Page 17 of Secrets We Fight
“Do you know them?” They looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place them.
He nodded. “They’re friends of mine.”
“Hey,” the shorter of the two men said when they reached our table. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“Last-minute decision. I was getting restless at home.” Fallon stood and hugged the guy before shaking the hand of the other one. “You two want to sit with us?”
“Sure,” the taller one replied.
They grabbed the seats across the table, and Fallon took a second to introduce us. “This is Tyler, my friend from college, and his fiancé, Professor Foster. Guys, this is Agent Davis.”
Professor?
“I’ve told you a dozen times to call me Hayden,” the professor huffed.
Fallon smirked. “I know, but it’s fun to watch people’s faces when I introduce you that way.”
Hayden rolled his eyes while Tyler chuckled.
Tyler studied my face. “You were at the Fourth of July party on Cape Cod,” he mused, and then a look I couldn’t decipher passed between him and Fallon.
“Yep, and now Agent Hottie’s my bodyguard.”
Somehow, I’d forgotten about the nickname he’d given me at the party, and I shook my head at his ridiculousness. “We don’t refer to ourselves as bodyguards,” I retorted.
“Sorry. Agent Hottie is part of my protection detail.” Fallon looked at me. “Better?”
“Much.” I smirked.
“So, they already set you up with Secret Service? That didn’t take long,” Hayden said.
“I know. The morning after the election, a whole team swarmed my condo building.”
“It wasn’t that dramatic,” I grumbled, which caused the three of them to laugh.
“Man, I feel for you,” Tyler said to me. “Trying to keep this one in line won’t be easy.”
Fallon clutched his chest in mock indignation. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m a model citizen.”
“I’ve got four years of stories that say otherwise,” his friend teased.
“Maybe I need to take another look at your file.” I winked.
Hayden grinned and said, “Sounds like you won’t be able to keep any secrets from here on out.”
“I don’t have secrets,” Fallon huffed.
Everyone laughed.
I was certain Fallon Donnelley had a few secrets no one knew.
Just like I had my own.
The conversation quickly switched to the wedding Hayden and Tyler were busy planning. They made an effort to include me in their chat, which was a nice change of pace from the formal discussions I had to sit in on when working for politicians and other dignitaries.
When “Replay” by Lady Gaga came over the speakers, Fallon got up and said, “Let’s dance.”
Tyler seemed eager to get out on the dance floor and pulled Hayden up to join him. Fallon glanced at me, his eyebrow raised, and I shook my head.
