on to him that I found it awkward.
“Ready?” I asked when I was ready.
“Yes.”
We walked out of the room and made our way downstairs to the lobby. Moira’s instructions had been simple: Meet her in the lobby together at 10:00 p.m. So at 10:00 p.m. we were waiting in the lobby, wondering what had happened to bring her across the Pacific Ocean and to require a late-night meeting. Whatever it was, it was not good.
Chapter 19
The Come to Jesus Meeting
At precisely 10:00 p.m., Moira walked into the lobby of our hotel. Oh crap! But she was not alone. Trailing along behind her, looking like a kicked puppy dog, was the man I had come to loathe over all other men on the planet. Why did this man have to come into my life? And why the hell couldn’t I get rid of him?
Moira waved at us, but walked right up to the desk clerk and asked to use a meeting room in the hotel. The woman behind the counter recognized Derrick (and Bill, for that matter) so she was exceptionally accommodating. “There is no one here from catering at this hour so I can’t provide any refreshments, but you can use one of our Executive Meeting Rooms.” She had a colleague take over for her and guided us there herself. Both Moira and Derrick thanked the woman, which made her day.
When we were alone, just Moira, me, Derrick, and Bill, we sat down at the conference table in the room. While Moira composed her thoughts, I glared at Derrick. Bill sat quietly by my side without saying a word, and without looking at anyone or anything.
“Mark,” Derrick said, “I know you must hate me—”
“What else should I feel after walking in to find you with my boyfriend? You’ve wanted my boyfriend since the first time you saw him. From that evening meeting around Moira’s pool when you stripped him with your eyes, you’ve admired him and wanted him. Do you think I was so blind that I didn’t see? Of course I saw. But I also trusted my boyfriend. Until I discovered that that trust was misplaced and that I couldn’t trust either of you.”
“I’m so sorry, Mark. I never meant to hurt you,” Derrick tried.
“You’re sorry! He’s sorry! Everybody’s sorry!” I shouted in fury, surprising everyone and making them all jump. “And I’m sorry too,” I said a little more calmly. “I’m sorry that I could be sleeping right now. And if you’ll all excuse me, that’s where I’m going,” I said as I stood from the table.
“Mark,” Moira said, “please wait. I asked you to come here. I’ve asked all of you to come here. And so far I’ve remained quiet. You may all leave—after I’ve had my say.”
I sat back down. I couldn’t refuse her anything, especially when I realized that she had dropped everything and flown five hours across the Pacific to come to my aid.
“Mark. Bill. You two know Derrick because of me. Derrick, you know Mark and Bill because of me. I’m the way you all got to know one another, even though you had some common history. And I feel responsible for this whole mess, since I introduced you to one another. I’ve come to love each and every one of you in different ways. I’ve also come to admire all of you. You each possess strength of character that is unique to you. You are all fighters and survivors. Bill, Derrick, you two have faced a hell that no one else can fully comprehend. And you have each survived that hell and come out the other side a stronger person.”
She paused for a moment. “So the two of you did something stupid. I don’t know why. I don’t care. It happened and it was stupid.” Both Bill and Derrick held their heads down, not looking at anyone.
Bill nodded. “I’m so very sorry, Mark. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I love you and would never—”
“You did,” I said quietly. “You both did.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I was quiet for a moment before adding, “You both hurt me. You have both left me confused, scared, alone, frightened, worried, panicked, angry, and
“Ready?” I asked when I was ready.
“Yes.”
We walked out of the room and made our way downstairs to the lobby. Moira’s instructions had been simple: Meet her in the lobby together at 10:00 p.m. So at 10:00 p.m. we were waiting in the lobby, wondering what had happened to bring her across the Pacific Ocean and to require a late-night meeting. Whatever it was, it was not good.
Chapter 19
The Come to Jesus Meeting
At precisely 10:00 p.m., Moira walked into the lobby of our hotel. Oh crap! But she was not alone. Trailing along behind her, looking like a kicked puppy dog, was the man I had come to loathe over all other men on the planet. Why did this man have to come into my life? And why the hell couldn’t I get rid of him?
Moira waved at us, but walked right up to the desk clerk and asked to use a meeting room in the hotel. The woman behind the counter recognized Derrick (and Bill, for that matter) so she was exceptionally accommodating. “There is no one here from catering at this hour so I can’t provide any refreshments, but you can use one of our Executive Meeting Rooms.” She had a colleague take over for her and guided us there herself. Both Moira and Derrick thanked the woman, which made her day.
When we were alone, just Moira, me, Derrick, and Bill, we sat down at the conference table in the room. While Moira composed her thoughts, I glared at Derrick. Bill sat quietly by my side without saying a word, and without looking at anyone or anything.
“Mark,” Derrick said, “I know you must hate me—”
“What else should I feel after walking in to find you with my boyfriend? You’ve wanted my boyfriend since the first time you saw him. From that evening meeting around Moira’s pool when you stripped him with your eyes, you’ve admired him and wanted him. Do you think I was so blind that I didn’t see? Of course I saw. But I also trusted my boyfriend. Until I discovered that that trust was misplaced and that I couldn’t trust either of you.”
“I’m so sorry, Mark. I never meant to hurt you,” Derrick tried.
“You’re sorry! He’s sorry! Everybody’s sorry!” I shouted in fury, surprising everyone and making them all jump. “And I’m sorry too,” I said a little more calmly. “I’m sorry that I could be sleeping right now. And if you’ll all excuse me, that’s where I’m going,” I said as I stood from the table.
“Mark,” Moira said, “please wait. I asked you to come here. I’ve asked all of you to come here. And so far I’ve remained quiet. You may all leave—after I’ve had my say.”
I sat back down. I couldn’t refuse her anything, especially when I realized that she had dropped everything and flown five hours across the Pacific to come to my aid.
“Mark. Bill. You two know Derrick because of me. Derrick, you know Mark and Bill because of me. I’m the way you all got to know one another, even though you had some common history. And I feel responsible for this whole mess, since I introduced you to one another. I’ve come to love each and every one of you in different ways. I’ve also come to admire all of you. You each possess strength of character that is unique to you. You are all fighters and survivors. Bill, Derrick, you two have faced a hell that no one else can fully comprehend. And you have each survived that hell and come out the other side a stronger person.”
She paused for a moment. “So the two of you did something stupid. I don’t know why. I don’t care. It happened and it was stupid.” Both Bill and Derrick held their heads down, not looking at anyone.
Bill nodded. “I’m so very sorry, Mark. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I love you and would never—”
“You did,” I said quietly. “You both did.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I was quiet for a moment before adding, “You both hurt me. You have both left me confused, scared, alone, frightened, worried, panicked, angry, and
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