Page 91 of Under Ground

Josh walks around the back of the couch and squeezes Alex’s shoulder. “We’ve got a woman who works for us, managing our social media. Delaney or me can give her a call and ask if she’ll take you on too. She does a wonderful job.”

“I’ve already mentioned that to Lana. I’ll give Becky a call tomorrow about it if you want me to,” Delaney says.

“Are you okay?” Alex asks me. Concern fills his eyes, and I nod, leaning into him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in.

“They’re just words,” I say.

“I know, but you shouldn’t be exposed to something like that. I let you down again.”

I shake my head. “You didn’t let me down. It’s just another thing we have to deal with.”

“We all have to deal with it, Alex,” Josh says.

“People say awful shit about me all the time,” Delaney says. “But it’s their problem, not mine. I know my husband loves me. And Lana knows the same thing about you.”

Alex kisses my temple. “I just never thought about this aspect of fame.”

“It’s not all good. But the good outweighs the bad.” Josh sits on the arm of Delaney’s chair, and she leans against him. “We’ve got your back.”

Alex is still tense beside me, but I say nothing more.

I’d really rather just forget all about it and move on. But Josh and Delaney are right. It’s yet another thing we have to be aware of and to have coping strategies in place so that when it does happen again, we know what to do.

I’m not sure if I could cope with getting messages like that all the time.

Alex is quiet the rest of the evening.

When we turn in for the night, he sits on the edge of the bed and moans as I crawl from across the other side of the bed and rub his shoulders.

“Today was great until I heard about that message. I’m so sorry, angel.”

“It’s not your fault.”

He turns his head to look at me. “It’s all my fault. If you weren’t with me, you wouldn’t be getting hate messages.”

“If I wasn’t with you, I’d still be working for my ex, living a shell of a life without love.”

Alex turns, lifting his legs onto the bed and lying down. “Is that how you felt about your life?”

I shrug. “Not when I was living it. But now, I know how empty it was. I put Casey first, and I will always do that, but I needed something for me. And now I have you.”

He holds out his arm and I lie down beside him, pressed against his side. “I just hate that I can’t fix this. All I want is to be with you and for there to be no complications.” He just sounds so forlorn, and it tears at my heart.

“Well, it’s a little late for that.” I kiss his chest. “And we have a ton of support here. I don’t have any regrets about being here with you.”

He meets my gaze.. His face is inches away from mine, and I could swoon at just how handsome he is, even with his furrowed brow. “Are you sure?”

“It was one message. I’m going to have to grow a thicker skin or disappear completely from the world. And I’m not doing that.”

His lips curl into a smile. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that lately?”

I shake my head. “No. Not for at least five minutes. I’ll never get sick of hearing it, though.”

And then he kisses me, and all is right in my world.

24

Alex

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