Page 47 of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

I take my phone upstairs to the spare room and dial Mr Bowden. He picks up straight away.

“Brodie. You’re not dead. We’ve been trying to get ahold of you. Where have you been?”

“Hello, Mr Bowden. Nope. Still very much alive. And I’ve been off-grid.”

“Okay. So, the situation has escalated somewhat…”

“I know. There’s a media circus here at my friend’s folks’ house.”

“Brodie. You were supposed to be lying low.”

“Yeah. I thought I was.” I laugh. “But somehow, they tracked me down.” I sit on the bed. “So, what happens now?”

“The PR guys are getting another statement together, so don’t worry about anything. We’re handling it.”

“Actually, Mr Bowden, I’m going to handle it.”

“No. Brodie. Just stay inside and don’t talk to anyone.”

“Mr Bowden, with all due respect, this is not your life or reputation that is on the line here. I need to front up and speak up. I have nothing to hide.”

The line is quiet for a minute. Bowden is not alone in his office. I hear muffled voices.

“Alright, Brodie, I have someone from the public relations team to talk you through what to say.”

“I don’t need to be told what to say. I know what to say. I’m just going to tell my side of the story, alright?”

“Yes, but…”

“That’s all. Goodbye. And see you at training.”

I hang up the call and turn off the phone before they can call me back. I walk down the stairs and join Rita and her family in the sitting room. They stop their conversation and look at me as I step through the doorway.

“I’m going down there to make a statement. That’s all they want.” Rita stands and walks to me. “Then they’ll go away and leave us alone.”

“Are you sure?” asks Jeanie with worried eyes.

“Absolutely. I have nothing to hide.” Rita reaches for my hand. “I’ll just go and explain my side of the story and that should be that.” I sound more upbeat than I feel.

“I’m coming with you,” say Dylan and Rita together.

“No. It’s better for me to face this alone. But thanks.”

I turn and walk down the hallway to the front door.

“Wait!” Rita runs after me.

She throws her arms around my neck then touches my face. I bend to kiss her lips. We walk together, hand in hand, to the porch. Then she releases her hold, and I step away from her without looking back.

Camping in the forest with Rita fades like a hazy dream as I walk down the driveway to the gate where lights have been rigged for TV cameras in the evening gloom. Each step is deliberate, my head held high, shoulders back. As I approach the floodlit crowd, I hear the click of cameras and loud voices calling my name.

Chapter 23

Rita

As I watch Brodie walk down the driveway, it takes all my self-control not to run after him. He approaches the floodlit crowd of reporters and TV people and they become loud and animated. I figure that I could still catch him up if I ran fast enough. I want to yell at the reporters that he is the sweetest, nicest person I’ve ever known. And, whatever he has been accused of, it is just not in his nature. The Brodie Kent I love would not sink so low. He is not that person.

Dylan puts his arm around my shoulders and guides me back into the house.

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