Page 98 of Mad Love

I press my lips together, trying to hold back my laugh, but it bursts out. Her eyes narrow, but there’s a hint of a grin on her face.

“I’m sorry this is so stupid,” I tell her. “And I’m glad your mom was with you today. I actually think it’d be best if you’d have someone with you every time you go out, if I’m not with you.”

“Is there something more that you’re not telling me?” she asks. “You’ve never said you wanted someone with me when I go out. Has Joan said something else?”

I look down and she reaches up and smooths the crease between my brows.

“People can be so hateful.” I take her hand, weaving our fingers together. “I hate it, but it seems like it comes with any high-profile job. We’ll get through this. It’ll all die down. Joan called right before you came home, so I’d just heard there were some periodicals, as Joan put it, featuring you.”

She snorts when I sayperiodicals.

“What did she say? Tell me everything.” She looks at me expectantly.

I hesitate and she pins me with her stare.

“Tell me.”

“She still thinks we’re doing the right things…unless we did some kind of a statement, but she said that could backfire on me. And that she doesn’t want any of this interfering with my playing, which I assured her it won’t.”

She nods. “What else?”

“That was…it.”

“No, what did she say about me being in the periodicals?”

“Just that you were in a lot of them…”

“And?”

I raise my head to the ceiling and groan. “She offered to hire a stylist for you and she’d overnight the clothes. But Joan is a snob and I wouldn’t pay any attention to that. I like the way you dress.”

She holds up the magazine with the baggy sweat suit. “Gross. Blob.”

“You wear comfy clothes sometimes. Everyone does.” I point at myself and what I’m wearing. “If you want to go shopping, you should buy things you like…unless…do youwanta stylist?” I frown, trying to get a read on her mood.

“I don’t really trust my sense of fashion, but the press would really have a heyday with that if I suddenly turn up everywhere looking all done up.”

My phone buzzes and I check it. Felicity.

“It’s my sister.Hey—she’d love to go shopping with you.”

She’s shaking her head, but I grin and answer the call.

“Hello?”

“Hey. You guys okay over there?” Felicity says.

“You saw the magazines.”

Sadie makes a face.

“Yeah. I saw them at Cecil’s this afternoon and was going to call then, but my phone has been going crazy with all of my sisters-in law calling to check on Sadie. They really loved her and we all want you guys to come back soon.”

“That’s sweet. Maybe we can on one of my Mondays off.” I put my hand over the receiver and whisper to Sadie, “She’s checking on you and the female Landmark crew have been calling her to see how you’re doing too.”

“Aw,” she says softly.

“Tell her she does not look like that,” Felicity’s saying when I start listening again.

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