Page 38 of If We Never Met

"Who is she?" Nikki shrieked in anger.

Dante winced. "It doesn't matter who she is. Nothing is going on. You know how these photos can get twisted. It has happened to you, Nikki."

"You were smiling at her, and I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time."

"I literally met her a few minutes before we walked out of that restaurant together."

"But you saw each other again."

"She had an appointment at the rehab center. We simply ran into each other."

"I don't like this, Dante. I don't like it at all. Everyone is texting me. They all want to know if you're cheating on me."

"I'm not." He felt slightly guilty about kissing Keira, but it hadn't gone any farther than that, and she'd made it clear she didn't want it to go farther.

"Are you sure you don’t like this woman? Does she know you have a girlfriend?"

"Yes. Look, I know the photos are upsetting, but the story isn't real. That's all I can say about it. You can believe me or not." His terse tone did not go unnoticed.

"I don't know why you're pissed. I'm the one who looks like a fool."

"I'm angry that we even need to have this conversation. I thought I could get away from the press up here."

"Well, you couldn't, so maybe you should come to LA and rehab here. At least then we'd be together. The only photos would be of the two of us."

"The therapists I'm working with here are excellent. I need to see this rehab through." He glanced at his watch. "And I need to go."

"Go where? We have to talk about this."

"I haven't eaten dinner yet, and it's been a long day. I'm going to get some food. I'll call you later, Nikki."

"You can't just blow me off, Dante. Is this woman the reason you suggested we take a break?"

"No. I suggested that because we haven't been on the same page in a while. We've drifted apart, and maybe we need to reevaluate our relationship."

"We've only drifted apart because of your injury. When you're well, everything will go back to the way it was. Maybe I should come to Whisper Lake."

"No. That's not a good idea. I'm busy all day with rehab and then I'm exhausted."

"I don't want us to just give up. We're so good together, Dante. Everyone says we're the perfect couple."

He had a feeling theeveryoneshe was referring to included mostly her social media followers. She'd worked their relationship to increase her presence online, and it had been successful. But maybe he was being too cynical. "No one else is in this relationship but us. What they think doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters. What's her name?"

"Keira," he said tightly.

"What does she do?"

"She runs a clothing boutique, but that's not important. Look, I'll call you later."

"Okay. I…I miss you, Dante."

Her words felt awkward and untrue, but he didn't know what to say except the obvious. "I miss you, too." He was acutely aware of his lie as he slipped his phone into his pocket. He hadn't missed Nikki at all. She seemed very far removed from his current life, and he was having trouble remembering why they'd even gotten together.

But he had missed someone the last few days…

He barely knew Keira, but he couldn't stop thinking about her, and he wanted to see her again, even if it was only to tell her that they needed to stay away from each other, because he didn't want to put her in the middle of his crazy life.

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