Page 116 of Bad Reputation

“That sounds amazing. I can’t wait,” Libby said. “Tasha, do you have any comment on the latest news coming out about Vincent’s trial?”

Once Libby’s story had broken, more and more of Vincent’s victims had come out of the woodwork. It turned out that some of them had cases that the district attorney thought were actionable. Cole hadn’t been following the story too closely, but it sounded as if Vincent might actually face some real consequences.

Cole had never been so happy to be wrong.

“Yeah, they take the trash out on Mondays,” Tasha said. “And I wish all his victims the best.”

“Succinct,” Libby said. “I love it. Before I let you all go, I do have to ask about that.” She gestured at Maggie’s left hand and the sparkly ring that Cole had planted there at a vineyard in France, while Ryan and Tasha had watched and clapped, a few months ago. The show’s absolutely grueling promo schedule had had at least one upside.

“I figured it was time to put a ring on it,” Cole told Libby, before dropping another kiss on Maggie’s temple, this one far longer and much less chaste.

Tasha leaned past them to say “Cole refused to follow Ryan’s and my lead and get married by an Elvis impersonator in Vegas. I had a half-off coupon for them to use and everything.”

Ryan had managed to get his way and lead Tasha down the aisle more than a year before. He was a persistent mofo.

“So those rumors are true?” Libby asked.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.” Tasha was a marvel: confirming a story that had been rumored for more than a year in the most profane manner possible.

Cole had to get things back on track. “Yeah, well, Ryan had to lock you down, and I had to do the same before Maggie realized she can do better than me.”

Maggie gaped at him. “There’s absolutely no one who is better than you, Cole James.”

“It’s handy that I feel the same, Maggie Niven.”

When he looked back at Libby, she was rolling her eyes. But when she said “Congratulations, you two,” it was sincere.

“Thanks, Libby.”

As they turned to walk away, someone in the crowd shouted, “Cody! Cody!”

Cole leaned into the crowd and fist-bumped the fan.

“You don’t have to answer to that name, you know,” Maggie muttered when he returned to her side.

“I spent a long time running away from that guy, but Cody will always be a part of me.”

Cole had realized that his fans didn’t just like cheering on their favorite actor from the early aughts; they were also nostalgic for younger versions of themselves. They liked remembering who they’d been whenCentral Squarewas still airing new episodes and life had seemed ... simpler. If Cole didn’t share his fans’ impulse to live in the past, that was okay too. They were on their own journeys.

“I don’t resent Cody anymore. And besides, if I hadn’t played him, I never would’ve ended up on the path that led me to you.”

Maggie’s smile turned melting. “Have I mentioned that I love you?”

“Not often enough.”

And with that, he led his wife up the red carpet.

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