Page 83 of Fake

I pause just before I hit send. Could it be her? Is she the one who told Fallon everything? Anger tightens my fists. Fury clenches my jaw. Rage tenses my shoulders and I’m ready to punch and curse and kick and swear. A hurricane of emotion demolishing everything in my path. Mina being Fallon’s source makes too much sense…

Except that would mean Dom’s right and I’ve been an asshole, falling for the same shit twice in a row. And I know in my heart that’s not true.

It’s just not.

“Focus on one disaster at a time,” I murmur to myself.

With a terse nod, I press send then make the drive to The Hutton Hotel, my knuckles white as I grip the wheel.

THIRTY-TWO

Mina

After my argument with Fallon last week, I set an alert on Nathan’s name because I want to know anything and everything she says about him from now on.

I honestly didn’t expect it to go off.

I grit my teeth, preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.

Fallon is my friend. She might not like Nathan, but she loves me. That should be enough for her to slow down and process what I’ve told her about us. Nathan isn’t a villain. He’s the hero. He’s good for me. Hell, he’s good for anyone who crosses his path. From little kids needing a pep talk before a talent show to full blown adults who need a helping hand, Nathan West is the one reaching out. Maybe Fallon finally heard me.

But then I see the headline.

It’s Fake Folks…

Jaw dropped, I forget all about getting ready for my date with Nathan and scan the story then scan it again. What I read can’t be real.

It’s the article she suggested we write as leverage all those months ago. The one I absolutely didn’t agree to.

As I continue to read, my heart stops. This is worse than I thought. So much worse.

Fallon didn’t just give details of my life, my relationship, things I only shared because I thought they were protected by best friend code.

She embellished.

First, she betrayed my trust, then she doubled down and added speculation as if it were truth. I look bad, but Nathan looks like Asshole of the Year.

My heart pounds so hard I feel my pulse in my ears.

Fallon just ruined everything. My relationship. Our friendship. Hell, maybe even my career. Will Benjamin want anything to do with me after this? They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, but I’m not sure he operates like that.

I don’t know who to call first, Nathan to apologize or Fallon to rip her a new one. He’s sure to be a mess, but she deserves to feel my outrage while it’s fresh.

A text comes in just as I pick up my phone to call her.

Nathan

Can’t make dinner. Family stuff. I’m sorry.

Family stuff.

I stare at my reflection in my vanity mirror, distress tightening my brows, my jaw, my lips.

Not only is the text vague, but those choppy sentences end in periods.

Everyone knows a period is bad news.

Shaking my head, I stand and pace my room in frustration. There’s a chance family stuff really did come up. There’s also a chance Nathan read the article and is freaking out and doesn’t want me around.

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