“What? I’m virtually carried out with the—”

“Depart it,” she snaps in a loud whisper. “That you must recover from right here.”

That was how I discovered in regards to the tabloid article—a few whispers over a working lunch, bouncing backwards and forwards between my cubicle and Kenna’s desk. I needs to be grateful she’s the one who caught wind of it first, and that everyone else was nonetheless out to lunch when the story broke. At the very least I had a couple of minutes to get my shit collectively.

After that, I didn’t have a minute to catch my breath. Between making an attempt to get my regular work completed and the emergency conferences to “clear up this mess”—Ty’s phrases—I’d run all around the constructing this afternoon.

At the very least I nonetheless have a job. In the meanwhile. Greeley wished to fireplace me on the spot, however Archer Burke of all folks identified that regardless of the salacious nature of the tabloid write-up, it’s free publicity and the community might use it to springboard the launch of the competitors finale.

“Trip the wave so long as we will,” suggested Archer. Authorized was nonetheless making an attempt to get the publish taken down, however Ty and Archer steered enjoying it up, even going as far as point out slicing collectively a particular advert for the competitors finale that includes Bailey and Cooper and me.

“That’s despicable,” mentioned Kenna once I informed her in regards to the thought. I agreed, however the community needed to spin it one way or the other and I had zero management over how that occurred.

After the second hour of nonstop notifications, I’d set my telephone to silent mode, selecting it up solely now and again to see if Bailey or Cooper had checked in.

I test it once more now, simply in case. Nonetheless nothing.

I do have a brand new missed name from my mom, whom I haven’t heard from since earlier than her anniversary social gathering. My abdomen drops simply serious about it.

I didn’t count on an unconventional relationship like ours to be all clean crusing, however I actually thought we had extra time to kind issues out. We by no means even talked about this, about what to inform folks. I sprang it on Cooper and Bailey at my mother and father’ social gathering, popping out and claiming them each like I did. After that, I assumed we’d be strong. We have been on the identical web page.

So I assumed. After immediately, I’m not so positive.

Cooper denied all the things after that image of the three of us was posted, and he hasn’t been seen on-line since. He’s not answering my texts. I don’t know what to make of that.

Bailey’s presupposed to be on the financial institution this afternoon and I don’t wish to hassle her at work. If her day’s been something like mine, she’s had sufficient to take care of. I’m fearful, however no information is sweet information, proper? I determine to test in together with her in a few hours, after I’ve had a minute to decompress.

Solely once I pull as much as my condominium, Bailey’s already beat me there. She’s sitting in her automotive with the engine working. When she sees me park, she shuts the automotive off, assembly me on the door.

“Come on in,” I say, guiding her inside. “It’s freezing out right here.”

I shut the door behind us. Bailey’s quiet. It’s a far cry from the final time we stood in my hallway alone collectively.

“I assume you’ve seen it,” I say.

Bailey laughs with out humor. “Yeah,” she says. “Evie despatched me screenshots at lunch.”

I nod. “Kenna confirmed me at lunch, too.” I shove my fingers in my pockets to maintain from reaching for her. Tense as she is, Bailey may as nicely be sporting a flashing neon signal that claims Do Not Contact.

“Have you ever heard from your loved ones?” she asks.

“I’ve obtained some voicemails. I haven’t listened to them but,” I admit.

“You need to,” she says. Her response is dulled, like she’s closed in on herself. Contemplating Bailey’s had no hassle talking her thoughts the final couple of weeks, her conduct surprises me. However what she says might be proper, so I pull out my telephone and play the message from my mother.

“Andrew… I noticed the article. Your grandfather is totally livid with you. Maybe it might be finest in case you keep away in the interim. At the very least till this… scenario dies down. After all, that man within the picture with you says there isn’t a relationship. He claims the article is all fallacious. If that’s true, please name me again. We’d prefer to imagine this entire factor is just a few ham-handed PR stunt to your job, however your father tells me you confirmed the connection your self. If that’s the case,” Mother takes a deep breath. “Properly. I can solely let you know that I sincerely hope you’ve had time to rethink your place. I do know you assume we count on an excessive amount of from you, however I hardly assume it’s an excessive amount of to ask that you simply hold your personal life personal. Take into account what you’re placing your loved ones by way of, Andrew. I’ll be in contact.”

I set the telephone down on the espresso desk, not taking a look at Bailey.

“What are you going to do?” Bailey asks, her voice tender within the quiet of my condominium.

I don’t know what to inform her.

“What can I do?” I ask, voicing the very query that’s been on my thoughts all day. “It’s out. There’s no hiding it. Even when the web wasn’t without end, Sizzle goes to spin the story to assist launch the present.”

Shock registers on her face.

“Spin it how?”

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