Page 60 of Closing the Distance

But I’m not. I can’t change my past, but I know for sure I don’t need to be with someone who’s a public figure. I can go back to being a nobody and hiding—maybe once all the current media attention dies down.

“I’m leaving,” I say, but the words come out choked as a tear escapes.

His hands ball into fists at his sides, and his jaw clenches as if it’s taking all his strength to keep himself still and not come to me. “I wish you wouldn’t. Please, Lexi. I willfix this.”

Another tear falls. My time is up. The anger that made me feel strong is sweeping out of my body like it’s being washed out to sea, and if I’m going to fall apart, it’s not going to be here.

I don’t say anything—I can’t—as I spin around and walk out.

THIRTY-FOUR

It takes every ounce of strength in my body to keep my feet planted and not chase after her, but I know my words aren’t enough right now.

How the fuck did this happen?

I shove my hands through my hair, then call Gabe. He hired a bodyguard for Danae when shit with her ex was getting dangerous, and that idea is looking pretty good right now. I have no idea how feral the press will be, but based on the initial onslaught of articles, I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before they try to find her.

He answers on the third ring. “Dude, it’s like six a.m. Some of us like to sleep in during the offseason.”

“I need the name of the bodyguard you hired for Danae.”

His voice is much more awake when he speaks. “What happened?”

I pace back and forth in the living room as I recount what we woke up to. “She just left for Blaire’s house, but I don’t want her alone without protection in case they figure out where she is.”

“No, I totally agree. Let me make a call and see if I can pull some strings for you.”

My entire body sags with the faintest bit of relief. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t sweat it. It’s what family does for each other.”

We hang up so he can call the security company while I restart my pacing, trying to sort through next steps when all I want to do is hold Lexi in my arms and tell her everything will be okay. But I can’t do that because I don’t know that it will be. This is bad.

I’m about to call my PR rep to get them to take everything down when Tanner calls me for the third time this morning—no doubt to gloat over what I didn’t know.

I don’t bother with pleasantries. “Not now, Tan. I’m dealing with a shitstorm over here.”

“You left me no choice. You wouldn’t listen to me.”

My hackles rise as a cold sweat goes down my spine. “Wait. Are you telling me youdid this? You found out this information and leaked it to the press?”

He hesitates, but when he answers, he still has that slightly arrogant tone like older brother always knows best. “I’m sorry. But I needed you to see it, and you were being a fool when it came to her. She’s not who you think she is, and the last thing you need is another woman like your ex trying to take advantage of you.”

Lexi is exactly who I think she is, and I didn’t need her entire awful history to know that.

My tone is deathly cold. “Are you serious right now?”

“Ty, I understand you’re upset, but you’ll see I did you a favor.”

“A favor?!” I shout, suddenly glad Lexi isn’t here to see me because I feel more violent than I ever have in my entire life. “You think you did me a fucking favor by sharing personal details about Lexi that were none of your goddamn business? What the absolute fuck is wrong with you?”

“Are you even sure that baby is yours?” he cuts in, his own anger clear through the phone.

“As a matter of fact, I’ll send you the paternity test results so you can go fuck yourself with them.”

He’s silent, which is great because I still have more to say. “Did your PI happen to dig up why she shoplifted? Probably not, since that would require talking to both parties. Not that you’ve done anything to deserve this information, but she was threatened by her foster brother. That record was supposed to be buried when she turned eighteen. She’s got scars from the abuse she suffered.” I hear him curse softly, and for once I feel vindicated that he might finally understand how epically he fucked up.

“You just opened her wounds up for the whole world to read about. You act all high and mighty like you’re protecting me, but as a high-profile figure, you know better than most that there truly is such a thing as bad press. If you’re not the least bit worried about Lexi, think about what this has done to me. You think I deserve this? If you’d just pulled your head out of your goddamn ass and gotten to know her, you would’ve seen the truth for yourself. But instead you decided you know best, when the truth is you don’t know a fucking thing.”

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