Chapter seventeen
All these years later, Grant was just as smitten with his husband as he'd been from the beginning. He listened patiently to Sahil's outpouring of frustration and indecision, all the while knowing what he would suggest. He'd never cut Sahil off, but he'd made a point of watching the clip (already gleefully being circulated around the internet for speculationand mockery), and it had made him bristle.
Lincoln had not been a good representative of the show, and anyone watching that interview would more likely be turned off than tune in. Coop had been a flinching shadow of himself. Grant had seen enough of his promotional work to know he could be incredibly charming and sweet, with the right mixture of humor and humility to make people like him.That charm had been missing today, and he'd looked humiliated and nervous. It wasn't a good sign, any of it.
Grant was honored and pleased whenever Sahil trusted him enough to ask for his advice. Sahil had always been a deeply independent man, so it hadn't come naturally to him. But like so much else, they'd grown together in this way, too. It was interesting to him how, from the outside,everyone had different opinions about their relationship. That he was a lucky idiot who'd ended up with someone as hot as Sahil. That Sahil didn't deserve his patience and support through the years it had taken for their relationship to finally become what it was meant to be. That they were so different, they must be a terrible match. He'd heard (or seen implied) all of it and then some.But at the end of the day, he loved this man. Sahil was the best thing in his life, the one person he loved and would love forever, an unshakable truth through good times and bad, no matter what shook the world or what anyone else thought. He could put no limits on that relationship; to him, it was everything.
He may have gotten lost a little in the dark eyes of his beautiful husband, becausenow Sahil was done talking and was waiting impatiently for his response. "You were listening, weren't you?"
"I did get a bit distracted by you, my dear. But only towards the end." He reached out for Sahil and drew him into his arms.
Sahil's sigh was frustrated, and his smaller frame went rigid in Grant's arms. "So, you don't have an opinion, or you're just not interested?" he demanded.
"Of course I have an opinion. We need to go there together and talk to this Lincoln. Watching the interview, I got one thing: this guy is an asshole. I don't like him being on your show. But that's also a hasty conclusion. Let's go and talk to him. And if we both think that afterwards, then let's get him off the show."
"But the show is relying on him. He's the big name."
"And everyoneknows Hayes is better. He's the real star now. This guy is just..." Grant made a frustrated sound in his throat because he used to enjoy Lincoln's movies. "I feel like he's not trying. He doesn't care. So, cast someone else. Get rid of his character and give Hayes someone to play opposite who will actually care, and try, and connect. Some people are watching the action, but a lot more seemto care about the characters. Let's make sure they can do that and not get disillusioned."
"But you didn't want me to fire and recast Cooper Hayes," Sahil reminded him, faintly reproachful. "Now, you want me to recast Lincoln's role? It'll be a big deal. There will be whining from every corner." Still, his eyes were alight with that martial glow that meant he was eager to gear up for a fight.
"But Cooper was the best man for the role. HeisSeth, even though he's not a wolf. He's perfect. And Lincoln doesn't seem to want this role. Watching that interview left a bad taste in my mouth. Even on the show, he's not giving his best the way Cooper is, and I think everyone sees it. Let's find someone who will, even if they're unknown, even if it's a big deal. It'll be worth it—andeveryone will tune in to see, because they already like the show." He gave Sahil a quick kiss, because his determined husband was adorable and very kissable. "But we'll talk to Lincoln first. Who knows, maybe you can talk him around?"
"Mm. Or you can, you mean." Sahil returned the kiss with interest. "I like the way you think. We'll go big or go home—but we'll wrench the fate of our showout of his selfish hands. It's ours, not his to disrespect and ruin. We'll take him down before he takes us down!" With those fighting words, Sahil wrapped his arms around Grant and demanded, "Take me to bed! You're hot when you're determined."
Grant obligingly lifted his husband off the floor. Sahil wrapped his legs around Grant's waist, which was always a good feeling, and kissed him soundly.Grant carried him to the bedroom, humming inwardly with pleasure. It was always nice to be wanted—and even nicer that Sahil was no longer embarrassed to be explicitly, frankly open about what he wanted. That had taken some time, too.
We'll solve this together.But it's not our show—it's yours.Wolf Copwas Sahil's baby, and while Grant loved it as well, and would do all he could to help,he knew very well it was his husband's project, and his would be the final call. Grant would support him and back him up, whatever he decided, and he'd definitely be watching how Lincoln reacted to their little talk.
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It was weird how manypeople wanted to blame Coop for the interview debacle. If he'd just tried harder, done a better job of acting like they were buddies.
Because hewas the younger actor and eager to please, he probably seemed easier to tackle about the tension between them. But he'd tried everything he could, and placating Lincoln wasn't something he could do, apparently. At least, he couldn't make the man like him, or pretend he did, and that was what they really wanted.
So he was as nice and friendly and apologetic and agreeable as he possibly couldbe when people spoke to him about working with Lincoln, but it was just talk, and nothing was going to change because of his actions. He knew that, and if they gave it a little bit of thought, they would know it, too. It was just something to do, giving him a talking-to.
