Page 88 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Forty-Two
JOSH STARED AT the photo on the cover of theNew York Post, his cell phone pressed against his ear. Kelly, his publicist, had been hammering him for ten minutes about not calling her last night when Claudia had showed up.
“I could have jumped them on this, Josh. You know that. Even if I couldn’t have stopped the presses, I could have had a rival article written. Now it willlook like you’re just covering your footsteps with a retaliatory article,” Kelly said.
“I realize that. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Did you tell Riley when it happened at least? Is she prepared?”
“No,” he said, realizing his mistake. “I was too pissed, and by the time I settled down from being angry, I wasn’t thinking about the newspapers,” he admitted. He’d been too wrapped up in figuring out whathe’d do about Riley if her name was never cleared. The impact this situation would have on his career had yet to be seen, but if this mess never went away, if Riley was linked in articles and photos as a design thief, how would he overcome that? He wasn’t prepared for the rage that ripped through him over the past twelve hours and still held him prisoner. Just seeing the picture of him and Claudiamade him want to rip someone’s head off and throw it into the East River.
“You have to always—always—be thinking about the newspapers. Especially now. I’m serious, Josh. I’ll do what I can, but you’d better get in touch with Riley. If she’s seen this, as I’m sure she has—I mean, everyone has—then you’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I swear it’s like you fell in love and lost all your faculties.”
I swear it’s like you fell in love and lost all your faculties.If that was her impression, then what was everyone else thinking? His mind came back to Riley. It always came back to Riley. He pictured her trusting eyes, her smile when he told her he loved her. He did love her.I do love her.But he also loved his career, and his career wouldn’t survive if he couldn’t contain the rage that kepthis fisted hands at the ready.
When his phone rang, he brought it to his ear, distracted by the argument going on between his heart and his mind.
“Hello?” he said.
“What the heck are you doing?” Treat fumed.
“Nothing,” Josh snapped.
“Max is over at Riley’s right now; so is Savannah. They’re trying to clean up this mess so you don’t lose your girlfriend.”
Josh didn’t answer.My girlfriend.
“Listen, little brother. I don’t know what’s going on, but if you want to salvage your relationship with Riley, I don’t think hanging out with Claudia is the way to do it.”
“Shut up, Treat. Do you really think I’d do that? She showed up and the photographer snapped the photo, and then she was gone. I’m not thrilled about any of this.”
“Did you tell Riley when they took the picture?” Treat asked.
Josh closed his eyes. “No,” he snapped.
“It’s like you want this relationship to fall apart.” Treat softened his tone. “Josh, what’s going on with you?”
Josh didn’t have an answer.
“Open your front door,” Treat said.
Josh went to his front door and opened it, watching Treat, in person, lower the phone from his ear and open his arms. Josh felt like a needy kid again as he accepted his brother’sstrong embrace, and he felt his protective, steely resolve begin to thaw.
“What are you doing here?” Josh asked.
“You’re used to the upside of the media circus. I’ve been on both sides. I figured you might need some support.” Treat headed for the kitchen. “I’m starved. You have eggs?”
Leave it to Treat to fall right back into Mom mode. Ever since Josh could remember, when he or his siblingswere having a hard time, Treat would swoop in and cook for them and figure out how to fix things—or at least make them feel better. At this point, Josh needed all the help he could get.
“Fridge,” Josh answered.
Treat whipped up egg-white omelets and toasted whole-wheat bread while Josh explained what had happened with Claudia and the quandary his mind was now tackling.
“So, let me get thisstraight,” Treat said as he handed Josh a full plate of food. “After two days, you’re ready to tell the world about your feelings for Riley; then this crap happens, and now you’re questioning if you can stand behind her if she never gets cleared because you’re afraid that a year from now, or ten years from now, you might kill someone if they badmouth her? Even though you know she’s innocent.”
Josh speared a hunk of eggs with his fork and nodded. “I’m a jerk.”
Treat shook his head. “Yeah, you are. Riley is dealing with seeing you and Claudia together and you haven’t called her?”
