation?” Artie asked carefully.
“Well, you know. You've both dated men and women. But now you've found your way to something more traditional. Stable.”
Aw, fuck.
“Bisexuality isn't experimentation,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “It's not a phase or a waystation to something else.”
“Of course not.” Sloane said, all fake understanding. “I just mean it must be easier now. Being in a straight-passing relationship. No one questions you, no one judges. You can just be... normal.”
“We've never been trying to be normal,” Artie said.
“But you are now, aren't you? I mean, look at you. The football star and his girlfriend. Very all-American. Very traditional.” She leaned forward. “Do you think your past relationships with the same sex were just about findingyourselves? Like, you needed to explore that side before you could settle into something real?”
The silence in the room was deafening. I could feel my pulse in my ears, anger building with each word.
“Because that's what it looks like from the outside,” Sloane continued, her voice honey-sweet and poisonous. “Two people who went through their bi phase and came out the other side in a nice, heterosexual relationship. It's actually quite sweet. You experimented, you explored, and you found your way back to normal.”
She smiled, tilting her head. “So tell me, would you say being bisexual was just something you both needed to get out of your system before finding real love with each other?”
Artie's hand in mine was trembling now, but I couldn't tell if it was from rage or hurt. My own anger was a living thing in my chest, clawing to get out. Sloane's question hung in the air like the challenge it was.
Waiting for us to defend ourselves, our identities, our love.
Waiting for us to give her the drama she so desperately wanted.
She wanted drama? I was going to give her fucking drama.
HERE ME ROAR
ARTEMIS
Gryff was coiling beside me like a spring, ready to explode. His jaw clenched so tight I could hear his teeth grinding, and his free hand had curled into a fist on his thigh. In about two seconds, he was going to say something that would definitely make it into the show, probably edited to make him look unhinged.
I squeezed his hand once and gave him the smallest shake of my head.
“I got this, babe,” I said to Gryff, keeping my voice light.
Then I turned to Sloane with my sweetest smile. “Can I ask you a question?”
She blinked, clearly not expecting me to take control of the interview. “Of course.”
