Althena Book 2

71. Secrets

The helicopter lands a block away from the casino. Then we get into a limo.

Akmae laughs. "Did they get tired of stopping traffic?"

"Yea, the front door wasn't a good spot to land."

We get out at the casino and there's no press here. It's nice to walk in. I'm sure they'll be here later. 5 of Monte's guards are at the door. I go through the metal detectors because I can.

Cyrus comes over and kisses my head. "I feel better that you're here."

"Me too. My guards were clingy."

He smiles. "Why are you here, Akmae?"

"He wanted to be. We were honestly watching TV in school. We can do that here."

"Put your book bag in one of the offices. Don't leave it lie anywhere."

I pull Akmae with me. "I'll show you my office. We can put our stuff there."

"Nice."

We get on the elevator and get out in the break room. "Are you working today?"

"No. I only work on Saturday and Sunday. Not a lot. I don't want to work a lot."

"I don't blame you."

"Maybe in the summer, I'll work more."

"Switch to the week and keep the weekends off."

Monte spins me around. "Where you going?"

"My office. We're gonna put our stuff in it."

"Nobody is supposed to enter that hallway."

"Monte, my office is in it."

"Nobody else. It's a secure area."

"Will you please make me an office that's only half as secure?"

"He can go in today, and I'll work something out."

"Thank you." I kiss his lips and run away. Then I stand there holding the door open for Akmae, but he's laughing. Monte is shaking his head at the wall. "HURRY UP BEFORE HE CHANGES HIS MIND."

Monte turns around. "DO NOT HOLD..."

Alarms sound through the whole building. They are loud as f**k. I hold my ears.

Monte pulls me away from the door and as soon as it closes, the alarms turn off. "You can't hold the door open. You'll trip the alarm."

"Good to know."

Monte waves off the 10 security guards, Mike, and Cyrus that came in the same elevator. "Teenagers have entered the building. They were making sure we know of their presence."

They laugh and get back in the elevator.

I pull Akmae into my office. "Why were you laughing?"

"You kissed him... again."

"Oops. Mike told me to stop that. I forgot."

"I heard Cyrus is your mate last night. How many do you have?"

"4. Mike, Conner, Drogon, and Cyrus."

"I bet Monte is too. The way he looks at you gives it away."

"Only 4. I have my 4. Monte's not mine."

"That's too bad."

"I know. He's so sexy."

"He is that."

I sit my bag on the conference table and my brain catches up with the conversation. I turn and look at him.

The color drains out of his face. "I didn't mean that."

"Yes, you did. You were staring at that guy getting out of the pool too."

"Don't tell. Please. Nobody knows."

"Ok. I have so many secrets. It's just another one. But nobody knows? Why are you afraid to tell?"

"Bullies. I'm afraid of what my parents will say. They'll disown me. I'll probably lose all my friends."

"Doubt it. Have you ever dated anyone?"

"Girls. Trying to convince people I'm straight, I guess."

"I'll call Chris. He might be able to help you. He was worried about..."

"No. Do not call him."

"Why?"

"Well... He's..."

"You like him?"

"UGH." He rubs his face. "Fine. He's sexy and everyone knows who he truly is. I love that. He's not afraid of anything."

"Are you, you?"

"How do you mean?"

"Do you want to wear dresses or short shorts?"

He chuckles. "No. I like the way I dress. I like wearing a suit. I will never wear makeup or high heels or any girl's clothes. Short shorts are even too much for me."

"So, you're happy with who you are? You just haven't come out as gay yet."

He shrugs his shoulders. "I guess."

"There's nothing wrong with it. We can't help which s*x we're attracted to. I don't think it's a big deal and I think you're focusing on the worst-case scenario. Your parents aren't going to disown you. It may take them some time to accept it, but they're still going to love you. Real friends aren't going to care. If they do care, then they weren't real. You're better off without them. I'm calling Chris now."

"No. Please."

"I won't say you're here."

"Fine."

I jump up and down in my seat while it rings.

"Her majesty, Queen Thena."

"THERE'S A MAN HERE WHO LIKES YOU."

"SEND THE f*****g PLANE."

"I AM NOT DOING THAT. IT'S A 17-hour FLIGHT AND 17 HOURS FOR IT TO GET THERE. YOU HAVE SCHOOL MONDAY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? VISIT FOR 23 SECONDS?"

"SPRING BREAK IS NEXT WEEK. SEND THE PLANE."

"YOU WEREN'T GOING TO VISIT ME ON SPRING BREAK?"

"I'M GOING TO BE THERE AFTER I GRADUATE."

"FINE. I'M SENDING THE PLANE." I open the laptop and send the request. "I submitted the request. One of the boys has to approve it now."

"Assholes."

"Right."

"Anyway, how sexy is he? I need pictures."

I grab my phone and spin so Akmae can't watch me. "I have some on Evo. But he is total f*****g eye candy."

"I have to see him. How old is he?"

"Junior. Probably 17 or about to be."

"I'm only a little older. Is he the dark-haired guy beside Clayton?"

"Yes."

"HE IS SO f*****g SEXY."

"I TOLD YOU SO."

"CALM DOWN."

I spin around and look at Mike. Him and Cyrus are in my office.

He rubs his face. "Why are you trying to send a plane to Crystal Falls?"

Chris takes over. "THERE IS A SEXY MAN WHO LIKES ME. SEND THE f*****g PLANE, MIKE."

"I'm sure there are sexy..."

"DO NOT f**k WITH ME."

"FINE. I'll text you and let you know when it's landing."

"Mike, you are the best king ever. We love you."

Mike nods and walks out with Cyrus.

"So, what do we know about him?"

"He's sexy. Nice body." I stare at Akmae. He's got his eyebrows up. "Dresses in suits. He's smart. He's the one who designed the logos for the casino."

"But?" I can tell Chris is crossing his arms.

"He hasn't told anyone he's gay yet."

"That is a big ass but."

"I know. But he likes you and he's sexy. And he told me he likes boys. So, he's starting the process. He's accepted it, and he's honest about it. The rest takes work. You know that."

"I do. He's probably scared of what his friends and parents will think. Poor guy. That was a horrible time for me. I got really lucky with it though. My parents accepted me right away. I think they already knew. I mean, I wore short shorts, belly shirts, and loved playing in my mom's clothes. How could they not know? Then I only had to cut off a few friends. Everyone else was supportive."

"What's worse case scenerio?"

"He'll have to make all new friends. Which won't happen because he already has you. The people around you don't care. They'll support him. That's a good amount of support right there. His parents may take years to accept it though. He can hope for parents like mine, but more than likely they'll need an adjustment period. It'll all work out in the end, but taking those first few steps is the hardest."

"Well, he's already started taking them because he told me."

"That's a good first step. He's coming out to people he doesn't think will care. We all have to start somewhere. Anything new with you?"

"Got my 4th mate."

"Cyrus?"

"Yea."

"Lucky fucker."

"I'M ENTERING THE ROOM." Mike yells from the hallway.

"It's safe, sexy."

He comes in with Cyrus. "Chris, I have a plane there already. It's leaving central. Where are you?"

"Harbour."

"I'll send it there. It should be there in an hour or two."

"s**t. I have to pack."

I ask sweetly, "Can you bring more wood? I ran out."

"You have 4 mates. How much more wood do you need?"

"I WANT THE KIND YOU SMOKE."

"THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CARE IF YOU SUCK ON IT."

I roll my eyes. "I walked right into that one."

Mike smirks. "You really did. And he's right, I don't care if you suck on it."

"Get out."

"Yea, I'm going."

"Me too. I need to pack."

"Don't forget the wood."

"Fine." Chris hangs up.

I smile at Akmae. "I know I made a promise, but I got excited. And Chris doesn't count. Chris knows all the secrets."

"What secret?" Cyrus crosses his arms and leans against the door frame.

"I got a big f*****g mouth today. Usually, I keep secrets. This is just not meant to be." I grab some water out of my fridge and toss one to Akmae. "Thanks for visiting, Cyrus. It was lovely seeing you."

"SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING."

"UGH." I toss my head back. "JUST GO."

Mike walks in. "I don't like secrets. You do not keep secrets from me. What is it?"

"It doesn't involve me."

"Woman."

"I'm gay." Akmae stares at them.

Mike nods. "Woman, what the hell are you hiding?"

"That was the secret, Mike. I promised I wouldn't tell. I didn't tell."

"Good job keeping the secret, babygirl."

I smile. "I love you."

"I love you too. No more secrets."

"Ok." I nod and he gives me a funny look.

Monte yells, "I HAVE ANOTHER TEENAGER FOR YOU."

"Wonderful." Mike stretches.

Clayton comes in and sits down. "What are we talking about?"

"Secrets."

I think about my father and jump up. "Oh f**k. Let's not go there."

"Sorry, babygirl. I thought about it too late." Mike kisses my head.

Clayton crosses his arms. "What secrets?"

"You people are driving me f*****g crazy. I was sitting here minding my own business. Talking to Akmae. Then everyone has to pile in and demand I spill secrets. But I'm not going to."

"I'm gay."

I relax. "Oh, thank you. I thought I was going to blow up."

Clayton cracks up laughing. "You are not handling the pressure well."

"Well, you're all ganging up on me. I told him I would keep the secret and y'all come flying in like the police about to make a drug bust."

Clayton looks at Akmae. "Are you working at the coffee shop today?"

"No."

"Where do you want us? I'm not sitting in her office all day."

Cyrus flips through some papers. "We can put you on the wheels upstairs. Let 1 person who's currently playing, spin the wheel once an hour. Give them the prize or the coupon. Then hide the wheel for another hour. There are 2 wheels up there. You can both do it once it gets busier."

Clayton smiles. "That'll be fun."

Mike nods. "And keep an eye on the bar. If this is anything like Wednesday, we're going to be stuck downstairs. And it looks like Conner and Drogon are going to be stuck at the dock for a while. You're going to have to pretty much run upstairs. Stay out of the restaurants. They are not ours."

I raise my hand. "What do I do?"

"You are going to say hi to a bunch of people. Thank them for coming. Run the door prize wheel. You can jump in and use a smaller wheel whenever you want."

"How often do the door prizes go?"

"First 50 people in and once an hour."

"Can I do the first one, then someone else do the next 49?"

They laugh and Cyrus winks at me. "Yes. Then one in an hour will be on you. Set a timer on your phone."

"Ok."

"Doors are opening in 2 hours. Boys, come with me. I will show you where we keep the wheels and make sure you understand them." Mike leaves with Clayton and Akmae.

I give Cyrus a hug. "Will you help me pick a dress? I don't want to wear my school clothes."

"Of course, babygirl."