Page 51 of Wrong Car, Wright Guy
He laughs and holds up his hand for a high five. “Twinning!”
As our hands clap, Darren starts laughing. “Baby, you are far too big and brawny to be holding your hand up and saying things like ‘twinning’. But I love you for it.”
Theo grunts.
“I love you for it too,” I say with a wink, causing him to laugh.
When we get up to the photographer’s studio, we’re greeted and sent through to wardrobe and makeup. It takes a good hour of primping and preening, but by the end of it I have to admit I look banging. They've got me in a hot pink suit with black edging and a white silk tank underneath. I kind of look like a Barbie doll with my blonde hair sitting in curly waves over my shoulders and plum lipstick on my lips. And I can't help but think that Camille will get a real kick out of seeing these posters when they go up around the city. It's just a shame that Tanner isn't in them with me. I think she'd like that even more. But I understand that a lot of what he does is to keep the peace within his family so he can continue to pay for Camille’s care. He has a very noble heart.
Once I'm all ready, I find Karen, Theo and Darren standing in front of a white backdrop while the photographer takes some test shots to get the lighting right. Then it's all systems go with Darren and Karen standing off to the side while Theo and I stand back-to-back with various poses until the photographer feels he has enough to fit the brief.
It takes less time to get the shots than it took to prepare for them. But from what the photographer shows us on the monitor, he definitely got the goods. I don’t feel cringey about a single one. “You look like a model,” Karen says, smiling as we look at the proofs together.
“I feel like one right now. Never thought I’d say that in my life.”
After a quick conversation with the photographer where Darren insists he come to a Coco show, we all head downstairs, agreeing to meet up over the weekend to find out whether Theo and Darren got their loft. I shoot a message off to Tahlia too, and she replies asking if she can bring Nick. Looks like that early exit wasn’t a brush off after all.
When I step outside, the whole world feels brighter. My career is bigger than I ever thought possible, I have family who cares, friends to lean on, and the love of a hot as hell radio presenter slash media empire heir who's currently waiting for me on the sidewalk leaning against the side of his flashy car. He looks good enough to eat.
“Oh, hey there, Mr. I'm-too-important-to-be-photographed-for-billboards,” Darren says, sashaying up. “We were just talking about getting together this weekend. Hope you're not going to keep our Little Miss Radio-star away from us like you have this past couple of weeks?”
“I have to confess to wanting to keep her all to myself for longer than that. But I think I can share her time for an hour or two. Then I'll whisk her away again, hiding her at my place.” His blue eyes are dark and always wanting as they land on mine. I swear the entire world falls away whenever his eyes are on me. It just feels like our bodies call to each other, and he’s all that I know.
“Maybe not for too much longer,” Theo says. “We're putting in an application for our own place after this. So, if we get it, she'll have her place back.”
“Is that so?” Tanner’s eyebrows lift as he turns his gaze to Theo. “If there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask.”
“How are you at lifting furniture?” Theo asks.
Tanner smirks. “Excellent. I have the number for a great removal company that I'm happy to pay to do it for you.”
“You trust fund babies,” Theo jokes, waving his hand. Darren catches it.
“But we will very happily accept your offer to help us move, Mr. Right-for-all-of-us,” Darren puts in. “My nails don't hold up well carrying furniture and boxes. So, if you're willing, and seriously offering, I will happily accept.” He adds a curtsy in for effect.
Tanner laughs. “I'm more than happy to get movers for you. And if you want to give me the address, I'll see if dropping my name can open any doors for you, get you cheaper rent or at least to the front of the line.”
“If I wasn't a taken man, Mr. Wright,” Darren gasps. “I would kiss you right now.”
“Fuck. I am taken and I'm willing to kiss you,” Theo says, making us all laugh.
I step in between them. “How about I get to be the one who does the kissing?” I turn around and press a gentle kiss to Tanner's lips. “Is that sufficient enough?” Everyone except Tanner says yes. He's always wanting more.
We say a quick goodbye, promising to catch up later. Tanner opens the passenger door for me, and before I get inside, I remember his comment from this morning. “What did you want me to meet you about? Was it a dirty reason or a real reason?”
“Dirty reasons are real reasons.” He grins. “But I did have a non-naked reason for wanting to talk to you as soon as your shoot was finished.”
“And what's that?”
He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a sheet of paper. “I heard whispers, but I wanted to wait until it was official to tell you.”
“Tell me what?” I ask as I open the paper.
“We got a nomination. Well, we got a few. Best talk show, best new show, best radio station and best new rising talent—that last one is you, by the way.”
I stare at the official letterhead in awe, gob smacked. “Oh, my god. This is amazing. I'm so proud of us—of you! You did it, Tanner. You took a failing radio station, and you made it a success. Have you told your father this yet?”
“No,” he says, taking the paper out of my hands. “The first person I wanted to tell was you. You’re the reason we got here, and therefore the most important person. And when we get into the office, we’ll tell all of them together. Gerry will want drinks tonight, but I'll take you out to dinner to celebrate in style after that. Then I'm going to take you home and celebrate over and over with your body, until we're both so exhausted, we pass out covered in each other. Then we're going to get up in the morning and I'm going to take you shopping for the perfect dress to wear to the awards ceremony—fair warning, I’ll likely fuck you in the change rooms—and then we’re going to go out with your brother and friends, spend another weekend enjoying each other’s bodies, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll make it to work on time a few days next week.Then,if my father is lucky, he'll learn about the nomination after we've already won next weekend. He ranks rather low on my list.”
