CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Finn
Cole Hawke bounces when he walks. I’ve never seen my agent so happy. I didn’t know it was possible. The man seems to only growl and count money, channeling all his competitive instincts honed from when he used to play hockey two decades ago.
“Can I meet Belinda?” he asks.
I roll my eyes.
Belinda Pierce used to be a famous child actress at the turn of the century. She excelled at being sweet. Then after a period as a teenager when she made it clear she was not sweet and had been a much better actress than everyone imagined, she now has her own talk show.
I would feel better if there were fewer pictures of her screaming at people outside clubs.
“Please, meet her,” I say. “Ideally do the whole interview.”
“You’re nervous.” Cole narrows his eyes. “Don’t fuck up this interview, Carrington.”
My mouth opens and shuts a few times.
“You’ll be great,” Cole assures me. “Because you better be.”
“You’re the worst agent ever.”
“Ha. I got you into the Boston Blizzards. I’m amazing.”
“I take some of that credit,” I grumble.
“Besides, think about how much extra money you’re getting from this marriage thing.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean, extra money?”
“Who do you think convinced Tanaka to make you the face of the Blizzards?” Cole asks. “Me!”
“I thought Tanaka came up with that himself?”
“Nah. He hates sports. Always has.”
“He shouldn’t own a sports team.”
“You sound like him.”
“You still haven’t explained the money.”
“You’re in more ads. Of course, you’re getting more money. This interview will help us get better sponsorship deals for you.”
“I guess I have been doing more ads.”
“Yeah.”
My stomach feels wobbly. When I asked Noah to marry me, I didn’t think about financial benefits to my own career. But then we’re in the 2020s. People are eager to support a gay couple.
I swallow hard.
They should be supporting Vinnie and Evan. Not me. And even though I know Vinnie and Evan like their privacy, guilt sweeps through me.
I dart a glance to Noah, but he is happily chatting to a makeup artist. I smile stupidly in his direction. Noah is adorable.
“You are gone for him,” Cole murmurs, shaking his head.
