Professional Distance (Thorne and Dash 1)

“When my sister had her first baby, I took…two days.”

“Yes, but you checked in every few minutes.”

He had. “I’m ready to make some serious changes in my life.”

“Does that include coming out?”

He nodded. “It does.”

“So this early meeting with the senior partners…?”

“I’m going to tell them. I don’t feel like I owe that to anyone here but you. However, if I’m going to stop hiding, word will get around. I’d rather tell them than deal with rumors.”

Lauren nodded. “Good decision.”

“Thank you. I’ll leave shortly after the meeting and be back in the office two weeks from Monday. I’ve worked out the best way to divide my workload and rescheduled my trip to New York.”

“I saw that when I got in this morning,” Lauren said.

“I’ll e-mail you everything else you need along with a number where I can be reached in an emergency. Kathryn will also be able to get in touch with me, but no one else.”

“Where are you heading?”

“A lake near Bryson City, North Carolina. I’m going sailing.”

Her eyes widened. “Sailing? Like on a sailboat?”

“Don’t look so shocked. I used to own a boat.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m struggling to imagine you doing something so…outdoorsy.”

He wanted to be offended, but he couldn’t. “I enjoy the water. I don’t always wear suits, you know.”

“I’d wondered.”

Thorne gave her a mock glare.

She was undaunted. “I like this new you.”

“Thank you. Maybe…well, hopefully this trip will be good for me.”

Lauren smiled. “It will. I’m sure of it.”

He finished his coffee and glanced at the time.

“You have a meeting to get to,” Lauren said. “Should I join you?”

Thorne wanted to say yes, but if anything did turn ugly, he didn’t want her there. “No, thank you. I’m going to do this alone.”

Thorne had told himself the meeting would go smoothly. A few conservative clients were the ones he was worried about, the ones who might refuse to work with him. His senior partners already knew him well, they weren’t going to care who he was fucking as long as he got it together and did his job. But as he opened the conference room door and faced them, he realized that was all bullshit. His mouth went dry, his pulse sped up, and he was sorry he’d eaten breakfast.

Five curious faces stared back at him as Thorne fought to hide his nerves. If only Dash were there to hold his hand. Before Thorne had screwed everything up, he would’ve come if Thorne had asked.

“So what’s up?” Dan, the next most senior team member asked. He was always anxious for meetings to end so he could get moving.

“I need, uncharacteristically, to discuss a personal matter. I’m choosing to tell you rather than having you hear it through gossip and because there’s the potential for it to”—How to phrase it?—“disturb clients.” Dan was frowning. Sandra looked concerned. The others looked a combination of annoyed and curious. Why had he thought this was a good idea?

Just do it. “I’m gay.”

The words hung in the air, thick and heavy.

Thorne started breathing again when Lisa smiled. “Thank you for telling us. I wish I could say it won’t cause any issues. It’s sad that you still have to be concerned.” She glanced toward Dan as if expecting him to say something. He didn’t look particularly surprised or concerned. In fact, his expression said he thought Thorne was wasting his time with such trivia.

“I know of a few clients who won’t be thrilled, but I doubt most of them will care,” Sandra said. She’d shown a touch of shock but no malice.

“I don’t plan to announce my sexuality or anything about my personal life to clients, but they may find out anyway, especially those whom I see socially.”

Sandra and Dan nodded.

Bob looked like he was working through a difficult puzzle. “How long… No, that’s none of my business. But I just can’t see it.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter though. I mean, you don’t work with your dick.”

Bob had always had a way with words. How he managed to turn his filters on and win over clients, Thorne still didn’t know. At least he was being supportive in his own way.

Jack stared at Thorne and then glanced around the room as if confused. When his gaze landed back on Thorne, he spoke. “This is a joke, right? It’s like April Fool’s Day or something and I forgot.”

Thorne scowled. “I assure you I’m not joking.”

“So I’m just supposed to be okay with this?”

“If by okay you mean continuing to work with me in the same way you have before, then yes.”

“Wow, that’s just…wow.” Jack looked around the room again. “So I’m the only one who has a problem with Shipton being a…?” The word “fag” hovered in the air, though he didn’t say it.

“Who the hell cares who he sleeps with?” Dan asked.