Page 131 of The Hookup Situation
“Don’t. Just don’t. I told you almost a week ago to do the LadyLux interview, and you didn’t. I also explained how rumors don’t just disappear. You know all of this, Nick. So, pull your stubborn head out of your ass. You don’t get to stay in your little love bubble and ignore reality, for fuck’s sake.”
“Asher—”
“I’m not done. Do you know what’s trending right now?Hockey Playboy’s Latest Victim. There’s a whole thread on Reddit analyzing how long until you dump Julie. They’re all trying to figure out the first day you two got together.
“And that’s not even the best part,” Asher continues. “One of your ex-girlfriends—Virginia? Vanessa? Whatever her name is—well, she just did an interview, talking about your toxic cycle. Love bomb for thirty days, make everything seem great and perfect, then ghost.”
My stomach drops.
“Vanessa was stalking me. I had to get a restraining order!” Nick explodes.
“Doesn’t matter. The story’s out there now, and they’ve officially dug into all the people you’ve dated in the past five years and put them in chronological order. This headline:Exes Confirm Nick Banks’s Romantic Countdown to Ghosting.” Asher pauses. “Now admit I’m right.”
“You’re right,” he says, but his voice is neutral.
“Did you hear about the hometown hero trying to save his ex from the big bad wolf?”
Nick’s jaw clenches so hard that I swear I hear his teeth grinding.
“Oh, it gets soooo much worse,” Asher snaps. “Someone leaked your location at Riverside. Sold the information to the highest bidder. That’s why you have a parade following you.”
“How do you know all this?” Nick asks.
“Because, unlike you, I don’t ignore problems, hoping they’ll go away. I have people monitoring this shit. Yes, even you. This is a PR nightmare,” he says. “You’re worse than our bitchiest clients. Diva.”
This makes Nick laugh.
“Think about the interview with LadyLux.” Asher is direct.
“Look—”
“And get a restraining order against Craig. Documenteverything.” He pauses. “How’s Julie handling this?”
Everyone looks at me.
“I’m fine,” I say.
“No, you’re not. Even I can tell when you’re lying.” Asher can detect bullshit through the phone. “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. My brother should have listened to me.”
“Your brother was trying to live his life for once,” Zane finally says to defend Nick.
“By ignoring the problem? Very effective, Alexander. Even you know that’s not logical, and you don’t do this shit for a living.” Asher scoffs. “Nick, it’s a shit show at the office. So, thank you. Thank you so much. Every day, I have to push my way through a horde of people, hoping it’s you.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“This is beyond normal paparazzi stuff. You’ve become a sensation, which is what I was concerned about. People are obsessed with both of you, and it’s dangerous.” Asher’s voice turns serious. “Be careful. This has escalated over the past three days, just as I feared. Do the interview.”
Nick looks at me but doesn’t confirm. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. And, Nick? Next time I tell you to get ahead of something, listen.”
“Love you too, asshole.”
“Julie …” Asher says.
“Yeah?”
“Welcome to the family circus. Sorry that it’s like this.”
