Page 392 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Wait, you’re working with Simon?”
She nods, wide-eyed. “I thought you knew. He called me right after you and I broke up.”
It takes me a moment to process what she’s telling me.
All this time, Simon has been playing both sides of the game, telling me one thing and telling Claire something else.
I lean back in my chair.
I should have known.
Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t piece it together sooner.
“Simon can be very persuasive.” I breathe out a tired sigh. “I wish you’d told me, Claire.”
She nods. “I know. I should have. But Simon said I couldn’t trust you on this. He said that you—” She winces and shakes her head. “Well, never mind what he said. I shouldn’t have listened, and I’m sorry.”
“Let me guess. He said I’m stuck on my own high horse and can’t be trusted to know what my career really needs?”
“Something like that,” Claire says.
“Where is Simon anyway?” I ask, suddenly realizing that he hasn’t been around all morning. Normally, he would be.
Claire frowns. “He’ll be here after lunch.”
I nod, wondering how quickly Joni can draft up some official paperwork terminating my relationship with my publicist. It’s a decision I should have made a long time ago. I haven’t been on the same page with the guy in months. Knowing Joni, she already has the paperwork saved on her laptop just in case.
“Hey, can I give you some advice?” I say to Claire. The room around us is clearing out as everyone breaks for lunch, but I can’tnotsay what needs to be said, no matter how difficult she’s made my life the past few months.
She nods. “Of course.”
“Fire Simon. He’ll use you, Claire. He’s a lot more concerned about his own star rising than he is yours, and I don’t think you can trust him to have your best interests at heart. He didn’t have mine. In fact, he went directly against what I asked of him. He played us against each other, which wasn’t good for either of us.”
“Yeah, I see that now.” She breathes out a sigh. “Are you going to fire him?”
“The minute I see him,” I say. “But not just over this. He’s had it coming for a while.” I stand, and offer Claire a hand, pulling her to her feet.
“Thanks, Flint. I really am sorry about everything I said. I hope I didn’t cause any problems for you and your girlfriend. She seems really nice.”
“I appreciate the apology.” I make eye contact with Audrey and hold out my hand, hoping she’ll come join me.
“Can I ask you one more thing?” Claire asks, and I nod. “At the premiere tonight, do you think we could make a show of looking like we’re friends again? Simon said bringing the drama would go farther, but I don’t think he’s the right publicist for me anymore. All this clamoring for attention—gosh, I really don’t like the way it makes me feel. I’d feel a lot better if we could all just get along.”
Audrey finally reaches me and slips her hand into mine, offering Claire a warm smile.
“How about we justbefriends again?” I say. “No show required.”
Claire smiles. “Thanks, Flint. That would be great.”
After I introduce Audrey, she and Claire chat for a few minutes, then we say goodbye, and Audrey and I head back to our room with Nate and Joni for lunch.
We need privacy if I’m going to fill them in on what Claire told me about Simon, and I definitely need to fill them in. If this guyhas been pitting Claire and me against each other, who knows how else he’s been mismanaging things.
Joni was right. I have been too trusting.
But all of that stops right now.
Chapter Twenty-Four
