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So beeped and he pulled his smartphone out of his coat pocket

"Ah, my latest patient has just entered the world"

He pushed to his feet and looked down athis hand on ets away

I’lad"

I watched him walk briskly out of the cafeteria and collapsed into the seat back thefro screen of y to finish us’s arrival

"You up for Chinese?" I looked up from the layout of the blueberry coffee ad on my desk into the warm brown eyes of o eat with Steven

For a second, I considered bowing out and eating at my desk because I wanted to make Gideon happy

But just as quickly, I knew I’d resent hi to build a new life in New York, which includedplans that existed outside the life I shared with him

"Always up for Chinese," I said

My very first meal with Mark and Steven had been Chinese takeout here in the office, on a night e’d worked well past closing and Steven had stopped by to feed us

Mark and I headed out at noon, and I refused to feel guilty about so for us at the restaurant, seated at a round table with a lacquered lazy Susan in the , then pulled a chair out for me

He studied uessed Ih week so far"

The waitress came by and Steven ordered a dim sum appetizer and the sapao chicken and broccoli beef

When ere alone again, Steven said, "I didn’t know your rooay

Did you tell us that?" "He’s bi, actually"

I realized Steven, or someone he knew, must have seen the same newspaper Cary had showed ?" Mark asked, looking genuinely concerned

"Better

Hethat had been weighing on , since Gideon hadn’t called to tell me definitively one way or the other

"Let us know if you need any help," Steven said, all traces of levity gone

"We’re here for you"

"Thank you

It wasn’t a hate criot that

I used to respect journalists

Now, so few of them do their homework, and fewer still can write objectively"

"I’ht"

Steven squeezed arious, playful fellow, but beneath that fun exterior was a solid man with a kind heart

"But then you have to kinda expect it when you’re juggling rock stars and billionaires"

"Steven," Mark scolded, frowning

"Ugh"

My nose wrinkled

"Shawna told you"

"Of course she did," Steven said

"Least she can do after not invitingto the concert

But don’t worry

She’s not a gossip

She won’t be telling anyone else"

I nodded, having no anxiety about that

Shaas good people, but it was still eanother

"Not that it would be a bad thing for Cross to get a taste of his own medicine," Steven ht Mark’s syay newspaper wasn’t the only news they’d seen

They must have seen the photos of Gideon and Corinne, too

I felt et a taste," I muttered

"If I have to cram it down his throat"

Steven’s brows shot up, and then he laughed and patted irl"

I’d barely returned to

"Mark Garrity’s office, Eva - " "Why is it so damn difficult for you to follow orders?" Gideon asked harshly

I just sat there, staring at the collage of photos he’d givenconnected and in love"Eva?" "What do you want from me, Gideon?" I asked quietly

There was a moment of silence, then he exhaled

"Cary will be moved to your apartment this afternoon under the supervision of his doctor and a private nurse

He should be there when you get home"

"Thank you"

Another stretch of quiet filled the line between us, but he didn’t hang up

Finally, I queried, "Are we done?" The question had a double us will give you a ride hohtened on the phone